SYSTEM FOR PERSONAL EMERGENCY INTERVENTION

• US 20110093297A1
• Filed: 11/03/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kent Dicks, Ralph Kent, Robert Tripp, Terry Bartlett, Thomas Crosley
• Original Assignee: Kent Dicks, Ralph Kent, Robert Tripp, Terry Bartlett, Thomas Crosley
• Inventors: Dicks, Kent, Bartlett, Terry, Tripp, Robert, Kent, Ralph, Crosley, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,195 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• 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

Abstract

A system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a processor, a device interface, a user interface, a data relay transceiver, and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions. The processor executes the instructions in the memory to receive data from a medical device through a wired connection using the device interface, and transmits the data to an intermediary device using the data relay transceiver. This system can be implemented in a small, portable unit that is easy for a patient to transport. The system'"'"'s user interface may include a microphone and speaker to allow the communication of audible information between the system and a user. Aspects of the system can be practiced automatically to allow a medical device for a patient or other subject to be monitored without requiring the patient to manually enter information.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor;

a patient interface;

a user interface comprising an interactive voice response (IVR) system; and

a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive a communication from a patient through the IVR system;

provide a guided voice prompt to the patient through the IVR system;

receive a response of the patient to the guided voice prompt through the IVR system;

analyze the response;

determine, based on the response, whether a command should be transmitted; and

if it is determined that a command should be transmitted, transmit the command, through the patient interface, to a device controlled by the patient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the command requests an identifier from the device controlled by the patient.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the command controls the functionality of the device controlled by the patient.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the command instructs the device controlled by the patient to transmit data to a medical data server.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the device controlled by the patient transmits data directly to the medical data server.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the device controlled by the patient transmits data indirectly through an intermediary device to the medical data server.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the data comprises at least one of:

medical information regarding the patient, historical information regarding the patient and diagnostic information for the device controlled by the patient.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the data comprises diagnostic information for the device controlled by the patient.

9. The system of claim 4, further comprising determining that the data is related to a medical emergency, whereupon the data is transmitted to an intermediary device within range of the device without determining that the intermediary device is authenticated or authorized to receive the data.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the command instructs the device to perform a function selected from the group consisting of:

delivery of a prescribed dose of medication to the patient;

administration of a prescribed shock to the patient'"'"'s heart; and

combinations thereof.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication is originated by the patient through the device controlled by the patient.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises one or more of any of a computer interface, a medical device;

a portable digital assistant (PDA), a mobile communication device, an emergency medical beacon, a medical data interchange device and an intermediary device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication is transmitted through at least one of a PSTN connection and a cellular network.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication is transmitted through an intermediary device and the intermediary device is wirelessly coupled to the device controlled by the patient.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication is transmitted through an intermediary device and the data is transmitted to the intermediary device from a wireless transmitter using a protocol selected from the group consisting of a Zigbee protocol, a Wibree protocol, an IEEE 802.11 protocol, an IEEE 802.15 protocol, an IEEE 802.16 protocol, an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) protocol, an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) protocol, a Bluetooth protocol, and combinations thereof.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication is transmitted through an intermediary device and the command reconfigures a software application operating on the intermediary device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein responding to the guided voice prompt comprises depressing a button.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein depressing the button further comprises generating a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tone to be transmitted to the interactive voice response system.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein responding to the guided voice prompt comprises the patient vocalizing a response.