Portable computing apparatus particularly useful in a weight management program

• US 20020027164A1
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Published: 03/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HealtheTech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: HealtheTech, Inc.
• Inventors: Sanderson, John, Mault, James R.
• Application Number:
  US09/949,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20020027164A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.46
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/00 ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of medical references

Abstract

Portable computing apparatus for aiding a user in the monitoring of the consumption of consumable items, such as food items or prescribed medicaments, and reordering such items includes a common database for use in monitoring the items as consumed, and for preparing the reorder list at the proper time. The apparatus preferably includes an imaging device for recording the image of the item to be consumed, and recognition circuitry for utilizing the recorded image to identify the item and also to provide information concerning its nutritional content in a weight management program. The consumable item may also be identified in other manners, such as by a barcode reader, or a voice-recognition circuit.

Claims

1. Portable computing apparatus for aiding a user in monitoring the consumption of consumable items and in reordering said items, comprising:

a housing constructed and dimensioned to be handheld by the user;

a storage device carried by said housing for storing data concerning said items;

item-identification input means carried by said housing for inputting item-identification information identifying said items as and when to be consumed by the user;

a display carried by said housing; and

a processor within said housing programmed to process said inputted item-identification information with respect to the data stored in said storage device;

(a) to maintain a log of the items as they are consumed;

(b) to prepare a list of items to be reordered; and

(c) to selectively display said log of consumed items and said list of items to be reordered.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said items to be consumed are food items, and said storage device includes a first database for pre-storing identification data to identify the food items as they are consumed and/or as they are to be included in the reorder list, and a second database for pre-storing nutritional information of the food items as they are consumed and/or included in the reorder list.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said storage device further includes a third database for pre-storing personal health information relating to the personal health of the user in order to guide the user in consuming food items and/or in preparing said reorder list.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said items to be consumed are prescribed medicaments to be taken by the user at prescribed times, said processor controlling said display to advise the user of the prescribed times, and to aid the user in timely reordering the prescribed medicaments.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said item-identification input means includes a barcode reader for reading a barcode on a package of an item to be consumed.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said item-identification input means includes an image sensing device for sensing the image of an item to be consumed.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said item-identification input means includes a voice sensing device for sensing the voice of the user identifying the item, and the quantity thereof to be consumed.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor further includes a recognition circuit for identifying said items to be consumed from said inputted information.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes a removable storage device for storing the information inputted in a manner which permits said storage device to be removed from said housing and to be transferred to a separate processor for processing said information.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing further includes an output port to be connected via a communication channel to a remotely-located processor to enable said information inputted via said input means to be communicated to said remotely-located processor for processing therein.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said items to be consumed are food items;

said housing further includes energy expenditure input means for inputting the energy expenditure of the user; and

said processor is programmed also to compute a calorie balance of the calories in the food items consumed as inputted by said item-identification input means less the calories expended as inputted by said energy-expenditure input means.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said energy expended input means includes an indirect calorimeter for measuring and inputting the resting energy expenditure of the user, and an activity sensor for measuring and inputting the activity energy expenditure of the user.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said item-identification input means includes a barcode reader for reading a barcode on a package of an item to be consumed.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said item-identification input means includes an image sensing device for sensing the image of an item to be consumed.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said item-identification input means includes a voice sensing device for sensing the voice of the user identifying the item, and the quantity thereof to be consumed.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said processor further includes a recognition circuit for identifying said items to be consumed from said inputted information.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said apparatus further includes a removable storage device for storing the information inputted in a manner which permits said storage device to be removed from said housing and to be transferred to a separate processor for processing said information.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said housing further includes an output port to be connected via a communication channel to a remotely-located processor to enable said information inputted via said input means to be communicated to said remotely-located processor for processing therein.

19. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said storage device includes a first database for pre-storing identification data to identify the food items as they are consumed and/or as they are to be included in the reorder list, and a second database for pre-storing nutritional information of the food items as they are consumed and/or included in the reorder list.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said storage device further includes a third database for pre-storing personal health information relating to the personal health of the user in order to guide the user in consuming food items and/or in preparing said reorder list.

21. Portable computing apparatus for aiding a user in monitoring the consumption of food items, comprising:

a housing constructed and dimensioned to be handheld;

a storage device carried by said housing for storing data concerning said food items;

an image sensing device for sensing the image of an item to be consumed or the food package thereof;

a display carried by said housing; and

a processor within said housing programmed to process said sensed image to identify the food item thereof to maintain a log of the items as they are consumed.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said processor further includes a recognition circuit for identifying said items to be consumed from said inputted information.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said apparatus further includes a removable storage device for storing the information inputted in a manner which permits said storage device to be removed from said housing and to be transferred to a separate processor for processing said information.

24. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said housing further includes an output port to be connected via a communication channel to a remotely-located processor to enable said information inputted via said input means to be communicated to said remotely-located processor for processing therein.

25. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said storage device includes a first database for pre-storing identification data to identify the food items as they are consumed and/or as they are to be included in the reorder list, and a second database for pre-storing nutritional information of the food items as they are consumed and/or included in the reorder list.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said storage device further includes a third database for pre-storing personal health information relating to the personal health of the user in order to guide the user in consuming food items and/or in preparing said reorder list.

27. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said housing further includes energy expenditure input means for inputting the energy expenditure of the user.

28. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said energy expended input means includes an indirect calorimeter for measuring and inputting the resting energy expenditure of the user, and an activity sensor for measuring and inputting the activity energy expenditure of the user.

29. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said item-identification input means includes a barcode reader for reading a barcode on a package of an item to be consumed.

30. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said item-identification input means includes a voice sensing device for sensing the voice of the user identifying the item, and the quantity thereof to be consumed.

31. A method of diet management by a user comprising the steps:

recording optical images of food to be consumed by the user;

analyzing said optical images to identify the constituents of said food and the quantity of each constituent; and

computing the nutritional content of each of said constituents in said food.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said analyzing step is performed at the same site as said recording step.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein said recording step is performed at a first site, and said analyzing step is performed at a second site different from said first site.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said optical image is recorded on a removable storage device at said first site, and said storage device is removed and transferred to a computer apparatus at said second site for analysis.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein said optical image is recorded on a portable, handheld device at said first site, and is transmitted via a communications channel to said computer apparatus at said second site.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein said computer apparatus also performs said analysis at said second site, and transmits the results of said analysis via said communication channel to said portable, handheld device at said first site.

37. The method according to claim 31, wherein said diet management is a part of a weight control program in which the total energy expenditure by the user is measured, and the computed nutritional content of the food consumed by the user is determined and subtracted from the measured total energy expenditure to produce a calorie balance useful for weight control.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the total energy expenditure measured includes a measurement of the resting energy expenditure by the user, and a measurement of the activity-related energy expenditure by the user.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein said resting energy expenditure is measured by an indirect calorimeter carried by the user.

40. The method according to claim 38, wherein said activity-related energy expenditure is measured by an activity sensor carried by the user.