METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEALTH AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT COMBINING PATIENT DATA MONITORING WITH WIRELESS INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

• US 20090069643A1
• Filed: 09/15/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips North America LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Q-Tec Systems LLC
• Inventors: Quy, Roger J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,277,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/749 Voice-controlled interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 : Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 : Telephone telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/923 : by comparison of patient data to other data

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for a wireless health monitoring system for interactively monitoring a disease or health condition of a patient by connecting an internet-enabled wireless web device (“WWD”) to a health monitoring device which may be a medical device or other health related device such as an exercise machine. The WWD may be connected to the health monitoring device directly by a wired connection to a generic input/output port of the WWD using an optional adaptor if necessary. Alternatively, the WWD may be wirelessly connected to the health monitoring device, such as via an infrared or radio frequency connection, including using protocols such as Bluetooth or 802.11. The wireless connection may also employ an adaptor if necessary. The user may also input data to the WWD manually, such as by a keypad, keyboard, stylus, or optionally by voice command.

The health related data is transmitted from the WWD to a server using standard internet protocols. The server calculates a response using a software program which may include an algorithm or artificial intelligence system, and may further provide for review by a physician or health specialist. The user may interact with the server. For example, the server transmits a response to the WWD, and the user may answer the response or provide other information.

Claims

1. A method for interactive exercise monitoring, the method comprising the steps of:

a. coupling a web-enabled wireless phone to a device which provides health-related information;

b. rendering a user interface-on the web-enabled wireless phone;

c. receiving health-related information in the web-enabled wireless phone, wherein the health-related information includes physiological data and exercise data, and wherein at least one of the physiological data and exercise data is received from the device which provides health-related information;

d. sending the health-related information to an internet server via a wireless network;

e. receiving a calculated response from a server, the response associated with a calculation performed by the server based on the health-related information; and

f. displaying the response.

2. The method of claim 1, where the physiological data is received from a physiological monitoring device or from an exercise machine.

3. The method of claim 1, where the exercise data is received from an exercise machine or from a physiological monitoring device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the web-enabled wireless phone receives health-related information over a transmission medium, the transmission medium including:

a wired connection, an RS-232 connection, an infrared connection, or a radio frequency connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving health-related information includes receiving data input by a patient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the web-enabled wireless phone receives data via an adapter to convert a signal from the device to a suitable input for the wireless phone.

7. The method of claim 1, where the device which provides health-related information is selected from the group consisting of:

an electronic scale, a body fat gauge, a biofeedback device, any type of physiological monitoring device, and any type of exercise machine.

8. A computer-readable medium, containing instructions for performing an interactive method of exercise monitoring, the method comprising the steps of:

a. displaying a user interface;

b. receiving health-related information, wherein the health-related information includes physiological data and exercise data;

c. sending the health-related information to an internet server;

d. receiving a calculated response from a server, the response associated with a calculation performed by the server based on the health-related information; and

e. displaying an indication of the response.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the web-enabled wireless phone to receive data over a transmission medium, the transmission medium including:

a wired connection, an RS-232 connection, an infrared connection, or a radio frequency connection.

10. The medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the web-enabled wireless phone to receive data from a keyboard.

11. The medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the web-enabled wireless phone to receive the health-related information via an adapter, the adaptor to convert a received data signal to a suitable input for the web-enabled wireless phone.

12. The medium of claim 8, wherein the health-related information is received from a physiological monitoring device which is selected from the group consisting of:

an electronic scale, a body fat gauge, a biofeedback device, any physiological monitoring device, and any exercise machine.