System and method for electro-cardiogram (ECG) medical data collection wherein physiological data collected and stored may be uploaded to a remote service center

• US 9,021,161 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braemar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Braemar Incorporated
• Inventors: Vlach, Erich, Gropper, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): PEYTON, TAMMARA R
• Application Number:
  US13/287,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20120110226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 710 15- 19, 710/63, 710/64, 600/509, 600/544, 708300-302, 609/509, 609/523
• US Class Current: 710/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/303 Patient cord assembly, e.g. cable harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2206/1014 One time programmable [OTP] memory, e.g. PROM, WORM
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0655 Vertical data movement, i.e. input-output transfer; data movement between one or more hosts and one or more storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/00 ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A data collection unit obtains physiological data from a subject interface on a subject. The subject interface can be connected to the data collection unit. When the subject interface is connected to the data collection unit, subject interface contacts on the subject interface make contact with data collection unit contacts on the data collection unit. Some of the data collection unit contacts are for communicating physiological data from the subject interface to the data collection unit. Some of the contacts are for powering the data collection unit upon the subject interface being connected to the data collection unit and for powering down the data collection unit upon the subject interface being disconnected from the data collection unit.

Claims

1. A subject electro-cardiogram (ECG) data collection device comprising:

a removable ECG subject interface having subject interface contacts;

a power source;

a data collection unit comprising;

a processor programmed to obtain physiological data from the ECG subject interface and store the physiological data in non-volatile memory,

a data connector physically connected to the processor and having a male USB connector for physically connecting to a universal data port on a computer and detecting power provided by the computer and, when connected to the computer, uploading the physiological data stored in the non-volatile memory to a remote service center via the computer, and

data collection unit contacts configured to be physically connected to the subject interface contacts on the ECG subject interface;

the data collection device configured to provide power from the power source to the processor upon the ECG subject interface being connected to the data collection unit contacts and to interrupt power from the power source upon disconnection of the ECG subject interface from the data collection unit contacts.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the ECG subject interface comprises a lead-wire set.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the ECG subject interface includes the power source.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the data collection unit comprises the non-volatile memory.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the data collection unit is configured to stop providing power from the power source when the ECG subject interface is disconnected from the data collection unit contacts.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the subject interface contacts comprise a first subject interface contact and a second subject interface contact that:

when not connected to a corresponding first data collection unit contact and a second data collection unit contact, are configured to create an open circuit, and

when connected to the corresponding first data collection unit contact and a second data collection unit contact, are configured to create a closed circuit.

7. The device of claim 6,

wherein the first data collection unit contact is in series with the second data collection unit contact;

and

wherein the ECG subject interface, when connected to the data collection unit contacts, is configured to bring the first data collection unit contact into electrical connection with the second data collection unit contact.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the subject interface contacts comprise a third subject interface contact and a fourth subject interface contact for bringing electrodes on the ECG subject interface into electrical communication with the processor.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the data collection unit is further configured to automatically obtain data from the ECG subject interface upon the ECG subject interface being connected to the data collection unit.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the data collection unit is further configured to automatically stop obtaining data from the ECG subject interface upon the ECG subject interface being disconnected from the data collection unit.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the subject interface comprises a fifth subject interface contact that is configured to interrupt the processor when the ECG subject interface is disconnected from data collection unit contacts.

12. A method comprising:

providing an electro-cardiogram (ECG) data collection unit having a processor and a male USB data connector physically connected to the processor,

powering the electro-cardiogram (ECG) data collection unit upon an ECG subject interface being physically connected to the ECG data collection unit, the connected ECG subject interface creating a closed circuit with a power source for powering the ECG data collection unit;

obtaining, using the processor, data from the ECG subject interface and storing the data on non-volatile memory;

powering-off the ECG data collection unit upon the ECG subject interface being physically disconnected from the ECG data collection unit and thereby creating an open circuit with the power source; and

physically connecting the male USB data connector with a computer to upload the data stored on the non-volatile memory to a remote service center via the computer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the ECG subject interface comprises a lead-wire set.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the obtaining and the storing comprises obtaining and storing the data on non-volatile memory automatically upon the ECG subject interface being physically connected to the ECG data collection unit.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

automatically initiating an upload, over a network, of the data stored on the nonvolatile memory to a remote service center via a computer upon a data connector on the data collection unit being physically connected to the computer.

16. The method of claim 12,

wherein the ECG data collection unit comprises a first data collection unit contact and a second data collection unit contact;

wherein being physically connected comprises bringing the first data collection unit contact into electrical communication with the second data collection unit contact via the ECG subject interface and thereby closing the circuit with the power source.

17. The method of claim 16,

wherein the data collection unit comprises a third data collection unit contact and a fourth data collection unit contact;

and

wherein being physically connected comprises bringing a first and second electrodes on the ECG subject interface into electrical communication with the processor via the third data collection unit contact and the fourth data collection unit contact.

18. The method of claim 17,

wherein the data collection unit comprises a fifth data collection unit contact that contacts a fifth subject interface contact on the ECG subject interface when the ECG subject interface is connected to the data collection unit;

and

further comprising sending an interrupt signal to the processor from the fifth electrical contact when the ECG subject interface is disconnected from the ECG data collection unit.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the ECG subject interface comprises the power source.