U.S. patent application number 10/440597 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-20 for personal medical monitoring unit and system.
This patent application is currently assigned to MCI Communications Corporation. Invention is credited to Phipps, Eric T..
Application Number | 20030216625 10/440597 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21960371 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030216625 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Phipps, Eric T. |
November 20, 2003 |
Personal medical monitoring unit and system
Abstract
A portable unit worn by a subject, comprising a medical
monitoring device, a data processing module with memory and
transmitter for collecting, monitoring, and storing the subject's
physiological data and also issuing the subject's medical alarm
conditions via wireless communications network to the appropriate
location for expeditious dispatch of assistance. The unit also
works in conjunction with a central reporting system for long term
collection and storage of the subject's physiological data. The
unit may have the capability to automatically dispense chemicals
that may alleviate or assist in recovery from an illness.
Inventors: |
Phipps, Eric T.; (Colorado
Springs, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WORLDCOM, INC.
TECHNOLOGY LAW DEPARTMENT
1133 19TH STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Assignee: |
MCI Communications
Corporation
Washington
DC
|
Family ID: |
21960371 |
Appl. No.: |
10/440597 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10440597 |
May 19, 2003 |
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09049542 |
Mar 27, 1998 |
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6579231 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/300 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 128/92 20130101;
H04M 11/04 20130101; Y10S 128/903 20130101; A61B 5/0002
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/300 |
International
Class: |
A61B 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable medical monitoring device, for generating,
collecting, and evaluating physiological data relating to a
subject, said device transmitting data via a communications medium
to a central reporting system, comprising: (a) at least one medical
sensor for generating current physiological data relating to a
condition of said subject; (b) a data storage device for
electronically storing said physiological data for a predetermined
period; (c) a transmitter for transmitting said physiological data
of said subject to a central reporting system in response to a
first output control signal; (d) data processing means for
evaluating said physiological data and generating said first output
control signal in response to pre-determined parameters in said
evaluation, said data processing means also generating a plurality
of input/output control signals; and 7 (e) at least one output
device communicating at least one of said input/output control
signals to said subject.
2. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 1, wherein
said physiological data is generated in response to said subject's
physical condition, including said subject's heart rate, pulse
rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, heart EKG activity, or body
temperature.
3. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 1, wherein
said first output control signal includes a command to transmit an
emergency call.
4. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 1, wherein
said portable medical monitoring device includes a dispense unit
having a tube filled with medication, and said first output control
signal includes a command to said dispense unit to dispense
medication.
5. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 1, wherein
said at least one output device includes a beeper, and one of said
plurality of input/output control signals is a signal to activate
said beeper.
6. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 1, wherein
said at least one output device includes a vibrator and one of said
plurality of input/output control signals is a signal to activate
said vibrator.
7. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 1, wherein
said at least one output device includes a screen display, and one
of said plurality of output control signals is a signal to display
selected data on said screen monitor.
8. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 1, wherein
said transmitter is an interactive paging device whereby a page is
sent over a wireless communications network to a central reporting
system.
9. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 1, wherein
said transmitter is a PCS network cellular network phone whereby a
phone call is made to a central reporting system.
10. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 1, wherein
said data processing means includes a central processing unit (CPU)
which interprets and executes instructions.
11. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 1, wherein
said portable medical monitoring device further comprises at least
one input means for enabling manual entry of one or more of a
plurality of instructions to said data processing means.
12. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 11, wherein
said at least one input means includes push buttons which can be
manually depressed and said plurality of instructions include
downloading, storing, and displaying a subject's current
physiological data.
13. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 1, wherein
said at least one output device includes at least one external data
communications port for downloading and uploading said
physiological data to an external remote device.
14. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 13, wherein
said external remote device is connected to said central reporting
system.
15. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 1, wherein
said physiological data includes a device identification code which
identifies a subject to said central reporting system.
16. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 15, wherein
said physiological data transmitted by said transmitter further
comprises a subject profile including subject's name, home address,
and medical conditions.
17. A portable medical monitoring device, for generating,
collecting, and evaluating physiological data relating to a subject
and the subject's geographic location, said device transmitting
data via a communications link to a central reporting system,
comprising: (a) at least one medical sensor for generating current
physiological data relating to a condition of said subject; (b) a
data storage device for electronically storing said physiological
data for a predetermined period; (c) a GPS receiver for determining
the geographic coordinates of a subject; (d) a wireless transmitter
for transmitting said physiological data and said geographic
coordinates of said subject to a central reporting system in
response to a first output control signal; (e) data processing
means for evaluating said physiological data and generating said
first output control signal and a plurality of other output control
signals; and (f) at least one output device for communicating with
said subject in response to at least one of said other output
control signals.
18. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 17, wherein
said physiological data is generated in response to said subject's
physical condition, including said subject's heart rate, pulse
rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, heart EKG activity, or body
temperature.
19. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 17, wherein
one of said plurality of other output control signals is an
instruction to transmit an emergency call which includes said
geographic coordinates.
20. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 17, wherein
said at least one output device includes a beeper, and one of said
plurality of other output control signals is a signal to activate
said beeper.
21. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 17, wherein
said at least one output device includes a screen display, and one
of said plurality of other output control signals is a signal to
display selected data on said screen monitor.
22. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 17, wherein
said transmitter is an interactive paging device whereby a page is
sent over a wireless communications network to a central reporting
system, said page including the subject's geographic
coordinates.
23. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 17, wherein
said transmitter is a PCS network cellular network phone whereby a
phone call is made to a central reporting system to transmit data
thereto, said data including said geographic coordinates.
24. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 23, wherein
said central reporting system may dispatch emergency services to
the geographic coordinates in response to an emergency call from
said device.
25. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 17, wherein
said data processing means includes a central processing unit (CPU)
which interprets and executes instructions relating to said medical
data.
26. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 17, wherein
said portable medical monitoring device further comprises at least
one input means for enabling manual entry of one or more of a
plurality of instructions to said data processing means.
27. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 26, wherein
said at least one input means includes push buttons which can be
manually depressed and said plurality of instructions include the
transmission and display of a subject's current medical data and
geographic coordinates.
28. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 17, wherein
said at least one output device includes at least one external data
communications port for downloading and uploading said
physiological data to an external data store at said central
reporting system.
29. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 17, wherein
said physiological data includes a device identification code which
identifies a subject to said central reporting system.
30. The portable medical monitoring device as in claim 29, wherein
said physiological data transmitted by said transmitter further
comprises a subject profile including subject's name, home address,
and medical conditions.
31. A medical monitoring system for collection and evaluation of a
subject's physiological data comprising: (a) a portable medical
monitoring device for generating, collecting, and evaluating
physiological data relating to a subject, said portable medical
monitoring device further comprising, (i) at least one medical
sensor for generating current physiological data relating to a
condition of said subject; (ii) a data storage device for
electronically storing said physiological data for a predetermined
period; (iii) a wireless transmitter for transmitting said
physiological data to a central reporting system in response to a
first output control signal; (iv) data processing means for
evaluating said physiological data and generating a plurality of
output control signals; (v) at least one output device for
communicating information in response to at least one of a
plurality of input/output control signals; and (b) a central
reporting data server for collecting and storing physiological data
from a plurality of said portable medical monitoring devices
wherein each of said portable medical monitoring devices has a
unique device identifier and monitors a separate subject, said
central reporting data server further comprising means for
correlating said unique device identifier to an individual subject
medical data record.
32. The medical monitoring system as claimed in claim 31, wherein
said central reporting service further comprises means to respond
to emergency calls from said medical monitoring devices.
33. The medical monitoring system as in claim 32, wherein said
means for responding to emergency calls from said medical
monitoring device comprises a processor capable of executing
instructions and automatically referencing said device identifier
to physiological data relating to a particular subject and issuing
a second call to a selected authority and transmitting said
physiological data with said second call to said authority.
34. The medical monitoring system as in claim 32, wherein said
portable medical monitoring device further includes a GPS receiver
and said central reporting system records geographic coordinates of
the subject for each emergency call.
35. The medical monitoring system as in claim 31, wherein said
medical monitoring system further includes a database where said
physiological data and related information pertaining to each
subject are stored and retrieved by said central reporting system
at predefined intervals.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a medical
monitoring unit or device for the continued examination and care of
a subject. More particularly, the present invention is directed to
a medical monitoring device and system for the continuous storing
of a subject's current physiological or medical data, the
evaluation of said data enabling the early detection of adverse
health conditions should they arise, and the providing of real time
notification of such health conditions to the appropriate person or
persons such that a proper and expeditious response may be
taken.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] The benefits of being able to monitor and/or study various
medical characteristics of a subject on a continuous basis, store
and evaluate the data of those chosen aspects of the subject and
initiate a particular response based on said evaluation are
numerous. To accomplish such a feat in today's world would
encompass a huge undertaking.
[0005] The most obvious use of the present invention would be in
connection with individuals suffering from specific health
problems. Any individual with a continuing illness such as heart
disease or asthma, ideally needs to be monitored continually for
the slightest recurring signs of those health problems. Although
the medical industry has many tools for monitoring an individual's
activities and evaluating their personal responses to those
activities, a person must traditionally travel periodically to a
medical facility in order to obtain the proper medical care and
diagnosis. Once at the facility, the individual is often hooked up
to some type of a monitoring instrument and is thereafter usually
confined to the particular area for the duration of the session. In
some cases, this may be several hours or more. While the monitoring
equipment is attached to the individual, movement by the individual
is either severely restricted or not permitted at all.
[0006] Moreover, the results of these existing procedures and
tests, when they are finally reviewed and interpreted by the doctor
or medical technician, only give a glimpse of the subject's
activity and physiological data at the time of the monitoring.
Today's monitoring equipment does not provide the physician or
health care providers with nearly enough information on the
subject's general conditions prior to or after the tests are
performed. That is, in order to be able to establish a more
accurate medical diagnosis, doctors would greatly benefit from
observing the history of a subject's medical data for a longer
duration than the time permitted in the medical facilities. For
various obvious reasons, such as the time needed to perform these
tests, the costs of the tests and the headaches of trying to
schedule the required number of visits which would enable a full
evaluation of a subject's health history, such an observation of an
individual would be infeasible.
[0007] Another major problem for many individuals is getting prompt
medical attention as soon as a medical problem occurs. The
providing of expeditious medical care is sometimes crucial to the
individual's ability to recover. For example, a heart attack victim
has a significantly greater chance of full recovery if medical
attention is received within the first few hours after signs of a
heart attack are detected or the actual heart attack has occurred.
Unfortunately, most of the time, an individual does not recognize
the symptoms which would indicate that they were at risk. Often, by
the time the individual does realize that help is needed, they are
incapable of calling for emergency assistance. Yet another problem
is providing the emergency medical services attending the
individual with quick and accurate information which would lead to
a successful diagnosis and treatment of the problem.
[0008] Portable EKG monitoring devices are known which collect
medical data on cardiac functions from a plurality of sensors.
After a predefined period, normally twenty-four hours, the data is
transferred to a computer or strip recorder for analysis by skilled
medical personnel in a conventional manner. Although such a device
is very useful, there is still a time delay before the collected
data is reviewed and analyzed.
[0009] Accordingly, there is still a need for a service that can
provide for the continuous collection, monitoring and storing a
subject's physiological data while allowing the subject complete
freedom and mobility.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is directed to the continuous real
time collection, monitoring and storage of an individual's
physiological data without interrupting or incapacitating any
aspect of the individual's everday life. In addition, the
monitoring device and system of the present invention can send out
a distress call when the individual's vital signs reach a dangerous
level or stop altogether.
[0011] The present invention uses a standard microcomputer in
connection with various types of medical monitoring devices, and
utilizes wireless communications technology known in the art. More
particularly, the monitoring device employs software having the
capability to monitor a subject's vital signs, record, collect and
store the data. The stored information may then be downloaded into
a computer to be analyzed. The computer may be located anywhere,
including in a hospital, a clinic, the individual's home, or a
physician's office. In addition, the monitoring device may also be
able to provide real time information to the monitored subject at a
touch of a button.
[0012] If the monitoring device detects abnormal behavior or
stressful conditions in the subject being monitored, it can alert
and notify the subject or the appropriate people such that the
subject's current activities can be limited accordingly to combat
the detected adverse conditions. When, and if, a subject's vital
signs stop or reach a dangerous level, the monitoring device may
emit some type of alarm, such as a loud beeping sound, to attract
the attention of the subject and/or anyone in the immediate
vicinity of the subject. If the subject is unable to respond to the
alarm condition, the device may send out a distress call. The
device may be programmed such that a call to 911 is immediately
made and the subject's name and medical history are provided
therewith. At the same time, the present device may also provide
the 911 operator with the subject's exact location, by sending them
a global positioning satellite (GPS) coordinate stored in the
device.
[0013] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a personal medical monitoring unit which may be worn on a
subject and carried anywhere. The unit may be equipped to store
current medical data and detect any pre-defined alarm conditions,
such as heart failure. Upon an occurrence of one or more of such
alarm conditions, the unit provides a central reporting system with
emergency information for the efficient dispatching of emergency
assistance.
[0014] It is another object of the present invention to combine the
advantages of long-range navigation systems such as a global
positioning system (GPS) for locating the subject at the time of
the health crisis. The extensive communications capabilities of a
cellular telephone or a two way pager would provide the most
expeditious emergency assistance.
[0015] It is another object of the present invention to provide
some type of notification feature, such as a beeper and/or
vibrating mechanism, to inform the subject, or people nearby, of a
detected condition.
[0016] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a service for continuous real time collection and long term
storage of a remote subject's medical data via wireless
communications technology.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be
described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the present invention
in a preferred embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external
layout of a personal data unit and a monitoring device.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a
personal data unit's internal components.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a
logical data configuration stored in a data storage device.
[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a dispense unit worn by a
subject.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the present invention
in its preferred embodiment. That is, FIG. 1 illustrates the
present invention as a personal medical monitoring unit and system.
The unit 12 is typically comprised of a personal data unit (PDU) 14
and a monitoring device 16. It should be noted that the PDU 14 and
the monitoring device 16 do not need to be in separate housings as
illustrated in FIG. 1, but may be confined in a single unit as
indicated at 12. The system is generally comprised of the PDU 14
and the monitoring device 16, in conjunction with a Central
Reporting System (CRS) 18, a Subject/Device Database 20, and a
communications network 22 as shown.
[0024] The monitoring device 16 is usually worn by a user, i.e. the
subject to be monitored--typically a "patient". Of course, the
monitored subject is not limited to "patients" per se, but can be
used with respect to anybody. That is, people with no past medical
history can use the present monitoring device simply as a safeguard
against any health risks that may arise; athletes may employ the
present devices to monitor their own physical condition during
competition, practice or training; parents may use the present
invention to monitor and care for their children or infants;
contained facilities, such as prisons, can monitor their
inhabitants (such as the guards and prisoners); the present device
can even be used to monitor the physical characteristics of an
animal or pet. The possibilities are endless.
[0025] The monitoring device of the present invention can be any
type of medical monitoring device, including those which monitor
heart rate or pulse, breathing rate, blood pressure, heart EKG
activity, or body temperature. The PDU 14 includes a transmitter,
memory, and a processor. The transmitter may be an interactive
pager, a Personal Communications Services (PCS) network digital or
analog cellular phone.
[0026] The PDU 14 may also include a long-range navigation system
receiver such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; data
ports for uploading and downloading information such as medical
information, addresses, and thresholds; and a number of
input/output devices such as an LCD display monitor, push buttons,
a beeper, and a vibration mechanism.
[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the PDU 14 continuously monitors
a subject's medical data values as it receives them from the
medical monitoring device 16 and stores them in its memory. In
addition, the PDU 14 constantly receives communications signals
from the well-known GPS satellites 24, which is a group of three
geostationary satellites used for determining one's geographical
location. GPS coordinates are also stored in memory in the PDU 14.
When the monitoring device 16 detects a certain condition (e.g.,
loss of pulse), it triggers the PDU 14 to take action in accordance
with pre-determined instructions stored in PDU memory. An exemplary
action is to issue an emergency page or call via a wireless
communications network 26.
[0028] Two embodiments of communications networks are shown in FIG.
1. In one example, a two-way interactive paging network 28 is used,
and the PDU's transmitter is an interactive paging device. The PDU
issues an automatic page which includes an alphanumeric string
retrieved from PDU memory. The page is sent over a paging network
28 to a Central Reporting System (CRS) 18. Alternatively, the page
may be sent over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 32 to
the CRS 18.
[0029] In a second example of communications networks, a Personal
Communications Services (PCS) 30, which is a digital cellular
network, or an analog cellular network is used. The PDU's
transmitter is a PCS phone, for example. The PDU 14, when triggered
by the user or the monitoring device 16, issues a PCS phone call. A
dialing sequence is stored in PDU memory. The PDU PCS phone seizes
a channel, sets up a call on the PCS network, and completes a call.
A call may be completed to a 911 Call Center 34, or to the CRS 18.
Calls may be completed over the PCS cellular network 30, or via the
PSTN 32.
[0030] The CRS 18 is a server computer that receives emergency
calls or pages from a plurality of PDUs 14, and takes action in
accordance with records and instructions previously entered in a
Subject/Device Database 20. Typically, the CRS 18 will notify a
Call Center 36 of an emergency situation. When the CRS 18 receives
the emergency call or page from the PDU 14, it references the
Subject/Device Database 20 to identify the device and subject,
based on a device identifier that is included in the emergency
page/call. Each device and/or subject has a record in the
Subject/Device Database 20. The record includes subject information
(e.g., name, address, medical conditions, etc.) and medical
instructions for responding to an emergency page or call. The CRS
18 may issue a call to an agent at a Call Center 36. This call may
be text-based, so that the CRS 18 can send a text message to the
Call Center 36 agent to indicate that a certain PDU for a certain
subject has detected a certain condition, and that medical
attention may be needed.
[0031] The emergency page or call may also contain the subject's
current GPS coordinates. The CRS 18 translates these coordinates to
a recognizable geographical reference, and provides the subject's
accurate location in the call information provided to the Call
Center 36.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external
layout of a PDU and a monitoring device in accordance with the
present invention. The monitoring device may be any standard
medical monitoring device that is capable of providing data to
another device. An example shown in FIG. 2 is a wrist or arm band
38 that can monitor pulse, blood pressure, or chemicals secreted by
the subject's skin. Another example is a heart monitoring device
that can detect heart fibrillation. Another example is a device
which fits on a finger for measuring blood oxygenation.
[0033] Yet another example is a small chip that may be implanted in
the subject's body for taking measurements and/or samples. In such
a case, the device would, for example, be able to monitor blood
sugar levels for a subject with diabetes. The monitoring device
sends data to the PDU, indicating the current status of the
condition that is being monitored.
[0034] In addition, the monitoring device may include a dispense
unit having a tube which may be implanted in the subject's body and
allow for the flow of medicine stored in the tube to the subject's
body. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a dispense unit 90 worn by a
subject. The monitoring device may dispense the medication when it
receives a signal from the PDU indicating a necessity for
medication. The dispense unit together with the monitoring unit may
also regulate the subject's chemical levels.
[0035] The PDU 14 is a small device designed to be worn by a
subject, providing the subject with great mobility. The PDU may
include user input/output means. Output means includes a display
40, such as a Liquid/Crystal Display (LCD) screen. The PDU 14 can
also be designed with a vibrator and/or a beeper, to notify the
subject and other people in the vicinity, of the subject's
condition. These output means may be used in combination. For
example, if the monitoring device detects a pulse rate above a
threshold, the PDU will display a message on the LCD screen, and
will also vibrate and/or beep to notify the subject. The message
displayed may include the subject's current medical condition as
well as brief instructions to the subject to limit their
activities.
[0036] Input means may include several buttons. For example, a
status button 42, when depressed, could cause the PDU to display
the current data from the monitoring device; this may include an
English translation of any pertinent condition or status detected
by the monitoring device.
[0037] Another example of an input/output means is a serial
communications port 48. A download button 44 may be used in
conjunction with the serial communications port 48. The port 48 may
be connected to a computer, such as a hospital, clinic or doctor's
personal computer, to transfer data stored in the PDU. In this
manner, the PDU may be used to store a week's worth of most recent
data, for example, while an external computer is used for storing
long term data. When the download button 44 is depressed, the PDU
transfers data stored in its memory to the external computer. This
data can then be reviewed, for example by the subject's doctor, to
determine the subject's progress or condition.
[0038] A store button 46 may also be used in conjunction with the
serial communications port 48 for causing the PDU to receive data
from an external source. Such a scheme may be used to reprogram the
PDU with various instructions.
[0039] A 911 button 50, when depressed could cause the PDU to issue
a transmission of an emergency call to a 911 Call Center. This
feature enables a user to manually send an emergency page or phone
call. This enables the subject to manually seek emergency
assistance for a variety of conditions, including injuries from a
fall, an automobile malfunction or an imminent danger from criminal
activity, and to provide GPS coordinate locations with the
emergency call.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
configuration of the PDU's internal components. It comprises a main
microprocessor such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 52, memory
54, input/output means 56, and a circuit bus 58 for data transfer.
As is standard in most computers, memory includes both read only
memory (ROM) for permanent data storage and random access
memory.
[0041] The PDU 14 also includes a transmitter 62. The transmitter
62 is a two-way interactive pager or a digital PCS phone. In a
preferred embodiment, an interactive pager is used, because it may
be implemented in a smaller device, and the mobility of a subject
wearing the PDU is an important factor. The transmission sequence
for issuing a page, as well as all alpha-numeric data sent as a
page, are stored in PDU's memory 54.
[0042] The PDU 14 may also include a GPS receiver 60 which receives
signals from GPS satellites, and determines the PDU's current
location. The GPS receiver 60 is programmed to write the current
coordinates to a place in PDU memory 54 at fixed intervals of time
(i.e., once per minute). The PDU memory 54 stores current GPS
coordinates, for a predetermined period, and may also store
historical coordinates, up to a certain time period.
[0043] The PDU 14 may also include input/output means 56 for
sequencing input and output calls to the CPU 52 and for formatting
data to the appropriate output medium. The input means are buttons
for status 42, download 44, store 46, and 911 call 50. The PDU 14
also has a connection for receiving input from the monitoring
device 16. All data received from the monitoring device 16 is
stored in memory 54. Output means include displays to an LCD screen
40 and downloads via the computer.
[0044] The device may also include a beeper and a vibration
mechanism, as is standard in paging devices. These are binary state
components (on/off) and are triggered by instructions that are
stored in memory 54 and processed by the CPU 52.
[0045] A communications port 48 is used to transfer data to and
from an external computer, via a direct cable connection. When the
download button 44 is depressed, select data values from memory 54
are output to an external computer via the communications port 48;
when the store button 46 is depressed, selected data values are
input from an external computer and stored in PDU memory 54.
[0046] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one possible logical
configuration of PDU memory. This configuration represents an
example of the data stored in memory. Alternate embodiments are
possible.
[0047] Device ID 66 comprises a unique identifier for each
monitoring device. This identifier is included with every
transmission performed by the PDU, and is used by the receiving end
(e.g., CRS or 911 call center) to identify the source device of
each transmission. Each device ID is mapped to a particular subject
in the Subject/Device Database, so that the receiving CRS can
identify the subject for which a PDU's transmission has been
made.
[0048] Subject profile 68 includes data for the particular subject
wearing the PDU. At a minimum, this may be a subject identifier.
The subject identifier may be sent, either in place of or in
addition to, the device ID 66, in an emergency transmission. The
subject profile 68 may also include other information on the
subject, such as name, home address, and medical conditions.
[0049] Having a subject profile 68 stored in PDU memory is
optional, and is not necessary to enable the present invention. In
a first and preferred embodiment, in order to minimize size, a
subject profile is not stored in PDU memory. The device ID 66 is
included in all transmissions. The CRS uses the device ID as a key
to look up the subject profile in the Subject/Device Database.
[0050] In a second embodiment, a subject profile 68 is stored in
PDU memory 54, but only includes a subject identifier. The subject
identifier is included in transmissions, and is used to look up the
subject profile in the Subject/Device Database. This embodiment is
useful if the PDU (with a single device ID) is to be used by more
than one subject. Another button may be added to the PDU for
selecting a "current subject", the selection of which causes a
certain subject identifier to be used.
[0051] In a third embodiment, a complete subject profile is stored
in PDU memory 54, including data such as name and medical
conditions. This is useful for situations in which a Subject/Device
Database is not available. For example, if the PDU transmitter is a
PCS phone, and a call is triggered to a 911 call center which does
not have access to a CRS or the Subject/Device Database, the PDU
may transmit the subject identifier, name, address, medical
conditions, current location (from GPS coordinates), and other
information as necessary, to the call center.
[0052] Thresholds field 70 includes thresholds for data collected
from the monitoring device, and used to trigger an action by the
PDU. Examples of thresholds include: heart rate or pulse above or
below a threshold; body temperature above or below a threshold;
blood pressure above or below a threshold; blood sugar level above
or below a threshold; or any type of chemical imbalance that may be
detected by the monitoring device. Examples of actions that may be
triggered are an emergency transmission (page or phone call),
activation of the beeper, activation of the vibrator, and an LCD
screen display.
[0053] Instructions field 72 comprises instructions for the PDU to
perform in response to some condition. Instructions are one or more
application programs executed by PDU's CPU. Instructions may be
grouped, but not limited, into following categories:
autonotification; emergency transmission; data store; and data
download.
[0054] The auto-notification category includes procedures for
triggering output, including displays to the LCD screen, activation
of beeper, and activation of vibrator. For example, if pulse rate
data collected from the monitoring device exceeds a threshold of
120, auto-notification triggers the activation of the beeper and a
display message to the LCD screen.
[0055] The emergency transmission category includes procedures for
issuing pages or phone calls. These include detection of a
threshold, determination of action, retrieval and execution of
transmission sequence, and retrieval from memory of data to be
included in the transmission (i.e., device ID and subject profile).
For example, if data from the monitoring device indicates heart
fibrillation, emergency transmission sends a page in accordance
with an emergency dialing sequence and transmits device ID, current
GPS coordinates, and current data from the monitoring device.
[0056] The data store category includes procedures for storing data
in PDU memory 54. Data may come from an external computer via the
communications port, from the monitoring device, and from the PDU's
GPS receiver. The various data are stored in specific allocations
of PDU memory.
[0057] The data download category includes procedures for
downloading data to an external computer via the communications
port. The external computer will specify which data to download.
PDU instructions specify where to find that data in memory. These
instructions may also include security mechanisms, such as user
validation of the external computer.
[0058] Transmission sequence field 74 includes data needed to issue
an emergency transmission. This includes dialing sequences for
issuing a page or phone call. A PDU may have more than one
transmission sequence. For example, one sequence may be used to
call a 911 call center for an emergency condition, and another
sequence may be used to call the CRS for nominal status
reporting.
[0059] Historical/current data field 76 include data collected from
the monitoring device for a specified period of time, or for a
specified number of data collections. Minimally, current data is
stored here, such as the subject's current pulse. This data is
extracted and sent in an emergency transmission. Optionally,
historical data may also be stored. For example, heart rates
collected every 15 minutes for the past week may be stored. This
data may be extracted and downloaded to a doctor's computer on a
periodic basis.
[0060] GPS coordinates field 78 contains current and historical
records of GPS coordinates collected by the PDU's GPS receiver.
[0061] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a dispense unit worn by a
subject. A tube may be implanted in the subject's body and may
allow for the flow of medicine. A dispense unit 90 may be worn by
the subject 94 together with the monitoring devices or as a part of
the device, and includes medication 92 to be dispensed. The
dispensing may be triggered by a signal from the PDU. The PDU may
trigger this signal when it determines, from evaluating the medical
data collected from the monitoring device, a necessity to dispense
medication.
[0062] Although shown and described is what is believed to be the
most practical and preferred embodiments, it is apparent that
departures from specific designs and methods described and shown
will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and may be used
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The
present invention is not restricted to the particular constructions
described and illustrated, but should be construed to cohere with
all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended
claims.
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