Health monitoring and communications device

• US 9,974,492 B1
• Filed: 09/02/2016
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life365, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Life365, Inc.
• Inventors: Dicks, Kent, Vandewater, Eric, Strength, Randolph
• Primary Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US15/255,909
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 34053912, 34053911, 600301, 600476, 600479
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for reconfigurable and/or updatable lightweight embedded devices or systems are disclosed. Via use of such a device, system, or method, various capabilities for a user are provided, simplified, secured, and/or made more convenient. The system may interact with various other devices or systems, including those that are cloud-based or communicate through the cloud, and may utilize various local sensors, in order to provide one or more of improved access, monitoring, diagnostics, and so forth.

Claims

1. A device for being attached to a user or the user'"'"'s clothing, the device having a length, a width, and a thickness, the device comprising:

(a) electronic circuity, a first power source, and a display;

(b) a thickness of ¼

″

or less; and

(c) the device being configured to communicate with and receive data from one or more medical devices, wherein the one or more medical devices are selected from one or more of the group consisting of;

a blood glucose meter;

a pacemaker;

a blood pressure monitor;

an insulin pump;

a pulse oximeter;

a hotter monitor;

an electrocardiograph;

an electroencephalograph;

a blood alcohol monitor;

an alcohol breathalyzer;

an alcohol ignition interlock;

a respiration monitor;

an accelerometer;

a skin galvanometer;

a thermometer;

a patient geolocation device;

a scale;

an intravenous flow regulator;

a patient height measuring device;

a biochip assay device;

a monitor for biological agents;

a hazardous chemical agent monitor;

an ionizing radiation sensor;

a sphygmomanometer;

a loop recorder;

a spirometer;

an event monitor;

a prothrombin time (PT) meter;

an international normalized ratio (INR) meter;

a tremor sensor; and

a defibrillator.

2. The device of claim 1 that has a width of 2″

or less, or 1½

″

or less, or 1″

or less or ¾

″

or less.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first power source is a battery.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry has a length that is 50% or less of the length of the device, or 80% or less of the length of the device.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry has a thickness of 25% or less of the thickness of the device, or 25%-50% of the thickness of the thickness of the device, or 75% or less of the thickness of the device.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry has a width of 90% or less of the width of the device, or between 50% and 80% of the width of the device, or between 80% and 100% the width of the device.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the display has a length that is 50% or less of the length of the device, or 80% or less of the length of the device.

8. The device of claim 1 that is configured to monitor one or more physical conditions of the user.

9. The device of claim 1 that is configured to analyze a plurality of the one or more physical conditions of the user to determine a health attribute of the user.

10. The device of claim 1 that includes one or more ports, wherein each of the one or more ports can be connected to a sensor, and the device is configured to receive information from at least one sensor.

11. The device of claim 10 that has a plurality of ports.

12. The device of claim 11 that has a plurality of sensors, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is connected to a port.

13. The device of claim 10 that has a plurality of operating modes, and the operating mode of the device changes depending upon one or more of the sensors attached to the device.

14. The device of claim 12 that has a plurality of operating modes, and the operating mode of the device changes upon one or more of the sensors attached to the device.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein data is received by the device from the one or more medical devices through a connection that is selected from the group consisting of an optical fiber connection, a tip and sleeve (TS) connection, a tip, ring, and sleeve (TRS) connection, a tip, ring, ring, and sleeve (TRRS) connection, a serial peripheral interface bus (SPI) connection, a universal serial bus (USB) connection, an RS-232 serial connection, an Ethernet connection, a FireWire connection, and combinations thereof.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein data is received by the device from the one or more medical devices wirelessly using at least one of a satellite communication network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless mobile telephone network, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, a wireless local area network (WLAN), a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a Personal Communication Service (PCS) network, and an Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) network.

17. The device of claim 1 that is configured to transmit at least some of the data received from the one or more medical devices.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the data received and transmitted includes one of a battery charge level, a temperature, a barometric pressure, a code relating to an accessory for the medical device, a data validity measurement, an elapsed time since a previous reading by the medical device, a test result parameter, a signal-to-noise parameter, a quality of service (QoS) parameter;

and a user'"'"'s;

heart rate, blood oxygen level, perspiration, electrical resistance on the skin, movement, blood pressure, fall or sudden impact, calories used, calories consumed, body temperature; and

ambient air temperature, time, day, and location.

19. The device of claim 1 that is configured to communicate with a plurality of medical devices.

20. The device of claim 1 that is configured to communicate simultaneously with a plurality of medical devices.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein its functionality changes depending upon the one or more medical devices with which the device communicates.

22. The device of claim 1 that is configured to also communicate with an intermediary device, or a central server.

23. The device of claim 1 that is configured to receive data from an apparatus implanted in a user of the device.

24. The device of claim 17 that is configured to transmit or receive a user'"'"'s health information.

25. The device of claim 24 that is configured to analyze the user'"'"'s health information to identify a condition for the user.

26. The device of claim 25 that is configured to alert the user or a health care professional when the user condition satisfies a predetermined threshold condition.

27. The device of claim 1 that is configured to analyze one or more medications taken by the user and determines whether the user is in compliance with a prescribed medical treatment.

28. The device of claim 27 that is configured to determine whether a medication of one or more medications taken by a user may interact with one or more of:

a second medication of the one or more medications taken by the user;

a newly prescribed medication;

an over-the-counter medication;

an herbal supplement;

a vitamin; and

a food or a beverage.

29. The device of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry and display are flexible so as to be functional when manipulated into a circle having a diameter of 4″

or more, 5″

or more, 6″

or more, 7″

or more, 8″

or more, 9″

or more, or 10″

or more.

30. A device for being attached to a user or the user'"'"'s clothing, the device having a length, a width, and a thickness, the device comprising:

(a) electronic circuity, a first power source, and a display;

(b) a thickness of ¼

″

or less; and

(c) the device being configured to communicate with and receive data from one or more medical devices and to analyze one or more medications taken by the user and determine whether the user is in compliance with a prescribed medical treatment, and whether a medication of one or more medications taken by a user may interact with one or more of;

a second medication of the one or more medications taken by the user;

a newly prescribed medication;

an over-the-counter medication;

an herbal supplement;

a vitamin; and

a food or a beverage.

31. The device of claim 30 that has a width of 2″

or less, or 1½

″

or less, or 1″

or less or ¾

″

or less.

32. The device of claim 30 wherein the first power source is a battery.

33. The device of claim 30 wherein the circuitry has a length that is 50% or less of the length of the device, or 80% or less of the length of the device.

34. The device of claim 30 wherein the circuitry has a thickness of 25% or less of the thickness of the device, or 25%-50% of the thickness of the thickness of the device, or 75% or less of the thickness of the device.

35. The device of claim 30 wherein the circuitry has a width of 90% or less of the width of the device, or between 50% and 80% of the width of the device, or between 80% and 100% the width of the device.

36. The device of claim 30 wherein the display has a length that is 50% or less of the length of the device, or 80% or less of the length of the device.

37. The device of claim 30 that is configured to monitor one or more physical conditions of the user.

38. The device of claim 30 that is configured to analyze a plurality of the one or more physical conditions of the user to determine a health attribute of the user.

39. The device of claim 30 that includes one or more ports, wherein each of the one or more ports can be connected to a sensor, and the device is configured to receive information from at least one sensor.

40. The device of claim 39 that has a plurality of ports.

41. The device of claim 40 that has a plurality of sensors, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is connected to a port.

42. The device of claim 39 that has a plurality of operating modes, and the operating mode of the device changes depending upon one or more of the sensors attached to the device.

43. The device of claim 41 that has a plurality of operating modes, and the operating mode of the device changes upon one or more of the sensors attached to the device.

44. The device of claim 30, wherein data is received by the device from the one or more medical devices through a connection that is selected from the group consisting of an optical fiber connection, a tip and sleeve (TS) connection, a tip, ring, and sleeve (TRS) connection, a tip, ring, ring, and sleeve (TRRS) connection, a serial peripheral interface bus (SPI) connection, a universal serial bus (USB) connection, an RS-232 serial connection, an Ethernet connection, a FireWire connection, and combinations thereof.

45. The device of claim 30, wherein data is received by the device from the one or more medical devices wirelessly using at least one of a satellite communication network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless mobile telephone network, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, a wireless local area network (WLAN), a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a Personal Communication Service (PCS) network, and an Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) network.

46. The device of claim 30 that is configured to transmit at least some of the data received from the one or more medical devices.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein the data received and transmitted includes one of a battery charge level, a temperature, a barometric pressure, a code relating to an accessory for the medical device, a data validity measurement, an elapsed time since a previous reading by the medical device, a test result parameter, a signal-to-noise parameter, a quality of service (QoS) parameter;

and a user'"'"'s;

heart rate, blood oxygen level, perspiration, electrical resistance on the skin, movement, blood pressure, fall or sudden impact, calories used, calories consumed, body temperature; and

ambient air temperature, time, day, and location.

48. The device of claim 30 that is configured to communicate with a plurality of medical devices.

49. The device of claim 30 that is configured to communicate simultaneously with a plurality of medical devices.

50. The device of claim 30, wherein its functionality changes depending upon the one or more medical devices with which the device communicates.

51. The device of claim 30 that is configured to also communicate with an intermediary device, or a central server.

52. The device of claim 30 that is configured to receive data from an apparatus implanted in a user of the device.

53. The device of claim 46 that is configured to transmit or receive a user'"'"'s health information.

54. The device of claim 53 that is configured to analyze the user'"'"'s health information to identify a condition for the user.

55. The device of claim 54 that is configured to alert the user or a health care professional when the user condition satisfies a predetermined threshold condition.

56. The device of claim 30, wherein the electronic circuitry and display are flexible so as to be functional when manipulated into a circle having a diameter of 4″

or more, 5″

or more, 6″

or more, 7″

or more, 8″

or more, 9″

or more, or 10″

or more.