Virtual medical instrument for performing medical diagnostic testing on patients

• US 5,961,448 A
• Filed: 06/08/1998
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cmed, Inc. (Cmed Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Cmed, Inc. (Cmed Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Swenson, Michael R., Holland, Gregory R.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US09/093,581
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 600/301, 600/483, 600/508, 128/903
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/024 for determining the visual field, e.g. perimeter types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/028 for testing visual acuity; for determination of refraction, e.g. phoropters
• 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 5/12 Audiometering
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/20 for measuring urological functions restricted to the evaluation of the urinary system A61B5/4375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4863 Measuring or inducing nystagmus
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A virtual medical instrument (VMI) system comprises data storage for storing input diagnostic test protocols for two or more of EEG, EKG, EMG/NCV, PFT, CMG, EP, ENG, visual acuity, visual field, limb dynometric and audiogram testing. The VMI system includes a universal interface having a number of electrical contacts and sets of electrical conduits associated with the different stored diagnostic test protocols. A selector enables a system user to select any one of the stored diagnostic test protocols for conducting on a patient. The system is constructed to enable the selected diagnostic test protocol to be performed on a patient after the corresponding set of electrical conduits are connected to the universal interface contacts and to the patient. Further included is an electrical signal generator connected to the universal interface for providing electrical signals to the patent if such electric signals are required by the selected test protocol. Electrical signals are received by the system through the electrical conduits connected to the universal interface from a patient and an output corresponding to the received electrical signals is provided, the output including one or more of strip chart printer, conventional printer, modem, computer diskette, audio recorder and video recorder.

Claims

1. A virtual medical instrument system for providing a medical facility with a plurality of different patient medical diagnostic test protocols, said virtual medical instrument system comprising:

a. data storage means for storing said plurality of different medical diagnostic test protocols;

b. universal interface means, connected to said data storage means and including a plurality of sets of electrical contacts, each set associated with one of said plurality of different patient medical diagnostic test protocols, for enabling selection of any one of the stored patient medical diagnostic test protocols;

c. operating means for causing a selected stored patient medical diagnostic test protocol to be performed on a patient;

d. signal receiving means, connected to said universal interface means, for receiving electrical signals from said patient; and

e. output means, connected to said signal receiving means, for providing an output corresponding to the received electrical signals.