Seat scale for health care measurement kiosk

• US 6,403,897 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Computerized Screening Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Computerized Screening Incorporated
• Inventors: Hicksted, Richard L., Spahr, Michael A., Bluth, James, Lovell, Jim C., Bryan, Raymond G., Bluth, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US09/548,805
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 177/144, 177/245, 297/138, 297/143, 297/158.2, 600/301, 128/920
• US Class Current: 177/144
• 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 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02208 using the Korotkoff method
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02225 using the oscillometric method
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6888 Cabins
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/50 having additional measuring devices, e.g. for height
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A health care test kiosk includes a carrel body, a controller, a physiological test interface, a seat, and a weight scale. The carrel body supports a console housing and includes a support side panel forming a lateral side and extending beyond the console housing. The controller is housed within the console housing and includes a display and user interface. The physiological test interface is coupled to and supported by the carrel body on the support side panel. The physiological test interface is communicatively coupled to the controller for supplying physiological information to the controller for analysis and display. The seat is coupled to the support side panel of the carrel body. The weight scale is coupled to and supported by the seat. The weight scale is communicatively coupled to the controller for supplying weight information to the controller for analysis and display in combination with the physiological data.

Claims

1. A health care test kiosk comprising:

a carrel body supporting a console housing and including a support side panel forming a lateral side and extending beyond the console housing;

a controller housed within the console housing and including a display and user interface;

a physiological test interface coupled to and supported by the carrel body on the support side panel, the physiological test interface being communicatively coupled to the controller for supplying physiological information to the controller for analysis and display;

a seat that is coupled to the support side panel of the carrel body, the seat including;

a top horizontal planar support;

a seat track; and

a seat support,

the top horizontal planar support being supported on the support side panel by a moveable connection to the seat track; and

supported on an entry side by the fixedly attached seat support;

the top horizontal planar support being a brace for holding the weight scale; and

a weight scale coupled to and supported by the seat, the weight scale being communicatively coupled to the controller for supplying weight information to the controller for analysis and display in combination with the physiological data.

2. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 further comprising:

a communication link such as a bus, wire, or wireless link coupling the weight scale to a controller to weight information from the weight scale to the controller.

3. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 wherein:

the weight scale is a digital scale that is calibrated and initialized by signals transmitted from the controller.

4. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 wherein:

the seat is a moveable seat; and

the weight scale is formed into the moveable seat that is attached to the health care test kiosk.

5. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 wherein:

the physiological interface carries measurement signals from measurement devices including the weighing scale to the controller for analysis and display.

6. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 wherein:

the weight scale has an accuracy within one pound.

7. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 wherein:

the top horizontal planar support has the form of a planar, level panel that is generally in the form of a rectangle except with comers rounded on the entry side of the health information kiosk.

8. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 further comprising:

a cable coupling the weight scale to the controller, the cable carrying signals selected from among data signals, control signals, and power.

9. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 further comprising:

a top seat panel supported by the weight scale and being a sitting surface for a user.

10. A health care kiosk according to claim 1 further comprising:

a top seat panel supported by the weight scale and being a sitting surface for a user, the top seat panel having a form selected from among a planar form, a horizontal planar form, a flat bench-top panel form, and a contoured form.

11. A seat assembly for use in a health care test kiosk that includes a carrel body supporting a console housing and having a vacant knee-space beneath the console housing, the carrel body including a support side panel forming a lateral side and extending beyond the console housing and the knee-space, the health care test kiosk further including a physiological test interface coupled to and supported by the carrel body on the support side panel, the seat assembly comprising:

a seat including;

a top horizontal planar support;

a seat track; and

a seat support,

the top horizontal planar support being supported on the support side panel by a moveable connection to the seat track; and

supported on an entry side by the fixedly attached seat support;

the top horizontal planar support being a brace for holding the weight scale; and

a weight scale coupled to and supported by the seat, the weight scale being communicatively coupled to the controller for supplying weight information to the controller for analysis and display in combination with the physiological data.

12. A seat assembly according to claim 11 wherein:

the seat assembly and the seat are retractable.

13. A seat assembly according to claim 11 further comprising:

a communication link such as a bus, wire, or wireless link coupling the weight scale to a controller to weight information from the weight scale to the controller.

14. A seat assembly according to claim 11 wherein:

the weight scale is a digital scale that is calibrated and initialized by signals transmitted from the controller.

15. A seat assembly according to claim 11 wherein:

the seat is a moveable seat; and

the weight scale is formed into the moveable seat that is attached to the health care test kiosk.

16. A seat assembly according to claim 11 wherein:

the physiological interface carries measurement signals from measurement devices including the weighing scale to the controller for analysis and display.

17. A seat assembly according to claim 11 wherein:

the weight scale has an accuracy within one pound.

18. A seat assembly according to claim 11 wherein:

the top horizontal planar support has the form of a planar, level panel that is generally in the form of a rectangle except with comers rounded on the entry side of the health information kiosk.

19. A seat assembly according to claim 11 further comprising:

a cable coupling the weight scale to the controller, the cable carrying signals selected from among data signals, control signals, and power.

20. A seat assembly according to claim 11 further comprising:

a top seat panel supported by the weight scale and being a sitting surface for a user.

21. A seat assembly according to claim 11 further comprising:

a top seat panel supported by the weight scale and being a sitting surface for a user, the top seat panel having a form selected from among a planar form, a horizontal planar form, a flat bench-top panel form, and a contoured form.

22. A method of fabricating a health care test kiosk comprising:

forming a carrel body supporting a console housing and having a vacant knee-space beneath the console housing;

attaching a support side panel as a side of the carrel body, the support side panel forming a lateral side and extending beyond the console housing and the knee-space;

attaching a physiological test interface to the carrel body on the support side panel;

movably coupling a retractable seat to the support side panel of the carrel body for selective positioning in a location ranging from withdrawn into the knee-space beneath the console housing to extended completely from the knee-space, the retractable seat including;

a top horizontal planar support;

a seat track; and

a seat support;

supporting the top horizontal planar support on the support side panel by a moveable connection to the seat track and on an entry side by the fixedly attached seat support;

coupling the weight scale to the seat so that the seat supports the weight scale, the top horizontal planar support being a brace for holding the weight scale; and

communicatively coupling the weight scale to the controller for supplying weight information to the controller for analysis and display in combination with the physiological data.