Device and methods for mobile monitoring and assessment of clinical function through sensors and interactive patient responses

• US 9,171,131 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integrated Deficit Examinations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Integrated Deficit Examinations, LLC
• Inventors: Meyer, Brett C., Zivin, Justin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANDS, DAVIN K
• Application Number:
  US13/921,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20130345524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/225 of the fingers, e.g. by monitoring hand-grip force
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4005 for evaluating the sensory system A61B5/12, A61B5/4058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4082 Diagnosing or monitoring movement diseases, e.g. Parkinson, Huntington or Tourette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4088 Diagnosing of monitoring cognitive diseases, e.g. Alzheimer, prion diseases or dementia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7271 Specific aspects of physiological measurement analysis A61B5/316, A61B5/349 and A61B5/374 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for sensing and assessing a patients responses to tests using a device that may include tactile input, voice input, still image analysis, and responses to visual and auditory stimuli. In one example, a method includes obtaining interactive clinical assessment data using a remote client device and a computer-based control device, the method including providing on a display of a remote client device one or more test prompts for conducting an interactive clinical assessment, each displayed test prompt instructing a user to perform an action using the remote client device in response to the test prompt, and providing on the display of the remote client device one or more potential responses of actions that may be performed in response to the test prompt.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining interactive clinical assessment data using a remote client device and a computer-based server-side control device, the method comprising:

a remote client device providing on a display of the remote client device one or more test prompts for conducting an interactive clinical assessment, each test prompt instructing a user to perform an action using the remote client device in response to the test prompt;

the client device providing on the display one or more potential responses of actions that may be performed in response to the test prompt, the client device including a processor, a circuit configured to produce a vibration test prompt on at least one handle of the client device, and a plurality of sensors configured to detect an action performed in response to a test prompt provided on the display of the client device and send an input indicative of the action to the client device, the processor coupled to the plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors comprising

at least one pressure sensor integrated with the at least one handle of the client device and configured to sense hand grip pressure, the at least one handle mechanically integrated with the client device;

a movement sensor configured to sense horizontal and vertical movement of the client device;

a voice recognition system including an audio sensor configured to receive an audio input;

an imaging circuit configured to generate at least one image of the user as an input;

a touchscreen component configured to sense contact at the display; and

a global positioning system (GPS) circuit configured to assess the location of the client device;

receiving, at the client device, input from at least one of the plurality of sensors indicative of an action performed in response to a test prompt provided on the display of the client device;

generating, by the processor, response information indicative of the input from at least one of the plurality of sensors in response to the at least one test prompt provided on the display of the client device; and

sending over a communications network, by the client device, the response information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving input at the remote client device comprises receiving one or more inputs.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending response information from the remote client device comprises sending response information indicative of input received at the remote client device in response to multiple test prompts provided on the display of the remote client device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving clinical tests at the remote device, and wherein the one or more test prompts are based at least in part on the received clinical tests.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving clinical test parameters at the remote client device, and wherein the one or more test prompts are based at least in part on the received test parameters.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving patient information at the remote client device, and wherein the one or more test prompts are based at least in part on the received patient information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the response information sent by the remote client device at the server-side control device,

evaluating at the server-side control device the response information, and

determining the status of a patient based on evaluating the response information.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending clinical tests, test parameters, and patient information from the server-side control device to the remote client device, wherein the one or more test prompts and one or more potential responses of actions that may be performed in response to the test prompt are at least partly based on the received clinical tests, test parameters, or patient information.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating the response information to determine a change from baseline results of a particular patient.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending an alert signal from the server-side control device based on a determined patient status.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a series of tests, a series of parameters and a patient profile for responses from the server-side control device to the remote client device,

determining response information indicative of responses received at the remote client device;

transmitting the response information to the server-side control device; and

evaluating the response information at the server-side control device to determine a clinical status of a patient.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving input comprises receiving selection of one of two or more potential responses that are provided on the display of the remote client device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving input comprises receiving input from two or more of the plurality of sensors.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving by the client device test information from the server-side control device over a network, wherein the network comprises at least in part a wireless network.

15. A system for conducting interactive clinical assessment, comprising:

a remote client device comprising

at least one handle mechanically integrated with the client device, the handle including a grip;

a display;

a memory unit configured to store test information that the client device receives from a server-side control device;

a processor operationally coupled to the memory unit and the display, the processor configured to provide on the display one or more test prompts and one or more potential responses of actions to be performed in response to the one or more test prompts, the processor further configured to receive input from a plurality of sensors and generate response information based on the input;

a communications circuit operationally coupled to the processor, the communications circuit configured to communicate wirelessly with the server-side control device to receive the test information, the processor further configured to provide on the display the one or more test prompts and the one or more potential responses based on the received test information;

a speaker, the processor further configured to provide instructions using the speaker;

a circuit configured to produce a vibration test prompt on the at least one handle that can be felt at the grip;

the plurality of sensors coupled to the processor to provide the input, the plurality of sensors including

at least one sensor integrated with the at least one handle and configured to sense hand grip pressure,

a microphone,

an electronic imaging circuit configured to generate images and communicate the images to the processor,

a movement sensor configured to sense transverse and rotational movement of the client device, and

a touchscreen configured to sense contact with the display.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a server-side control device in communication with the remote client device,

wherein the server-side control device is configured to send the test information to the remote client device, the test information including at least one of clinical tests, clinical test parameters, or patient information, and

wherein the remote client device is configured to send the response information to the server-side control device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the test information includes at least one of patient information, clinical tests to be performed on the remote client device, and test parameters, and wherein the one or more test prompts are based at least in part on the received patient information, clinical tests and test parameters.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the server-side control device includes a processor configured to evaluate the response information received from the remote client device and determine the status of a patient based on evaluating the response information.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor of the server-side control device is configured to provide an alarm signal based on a determined patient status.

20. A mobile client device for conducting interactive clinical assessment, comprising:

a display;

a housing, the display disposed in the housing;

a first handle including a grip;

a second handle including a grip, the first and second handles disposed on opposite sides of the display and mechanically integrated with the housing;

a memory unit;

a processor in communication with the memory unit and the display, the processor configured to provide on the display at least one test prompt and one or more potential responses for a user to select in response to the at least one test prompt;

a communications circuit operationally coupled to the processor and configured to wirelessly communicate to receive test information from a remote server-side control device and to provide response information to the remote server-side control device;

a speaker coupled to the processor, the processor further configured to provide audible instructions using the speaker;

a circuit configured to produce a vibration test prompt to the grip of the first and second handles;

a plurality of sensors coupled to the processor for providing input relating to the testing of a user, the plurality of sensors including;

a pressure sensor integrated with the first handle and configured to sense grip pressure;

a pressure sensor integrated with the second handle and configured to sense grip pressure;

a microphone,

an imaging component configured to generate images, and

a movement sensor configured to sense motion of the client device.