Research data collection and analysis

• US 6,196,970 B1
• Filed: 03/22/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASTORINO, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US09/274,431
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/481-486, 600/500-504, 600/529-538, 600/544-545, 128/897-900, 128/904-905, 128/920-925, 706/1-9, 706/12-13, 706/15-44, 706/900, 706/902, 395/1, 395/7, 705/1-2
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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 5/0871 Peak expiratory flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 50/00 ICT programming tools or database systems specially adapted for bioinformatics
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system by which research data can be collected and analyzed during the course of the research testing, and the research testing itself possibly modified to account for conclusions drawn from the research data. In a first aspect of the invention, a research subject can respond to a protocol stored on a server by manipulating input keys on a remotely located client device onto which a research protocol has been installed. The protocol can include questions concerning the subject'"'"'s physical or mental well being such as whether their symptoms are relieved or not, or even exacerbated. The protocol can also include calling for data obtained by coupling the client device with another medical device such as a glucose monitor. In a preferred embodiment, the subject is presented with narrowly structured questions and suggested answers provided by the protocol. The set of possible answers is restricted. In the event that a suggested answer is ambiguous, inapplicable or raises new questions, a protocol can present a new question to the subject. This elimination of fuzzy answers imposes a logical structure upon the subjects'"'"' assessments. In a second aspect of the invention, data entered by the subject is relayed using a communication link to a server device. This incoming data can be aggregated with other incoming data from subjects and their associated client devices.

Claims

1. An automated computer implemented dynamic medical research testing method comprising:

a. collecting medical data from a plurality of medical research subjects, using a medical research testing protocol for collecting data, wherein said medical research testing protocol includes receiving data from said subjects using an input devices according to a medical research testing goal;

b. sending the medical data collected from said input devices to a server device over a communications network, wherein said server is located relatively remote from said input device;

c. automatically aggregating the sent medical data;

d. automatically performing statistical analysis of the aggregated medical data;

e. automatically generating an updated medical research testing protocol according to the statistically analyzed data and a predefined medical research testing protocol logic;

f. sending the statistically analyzed data to a medical research expert device associated with a medical research expert;

g. presenting the statistically analyzed data at the medical research expert device for viewing by a medical research expert, wherein said medical research expert device is relatively remote from said input device; and

h. repeating a-g using the generated updated medical research testing protocol until at least one of the medical research expert or the medical research testing protocol logic determines the medical research testing is complete.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

i. sending the updated medical research testing protocol to the medical research expert device;

j. editing the updated medical research testing protocol at the medical research expert device according to the presented statistically analyzed data; and

k. repeating a-g, i and j using the edited medical research testing protocol until at least one of the medical research expert or the medical research testing protocol logic determines the medical research testing is complete.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the collected data comprises data generated by a medical device coupled to the input device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to collecting data, generating the protocol at a medical research expert device coupled to the communications network and sending the generated protocol to the input device over the communications network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated and updated protocols present at least one question and receives the answers to the at least one question.

6. An automated medical research testing system comprising:

a medical research subject system comprising;

an input device for collecting medical data from medical research subjects according to a medical research testing protocol, wherein said medical research testing protocol includes a component for receiving medical data from said subjects according to a medical research testing goal; and

a communication component for sending the collected data over a communications network;

a server comprising;

a first component for receiving the sent data over the communications network;

a processor for aggregating the received medical data, for automatically performing statistical analysis of the aggregated medical data and for automatically generating an updated medical research testing protocol according to the statistically analyzed data and a predefined medical research testing protocol logic; and

a second component for sending the formatted data over the communications network; and

a medical research expert device associated with a medical research expert comprising;

a first component for receiving the statistically analyzed data sent over the communications network; and

a presentation device for presenting the received statistically analyzed data to the medical research expert;

wherein the medical research subject system and the server repeat their respective functions using the generated updated medical research testing protocol until at least one of the medical research expert or the medical research testing protocol logic determines the medical research testing is complete.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the server sends the updated protocol to the medical research expert device;

the medical research expert device further comprises an editing component for editing the updated medical research testing protocol according to the presented statistically anal data.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the collected data comprises data generated by a medical device coupled to the input device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the medical research expert device comprises a second component for generating the medical research testing protocol and sending the generated protocol to the input device over the communications network.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the generated and updated medical research testing protocols present at least one question and receives the answers to the at least one question.