PATIENT MONITORING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20180289267A1
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Published: 10/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bonutti Research Incorporated (Bonutti IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bonutti Research Incorporated (Bonutti IP LLC)
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M., Beyers, Justin E.
• Application Number:
  US15/965,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20180289267A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• 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 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0102 specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0277 Elbow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 601/19 including biological sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 601/23 including biological sensors

Abstract

A monitoring system for monitoring a patient using a device, such as all orthosis system is provided. The system includes a monitor that can be incorporated or otherwise coupled to the device. The monitor can have a position sensor, a temperature sensor, and a device type sensor for monitoring the patient'"'"'s implementation of a protocol. The data obtained from the monitor can be remotely analyzed by a healthcare professional and the protocol can be adjusted accordingly.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a patient comprising:

securing a position sensor to a body portion of the patient adjacent to an articulating joint of the body portion;

detecting movement of the body portion about the articulating joint using the position sensor;

transmitting the detected movement of the body portion to a data acquisition unit, wherein the data acquisition unit includes a microprocessor and a memory; and

storing the detected movement of the body portion to the memory of the data acquisition unit.

2. The method of monitoring a patient of claim 1, further comprising determining a range of motion of the body portion about the articulating joint based on the detected movement of the body portion.

3. The method of monitoring a patient of claim 2, wherein the detected movement is indicative of a range of motion of the body portion about the articulating joint.

4. The method of monitoring a patient of claim 1, wherein said securing a position sensor to a body portion of the patient comprises securing the position sensor to a leg of the patient, wherein said detecting movement of the body portion about the articulating joint comprises detecting movement of the leg about the knee joint.

5. The method of monitoring a patient of claim 1, wherein said securing a position sensor to a body portion of the patient comprises securing the position sensor to an arm of the patient, wherein said detecting movement of the body portion about the articulating joint comprises detecting movement of the arm about the elbow joint.

6. The method of monitoring a patient of claim 1, wherein said securing a position sensor to a body portion of the patient comprises fastening the position sensor to the body portion using a strap.

7. A method of monitoring a patient comprising:

securing a position sensor to a body portion adjacent to an articulating joint of the body portion to obtain position data of the body portion about the articulating joint;

wirelessly transmitting the position data to a computing device; and

determining range of motion of the body portion about the articulating joint using the computing device based on the wirelessly transmitted position data.

8. The method of monitoring a patient of claim 7, wherein said securing a position sensor to a body portion of the patient comprises securing the position sensor to a leg of the patient, wherein said detecting movement of the body portion about the articulating joint comprises detecting movement of the leg about the knee joint.

9. The method of monitoring a patient of claim 7, wherein said securing a position sensor to a body portion of the patient comprises securing the position sensor to an arm of the patient, wherein said detecting movement of the body portion about the articulating joint comprises detecting movement of the arm about the elbow joint.

10. The method of monitoring a patient of claim 7, wherein said securing a position sensor to a body portion of the patient comprises fastening the position sensor to the body portion using a strap.

11. A system for monitoring the rehabilitation of a patient, the system comprising:

a monitor configured to be attached to a body part of the patient, the monitor including;

at least one sensor configured to sense at least one physiological parameter of the patient, the at least one sensor being least one of a temperature sensor and a position sensor;

a data acquisition system including a microprocessor and memory, the microprocessor electrically coupled to the at least one sensor, and the memory configured to store patient data representative of the sensed at least one physiological parameter of the patient;

a real time clock, wherein the real time clock is configured to link a time to the patient data; and

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the stored patient data to at least one portable communication device, wherein the wireless transmission occurs at least one of instantaneously and at set intervals.

12. The system for monitoring the rehabilitation of a patient of claim 11, further comprising a health care professional providing a specific activity regimen for the patient, wherein the activity regimen parameters are programed in the at least one monitor.

13. The system for monitoring the rehabilitation of a patient of claim 11, wherein the at least monitor is firmly attached to the patient with at least one strap.

14. The system for monitoring the rehabilitation of a patient of claim 11, wherein the transmission of patient data from the wireless transmitter of the at least one monitor to the at least one portable communication device is implemented by a radiofrequency link.

15. The system for monitoring the rehabilitation of a patient of claim 11, wherein the portable communication device is at least one of a laptop, smartphone, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), and watch.

16. The system for monitoring the rehabilitation of a patient of claim 11, further comprising at least one additional sensor configured to be added to the monitor.

17. The system for monitoring the rehabilitation of a patient of claim 11, wherein the at least one additional sensor is configured to measure at least one of heart rate, blood pressure, and stress.

18. The system for monitoring the rehabilitation of a patient of claim 11, further comprising at least one software application configured to display the patient data in at least one of a grid or graph format on an output device.

19. The system for monitoring the rehabilitation of a patient of claim 11, wherein the patient data is configured to be transmitted from the at least one monitor to at least one portable communication device through a data transfer cable.

20. A system for monitoring a patient, the system comprising:

a monitor configured to be attached to a body part of the patient, the monitor including;

at least one sensor configured to sense at least one physiological parameter of the patient;

a data acquisition system including a microprocessor and memory, the microprocessor electrically coupled to the at least one sensor, and the memory configured to store patient data representative of the sensed at least one physiological parameter of the patient;

a power source;

a real time clock, wherein the real time clock is configured to link a time to the patient date; and

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the patient data, wherein the transmission occurs at least one of instantaneously and at set intervals; and

at least one portable communication device communicatively coupled to the at least one monitor, the at least one portable communication device including;

an input device configured to receive the patient data from the monitor;

a software application configured to acquire the patient data from the at least one monitor, store the patient data, and prepare the patient data; and

an output device configured to display the patient data prepared by the software application,

wherein the prepared patient data displayed on the output device is configured to be viewed securely by at least one of the patient and a health care professional.

21. The system for monitoring a patient of claim 20, wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of a temperature sensor, a position sensor, an electrical sensor, a heart rate sensor, a blood pressure sensor, and a stress sensor.

22. The system for monitoring a patient of claim 20, wherein the monitor is further comprised of at least one display.

23. The system for monitoring a patient of claim 22, wherein the at least one display comprises at least one LED display.

24. The system for monitoring a patient of claim 20, wherein the power source is controllable by the microprocessor to change the monitor from at least one of a powered and low power sleep setting to save energy.

25. The system for monitoring a patient of claim 20, further comprising activity regimen parameters programed in the monitor.

26. The system for monitoring a patient of claim 20, wherein the monitor is configured to be firmly attached to the patient with at least one strap.

27. The system for monitoring a patient of claim 20, wherein the transmission of patient data from the wireless transmitter of the monitor to the at least one portable communication device is implemented by a radiofrequency link.

28. The system for monitoring a patient of claim 20, wherein the portable communication device is at least one of a laptop, smartphone, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), and watch.

29. The system for monitoring a patient of claim 20, wherein the monitor includes a device identification sensor.

30. The system for monitoring a patient of claim 20, wherein the patient data is configured to be securely transmitted and viewed by at least one of an insurance carrier and worker'"'"'s compensation carrier.