Abstract: A patient monitoring device includes a microprocessor controller having a clock circuit and memory coupled to one or more sensors physically carried by a medical appliance such that as the medical appliance is properly fitted to and worn by the patient, the sensors provide an electrical signal confirming that which may be then timed to provide data which confirms a patient's compliance with a recommended protocol. By combining and correlating the sensor data with the clock or timer provided as part of the controller, a time chart of data may be created indicating when and for how long the patient actually wears the device. Additionally, other sensors may be used to collect data relating to various operational parameters of the device including the amount of negative pressure presented under a vacuum dome or other parameters related to the operation of the medical appliance itself, as desired.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method which utilizes blood glucose (“BG”) sampling, insulin infusion/injection records, heart rate (“HR”) information and heart rate varability (“HRV”) information to estimate BG in the near future and to estimate of the risk of the onset of hypoglycemia. The invention also relates to an apparatus for predicting BG levels and for assessing the risk of the onset of hypoglycemia in the near future. The invention is based on two predetermined bio-mathematical routines: a network model of BG fluctuations and a BG profile for assessment of the risk of hypoglycemia.

Abstract: A pain inferring device for designing a shape giving a subject as little pain as possible when the subject touches the shape. The pain inferring device includes an input unit, an output unit, a main control unit, a learning storage unit, and a neural network. The neural network learns the relationship between the input value of shape data and the output value of the data on the degree of pain when a subject touches a shape. By the learning, an input/output function (namely, the coefficient of coupling of neurons in layers) representing the relationship between the input and output values is defined and stored in the learning storage unit. When the shape data is inputted through the input unit, the neural network infers the degree of pain by using the function stored in the learning storage unit.

Abstract: Novel methods for delivering a drug to a patient while preventing the exposure of a foetus or other contraindicated individual to the drug. Embodiments are provided in which the involved prescribers, pharmacies and patients are registered in one or more computer databases. Embodiments are also provided in which registered patients receive counseling information concerning the risks attendant to foetal exposure to the drug. Male patients and female patients who are not pregnant may, in certain circumstances, receive the drug.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing neuropsychological tests on a patient includes a microprocessing unit adapted for carrying out test procedures which is connected to an interface to a sensory signal generating device comprising at least one of a visual information display, an indication light, and a sound generator, an interface to a reaction detecting device comprising at least one of a dynamometer, a knob, and a touch screen, and an interface to a memory for reading test procedures stored in the memory. At least one test procedure comprising instructions for the generation of sensory signals and the detection of a patient reaction is stored in the memory and is performed by generating the sensory signals on the sensory generating device and by detecting a patient's reaction through the reaction detecting device.

Abstract: A health checkup supporting method, apparatus and computer readable recording medium for predicting a checkup receiver's risk of suffering from a disease. The method and apparatus include inputting checkup receiver information indicating information showing the possibility of affecting the incidence of a disease obtained with respect to a checkup receiver who has received a health checkup, and finding a value of a risk of the checkup receiver's suffering from the disease based on the inputted checkup receiver information and risk parameters obtained from a ratio of the past checkup receivers' suffering from the disease. The checkup receiver information includes results of at least one of a clinical examination and results of a genetic examination conducted with respect to the checkup receiver.

Abstract: A non-invasive brain assessment monitor is disclosed. An embodiment of the monitor includes a head-mounted brain sensor which passively senses acoustic signals generated from pulsing blood flow through a patient's brain. A reference sensor may be mounted at another location on the patient's body to sense an arterial pulse, and the signals from the brain sensor and reference sensor may be compared. Another embodiment includes transmitters which generate acoustic signals in the brain which are also detected by the brain sensor. The brain assessment monitor may be used to detect conditions such as head trauma, stroke and hemorrhage.

Abstract: An apparatus firstly acquires a value involving in a physical condition, such as a value relating to a body constitution, a value relating to a basic physical strength or a value relating to a motive ability, by acquisition means 101, secondly, based on said value, the apparatus specifies in specification means 103 the physical information involving in the physical strength related phase of the daily-life disability, such as a value relating to the basic strength, a value relating to the motive ability, or a value relating to a daily-life disability, all of which are configured for an aged person placed as a subject and stored in storage means 102, and finally the apparatus in output means 104 outputs thus specified information. Thereby, the determination on the physical information relating to the physical strength related phase of the daily-life disability may become possible automatically.

Abstract: A general-purpose, low-cost system provides comprehensive physiological data collection, with extensive data object oriented programmability and configurability for a variety of medical as well as other analog data collection applications. In a preferred embodiment, programmable input signal acquisition and processing circuits are used so that virtually any analog and/or medical signal can be digitized from a common point of contact to a plurality of sensors. A general-purpose data routing and encapsulation architecture supports input tagging and standardized routing through modern packet switch networks, including the Internet; from one of multiple points of origin or patients, to one or multiple points of data analysis for physician review. The preferred architecture further supports multiple-site data buffering for redundancy and reliability, and real-time data collection, routing, and viewing (or slower than real-time processes when communications infrastructure is slower than the data collection rate).

Abstract: Methods for delivering a drug to a patients in need of the drug, while restricting access to the drug by patients for whom the drug may be contraindicated are disclosed. The methods are of the type in which prescriptions for the drug are filled by a pharmacy only after a computer readable storage medium has been consulted to retrieve a prescription approval code. Embodiments are provided wherein the patients are assigned to risk groups based upon the risk that taking the drug will lead to an adverse side effect, and certain additional information, such as periodic surveys and diagnostic tests probative of the ongoing risk of the side effect developing are obtained before prescriptions for the drug are approved.

Abstract: According to the invention, a system for monitoring health information of a plurality of patients is disclosed. Included in the system are a data gathering device, a node, a wide area network, and a monitoring center. The data gathering device includes a respiration sensor, a wireless transmitter, and a self-contained power source. The node is wirelessly coupled to the data gathering device and the wide area network is coupled to the node. Located remote to the node, the monitoring center is coupled to the wide area network.

Abstract: A system and method for providing computerized, knowledge-based medical diagnostic and treatment advice. The medical advice is provided to the general public over networks, such as a telephone network or a computer network. The invention also includes a stand-alone embodiment that may utilize occasional connectivity to a central computer by use of a network, such as the Internet. New authoring languages, interactive voice response and speech recognition are used to enable expert and general practitioner knowledge to be encoded for access by the public. “Meta” functions for time-density analysis of a number of factors regarding the number of medical complaints per unit of time are an integral part of the system. A re-enter feature monitors the user's changing condition over time. A symptom severity analysis helps to respond to the changing conditions. System sensitivity factors may be changed at a global level or other levels to adjust the system advice as necessary.

Abstract: A portable device that receives data provided by one or more sensors and displays statistical data related to the sensor data or otherwise related to the person. Statistical data may include high, low, average, mean value, median value, standard deviation, least square, variance, distribution, compilation, etc. for or at any given time or period of time for the person being monitored, as well as for such values for segments or groups of the population, or limit values, or target values, etc. The values may represent measurements and other data related to physiological signs and parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, electrocardiogram, glucose level, substances and/or chemical presence or level, analyze measurements, etc. The portable device may also display such measurements. The portable device may compute the statistical data, with or without the aid of a remote computer, and/or store statistical data, and/or a remote computer may compute and/or store statistical data.

Abstract: A method and system suitable for automated surveillance of intensive care unit patients for information denoting likelihood of in-hospital survival or mortality, represented in the timeseries of scoring systems such as APACHE III. Techniques from digital signal processing and Lyapunov stability analysis are combined in a method that allows for optimization of statistical hypothesis testing that is robust against short time series of as few as five time points. Once optimized, the method and system can achieve high-sensitivity high-specificity classification of survivorship, while avoiding false-positive prediction of morality.

Abstract: A medical examination chair includes a group of sensors including electrodes in finger-tip sensors, various other types of sensors incorporated in straps for the patient in the chair and load cells supporting the chair, all of which provide data which is partially processed in the electronics mounted in the chair and then transmitted to central station for patient diagnosis.

Abstract: A closed loop system for monitoring drug dose, intake and effectiveness includes a pill dispenser in data communications with at least one implantable medical device. The system is preferably implemented in a web-enabled environment in which a remote data center communicates with the implantable devices (IMDs) in a patient via a programmer or the pill dispenser. Th data center includes high speed computers and databases relating to patient history and device information. A physician or clinician may access the remote data center to review and monitor the IMDs remotely. More specifically, the IMDs are adapted to chronically monitor the pill dispenser to thereby log and document drug dose, patient compliance with prescriptive regimens and as well to monitor drug efficacy in the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for examining and/or recording medical disorders, physical conditions and/or physiological processes of a test person or patient. The inventive device comprises a sensor unit and a display unit for indicating a sensor signal that is generated and/or processed by the sensor unit, whereby the sensor unit can be placed in the vicinity of test persons or patients. This is particularly advantageous in the field of nursing care in order to be able to monitor the quantity and quality of treatment. To this end, an odor detection unit is provided for measuring odors. By virtue of the fact that examination is carried out in a non-contact manner, measurements can be continuously taken without causing harm to the test person.

Abstract: An integrated subject monitoring system facilitates measurement, collection and analysis of data pertaining to frequency and intensity of movement by a recumbent subject. The system includes a network-coupled computer and sensors placed in a bed or other resting surface of the subject. Parameter data is obtained primarily passively, without the cooperation or active participation of the subject. Subject parameters can be continuously monitored, sampled and recorded. Captured values then can be compared to initial baseline values for a measured parameter as well as to the trend the parameter of that subject. Readings falling outside the boundaries can trigger a signal to be sent to an appropriate party. The system preferably further includes a location monitoring or tracking subsystem for determining a subject's location within a defined space. Location data from the subsystem can be used to identify the subject being measured by the sensors in the bed.

Abstract: Indication of worsening health condition in patients with congestive heart failure using the analysis of the speed and pattern of temperature change in a way that is individualized toward patient's health condition.

Abstract: A breath test analyzer, which analyzes exhaled breadths of a patient for isotope labeled products generated in the patient's body after ingestion by the patient of an isotope labeled substance, where the presence of these isotope labeled products provide an indication of a medical condition in the patient. The analyzer uses a very sensitive infra-red spectrophotometer, which enables it to continuously collect and analyze multiple samples of the patient's breath, and process the outputs in real time, while the patient is still connected to the analyzer, such that a definitive result is obtained within a short time, such as the order of a few minutes. The breath test analyzer is sufficiently small in that it can be easily accommodated in the office of a physician. The breath test analyzer can be utilized for a number of diagnostic breath tests, according to the isotope labeled substance ingested by the patient and the gases detected in the patient's breath.