Personal health management device

• US 8,487,771 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2009
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiSilica, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SilverPlus, Inc.
• Inventors: Hsieh, Jeffrey, Kwan, Dennis, Singamsetty, Suresh
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US12/454,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20100295684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539.12, 600/300, 600/301
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• 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 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/747 in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A personal health management device is described. The device is part of a system comprising at least one console, one or more devices in wireless communication with the console wherein the console acts as an intelligent gateway through which the one or more devices may communicate to external data and voice networks, and an alert system wherein an alert is triggered by one or more of a user'"'"'s action and pre-set alarm criteria and wherein the triggering of an alert causes the console to take an action. The device may be a wearable device or it may be implemented in software and reside on third-party hardware.

Claims

1. A personal health management device comprising:

a radio providing two-way wireless communication with a console unit;

a display showing alphanumeric and graphic information;

a user interface to support functions of said personal health management device;

a communication means coupled to external data and voice networks;

a wireless communication connection means for receiving vital sign measurements from one or more stand-alone devices and for transmitting same to said console unit;

a motion sensor detecting the presence or absence of motion in a user of said personal health management device; and

a relay device maintaining wireless communication with said console unit, wherein said relay device provides connection between said personal health management device and said external data and voice networks when said console unit is out of range, and wherein said console unit provides connection between said personal health management device and said external data and voice networks when said console unit is within range.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said personal health management device is implemented in software and resides on third-party hardware wherein said hardware provides said two-way wireless communication, said showing alphanumeric and graphic information, said user interface, said connection to external data and voice networks, and said detecting motion.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said showing alphanumeric and graphic information further comprises showing current time.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein said user interface to support functions of said personal health management device comprises push buttons on said personal health management device.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said personal health management device is a wearable device comprising a bracelet, pendant, wrist-watch, or a belt attachment and wherein said relay device is carried on said user'"'"'s person.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said communication means coupled to said external data and voice networks comprises communicating with external data and voice networks by one or more of the following:

analog telephony, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) over Ethernet, WiFi, and cellular wireless networks.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein said detecting the presence or absence of motion in a user comprises:

providing a motion sampling interval, a polling interval, and alert criteria set at said console unit;

activating said motion sensor at the beginning of said motion sampling interval;

deactivating said motion sensor at the end of said motion sampling interval or upon detection of a motion in said user;

sending motion information from said personal health management device to said console unit indicating motion or no motion for said polling interval; and

sending an alert from said console unit to said personal health management device based on said motion information and said alert criteria.

8. A system comprising two personal health management devices according to claim 7,

wherein a first said personal health management device comprises a dedicated hardware device, and a second said personal health management device comprises a software-implemented personal health management device residing on third party hardware, wherein said first and second personal health management devices share a single identification code,

wherein said console unit provides a handoff mechanism which will send a data message to said software-implemented device, instructing said software-implemented device to activate or deactivate sending motion information to said console unit, and

wherein said handoff mechanism may be triggered manually by an action of said user at said console unit or automatically by said dedicated hardware device being out-of-range for a given time period.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein said one or more stand-alone devices comprise a weight scale, peak flow meter, glucose meter, blood pressure monitor, portable ECG/EKG device, or a CPAP machine.

10. A health management system comprising:

at least one console unit;

one or more personal health management devices in two-way wireless communication with said console unit wherein said console unit acts as an intelligent gateway through which said one or more personal health management devices may communicate to external data and voice networks, wherein each said personal health management device comprises;

a radio providing two-way wireless communication with said console unit;

a display showing alphanumeric and graphic information;

a user interface to support functions of said personal health management device;

communication means coupled to said external data and voice networks; and

a motion sensor detecting the presence or absence of motion in a user of said personal health management device;

a relay device maintaining wireless communication with said console unit, wherein said relay device provides connection between said personal health management device and said external data and voice networks when said console unit is out of range, and wherein said console unit provides connection between said personal health management device and said external data and voice networks when said console unit is within range;

one or more stand-alone devices in wireless communication with said console unit and with said personal health management device, wherein said one or more stand-alone devices collect personal health data from said user and transmit said personal health data to said personal health management device and wherein said personal health management device transmits said personal health data to said console unit at predetermined polling intervals;

an application gateway in communication with said at least one console unit wherein said application gateway interfaces with one or more third-party servers; and

an alert system, wherein an alert can be triggered by an input by said user through said user interface and by pre-set alarm criteria associated with said motion sensing or said collected personal health data or based on a communication received from said one or more third-party servers, and wherein said triggering of an alert causes said console unit to take an action, wherein said console unit'"'"'s action includes sending the alert to said personal health management device.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein all components of said personal health management device are implemented in software and reside on third-party hardware.

12. The system according to claim 10 wherein said showing alphanumeric and graphic information further comprises showing current time.

13. The system according to claim 10 wherein said personal health management device is a wearable device comprising a bracelet, pendant, wrist-watch, or a belt attachment supporting said functions of said personal health management device through push buttons on said wearable device and wherein said relay device is carried on said user'"'"'s person.

14. The system according to claim 10 wherein said user'"'"'s input comprises pushing a button on said console unit or on one of said personal health management devices.

15. The system according to claim 10 wherein said pre-set alarm criteria comprise analysis by said alert system of communication from one or more of said personal health management devices.

16. The system according to claim 10 wherein said console unit'"'"'s action comprises placing a telephone call to a public emergency number and, during said telephone call, playing a pre-recorded message including said personal health data transmitted from said personal health management device to said console unit.

17. The system according to claim 16 wherein said console unit'"'"'s action comprises displaying upon the console unit placing each telephone call the called party'"'"'s name and telephone number.

18. The system according to claim 16 wherein said personal health data comprises:

data collected from said one or more stand-alone devices; and

data stored on said one or more third party servers, wherein said data on said one or more third-party servers is updated from said console unit with said data collected, and wherein said data stored on said one or more third party servers is sent by said console unit along with said pre-recorded message.

19. The system according to claim 10 wherein said console unit'"'"'s action comprises placing a telephone call to pre-configured telephone numbers sequentially, and, during each said telephone call, playing a pre-recorded message including said personal health data.

20. The system according to claim 10 wherein said console unit'"'"'s action further comprises sending alert messages by email, SMS, fax, or voice calls to a list of contacts associated with said alert.

21. The system according to claim 20 wherein said application gateway sends a signal to said console unit to acknowledge receipt of said alert messages.

22. The system according to claim 10, wherein said detecting the presence or absence of motion in said user comprises:

providing a motion. sampling interval, a polling interval, and said pre-set alarm criteria set at said console unit;

activating said motion sensor at the beginning of said motion sampling interval;

deactivating said motion sensor at the end of said motion sampling interval or upon detection of a motion in said user;

sending motion information from said personal health management device to said console unit indicating motion or no motion for said motion sampling interval; and

sending an alert from said console unit to said personal health management device based on said motion information and said pre-set alarm criteria.

23. The system according to claim 10 wherein:

medication prescription information is able to be provided by said third party server wherein said medication prescription information comprises a medication schedule;

said medication prescription information is able to be sent by said third party server to said console unit through said application gateway;

said console unit sends alert messages to said personal health management device according to said medication schedule; and

said personal health management device generates audio or visual alerts autonomously using information from said medication schedule.

24. The system according to claim 10 wherein said one or more stand-alone devices comprise a weight scale, peak flow meter, glucose meter, blood pressure monitor, portable ECG/EKG device, or a CPAP machine.

25. A watch, having health-related functions, and a relay device;

said watch comprising;

a user interface to support said health-related functions of said watch, wherein said health-related functions comprise;

a personal emergency alert function, two-way voice communication, in-case-of-emergency (ICE) information storage and communication capability, event reminder capability, motion sensor data collection and transmission, and home control activation functions controlling aspects of a home;

a radio providing two-way wireless communication with a console unit;

a display showing alphanumeric and graphic information including current time;

a communication means coupled to external data and voice networks; and

a wireless communication connection means for receiving vital sign measurements from one or more stand-alone devices and for transmitting same to said console unit; and

said relay device maintaining wireless communication with said console unit, wherein said relay device provides connection between said watch and said external data and voice networks when said console unit is out of range, and wherein said console unit provides connection between said watch and said external data and voice networks when said console unit is within range.

26. The watch according to claim 25 wherein said user interface to support said health-related functions of said watch comprises push buttons on said watch.

27. The watch according to claim 25 wherein said communication means coupled to said external data and voice networks comprises communicating with external data and voice networks by one or more of the following:

analog telephony, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) over Ethernet, WiFi, and cellular wireless networks.

28. The watch according to claim 25 wherein said motion sensor data collection and transmission comprises:

providing a motion sensor on said watch;

providing a motion sampling interval, a polling interval, and pre-set alarm criteria set at said console unit;

activating said motion sensor at the beginning of said motion sampling interval;

deactivating said motion sensor at the end of said motion sampling interval or upon detection of a motion in a user;

sending motion information from said watch to said console unit indicating motion or no motion for each polling interval; and

sending an alert from said console unit to said watch based on said motion information and on said pre-set alarm criteria.

29. The watch according to claim 25 wherein said one or more stand-alone devices comprise a weight scale, peak flow meter, glucose meter, blood pressure monitor, portable ECG/EKG device, or a CPAP machine.

30. A method for health management of a user comprising:

providing a first personal health management device, showing alphanumeric and graphic information, said first personal health management device in two-way wireless communication with a console unit;

providing one or more stand-alone devices in wireless communication with said console unit and with said first personal health management device, wherein said one or more stand-alone devices collect personal health data from said user and transmit said personal health data to said first personal health management device;

transmitting said personal health data to said console unit;

collecting additional data from said first personal health management device and storing said additional data at said console unit;

uploading said personal health data and said additional data to an application gateway in communication with said console unit wherein said application gateway sends said personal health data and said additional data to one or more third-party servers;

maintaining wireless communication between said first personal health management device and said console unit by means of a relay device, wherein said relay device provides connection between said first personal health management device and external data and voice networks when said console unit is out of range, and wherein said console unit provides connection between said first personal health management device and said external data and voice networks when said console unit is in range; and

providing an alert system, wherein an alert can be triggered by an input by said user through a user interface to said first personal health management device and by pre-set alarm criteria associated with said collected personal health data or with values of collected said additional data or based on a communication received from said one or more third-party servers, and wherein said triggering of an alert causes said console unit to take an action.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein said first personal health management device is implemented in software and resides on third-party hardware wherein said hardware provides said two-way wireless communication, said showing alphanumeric and graphic information, said user interface, and said connection to said external data and voice networks.

32. The method according to claim 31 further comprising connecting said console unit to said external data and voice networks by one or more of the following:

analog telephony, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) over Ethernet, WiFi, and cellular wireless networks.

33. The method according to claim 31 further comprising a second personal health management device which comprises a dedicated hardware device sharing the same identification code as said first personal health management device, wherein said console unit provides a handoff mechanism which will send a data message to said software-implemented device, instructing said software-implemented device to activate or deactivate sending motion information to said console unit wherein said handoff mechanism may be triggered manually by an action of said user at said console unit or automatically by said dedicated hardware device being out-of-range for a given time period.

34. The method according to claim 30 wherein said two-way wireless communication with a console unit comprises a radio residing in said first personal health management device and wherein said relay device is carried on said user'"'"'s person.

35. The method according to claim 30 wherein said user interface comprises push buttons on said first personal health management device.

36. The method according to claim 30 wherein said first personal health management device is a wearable device comprising a bracelet, pendant, wrist-watch, or a belt attachment.

37. The method according to claim 30 further comprising:

providing a motion sensor on said first personal health management device;

setting a motion sampling interval, a polling interval, and second pre-set alarm criteria at said console unit;

activating said motion sensor at the beginning of said motion sampling interval;

deactivating said motion sensor at the end of said motion sampling interval or upon detection of a motion in said user;

sending motion information from said first personal health management device to said console unit indicating motion or no motion for each polling interval; and

sending an alert from said console unit to said first personal health management device based on said motion information and said second pre-set alarm criteria.

38. The method according to claim 30 wherein said one or more stand-alone devices comprise a weight scale, peak flow meter, glucose meter, blood pressure monitor, portable ECG/EKG device, or a CPAP machine.