Physiological monitoring system for a computational device of a human subject

• US 20040152956A1
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medic4All, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medic4All, Inc.
• Inventors: Korman, Ronen
• Granted Patent: US 7,407,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system for monitoring at least one physiological parameter of a human subject. The system of the present invention features a device with which the human subject regularly interacts, and which is connected to the computational device of the human subject for automatic collection of at least one physiological parameter which is also of medical interest. The device features at least one physiological sensor for collecting the measurement of the physiological parameter. The computational device of the human subject then preferably operates a software program to analyze the data which is collected, in order for the human subject to receive an alert when necessary. Alternatively or additionally, the collected data is sent to a remote computational device which is in communication with the computational device of the human subject for analysis. Optionally, the present invention enables the human subject to receive an alert if a deterioration in the physiological condition of the human subject is detected, thereby enabling the human subject to start preventive medical treatment with trained medical personnel as soon as possible. Thus, the awareness of the human subject about any incipient medical problem is immediately improved, which may result in an increased probability of being able to successfully treat and/or otherwise ameliorate those problems.

Claims

1. A system for non-invasive monitoring of a human subject, comprising:

(a) a peripheral device for being in physical contact with the human subject;

(b) a sensor for being contained within said peripheral device and for contacting the human subject, said sensor collecting data about a physiological parameter of the human subject; and

(c) a host computational device for controlling said peripheral device and for receiving said data from said sensor for monitoring the human subject.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) an agent software for being operated by said host computational device and for analyzing said data from said sensor.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said peripheral device is contacted by the human subject during normal interactions with said host computational device, such that said data is collected without requiring any additional action by the human subject.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said agent software determines whether a physiological parameter of the human subject has deteriorated according to an analysis of said data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said agent software alerts the human subject if said physiological parameter has deteriorated.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

(e) a remote server for receiving said data for monitoring the human subject, said human subject receiving alert from said remote server if said physiological parameter has deteriorated.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

(f) a manually operated call center for receiving said data and a medical history of said human subject, and for diagnosing said human subject according to said data and said medical history.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein personnel at said manually operated call center contact said human subject for said alert.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said alert is automatically transmitted to said human subject.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said peripheral device includes a device for transmitting at least one command of the human subject to said host computational device for operating said host computational device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said device is at least one of a computer keyboard and a computer pointing device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said computer pointing device is a computer mouse.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said device is a touch sensitive screen.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said peripheral device is in physical contact with the human subject while operating said host computational device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said device is a mouse pad.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said physiological parameter is selected from the group consisting of a blood pulse characteristic, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, position, SpO₂ (partial oxygen pressure in the blood), oxygen level, carbon dioxide level, glucose level and respiration rate.

17. The system of any of claims 1-16, wherein said sensor is selected from the group consisting of a positioning sensor, a SpO₂ (partial oxygen pressure) sensor, oxygen level sensor, carbon dioxide level sensor and a glucose sensor.

18. The system of any of claims 1-16, wherein said sensor is selected from the group consisting of a piezoceramic transducer, a bio-impedance meter, a piezoresistive sensor, a hydrophone, an ultra low pressure sensor, an accelerometer, and a fiber-optic sensor.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said sensor comprises a fiber-optic sensor, said fiber-optic sensor including at least one of a fiber-optic microphone sensor and a photo-plethysmograph transducer.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said sensor includes at least one photo-plethysmograph transducer, and at least one of blood pulse shape, blood pressure, heart rate and respiration rate is measured through said sensor.

21. The system of any of claims 1-16, wherein said sensor is selected from the group consisting of a thermistor, a thermocouple sensor, a positioning sensor and a weight sensor.

22. The system of any of claims 1-16, wherein said sensor includes at least an infrared thermopile sensor.

23. A system for non-invasive monitoring of a human subject, comprising:

(a) a peripheral device for being in at least physical proximity to the human subject;

(b) a sensor for being contained within said peripheral device, the sensor collecting data about a physiological parameter of the human subject through being in at least physical proximity to the human subject;

(c) a processing unit for being contained within said peripheral device for data analysis of said data from said sensor; and

(d) a host computational device for controlling said processing unit and for receiving said data analysis from said processing unit, and for receiving at least one command from the human subject through the peripheral device.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a wireless communication channel for connecting said host computational device and said peripheral device.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising a wired communication channel for connecting said host computational device and said peripheral device.

26. A system for non-invasive monitoring of a human subject, comprising:

(a) a wearable device for being in physical contact with the human subject;

(b) a sensor for being contained within said device, said sensor collecting data about a physiological parameter of the human subject;

(c) a processing unit for being contained within said device for data analysis of said data from said sensor; and

(d) a host computational device for receiving said data analysis from said processing unit.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said host computational device controls said sensor through said processing unit.

28. A method for non-invasive monitoring of a human subject through contact with a peripheral device, the peripheral device being in contact with a computational device, the method comprising:

providing a sensor for being contained within the peripheral device;

physically contacting the peripheral device by at least a portion of the human subject;

collecting data about a physiological parameter of the human subject by said sensor;

transmitting said data to the computational device; and

controlling said sensor by the computational device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said contacting of the peripheral device further comprises:

manipulating the peripheral device by the human subject to send at least one command to the computational device.

30. The method of claims 28 or 29, wherein said contacting of the peripheral device is performed while operating the computational device, without any additional action by the human subject being required.

31. A system for non-invasive monitoring of a human subject, comprising:

(a) a wearable device for being in physical contact with the human subject;

(b) a sensor for being contained within the device, the sensor collecting data about a physiological parameter of the human subject;

(c) a processing unit for being contained within the device for control and for data analysis, such that said processing unit controls an operation of said sensor; and

(d) a host computational device for receiving the data analysis from the processing unit.