Method and apparatus for providing patient care

US6579242B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Tuan Bui · Piscataway, US
• Emil S. Macha · Sugar Land, US
• Shan Padda · Chicago, US
• Arthur Schulze · Wharton, US
• Thomas G. Cooper · Menlo Park, US
• Clint Deckert · Poway, US
• Doron Levitas · Chicago, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 9, 2001
• Grant date: Jun 17, 2003
• Expiry date: Nov 9, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S128/904
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A patient management system includes a programmable patient monitor for monitoring and recording a plurality of physiological conditions of a patient, a plurality of physiological condition sensors and a communications unit. The plurality of patient monitoring sensors are electrically coupled to the programmable patient monitor. Each sensor detects a particular physiological condition of the patient, such as core temperature, ECG electrodes for providing an electrocardiogram and blood oximetry sensors. The patient monitor is small and compact and easily worn by the patient during his normal at home activities. To provide communication with a caregiver via a remote controller at the caregiver's location, a communications unit is disposed in the facility. The communications unit may be selectively coupled to the programmable patient monitor for receiving, storing and transmitting to the remote controller patient physiological condition data and for transmitting instructions from the remote controller to the programmable patient monitor. When the patient connects the patient monitor to the communications unit, the patient can communicate with the caregiver at the remote location.