Remote health monitoring system

• US 6,171,237 B1
• Filed: 03/30/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avitall, Boaz, Brian Peterson, Eric B. Griswold, Joe Kletch, Patrick Moran
• Original Assignee: Avitall, Boaz, Brian Peterson, Eric B. Griswold, Joe Kletch, Patrick Moran
• Inventors: Peterson, Brian, Moran, Patrick, Griswold, Eric B., Kletch, Joe, Avitall, Boaz
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Application Number:
  US09/053,262
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 128/920, 128/903, 128/904, 128/905
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/00 Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. instruments for taking a cell sample, for biopsy, for vaccination diagnosis vaccination prophylaxis, vaccination therapy A61B17/20; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination menstruation tables G06C3/00; Throat striking implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A computer control system operates with an instruction set to provide automated administration of health care to a patient. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a central monitoring station receives data from a plurality of remote testing units. Each of the testing units is custom configured for a particular patient and is made to provide optimal care for that individual alone. Similarly one monitoring unit may serve multiple patients and transmit the data to a central monitoring computer via the telephone lines. Medical procedures are then administered to the patient and results taken as data. The data is made available to the central monitor so that proper medical interpretation is enabled. A number of novel steps in the programming of the system are taken to assure that the right patient is being monitored, that the patient is being tested properly and that the system is being monitored appropriately.

Claims

1. A measuring and testing system for automated administration of medical care to a patient, including communicating with a remote central monitoring station, the measuring and testing system comprising:

a testing means comprising a plurality of separate testing modules, each of the modules enabling at least one medical procedure;

a main frame means mechanically supporting the testing means and further providing;

a) programmable control means electrically interconnected with the testing means for control thereof;

b) communication means for enabling data communication between the programmable control means and the central monitoring station;

c) means for audible and visual output message presentation to the patient including a plurality of reinforcement messages and a means for playing the messages in response to patient actions the audible output means employing a piezo crystal driver in a resonating enclosure; and

d) timer means adapted for disabling the system after a preset operating duration and further adapted to be reset through said data communication between the programmable control means and the central monitoring station.

2. The system of claim 1 further providing a means for recording patient test information, a means for analyzing said test information, and a means for synthesizing a patient preferred test schedule therefrom, and further, a means for generating reminder actions based upon the test schedule.

3. The system of claim 1 further providing a means for proceeding with a patient test only when a patient weight measurement is within a selected range.

4. The system of claim 1 further including a means for activating a patient test procedure solely through a patient test probe manipulation.

5. The system of claim 1 further including an audible alarm and a means for increasing the volume of the alarm until a reset action is completed.

6. The system of claim 1 further including a means for auditing patient compliance to an exercise regimen including repetitions of stepping onto a weight measuring means so as to elevate heart rate, the system providing the patient with auditory pacing rhythms to encourage the patient to follow a predefine exercise routine.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein an intensity of exercising is calculated using monitored heart rate, blood pressure and stepping rate.

8. The system of claim 6, further including means for automatically downloading schedule information and uploading test results.

9. A method for remote measuring and testing for automated administration of medical care to a plurality of patients, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a central monitoring station and a plurality of remotely located programmable patient care units, one of the care units being assigned to each of the patients, wherein each of the care units enables at least one medical procedure for a patient;

b) enabling data communication between the central monitoring station and each one of the patient care units, each of the patient care units;

1) storing audible and visual patient messages, said messages including at least one of;

a message of verbal praise, a message of pleasant tones, a message of short musical passages, a message of at least one inspirational saying, and a message describing patient compliance with test procedures;

2) playing at least one of the patient messages in response to patient actions and inactions;

3) disabling the patient care unit periodically after a preset operating duration; and

4) resetting the patient care unit remotely from the central monitoring station.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the stored messages of step (1) provide a range of behavior reinforcing strengths from strongly reinforcing to non-reinforcing, wherein each said message played in step (2) is selected at random from the stored messages.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein each one of the messages played in step (2) is constructed from a plurality of the messages stored in step (1) so as to enable a larger vocabulary of played messages.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the messages played in step (2) is selected at random from the messages stored in step (1).

13. The method of claim 9, further including the step of storing patient demographic data and the still further step of deriving the messages of step (2) in accordance with said demographic data so as to correlate therewith.

14. The method of claim 9, further including the steps of recording patient test information, analyzing said test information, synthesizing a patient preferred test schedule therefrom and providing appropriate said patient messages related thereto.

15. The method of claim 9, further including the step of proceeding with a patient test when a patient weight measurement is within a selected range.

16. The method of claim 9, further including the step of activating a patient test procedure solely through a patient test probe manipulation.

17. The method of claim 9, further including the step of increasing the volume of an audible alarm until a reset action is completed by the patient.

18. The method of claim 9, further including the step of periodically exchanging data between the remote central monitoring station and each of the patient care units on a scheduled basis to assure network operating status.

19. The method of claim 9, further including the step of coordinating a test alarm schedule with a television commercial broadcast schedule.

20. The method of claim 9, further including the step of coordinating a test alarm schedule with an auditory or visual response of a specific patient habit.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the auditory or visual response relates to the flushing of a toilet.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the auditory or visual response relates to the switching of a light.