Real-time medical monitoring application with a network interface device

• US 20040153289A1
• Filed: 05/23/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Phillips, Bruce A., Casey, Steven M., Casey, Shawn
• Granted Patent: US 7,264,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 : Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 : Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for medical monitoring of a patient at a patient premises. A medical-data collection device is adapted to collect medical data from the patient. The medical-data collection device is interfaced with a transport medium internal to the patient premises. A network interface device is also provided with multiple application devices interfaced with the transport medium internal to the patient premises. One of the application devices is a medical-monitoring application device adapted to process the collected medical data. Another of the application devices is adapted to exchange data with a transport medium external to the patient premises. A processor in communication with the application devices is adapted to coordinate transmission of the collected medical data over the transport medium external to the patient premises.

Claims

1. A system for medical monitoring of a patient at a patient premises, the system comprising:

a medical-data collection device adapted to collect medical data from the patient, wherein the medical-data collection device is interfaced with a transport medium internal to the patient premises; and

a network interface device comprising;

a plurality of application devices interfaced with the transport medium internal to the patient premises, wherein a first of the application devices comprises a medical-monitoring application device adapted to process the collected medical data and a second of the application devices is adapted to exchange data with a transport medium external to the patient premises; and

a processor in communication with the plurality of application devices and adapted to coordinate transmission of the collected medical data over the transport medium external to the patient premises.

2. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the medical-data collection device comprises:

a first unit interfaced with the transport medium internal to the patient premises; and

a second unit adapted to be carried by the patient about the patient premises,

wherein the first and second units are adapted to support wireless communication from the second unit to the first unit.

3. The system recited in claim 2 wherein the first and second units are further adapted to support wireless communication from the first unit to the second unit.

4. The system recited in claim 3 wherein the first and second units are adapted for exchange of voice information.

5. The system recited in claim 2 wherein the second unit comprises a portable panic device equipped to transmit a request for emergency assistance upon activation.

6. The system recited in claim 2 wherein the second unit is adapted to measure physiological parameters of the patient.

7. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the network interface device further comprises a storage device for storing the medical data.

8. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the transport medium external to the patient premises comprises the Internet.

9. The system recited in claim 8 wherein the processor is adapted to authenticate a user attempting to establish a connection with the network interface device through the Internet.

10. The system recited in claim 1 wherein a third of the application devices comprises a digital conversion application adapted to convert the collected medical data to a desired format.

11. The system recited in claim 1 wherein a third of the application devices is adapted to provide telecommunications services to the patient premises.

12. A method for monitoring a medical status of a patient at a patient premises, the method comprising:

collecting medical data from the patient with a medical-data collection device;

transmitting the collected medical data over a transport medium internal to the patient premises from the medical-data collection device to a network interface device disposed external to the patient premises; and

thereafter, transmitting the collected medical data over a transport medium external to the patient premises to a recipient.

13. The method recited in claim 12 wherein the collected medical data indicates a need for an emergency response, the method further comprising transmitting a request for the emergency response over the transport medium external to the patient premises.

14. The method recited in claim 13 wherein the need for the emergency response is indicated with a call for the emergency response from the patient.

15. The method recited in claim 13 wherein the need for the emergency response is indicated by a deviation of a physiological parameter measured from the patient from a defined range.

16. The method recited in claim 12 wherein the collected medical data define a physiological parameter measured from the patient.

17. The method recited in claim 12 further comprising storing the collected medical data on a storage device comprised by the network interface device.

18. The method recited in claim 12 further comprising receiving a request for the collected medical data from the recipient at the network interface device, wherein transmitting the collected medical data is performed in response to the request.

19. The method recited in claim 18 further comprising authenticating the recipient prior to transmitting the collected medical data.

20. The method recited in claim 12 further comprising digitally converting the collected medical data, wherein transmitting the collected medical data comprises transmitting the digitally converted collected medical data.

21. The method recited in claim 12 further comprising providing a telecommunications service to the patient premises with the network interface device.

22. A system for medical monitoring of a patient at a patient premises, the system comprising:

means for collecting medical data from the patient interfaced with a means for transporting information internal to the patient premises; and

means for interfacing with a means for transporting information external to the patient premises, the means for interfacing comprising;

a plurality of means for supplying applications interfaced with the means for transporting information internal to the patient premises, wherein a first of the means for supplying applications comprises a means for processing the collected medical data and a second of the means for supplying applications is adapted to exchange information with the means for transporting information external to the patient premises; and

a means for coordinating transmission of the collected medical data over the means for transporting information external to the patient premises.

23. The system recited in claim 22 wherein the means for collecting medical data comprises a plurality of units having means for supporting wireless communication among the plurality of units.

24. The system recited in claim 22 wherein the means for collecting medical data comprises means for receiving a call for an emergency response from the patient.

25. The system recited in claim 22 wherein the means for collecting medical data comprises means for measuring physiological parameters of the patient.

26. The system recited in claim 22 wherein the means for coordinating transmission of the collected medical data comprises means for receiving a request for transmission of the collected medical data from a recipient.

27. The system recited in claim 26 wherein the means for receiving the request comprises means for authenticating the recipient.

28. The system recited in claim 22 wherein the means for interfacing with the means for transporting information external to the patient premises further comprises means for storing the collected medical data.

29. The system recited in claim 22 wherein the means for interfacing with the means for transporting information external to the patient premises further comprises means for providing telecommunications services to the patient premises.