Remote diagnostic & treatment system

• US 20070255115A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Radio Digital Technique Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Radio Digital Technique Incorporated
• Inventors: Anglin, Richard, Tipler, Bradley
• Application Number:
  US11/414,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255115A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing remote diagnosis and treatment are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention comprises a cellular telephone (16A) that includes a camera (34), a display (40), a speaker (36A), a microphone (36B) and embedded diagnostic and treatment software (18). An alternative embodiment may also include one or more data devices (88) that may be connected to the cellular phone (16A) using a wireless (30A) or wired (30B) connection.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a cellular telephone (16A);

said cellular telephone (16A) including a camera (34), a display (40), a speaker(36A), a microphone (36B), and a diagnostic software program (18);

a call center (28) operated by a call center operator (20A);

said call center (28) for receiving a telephone call from said user (12) of said cellular telephone (16A);

said call center operator (20A) for providing advice concerning said user (12) and for partially controlling said cellular telephone (16A).

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said cellular telephone (16A) is used to provide triage for a patient (12A).

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said cellular telephone (16A) is used for health monitoring.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a data device (88).

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said data device (88) is connected to said cellular telephone (16A) by a wireless connection (30A).

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, in which said wireless connection (30A) is a Bluetooth®

connection (84A).

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, in which said wireless connection (30A) is a Wi-Fi connection (84B).

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, in which said wireless connection (30A) is an ultra-wide band connection (84C).

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said data device (88) is connected to said cellular telephone (16A) by a wired connection (30B).

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said wired connection (30B) uses a USB connector (84D).

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said wired connection (30B) uses a FireWire connector (84E).

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said data device (88) is controlled remotely by said call center operator (20A).

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said data device (88) is a thermometer (82A).

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said data device (88) is an acoustic sensor (88B).

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said data device (88) is a weight measurement device (88C).

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said data device (88) is a blood pressure measurement device (88D).

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said data device (88) is a device (88E) which measures the level of oxygen in the blood.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said data device (88) is a device for obtaining an electrocardiograph (88F).

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said data device (88) is a glucose measurement device (88G).

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said data device (88) is an otoscope (88H).

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said data device (88) is an ultrasound imaging device (88I).

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said data device (88) is an external camera (88J).

24. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said cellular telephone (16A) is used for conveying information in a veterinary practice.

30. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said data device (88) is partially controlled by said call center (28).

25. A method comprising the steps of:

using a diagnostic means (16A) for collecting a set of data;

said diagnostic means (16A) for collecting said set of data including an embedded software application (18); and

conveying said set of data from said diagnostic means (16A) to a diagnostic display and control means (24);

said diagnostic display and control means (24) including a software application (26).

26. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising the step of:

controlling said diagnostic means (16A) using said diagnostic display and control means (24).

27. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a website;

said website including a database of medical information;

offering a service which furnishes a user (12) with an access code;

said access code enabling said user to utilize said database of medical information on said website;

calling a call center (28);

said call center (28) being staffed by a health service practitioner (20C); and

supplying interactive advice to said user from said call center (28).

28. A method as recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of:

using a cellular telephone (16A) to provide information to said call center (28);

said cellular telephone (16A) including a microphone (36B), a speaker (36A) and a camera (34).

29. A method as recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of:

providing data to said call center (28) using a data device (88);

said data device (88) being connected to said cellular telephone (16A).