EP0251520A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Personal health monitor
Assignee: Buddy Systems Inc
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Filing: 1987-06-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A personal health monitor (60) includes sensors for measuring patient weight, temperature, blood pressure, and ECG waveform. The monitor is coupled to a central unit (20) via modems (22, 62) and includes a computer which is programmed to prompt a patient to take prescribed medication at prescribed times, to use the sensors to measure prescribed health parameters, and to supply answers to selected questions. Medication compliance information, test results, and patient answers are compiled in a composite log which is automatically transmitted to the central unit. The computer is also programmed automatically to disconnect the monitor from an alternating current power source and to rely on internal battery power during certain periods of patient-monitor interaction, such as during use of the ECG module. In this way, danger to the patient and complexity of the ECG module are minimised. The computer is also programmed to compare measured test information with predetermined expected values, and in the event of a discrepancy, to collect additional information from the patient to assist trained personnel at the central unit in interpreting the composite log. The computer is also programmed to alert the central unit promptly in the event one or more measured parameters falls outside of a prescribed normal range. The normal range for a given parameter is made to vary in accordance with the measured value of one or more other parameters in order to reduce the incidence of false alarms.
Inventors
- 👤 Ping W. Fu
- 👤 Thomas J. Manning
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:58
CPC Classifications
G; G16; G16H; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/67; G16H20/00; G16H20/10; G16H10/00; G16H10/20; G16H10/60; G16H15/00; G16H40/40; G16H40/63; G16H50/00; G16H50/20; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A90/00; Y02A90/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/906; Y10S128/908; Y10S128/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A personal health monitor characterised by means for determining a plurality of health parameters, each indicative of the physical condition of a patient; means for prompting the patient with selected messages; means for storing a presribed parameter schedule for selected ones of the health parameters; means for storing a prescribed medication schedule for at least one medication; first means for automatically controlling the prompting means to request the patient to use the determining means to determine selected ones of the health parameters in accordance with the prescribed parameter schedule and for automatically storing the determined health parameters in a composite log; second means for automatically controlling the prompting means to request the patient to take medication in accordance with the prescribed medication schedule; means for automatically recording in the composite log information indicative of patient compliance with the prescribed medication schedule; and means for automatically transmitting the composite log to a central location for analysis by trained medical personnel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A personal health monitor characterised by means for determining a plurality of health parameters, each indicative of the physical condition of a patient; means for prompting the patient with selected messages; means for storing a presribed parameter schedule for selected ones of the health parameters; means for storing a prescribed medication schedule for at least one medication; first means for automatically controlling the prompting means to request the patient to use the determining means to determine selected ones of the health parameters in accordance with the prescribed parameter schedule and for automatically storing the determined health parameters in a composite log; second means for automatically controlling the prompting means to request the patient to take medication in accordance with the prescribed medication schedule; means for automatically recording in the composite log information indicative of patient compliance with the prescribed medication schedule; and means for automatically transmitting the composite log to a central location for analysis by trained medical personnel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the plurality of health parameters comprises: patient weight, patient temperature, patient pulse rate, patient blood pressure, and patient responses to selected questions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the prescribed medication schedule comprises a plurality of medication events, and the information recording means records information in the composite log indicative of a plurality of medication times, each corresponding to the time a respective one of the medication events was performed by the patient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the prescribed parameter schedule comprises a plurality of test events, and wherein the first means additionally stores in the composite log information indicative of a plurality of test times, each corresponding to the time a respective one of the health parameters was determined.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the transmitting means comprises a modem.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
196 words
A personal health monitor adapted to be powered by an alternating circuit power source, characterised by: means for collecting information indicative of the physical condition of the patient; means for recording the collected information; and means for supplying a DC supply voltage to power the collecting means and the recording means, said supplying means comprising: a rechargeable battery connected to the collecting means and the recording means; a battery charger adapted for connection to the alternating circuit power source and comprising means for supplying a charging current to the battery; a switch positioned to interrupt the flow of charging current from the battery charger to the battery and switchable between a first state, in which the switch isolates the battery from the charging circuit, and a second state, in which the switch allows the charging current to flow to the battery; first means for automatically placing the switch in the first state during at least selected periods of interaction between the patient and the collecting means; and second means for automatically placing the switch in the second state during at least selected periods characterised by an absence of interaction between the patient and the collecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
196 words
A personal health monitor adapted to be powered by an alternating circuit power source, characterised by: means for collecting information indicative of the physical condition of the patient; means for recording the collected information; and means for supplying a DC supply voltage to power the collecting means and the recording means, said supplying means comprising: a rechargeable battery connected to the collecting means and the recording means; a battery charger adapted for connection to the alternating circuit power source and comprising means for supplying a charging current to the battery; a switch positioned to interrupt the flow of charging current from the battery charger to the battery and switchable between a first state, in which the switch isolates the battery from the charging circuit, and a second state, in which the switch allows the charging current to flow to the battery; first means for automatically placing the switch in the first state during at least selected periods of interaction between the patient and the collecting means; and second means for automatically placing the switch in the second state during at least selected periods characterised by an absence of interaction between the patient and the collecting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the switch comprises a latching relay.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the collecting means comprises a plurality of patient sensors, each comprising means for sensing a respective patient parameter, and wherein the first means places the switch in the first state whenever selected ones of the patient sensors are operating to sense the respective patient parameter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, characterised in that the collecting means comprises a patient input device, and wherein the first means places the switch in the first state during at least selected periods when the patient input device is in use.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterised in that said information collecting means comprises at least a display, a blood pressure sensor, a patient temperature sensor, a patient weight sensor, and a controller which comprises means for presenting messages to a patient via the display; wherein the recording means comprises means for recording readings from the sensors in a log and means for transmitting the log to a central location for analysis by trained medical personnel; and wherein the first means comprises means for automatically placing the switch in the first state whenever the means for recording readings from the sensors is operative in order to insure that the alternating current power source presents no danger to the patient and no disturbing influence to the readings from the sensors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the information collecting means comprises a patient input device, and wherein the first means further comprises means for automatically placing the switch in the first state during at least selected periods when the patient input device is in use.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 11, characterised in that the rechargeable battery comprises a lead acid battery.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
124 words
A personal health monitor comprising: first means for automatically collecting a first set of data indicative of the physical condition of a patient; second means for automatically comparing the first set of data with a set of test criteria and for indicating when the first set of data fails to meet the test criteria; third means for automatically collecting a second set of additional data from the patient only when the first set of data fails to meet the test criteria, said second set of additional data selected to provide additional diagnostic information useful in interpreting the first set of data; and fourth means for automatically transmitting the first and second sets of data to a central location for analysis by trained medical personnel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
124 words
A personal health monitor comprising: first means for automatically collecting a first set of data indicative of the physical condition of a patient; second means for automatically comparing the first set of data with a set of test criteria and for indicating when the first set of data fails to meet the test criteria; third means for automatically collecting a second set of additional data from the patient only when the first set of data fails to meet the test criteria, said second set of additional data selected to provide additional diagnostic information useful in interpreting the first set of data; and fourth means for automatically transmitting the first and second sets of data to a central location for analysis by trained medical personnel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that the first set of data comprises at least one physical measurement of a parameter indicative of the physical condition of the patient.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the first set of data comprises answers supplied by the patient to questions by the first means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 13, 14 or 15, characterised in that the second set of data comprises at least one physical measurement of a parameter indicative of the physical condition of the patient.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, characterised in that the second set of data comprises answers supplied by the patient to questions presented by the second means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
158 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, characterised in that said first means comprises a patient monitor adapted for home use, comprising at least a display, a patient answer input device, a plurality of sensors including blood pressure sensor, a patient temperature sensor, and a patient weight sensor, and a controller which comprises first means for presenting messages including questions to a patient via the display, and means for recording patient answers to selected ones of the questions and readings from selected ones of the sensors in a log; wherein tbe first set of data is collected from a first selected set of sensors and questions and is recorded in the log; wherein the second set of additional data is collected from a second set of sensors and questions and is recorded in the log; and wherein the fourth means comprises means for automatically transmitting the log to the central location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
113 words
A personal health monitor comprising: means for automatically monitoring a plurality of parameters indicative of the physical condition of a patient said plurality oi parameters including at least first and second parameters; means for storing information indicative of a selected range of normal values of the first parameter, said selected range of normal values varying in accordance with the second parameter such that the selected range of normal values when the second parameter has a first value is different from the selected range of normal values when the second parameter has a second value; means for alerting a central station only when the first parameter is outside the selected range of normal values.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
A personal health monitor comprising: means for automatically monitoring a plurality of parameters indicative of the physical condition of a patient said plurality oi parameters including at least first and second parameters; means for storing information indicative of a selected range of normal values of the first parameter, said selected range of normal values varying in accordance with the second parameter such that the selected range of normal values when the second parameter has a first value is different from the selected range of normal values when the second parameter has a second value; means for alerting a central station only when the first parameter is outside the selected range of normal values.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that the alerting means comprises means for automatically transmitting the plurality of parameters to the central station for analysis by medical personnel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
96 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 19 or 20, characterised in that the means for automatically monitoring comprises: a display; a plurality of patient sensors including at least a blood pressure sensor, a patient temperature sensor, and a patient weight sensor; a controller comprising first means for presenting messages to a patient via the display, second means for recording the plurality of patient parameters indicative of readings from selected ones of the sensors in a log; and third means for automatically transmitting the log to a central location for analysis by trained medical personnel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 21, characterised in that the alerting means controls the third means to cause immediate transmission of the log to the central station.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
A personal health monitor as claimed in claim 21 or 22, characterised in that the patient sensors further include a patient answer input device, wherein the messages include questions, and wherein selected ones of the parameters are indicative of patient answers to selected questions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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