Mobile patient monitoring system with automatic data alerts

• US 20060089542A1
• Filed: 06/08/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Safe And Sound Solutions, Inc., Safe Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Safe And Sound Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Sands, Alan
• Application Number:
  US11/149,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20060089542A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• 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 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A system to increase compliance with patient monitoring protocols for patients with chronic disease. The system uses a wireless telecommunication device as the hub of the system. The hub is configured to increase patient compliance with a monitoring protocol by being integrated with a mobile device, such as a cellular phone or PDA, that the patient normally carries or wears. The hub is further configured to increase compliance by displaying games that incorporate monitored conditions and providing rewards to the patient when he complies with the monitoring protocol. The hub receives physiological data about the patient from a medical sensor then collates the sensed data with certain data input by the patient. The reading is transmitted to a server that uses a software application to automatically examine and interpret the data. Alerts are sent to the health care provider only when the reading is outside specified parameters. The health care provider may contact the patient about the outlying event via the network.

Claims

1. A method for patient monitoring comprising:

a) sensing with a sensor at least one physiological measurement of a patient;

b) transmitting the physiological measurement wirelessly from the sensor to a telecommunications hub;

c) inputting patient data into the hub;

d) transmitting the physiological measurement and the patient data from the hub to a server;

e) storing the physiological measurement and the patient data as a reading on the server;

f) automatically analyzing the reading to determine whether the reading deviates from preset parameters;

g) transmitting an alert to one or more care providers when the reading deviates from preset parameters; and

h) transmitting intervention information to the patient via the hub in response to an alert.

2. A method for patient monitoring comprising:

a) sensing with a sensor at least one physiological measurement of a patient;

b) transmitting the physiological measurement wirelessly from the sensor to a telecommunications hub;

c) transmitting the physiological measurement from the hub to a server containing a patient record;

d) updating the patient record with the physiological measurement which triggers the server to transmit at least one query to the hub;

e) inputting patient data into the hub;

f) transmitting the patient data from the hub to the server;

g) updating the patient record with the patient data so that the sensed data and patient data are collated into a reading;

h) storing the reading on the server;

i) automatically analyzing the reading to determine when the reading deviates from preset parameters;

j) transmitting an alert to one or more care providers when the reading deviates from preset parameters; and

k) transmitting intervention information to the patient via the hub in response to an alert.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the sensor is one of a blood glucose meter, respiratory flow meter, weight scale, pulse rate monitor, or sphygmomanometer.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the hub is a cell phone.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the hub comprises a microprocessor and a memory device.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the hub comprises a land-line phone and a modem.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein inputting patient data into the hub occurs by touch or by voice.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising displaying games on the hub for increasing compliance with a monitoring protocol.

9. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting a reward to the hub when a patient complies with a monitoring protocol.

10. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting a reminder to the hub when a patient fails to comply with a prescription regimen.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein the hub displays advertisements.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein the hub displays educational information tailored according to the patient'"'"'s responses to at least one query.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein the hub further comprises a hub software application that wirelessly receives updates from the server.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein the care provider is a disease maintenance organization.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein the care provider is an insurance company.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein the care provider is a health care provider.

17. The method of claim 2 wherein the hub is worn by the patient.

18. The method of claim 2 wherein the hub is a bracelet.

19. A patient monitoring system comprising a sensor, a wireless telecommunications hub, and a server wherein:

a) the sensor transmits sensed data wirelessly to the hub;

b) the hub;

i. receives the sensed data from the sensor;

ii. transmits the sensed data to the server;

iii. receives visual and audio information tailored to the patient from the server, wherein the information further comprises at least one query;

iv. receives patient data that is input by the patient in response to the queries;

v. transmits the patient data to the server; and

c) the server;

i. collates the sensed data and patient data into a reading;

ii. stores the reading;

iii. automatically analyzes the reading to determine when the reading deviates from preset parameters;

iv. transmits an alert to one or more care providers when the reading deviates from preset parameters; and

v. transmits information to the patient via the hub in response to an alert.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the hub displays games for increasing compliance with a monitoring protocol.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the hub transmits rewards to a patient for complying with a monitoring protocol.

22. The system of claim 19 further comprising transmitting a reminder to the hub when a patient fails to comply with a prescription regimen.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the hub displays advertisements.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein the hub displays educational information tailored according to the patient'"'"'s responses to at least one query.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein the hub further comprises a hub software application that wirelessly receives updates from the server.

26. The system of claim 19 wherein the care provider is a disease maintenance organization.

27. The system of claim 19 wherein the care provider is an insurance company.

28. The system of claim 19 wherein the care provider is a health care provider.

29. The system of claim 19 wherein the hub is worn by the patient.

30. The system of claim 19 wherein the hub is a bracelet.

31. The system of claim 19 wherein the hub is integrated with the sensor.