Systems and devices for emergency tracking and health monitoring

• US 9,161,198 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2015
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Activecare Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Activecare Incorporated
• Inventors: Dalton, James, Acton, Michael, Derrick, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): SIVJI, NIZAR N
• Application Number:
  US14/605,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20150208222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for systems, devices, and methods which address needs of seniors, disabled persons, or any other similar users, at a stage in life when they can still live independently while benefiting from monitored care. Embodiments described herein enable a higher level of connectivity without requiring the member to be technologically savvy, and provides a simple mechanism for personalized emergency support. Embodiments utilize at least one personal communication device which may allow for remote interactions with medical and concierge personnel in a monitoring center or other emergency contacts, in order to fulfill requests for everyday needs, ranging from providing directions to a locations, to health alerts based on health and status measurements collected electronically and remotely.

Claims

1. A method for administering system for monitoring users of said system, said method comprising:

connecting a monitoring center to a plurality of companion devices over a cellular network, said plurality of companion devices configured to provide information corresponding to users of said plurality of companion devices to said monitoring center;

receiving, from one of the plurality of companion devices, a trigger event that requires attention from the monitoring center;

retrieving user information for the user of the one of the plurality of companion devices;

retrieving status information, and location information for the user of the one of the plurality of companion devices; and

determining a preferred emergency contact for the user of the one of the plurality of companion devices from a list of emergencies contacts based on a relative location of each emergency contact from the list of emergency contacts to a current location of the user of the one of the plurality of companion devices;

wherein the monitoring center includes a helpdesk center application in communication with a data service application and a telephone application; and

wherein the trigger event is reported to the helpdesk application by the data service application and a two way voice communication is established with the help desk application using the telephone application.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is a pressing of a call button by the user of the one of the plurality of companion devices.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressing of a call button by the user is an emergency call button.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is an alert from the one of the plurality of companion devices, the alert occurring when a monitored health condition is outside of a predetermined acceptable range.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is an alert from the one of the plurality of companion devices, the alert occurring when a fall is detected by the one of the plurality of companion devices.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein, in addition to the companion device, the user has a user device communicatively coupled to the companion device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said user device includes at least one sensor measuring biometric data for the user.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the user device includes an emergency button.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein user device is in the form of a watch.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the companion device is a cellular phone.

11. A method for administering system for monitoring users of said system, said method comprising:

connecting a monitoring center to a plurality of companion devices over a cellular network, said plurality of companion devices configured to provide information corresponding to users of said plurality of companion devices to said monitoring center;

receiving, from one of the plurality of companion devices, a trigger event that requires attention from the monitoring center;

retrieving user information for the user of the one of the plurality of companion devices;

retrieving health status information, and location information for the user of the one of the plurality of companion devices;

initiating, by the monitoring center, a voice call with an emergency service provider;

establishing a three-way voice conference call between the monitoring center, the emergency service provider and the user of the one of the plurality of companion devices using the one of the plurality of companion devices;

wherein the monitoring center includes a helpdesk center application in communication with a data service application and a telephone application; and

wherein the trigger event is reported to the helpdesk application by the data service application and a two way voice communication is established with the help desk application using the telephone application.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the trigger event is a pressing of a call button by the user of the one of the plurality of companion devices.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the pressing of a call button by the user is an emergency call button.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the trigger event is an alert from the one of the plurality of companion devices, the alert occurring when a monitored health condition is outside of a predetermined acceptable range.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the trigger event is an alert from the one of the plurality of companion devices, the alert occurring when a fall is detected by the one of the plurality of companion devices.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein, in addition to the companion device, the user has a user device communicatively coupled to the companion device.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said user device includes at least one sensor measuring biometric data for the user.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the user device includes an emergency button.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein user device is in the form of a watch.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the companion device is a cellular phone.