Tele-diagnostic device

• US 20020045805A1
• Filed: 12/18/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ineedmd.Com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ineedmd.Com, Inc.
• Inventors: Gopinathan, Govindan, Tilford, Arthur R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,112,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/168 Fluid filled sensor housings
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• 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 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6806 Gloves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R

Abstract

A system (10), probe, and method for collecting a plurality of diagnostic information and transmitting the diagnostic information to a remote location. The system (10) comprises a member (12) contoured to at least a portion of a person'"'"'s hand, and an interface unit (20) in electrical communication with the member (12). The interface unit (20) is capable of transmitting information to a remote location. The member (12) comprises at least eight sensors.

Claims

1. A system for collecting diagnostic information and transmitting the diagnostic information to a remote location, the system comprising:

a member contoured to at least a portion of a person'"'"'s hand, the member comprising at least an EKG diagnostic device, the diagnostic device comprising at least eight EKG sensors; and

an interface unit in electrical communication with the member, wherein the interface unit is capable of transmitting information to a remote location.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the member comprises a palm portion, a wrist portion and a plurality of phalange portions.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the EKG sensors are located on the member on at least two of the palm portion, the wrist portion, and at least one of the phalange portions.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the EKG sensors are located on the member on the palm portion, the wrist portion and at least one of the phalange portions.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the EKG diagnostic device comprises at least 10 sensors.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein eight of the sensors are located on the member and extend in a first direction away from the member, and the other two sensors are located on the member and extend in a second direction away from the member.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the EKG diagnostic device comprises 11 sensors.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the EKG diagnostic device comprises nine sensors located on the palm portion of the member extending away from the palm portion in a first direction and two sensors located on the palm portion of the member extending away from the palm portion in a second direction.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of phalange portions comprise an index finger phalange portion and a middle finger phalange portion, wherein the index finger phalange portion is at least as long as about the middle finger phalange portion of the member.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the index finger phalange portion is longer than the middle finger phalange portion of the member.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of phalange portions comprise an index finger phalange portion and a middle finger phalange portion, at least four of the EKG sensors are located on the index finger phalange portion of the member.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein at least five of the EKG sensors are located on the index finger phalange portion of the member.

13. The system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of phalange portions comprise a thumb portion, with at least one of the EKG sensors being located on the thumb portion of the member.

14. The system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of phalange portions comprise a pinky finger portion, with at least one of the EKG sensors being located on the pinky finger portion of the member.

15. The system of claim 2 wherein at least one of the EKG sensors is located on a palmer surface of the palm portion of the member.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein at least one of the EKG sensors is located on a dorsal surface of the palm portion of the member.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein at least one of the EKG sensors is located on an interior surface of the wrist portion of the member.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the member has a shape that corresponds to at least a substantial portion of a person'"'"'s hand such that the member is capable of being worn on a person'"'"'s hand.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the member has a portion shaped to contour to a person'"'"'s palm.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the member has a portion shaped to contour to a person'"'"'s finger.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the member has a portion shaped to contour to a person'"'"'s palm.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein the member comprises a palm portion.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the member further comprises at least two phalange portions.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the member comprises a glove.

25. The system of claim 18 wherein the member comprises a plurality of diagnostic devices.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of diagnostic devices includes the EKG diagnostic device, a blood pressure and pulse diagnostic device and a temperature device.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the plurality of diagnostic devices further includes a percent O₂ diagnostic device.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the plurality of diagnostic devices further includes an auscultation device.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of diagnostic devices comprises the EKG diagnostic device, a blood pressure and pulse rate device, a temperature device, a percent O₂ device, and an auscultation device.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein the EKG diagnostic device comprises at least 10 sensors.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein the EKG diagnostic device comprises 11 sensors.

32. The system of claim 18 wherein the EKG diagnostic device comprises at least 10 sensors.

33. A system for collecting diagnostic information and transmitting the diagnostic information to a remote location, the system comprising:

a member comprising an EKG diagnostic device, the EKG diagnostic device comprising at least eight EKG sensors located on the member; and

an interface unit in electrical communication with the member, the interface unit capable of transmitting information to a remote location.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the member comprises a palmer surface portion and a dorsal surface portion, the palmer surface portion having a first side and a second side.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the eight sensors are located on the palmer surface portion.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein six of the eight sensors extend away from the dorsal surface portion and two of the eight sensors extend toward the dorsal surface portion.

37. The system of claim 34 wherein the EKG diagnostic device comprises 10 sensors.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein eight of the ten sensors extend away from the dorsal surface portion and two of the eight sensors extend toward the dorsal surface portion.

39. The system of claim 37 wherein the member comprises a glove.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the EKG diagnostic device comprises 11 sensors.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the member comprises a palm portion, a wrist portion and a plurality of phalange portions.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein the member has a shape that corresponds to at least a substantial portion of a person'"'"'s hand such that the member is capable of being worn on a person'"'"'s hand.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the plurality of phalange portions comprise an index finger phalange portion and a middle finger phalange portion, wherein the index finger phalange portion is at least as long as about the middle finger phalange portion of the member.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the index finger phalange portion is longer than the middle finger phalange portion of the member.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein at least five of the EKG sensors are located on the index finger phalange portion of the member.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein the member comprises a glove.

49. The probe of claim 48 wherein the member is contoured to at least a portion of a person'"'"'s hand.

50. The probe of claim 49 wherein the EKG diagnostic device comprises at least 10 sensors.

51. The probe of claim 50 wherein eight of the sensors are located on the member and extend in a first direction away from the member, and the other two sensors are located on the member and extend in a second direction away from the member.

52. The probe of claim 49 wherein the EKG diagnostic device comprises 11 sensors.

53. The probe of claim 52 wherein the EKG diagnostic device comprises nine sensors located on the palm portion of the member extending away from the palm portion in a first direction and two sensors located on the palm portion of the member extending away from the palm portion in a second direction.

54. The probe of claim 52 wherein the plurality of phalange portions comprise an index finger phalange portion and a middle finger phalange portion, wherein the index finger phalange portion is at least as long as about the middle finger phalange portion of the member.

55. The probe of claim 54 wherein the index finger phalange portion is longer than the middle finger phalange portion of the member.

56. The probe of claim 50 wherein the plurality of phalange portions comprise an index finger phalange portion and a middle finger phalange portion, at least four of the EKG sensors are located on the index finger phalange portion of the member.

57. The probe of claim 54 wherein at least five of the EKG sensors are located on the index finger phalange portion of the member.

58. The probe of claim 50 wherein the plurality of phalange portions comprise a thumb portion, with at least one of the EKG sensors being located on the thumb portion of the member.

59. The probe of claim 50 wherein the plurality of phalange portions comprise a pinky finger portion, with at least one of the EKG sensors being located on the pinky finger portion of the member.

60. The probe of claim 50 wherein at least one of the EKG sensors is located on a palmer surface of the palm portion of the member.

61. The probe of claim 60 wherein at least one of the EKG sensors is located on a dorsal surface of the palm portion of the member.

62. The probe of claim 60 wherein at least one of the EKG sensors is located on an interior surface of the wrist portion of the member.

63. The probe of claim 50 wherein the member has a shape that corresponds to at least a substantial portion of a person'"'"'s hand such that the member is capable of being worn on a person'"'"'s hand.

64. The probe of claim 63 wherein the member comprises a glove.

65. The probe of claim 49 wherein the member comprises a plurality of diagnostic devices.

66. The probe of claim 65 wherein the plurality of diagnostic devices includes the EKG diagnostic device, a blood pressure and pulse diagnostic device and a temperature device.

67. The probe of claim 66 wherein the plurality of diagnostic devices further includes a percent O₂ diagnostic device.

68. The probe of claim 67 wherein the plurality of diagnostic devices further includes an auscultation device.

69. The system of claim 65 wherein the plurality of diagnostic devices comprises the EKG diagnostic device, a blood pressure and pulse rate device, a temperature device, a percent O₂ device, and an auscultation device.

47. A system for collecting diagnostic information and transmitting the diagnostic information to a remote location, the system comprising:

a member contoured to at least a portion of a person'"'"'s hand, the member comprising at least eight sensors; and

an interface unit in electrical communication with the member, wherein the interface unit is capable of transmitting information to a remote location.

48. A diagnostic probe comprising:

a member comprising an EKG diagnostic device, the EKG diagnostic device comprising at least eight EKG sensors located on the member.

70. A method of obtaining and transmitting medical diagnostic information from a remote location, the method comprising:

providing a member comprising at least an EKG diagnostic device, the diagnostic device comprising at least eight EKG sensors;

using the member to collect medical diagnostic information from a first person at a remote location.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein the diagnostic information is transmitted from the first location to a second location.