(12) United States Patent
`Quy
`
`USOO6602191 B2
`US 6,602,191 B2
`Aug. 5, 2003
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEALTH
`AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT COMBINING
`PATIENT DATA MONITORING WITH
`WIRELESS INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
`
`(75) Inventor: Roger J. Quy, Mill Valley, CA (US)
`(73) Assignee: Q-tec Systems LLP, Wilmington, DE
`(US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 199 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/738,270
`(22) Filed:
`Dec. 15, 2000
`(65)
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2001/0047125 A1 Nov. 29, 2001
`Related U.S. Application Data
`60) Provisional application No. 60/172,486, filed
`Dec. 17
`rOVISIOnal application NO.
`,480, Illed on Lec. If,
`1999.
`(51) Int. Cl." .................................................. A61B 5/00
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 600/300; 128/903; 128/904;
`128/923
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 600/300, 301,
`600/345, 365, 481, 483, 485, 509, 529;
`607/27, 30, 31, 32, 60; 128/902, 903, 904,
`905, 920, 923,924; 709/204, 205, 230,
`238, 245, 246; 705/2,3; 707/6
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`5,601,435 A * 2/1997 Quy ....................... 434/307 R
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`
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`EFI Framework Draft Version 0.8 (Jun. 3, 2000); External
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`Internet press release: New York Business Wire (Sep. 25,
`2000); MedSearch Technologies, Inc. Develops a Revolu
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`Personal Organizers-as Patient Monitors.
`(List continued on next page.)
`Primary Examiner Willis R. Wolfe
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Mark D. Wieczorek
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A method and apparatus for a wireless health monitoring
`System for interactively monitoring a disease or health
`condition of a patient by connecting an internet-enabled
`wireless web device (“WWD") to a health monitoring
`device which may be a medical device or other health related
`device. The WWD may be connected to the health moni
`toring device directly by a wired connection to a generic
`input/output port of the WWD or wirelessly connected to the
`health monitoring device, Such as via an infrared or radio
`frequency connection. The health related data is transmitted
`from the WWD to a server using standard internet protocols.
`The Server calculates a response using a Software program
`while providing for review bt a physician or health Special
`ist. The user may interact with the Server, for example, the
`server transmits a response to the WWD and the user may
`answer the response or provide other information.
`105 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
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`US 6,602,191 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`5,752,917. A
`5/1998 Fuchs
`5,772.586 A * 6/1998 Heinonen et al............ 600/300
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`8/1998 Woodard
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`8/1999 Brown
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`8/1999 Iliff
`5,951,300 A 9/1999 Brown
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`6,144,837 A * 11/2000 Quy ....................... 434/307 R
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`1/2001 Brown
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`... 600/300
`6,416,471 B1 * 7/2002 Kumar et al......
`... 600/300
`6,440,068 B1 * 8/2002 Brown et al. .....
`... 600/300
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`... 600/300
`6,458,080 B1 * 10/2002 Brown et al. .....
`... 600/300
`2002/OO19584 A1
`2/2002 Schulze et al. ............. 600/300
`
`
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Jyrki Oraskari; “Bluetooth versus WLAN IEEE 802.1X”;
`Helsinki University of Technology (Department of Com
`puter Science and Engineering) Nov., 2000.
`Jack Smith; “Your Personal Health Buddy"; ABCNews
`.COm,
`http://abcnews.go.com/sections/tech/Cuttingedge/
`cuttingedge990225.html, 3 pages; Nov. 24, 2000.
`“The Health Hero Communications Platform”; The Health
`Hero Network Online Services; http://www.hhn.com/prod
`ucts/index.html: 2 pages; Nov. 24, 2000.
`“Painless Blood-Glucose Monitoring”; Kumetrix Technol
`ogy Overview; http://www.kumetrix.com/technology.html:
`2 pages; Nov. 24, 2000.
`“Technology & Clinical Results-Simple Solutions Through
`Technology-Progression of Glucose Monitoring Technol
`ogy', Amira; http://www.amira.com/tech/tic tech.htm; 2
`pages; Nov. 24, 2000.
`
`“Wired for Wellness"; LifeChart.com; http://www.lifechart
`.com; 2 pages; Nov. 24, 2000.
`“About Data Critical Corporation”; Yahoo-Data Critical to
`provide Mallinckrodt with Wireless Connectivity for Venti
`lators:
`http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/001012/mo.ma
`Ilinc.html; 1 page; Nov. 24, 2000.
`"Bluetooth wireleSS technology-bridging the gap between
`computing and communication', Bluetooth Technology;
`http://www.intell.com/mobile/bluetooth/: 2 pages; Nov. 28,
`2OOO.
`“Bluetooth resource center”; “What is Bluetooth'?”; palow
`ireless.com: http://www.palowireless.com/infotooth/whati
`S.asp; 3 pages; Nov.28, 2000.
`“Bluetooth
`Tutorial';
`pallowireless.com-bluetooth
`resource center; http://www.palowireless.com/infotooth/tu
`torial.aso; 4 pages; Nov. 28, 2000.
`“Bluetooth Profiles'; pallowireless.com-bluetooth resource
`center; http://www.palowireless.com/infotooth/tutorial/pro
`files.asp; 4 pages; Nov. 28, 2000.
`Nick Hunt; “Bluetooth Vesus 802.11"; TDK Systems; http://
`www.cellular.co.za/bluetooth versus 802.htm; 4 pages; Nov.
`28, 2000.
`“Bluetooth vs. Airport (802.11 Network)"; palowireless
`.com-bluetooth resource center; http://www.palowireleSS
`.com/infotooth/knowbase/othernetworkS/15.asp; 3 pages,
`Nov. 28, 2000.
`“Personal Digital Assistants-A2 Anytime/Anywhere-A
`Weekly on Wireless Infrastructure and Data Services”; Tho
`mas Weisel Partners (Merchant Banking); 5 pages; Nov. 29,
`2000.
`Ashlee Vance; “Ericsson and Intel make Bluetooth pact”;
`InfoWorld.com;
`http://www2.infoworld.com/articles/hn/
`Xml/00/12/04/001204hnericintel.xml?T . .
`. ?printarticle
`.htm; 1 page; Dec. 4, 2000.
`“Personal Portable Office";Nokia 9000il digital; http://ww
`w.nokiausa.com/9000il; 4 pages; Dec. 7, 2000.
`Pui-Wing Tam, “Handspring Hopes'; Article from The Wall
`Street Journal; Section B (Nov. 2000).
`Author Unknown; Articles on Phones and New Technolo
`gies; Article from The Wall Street Journal; (Nov. 2000).
`David Pringle, “Sagem to Launch Hand-held Computer that
`Doubles as Top-End Mobile Phone"; Article from The Wall
`Street Journal; (Nov. 2000).
`* cited by examiner
`
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`Aug. 5, 2003
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`US 6,602,191 B2
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`

`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEALTH
`AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT COMBINING
`PATIENT DATA MONITORING WITH
`WIRELESS INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`This application is a conversion of U.S. Provisional Patent
`Application Ser. No. 60/172,486 filed Dec. 17, 1999, entitled
`“Method and Apparatus for Health and Disease Manage
`ment Combining Patient Data Monitoring with Wireless
`Internet Connectivity”.
`
`REFERENCE TO GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT
`(none)
`REFERENCE TO MICROFICHEAPPENDIX
`(none)
`
`15
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to monitoring of living
`Subjects, and more particularly to health-monitoring of
`perSons where measured or input health data is communi
`cated by a wireleSS device to and from a Software application
`running on an internet-connected Server and where the same
`may be studied and processed by the Software application, a
`health professional, or the Subject.
`
`25
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Several attempts have been made in the past to achieve
`efficient interactive communication of medical or health
`information between a Subject or patient and a reviewer or
`provider of that information. In particular, communication
`of consumer physiological information has been a Subject of
`Such attempts. It is noted that in this regard the “reviewer or
`provider of medical or health information” is understood to
`include not only a physician but also a Software application
`or algorithm that may analyze the information.
`Medical or health information has been made available on
`a CD-ROM accessible by a home computer system. This
`passive approach had certain disadvantages. First, although
`the personal computer is prevalent is the United States, it is
`generally too expensive for a consumer physiological moni
`toring System and there are many people who find it too
`complicated to Set up and use for that purpose. High-risk,
`chronically ill patients, responsible for more than half of
`health care costs in the United States and forming the fastest
`growing Segment of those requiring health care, are indeed
`the most likely not to be able to afford or use a system built
`around a personal computer. In addition, Such Systems are
`limited in their interactivity to the information stored on the
`CD.
`Previous patents by the Inventor addressed both of these
`disadvantages, as well as the need to reduce health care costs
`through providing educational health care information and
`interactive physiological monitoring in the home environ
`ment by means of a user-friendly, interactive System (see,
`e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,601,435, 6,144,837, and continuations
`thereof).
`These previous patents were based on a Video game
`console, or a multimedia player using a conventional tele
`Vision Screen as the display device to achieve a System
`which is simpler to use than Systems based on a personal
`computer. An initial embodiment of the previous patents
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`US 6,602,191 B2
`
`2
`utilized a compact disc to provide interactive information for
`disease management.
`Even with the advantages provided, these Systems limited
`the user to location in which the device was located. Even
`where devices are portable, as in the case of a laptop
`computer with a modem, an ordinary POTS phone line must
`be found and used. Where the user's computer employs a
`broadband connection, Such as DSL or Satellite, the choices
`of location are even more limited.
`Attempts have been made to remedy this deficiency. For
`example, many telemetry Systems allow a "wireless' dis
`tance to be placed between a health measuring unit and a
`remote monitoring System. However, Such Systems are lim
`ited in their range.
`Other Systems have used cellular telephone technology to
`increase the wireleSS health monitoring range. However,
`these Systems have Several deficiencies, Such as requiring
`Significant modification of the mobile phone. For example,
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,586, issued Jun. 30, 1998 to Heinonon
`et al., discloses a method for monitoring the health of a
`patient. This System uses a specialized connection between
`the patient health measuring unit and the cellular phone,
`however. The patient health measuring unit is located in the
`battery space of the mobile phone and is connected to a
`communication bus of the mobile phone. Other Systems
`have been proposed, but these Suffer from Similar deficien
`cies in that they are not designed to be used with “off-the
`Shelf wireleSS devices or health measuring equipment.
`The deployment of the above Systems also currently lackS
`employment of full back-end server functionality with
`which to provide a wide range of interactive communication
`with the patient. Instead, Such Systems, if internet-enabled,
`are often limited to mere one-way non-interactive data
`transfer via a modem. While Some Systems are more
`enhanced, including that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,
`427, issued Oct. 18, 1994 to Langen, et al., and entitled
`“Remote Monitoring of High-Risk Patients using Artificial
`Intelligence', these Systems are limited by the wired tele
`communications infrastructure.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Embodiments of the present invention overcome one or
`more of the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a
`full-feature health-monitoring System that may wirelessly
`connect to a back-end Server application via the internet. The
`invention allows wireless access to and from a wide variety
`of present medical or health-related instruments and devices,
`while maintaining the capability of connecting to future Such
`devices.
`In particular, the invention may be embodied in Several
`Systems. Two complementary Such Systems are described
`herein, although extensions to other Such Systems can be
`envisioned. First, an embodiment of the invention may be
`employed to manage the disease State or condition of a
`patient. In this embodiment, the patient may employ a health
`monitoring device (“HMD”), in particular a medical device,
`and a wireleSS connection provides data from the medical
`device for processing via the internet including a review by
`a physician or other health care professional if required.
`In the Second embodiment, a health or lifestyle manage
`ment plan may be implemented. Various health parameters,
`Such as those relating to nutrition or exercise, may be
`entered into a health monitoring device, in this instance
`termed an "exercise machine', and the same may be wireleSS
`communicated to a Server. An application may proceSS and
`Store the health parameters, and a health Specialist may
`optionally review the Same.
`
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`25
`
`3
`WireleSS internet connectivity has many advantages. For
`example, in the first embodiment, a diabetic could connect
`a blood glucose meter to an internet-enabled wireleSS web
`device (“WWD") away from home and download data to a
`Diabetes Management Company's Server and, in response,
`receive guidance displayed on the Screen (or by voice) about
`choices for the next meal.
`Alternatively, in the Second embodiment, a perSon inter
`ested in tracking an exercise program may take the WWD to
`the local health club and attach the same to an exercise
`machine, Send data output from various exercise machines
`over the Internet, and receive a personalized response from
`the Server of a company specializing in Health & Lifestyle
`Management. The individual may input caloric content of
`foods eaten, and may further input caloric content of exer
`cise performed. In this way, e.g., a perSon in a weight-loSS
`program may see in great detail whether they are expending
`more calories in the form of exercise than the same indi
`vidual is consuming in the form of food.
`In general, in the health management embodiment, the
`System may be employed to monitor the physiologic Status
`of a healthy Subject while eating, exercising, or performing
`other activities. For clarity, Such devices are termed herein
`“exercise machines”. These may include an electronic body
`weight Scale, a body fat gauge, biofeedback devices, phyS
`iotherapy or chiropractic equipment, blood pressure
`recorders, or the like, or any type of exercise machine or
`monitor, including a heart rate monitor, treadmill, rowing
`machine, Stepper, or the like.
`In more detail, the present invention provides a method
`and System for assisting patients to manage a disease or
`maintain healthy lifestyle by collecting health-related data
`and providing information in response to those data by
`means of a WWD designed to display interactive informa
`tion through a connection to the Internet. The present
`invention may be connected to various HMDs, both medical
`and exercise-related in nature, and may communicate infor
`mation via a wireleSS connection Such as a wireleSS Internet
`connection.
`A major advantage of embodiments of the invention is
`that the same frees the patient from the constraints of wired
`systems. The same allows users with consumer “off-the
`Shelf wireleSS devices to significantly extend the range of
`connectivity over that of wired computer, television, or even
`wireleSS telemetry Systems.
`In a first embodiment of the present invention, the WWD
`is a web-enabled cellular phone. Here it is noted that the
`term “web' or “internet” are used interchangeably to refer to
`the internet in general. In a second embodiment, the WWD
`50
`is a palm, handheld, or laptop computer, or a PDA, equipped
`with a wireless modem. In a third embodiment, the WWD
`may be a hybrid device that combines the functions of a
`computer, PDA and telephone.
`An adaptor is used if necessary to convert the output
`Signal of the medical monitoring device to a Suitable input
`signal for the WWD. The adaptor allows connection of the
`WWD to a medical device, exercise machine or other variety
`of health care equipment, and the connection may be made
`Via Several techniques. AS for wired techniques, a Standard
`parallel bus or Serial cable may be used if the input/output
`ports between the HMD and the WWD are appropriate.
`Otherwise, a Suitable Separate adaptor may be employed.
`The connection may also be an input Such as a disk drive
`or other media input for input of data, a USB port or phone
`jack or other Such wired input, again employing an adaptor
`if required.
`
`4
`AS for wireless techniques, infrared (IR), microwaves,
`radio frequency (RF), e.g., Bluetooth(B) or 802.11 protocols,
`optical techniques including lasers, and other Such tech
`niques may be used. The patient or Subject may also input
`data manually, Such as by a Stylus, keypad, Synchronization
`from a PC, or by various other techniques discussed below.
`A major advantage of the invention is that by use of an
`optional adaptor, the System is compatible with current and
`prior HMDS as well as maintaining a capability of adapting
`to future Such Systems.
`Other advantages of the invention may include one or
`more of the following. An embodiment of the invention may
`be used when a patient is traveling or otherwise away from
`their "wired” means of communication. The invention
`allows wireleSS health-monitoring to the level of accuracy
`previously achieved only by desktop so-called “wired”
`computer Systems. The invention is protocol-independent.
`The interaction between a WWD and a back-end server
`may provide a major additional advantage in certain
`embodiments of the invention. In particular, the relatively
`small amount of memory currently provided on a WWD as
`compared to a back-end Server Severely limits the function
`ality of applications running on the WWD, especially in
`terms of computing capacity, processing power, and user
`interface. By providing Significant application functionality
`on the back-end, leSS memory and processing capabilities
`become necessary on the WWD (i.e., on the “front-end”).
`Thus, memory may be used in the WWD for an enhanced
`user interface or for other purposes, according to the user
`requirements.
`In a method according to an embodiment of the invention,
`the patient connects to a specific Internet Site and a Software
`program, resident on a remote server located on the Internet,
`downloads an interactive user interface for that patient and
`an application for the measurement of the physiological
`data. The software may also be downloaded to the WWD
`from a personal computer via a Synchronization operation in
`known fashion. The Software provides a personalized dis
`play for the user and configures the WWD to control and
`monitor devices connected via a generic input/output port to
`the WWD. The Software may be designed to suit the
`constraints of the small display screens of WWDs. The
`Software, as well as inputs from the patient or other inputs,
`can control the manner, content, and display of information
`presented to the patient, and measured or input data can be
`stored for review by a health care provider or by a software
`algorithm or application. The algorithm may be of varying
`complexity, from a simple program that merely acknowl
`edges receipt of information to an artificial intelligence
`algorithm, Such as an expert System, collaborative filtering
`System, rules based System, case-based reasoning System, or
`other Such artificial intelligence application.
`Further information may be provided to or from the
`patient, including information entered manually. The patient
`may input this information via a personal computer, which
`then may download the input information to the WWD via
`a Synchronization operation using Standard protocols, Such
`as those for Palm PDA devices.
`The user may also input Supplemental information via a
`PC connected independently to the server via the internet.
`Such Supplemental information may include data that is
`difficult or inconvenient to input on the WWD. In this way,
`the patient may be afforded a more convenient environment
`in which to manipulate data to Supplement the data input to
`the WWD. The deployment of voice processing technology
`may be used to enable an even more convenient user
`interface: i.e., one to which patients can talk.
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`US 6,602,191 B2
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`In all of these respects, the portable aspect of the WWD
`is important: to wit, the user may conveniently carry the
`WWD on their person wherever they may go, allowing data
`entry at the time needed.
`Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent
`from the Summary above, as well as from the description
`that follows, including the figures and the claims.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 illustrates a general embodiment of a wireless
`health-monitoring System according to the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless health
`monitoring apparatus according to the present invention,
`showing the system of FIG. 1 up to a point of a wireless
`antenna,
`FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a back end of a
`health-monitoring System according to the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a data flow diagram according to an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a method of use for
`a wireleSS application and a server application according to
`the present invention, in which the same is implemented for
`disease and patient management;
`FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a method of use for
`a wireleSS application and a server application according to
`the present invention, in which the same is implemented for
`health management;
`FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a wired connection
`between a HMD and a WWD, also showing an optional
`adaptor, and
`FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless connection
`between a HMD and a WWD, also showing an optional
`adaptor.
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`physician, to also refer to a “normal” or healthy individual
`who is interested in maintaining a healthy physiologic
`balance.
`The term “signal communication' is used to mean any
`type of connection between components where the connec
`tion is, e.g., electromagnetic, and where the connection
`allows information to be passed from one component to
`another. This term may be used in a Similar fashion as
`“coupled”, “connected”, “information communication”,
`"data communication', etc. The following are examples of
`Signal communication Schemes. AS for wired techniques, a
`Standard bus or Serial cable may be used if the input/output
`ports are compatible and an optional adaptor may be
`employed if they are not. AS for wireleSS techniques, IR,
`microwaves, RF, e.g., BluetoothE) or 802.11 protocols, opti
`cal techniques including lasers, and other Such techniques
`may be used. The patient or Subject may even input data
`manually, Such as by a Stylus or keypad or by various other
`techniques discussed above and below.
`The term "generic input/output port' is used to mean any
`type of convention, Standard, universal, Stock, consumer, or
`“off-the-shelf type of port for data input and output. These
`may include both wired and wireless ports. A further
`description is given below.
`Various embodiments of the invention are now described
`in more detail.
`Referring to FIG. 1, a system of the present invention is
`shown for monitoring health data from a patient or Subject
`38. The System includes a wireleSS health-monitoring appa
`ratus (“WHMA”) 10 described in further detail below.
`WHIMA 10 is linked in a wireless fashion to a wireless
`connection point of presence (“POP”) 19, the same includ
`ing at least a base Station antenna 15 coupled to a Server 17.
`Server 17 is in turn connected to the wired, or even a
`wireless (not shown) Internet 21, which may include the
`World Wide Web.
`Referring to FIG. 2, an first embodiment of WHMA 10 is
`shown. WHMA 10 includes an HMD 11, which may include
`an optional monitor Screen 40, coupled via an optional
`adaptor 42 to a WWD 12. WWD 12 connects wirelessly via
`an antenna 60 to base station 15 (see FIG. 1). One function
`of WWD 12 is to provide the user interface; other functions
`are described below.
`As noted above, HMD 11 may include a physiologic
`Sensor 24 or may include a manual System 36 for input of
`physiologic data via a connection34. Manual System 36 may
`also be used to input data directly into WWD 12 via a
`connection 32. Manual System 36 may include, e.g., a
`keyboard 30, a mouse 26, a pen-type device 28, and may
`also employ a separate monitor (not shown). Of course, the
`user may also view information on monitor 40 or on a Screen
`41 of WWD 12. In many embodiments, the stylus-based
`System employed by many current PDA's, Such as the
`Palm(R), may be preferred for Such manual data input.
`Data may also be input via entry on a computer 37. This
`data may then be synchronized to WWD 12 in known
`fashion. Alternatively, computer 37, or another computer
`(see computer 37 in FIG. 4) may be used to connect to a
`Server using the wired internet. This use may be particularly
`advantageous when entering a large amount of data, Such as
`a patient's medical history. AS noted above, in this way the
`patient may be afforded a more convenient environment in
`which to manipulate data to Supplement the data input to the
`WWD.
`It will be clear to one of skill in the art given this teaching
`that cable 32, as well as cables 34 and 44, may be replaced
`with wireless circuitry to communicate Signals wirelessly.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`Various acronyms are used for clarity herein. Definitions
`are given below.
`The term “HMD' may encompass not only devices with
`physiologic Sensors but also devices with a keypad,
`keyboard, mouse, pointer, pressure Sensor, or other Such
`inputs that the patient or user may employ to perform data
`entry of the desired parameters. In general, HMDs include
`Some means for determining a health parameter.
`In a disease management embodiment, an HMD may be
`a blood glucose monitor, a blood pressure monitor, an
`ambulatory ECG recorder, a respiratory monitor, a tempera
`ture or heart rate monitor, and So on.
`In a healthy lifestyle management embodiment, an HMD
`may be an exercise machine, including treadmills, rowers,
`55
`Steppers, exercise cycles, or other aerobic or anaerobic
`exercisers, or a monitor, include monitors for temperature,
`heart rate, blood preSSure, amount of work or rate of work
`performed, etc.
`The term “Subject' as used herein primarily indicates a
`human Subject. The same may be a medical patient under
`physician care, a perSon interested in maintaining health via
`accurate recording of nutrition and exercise, and So on. The
`term “user' is generally used to refer to the user of the
`device, which may be Synonymous with the Subject or may
`alternatively be a caregiver of the Subject, etc. The term
`"patient' is used, in addition to a perSon under the care of a
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`For medical devices and applications, physiologic Sensor
`24 may include, e.g., a Sensor appropriate for measuring
`blood glucose levels, blood preSSure, heart rate, or any other
`desired parameter as required by the physician. Sensor 24
`may connect via an optional cable 44 to subject 38.
`Alternatively, sensor 24 may be distal of HMD 11, i.e., at or
`within subject 38. In other words, if cable 44 is employed,
`sensor 24 may be proximal or distal of cable 44. If a wireless
`communications capability is added, Sensor 24 need not
`physically connect with HMD 11 or WWD 12 at all. That is,
`the Same may measure a health parameter and may com
`municate the same to wireleSS health-monitoring apparatus
`10 wirelessly. The short range wireless communications
`Schemes which may be employed include infrared, radio
`frequency including Bluetooth or 802.11, or other such
`Schemes.
`AS examples of Sensor types, to measure blood glucose
`levels, Sensor 24 may be a Sensor that accepts a drop of
`blood, e.g., via a finger-prick. To measure heart rate, Sensor
`24 may be placed via an adhesive Sensor disposed on the
`chest. Other health monitors may also be employed So long
`as the measured data may either be transferred to WWD 12,
`e.g., via optional adaptor 42, described in further detail
`below, or by being read by a user, e.g., from a display, and
`manually input to WWD 12. Alternatively, the measured
`25
`data may be transferred to WWD 12 via wireless commu
`nication schemes, such as RF includes Bluetooth(E) or
`802.11, infrared, optical, microwaves, etc., directly from
`sensor 24 or from HMD 11 as described in greater detail
`below.
`The user, who may or may not be the same perSon as
`subject 38, may input data to WWD 12 from history or
`experience. For example, in a health or exercise device, if
`subject 38 consumes a known number of calories, this
`information may be entered via manual system 36 directly
`into WWD 12 or into HMD 11. Further, the user, the subject,
`and the Sensor are not necessarily the Sole Sources of
`information. Data Stored on the Server, or on a Separate
`Server operated for health management may also be
`employed to result in a health benefit to subject 38.
`Referring to FIG. 3,