Abstract: Structure-based processing includes a method of diagnosing diseases that works by arranging diseases, symptoms, and questions into a set of related disease, symptom, and question structures, such as objects or lists, in such a way that the structures can be processed to generate a dialogue with a patient. A structure-based processing system organizes medical knowledge into formal structures and then executes those structures on a structure engine to automatically select the next question. Patient responses to the questions lead to more questions and ultimately to a diagnosis. An object-oriented embodiment includes software objects utilized as active, intelligent agents where each object performs its own tasks and calls upon other objects to perform their tasks at the appropriate time to arrive at a diagnosis.

Abstract: A system and method provide for interacting with a virtual physiological model of a user with use of a mobile communication device. Physiological data associated with the user is acquired from the user. The physiological data is transmitted to the mobile communication device, preferably with use of a wireless communication protocol. The methodology further involves using the mobile communication device to communicate the physiological data to a network server. The physiological data is integrated into the virtual physiological model of the user. The user can access data and depictions of the user developed from the physiological data.

Abstract: An information remote monitor (IRM) is implemented to collect medical device data locally in a patient's home for transmission to a remote location. Specifically, the IRM integrates data from an external pressure reference (EPR) and an implanted medical device (IMD), preferably the Chronicle™, for remote transmission to a server or a clinical center for follow-up, monitoring and evaluation. The IRM utilizes wireless telemetry to downlink to the IMO and directly engages the EPR to download barometric pressure data to correct cardiac pressure readings from the Chronicle™ or IMO. The IRM may be connected serially to a PC and the PC may control the functions of the IRM. In the alternate, the PC may be used to transfer data from the IRM, through a Web-enabled network system, to a server or a remote location. The IRM utilizes an integral modem to dial a server and transfer patient data via FTP, PPP and TC/PIP protocols.

Abstract: A system and method for processing patient polysomnograph data are provided. An abstractor obtains raw patient polysomnograph data and generates a subset of the data to include selected factors, including data clusters. The subset of the patient polysomnograph data is transferred to two or more neural networks that process the data and generate sleep classification data. An integrator obtains the sleep classification data from the two or more neural networks by integrating the sleep classification data from each neural network. A cumulative sleep stage score is generated including confidence values and accuracy estimations for review.

Abstract: Various physiological monitor modules are provided for use with computing devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs). In some embodiments, the personal digital assistant provides the controls, display, and processing circuitry for the physiological monitor module. The personal digital assistant stores data from the physiological monitors so that the data may be used in various software applications. In other embodiments, the physiological monitor and the personal digital assistant include accessory slots sized to accept memory modules which may be used to transfer data therebetween. In yet other embodiments, the physiological monitors include data storage but do not include onboard processing capability, and data is transferred to a personal digital assistant either during or after use of the physiological monitor.

Abstract: A method and device for audiological screening of infants and newborns by generating one or more stimuli with an audiologic screening device having acoustic transmitters in each ear canal to generate otoacoustic emissions, collecting and transmitting the otoacoustic emissions signals and brain stem response signals, analyzing the same, and transmitting the data to a remote central computer server via a built-in or attached modem or global information network for further analysis and storage.

Abstract: A portable living body information collection device is arranged to continuously measure living body information in daily life and to efficiently collect relating mental information by timely questioning about health. The device can be worn on a human body. The portable living body information collection device extracts living body information in electrical signal form by a detection circuit and a signal processing circuit, and discretizes the information by a conversion circuit. A control circuit stores the discretized living body information in a storage and displays questions about feelings and mental conditions on a display unit periodically or when a large changes occurs in living body information. The wearer inputs answers by using an input device, and the answers are also recorded as mental information in the storage.

Abstract: A real time patient monitoring system uses a cellular architecture to monitor ECG signals and other physiologic data of patients, including ambulatory patients. The system includes wireless telemeters that attach to and transmit the physiologic data of respective patients. The telemeters communicate bi-directionally with ceiling-mounted RF transceivers, referred to as “VCELLs,” using a wireless TDMA protocol. The VCELLs forward packets of physiologic data received from the telemeters to patient monitoring stations on a LAN. The VCELLs are spatially distributed throughout the medical facility to provide multiple cells or zones of coverage. As a patient moves throughout the medical facility, the patient's telemeter connects to, and disconnects from, specific VCELLs to maintain connectivity to the LAN. The telemeters and VCELLs also implement a patient location tracking process for monitoring of the locations of individual patients.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for monitoring skin temperatures at predetermined locations on the body of a human or an animal. One embodiment includes a platform with a grid including holes on which the user stands. Under the grid is a movable array of light sensors and temperature sensors. The foot position is determined from the output of the light sensors. The temperatures at predetermined locations on the skin surface are determined by the signals obtained from the temperature sensors. Additional vital health information may be obtained by other sensors on the apparatus. The data may be stored for future retrieval, or transmitted to a remote location for off-site monitoring. Alternative embodiments include sensor blankets or wraps whereby temperature sensors monitor skin temperature for areas of pressure on the blanket or areas covered by the wrap.

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: Structure-based processing includes a method of diagnosing diseases that works by arranging diseases, symptoms, and questions into a set of related disease, symptom, and question structures, such as objects or lists, in such a way that the structures can be processed to generate a dialogue with a patient. A structure-based processing system organizes medical knowledge into formal structures and then executes those structures on a structure engine to automatically select the next question. Patient responses to the questions lead to more questions and ultimately to a diagnosis. An object-oriented embodiment includes software objects utilized as active, intelligent agents where each object performs its own tasks and calls upon other objects to perform their tasks at the appropriate time to arrive at a diagnosis.

Abstract: An emergency medical treatment system that uses medical information recorded in a user file by a central computer connected to a wide area network. The system is designed to be used with a recording and monitoring health and physical fitness system that automatically sends the parameter information from a sensor worn by a subscriber to a central computer. The wireless communication unit is able to connect to a wireless communication network which, in turn, connects to a wide area network. A central computer is connected to a wide area network that is able to continuously download the physiological parameter information from the wireless communication unit via the wireless communication network. The central computer uses a health information recording software program to create a continuously updated subscriber's medical database containing current and historical medical information.

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: The monitoring device incorporates transducing devices for converting the desired measured parameters into electrical signals capable of being processed by a local computer or microprocessor system. The device receives a set of customized questions for presentation to an ambulatory patient. The device interacts with the ambulatory patient and then, via a modem or other electronic communication device, transmits the measured parameters and answers to the customized questions to a computer located at a remote site. At the remote location, the various indicia of the ambulatory patient's condition are monitored and analyzed by the medical professional caregiver. To provide the ambulatory patient with an added level of convenience and ease of use, such monitoring device is contained in a single integrated package.

Abstract: A system that allows patient monitoring data obtained by patient connected devices to be transferred by wireless signals to another device such as a patient monitoring processor. The same patient connected devices are used to transfer data to the patient monitor processor or a central station depending on the location of the patient. A single device is used for both a personal area network and a telemetry/transport application. The same wireless technology is used in both situations and eliminates the need to deploy more than one antenna/receiver system. Existing wireless transfer protocols such as Bluetooth are used, thereby reducing transmission power when the two communicating devices are in close proximity.

Abstract: A method of measuring the aura of a human body is provided wherein the method comprises putting a system for measuring aura of a human body to an initial status by first selecting from a program a mode of operating said system, wherein the mode comprises a camera-using mode and a camera non-using mode. The system is capable of measuring physiological signals of a human body. According to the method, a timer function is selected on the system to use a timer through a program that delays the reading of the physiological signals of the person tested for about 5-10 seconds, two palms are contacted on aura sensing part for measuring physiological signals of a human body, the physiological signals of the human body are read from the sensors with the system, and the aura image of the physiological signals is displayed on a monitor.

Abstract: System for monitoring patients at home comprising interface means at the patient's home, interface means at a doctor's surgery, a server linked by a network such as a telephone network to the interface means at the patient's home and to the interface means at the doctor's surgery, the said server receiving from the interface means at the patient's home, values of physiological parameters measured by the patient or by sensors and comprising means for storing a history, corresponding to a certain period of time, regarding the values of physiological parameters which are transmitted thereto, the said server furthermore comprising means for implementing a processing on the values of physiological parameters transmitted by the patient with a view to their presentation and to the presentation of their changes on the interface means at the doctor's surgery, characterized in that the said means implement on the latest values of physiological parameters which are transmitted to the server

Abstract: A device for introduction into an animal or human body, especially into an artery. The device is preferably positioned in an aneurysmal sac in an artery between the wall of the artery and the wall of an endoprosthesis. The device has at least a pressure sensor and transducer for wirelessly transmitting data available from the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing and interpreting dental conditions using a computer system is disclosed. An image of the lesion being diagnosed is captured and terms describing the lesion are selected. A differential diagnosis list of the most probable lesions is returned. The user views details about each listed lesion until a match is selected, and appropriate medications for the selected lesion are presented. Medication details are reviewed and a proper medication to prescribe is selected. The user can generate a prescription, treatment algorithm, directions report, or a medication report. If the user is uncomfortable with the diagnosis, a referral report can be generated. For performing routine interpretation of dental conditions, the user captures an image for digital x-ray analysis. The user selects the task, such as caries detection, for which to optimize the image. The system optimizes the image based on the task selected and displays the optimized image.

Abstract: Structure-based processing includes a method of diagnosing diseases that works by arranging diseases, symptoms, and questions into a set of related disease, symptom, and question structures, such as objects or lists, in such a way that the structures can be processed to generate a dialogue with a patient. A structure-based processing system organizes medical knowledge into formal structures and then executes those structures on a structure engine to automatically select the next question. Patient responses to the questions lead to more questions and ultimately to a diagnosis. An object-oriented embodiment includes software objects utilized as active, intelligent agents where each object performs its own tasks and calls upon other objects to perform their tasks at the appropriate time to arrive at a diagnosis.