Abstract: A method is for obtaining medically relevant data from the gastrointestinal tract of a patient (human or an animal). The patient is orally administered with a transponder and signals emitted by the transponder during or after passage through the gastrointestinal tract are received, with the aid of a reading device for example. A measuring probe may be suitable for carrying out the method. The probe is designed as a transponder and includes a sensor unit for recording chemical, electrochemical or physical parameters.

Abstract: A method is proposed for monitoring participation of a patient in at least one clinical trial. The method includes collecting data regarding at least one clinical trial for the patient. Using a computer device, the collected data is then compared to at least one threshold. Finally, the patient is rewarded upon the collected data at least meeting at least one threshold.

Abstract: A method is proposed for determining clinical study compliance. The method includes obtaining criteria for the clinical study and accessing stored clinical data relating to the clinical study. Thereafter, the criteria and clinical data are correlated to determine a measure of compliance with the criteria of the clinical study.

Abstract: A method is proposed for improving a clinical study. The method includes obtaining criteria for the clinical study, and comparing clinical data to the obtained criteria using a computer device. Thereafter, using the computer device, performance measures are derived based upon the comparisons. These derived performance measures are then usable to improve the clinical study. For example, these performance measures may be used for ranking, and consequently improving, the clinical study.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and automated terminal are proposed for recruiting patients for at least one clinical study. The method includes screening for suitable clinical study patients in at least one public place, including obtaining information regarding potential patients for entry into a computer device. The method further includes determining, from information entered into the computer device, whether or not the potential patients qualify for at least one clinical study.

Abstract: A method is proposed for examining a plurality of sites for a clinical trial. The method includes obtaining criteria for clinical trial and determining, using a computer device, how information regarding each of a plurality of clinical trial sites relates to the obtained criteria. Based upon the determinations, a plurality of the clinical trial sites are ranked. Thereafter, the ranked clinical trial sites may be reported to a sponsor of the clinical trial, and payment may be received.

Abstract: A facility is for adapting a machine-readable data model, particularly medical guidelines, for import into a clinical workflow management system. The facility includes a mapping system including a work step database, with a hierarchic breakdown of work steps. It further includes at least one of a mapping module which maps work steps in the data model which has been read in, which belong to a different hierarchic level than the level used in the system, by polling the work step database for work steps on the hierarchic level of the system, and/or an association system including a resource database, which contains an association between generic resource titles in the data model and actual resources in the institution. Finally, the facility includes an association module which translates generic resource titles in the data model which has been read in into actual resources in the institution by polling the resource database.

Abstract: A method is for processing a data record including therapeutic advice items, particularly for the purpose of quality assurance in the course of medical treatment based on a therapeutic advice item. A first data record, associated with a therapeutic advice item, includes at least one input, at least one output and an expert rule which links the input and the output. The input data items, supplied to the input of the data record associated with the underlying therapeutic advice item, is used to produce, output and/or store individual therapeutic advice items in the form of the output data items. This is preferably done at the output of the data record using the expert rule.

Abstract: A method is for processing a version change for a data record including medical therapeutic advice items. A respective data record, associated with a therapeutic advice item, includes a metadata structure having a number of metadata items which are checked for their respective update status. An identified changed update status is used to activate the data record in question.

Abstract: A method relates to at least one of periodically recurring and consecutive treatments for a patient using a data record including a therapeutic information item. The method includes using therapeutic information items, stored in the data record, to identify at least one periodicity criterion. The method further includes using the identified at least one periodicity criterion to ascertain a subsequent treatment.

Abstract: A method is for referencing data records which include therapeutic advice items, in which each data record associated with a therapeutic advice item includes a unique order feature which is likewise stored together with a therapeutic information item based on the therapeutic advice item. Further, a therapeutic advice item being updated prompts all of the therapeutic information items to be searched for the order feature of the updated therapeutic advice item. A report, indicating the change in the underlying therapeutic advice item is then output for each therapeutic information item found in the process.

Abstract: A patient information system for the provision of individual-specific information on the effects and risks of a medicament includes an expert system, in which relevant data on the medicament, for example, compositions, application area, contra-indications, mode of action, risks and side-effects are stored. The expert system is embodied such that, on a user inquiry about a particular medicament by inputting particular personal status data about the user, an individual user information reply, which matches the personal status data including the education and the knowledge state of the user—(a personalized enclosure) is generated including all relevant data, and excluding data on the medicament which need not be introduced according to the special requirements of the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for uncovering counter-indications in case of limited access to patient data. According to the invention, an expert system, which has access to patient data in different patient files and/or with different doctors or clinics, checks off an actual treatment plan for counter-indications of old patient data and without the need to disclose said patient data informs the patient and/or the doctor concerned of the presence of the counter-indications.

Abstract: A volumetric flow of an analyte, including exhaled air, is fed to a gas sensor unit by used of gas flow device, which can include various sensors for the determination of nitrogen oxides. An oxidation catalyst is used when using an NO2 sensor, which converts nitrogen monoxide to nitrogen dioxide and the gas sensor unit measures the content of nitrogen dioxide. The nitrogen monoxide content is calculated from the nitrogen dioxide content. In order to eliminate cross-sensitivity moisture and ethanol are also measured. The device can be applied to the determination of nitrogen monoxide content of exhaled air.

Abstract: Device for finding unknown, multifactorial triggers of paroxysmally occurring illnesses, which is coupled to an electronic patient file and/or, if appropriate, spatially distributed databases, a comparison and evaluation device carrying out, after a paroxysm, a correlation analysis in order to search for typical patterns in the temporal occurrence of the stored data elements.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system and method for the registration of restrictions of patient's abilities in daily activities with the aid of a list of questions, wherein an expert system which, via an electronic transmission path, automatically and regularly presents each patient with individual questions or subcombinations from the list of questions which take into account his personal conditions and/or his medical history and documents and evaluates the replies and, from this, if necessary, derives new specific questions to the patient.

Abstract: A method is for automated recording of patient actions, for example in the course of telemedical care, in the course of clinical studies for the merit of a form of therapy or for trialing the effectiveness of drugs. The medical equipment or devices used in this context are provided with recording devices for identifying the patient so that the data obtained during use of the equipment or accessories can automatically be attributed to the patient in question.

Abstract: A system for checking treatment plans, especially in the course of disease management services for patient information, instruction and motivation, possibly combined with telemonitoring of critical body values and, on this basis, early detection of risk situations, having an expert system with expert rules stored in a computer databank which, by accessing patient data in different patient records and/or with different doctors or clinics, independently subjects the treatment plan to a plausibility check, especially checks the treatment plan for contraindications with older patient data.

Abstract: A system for devising treatment plans, especially in the course of disease management services for patient information, instruction and motivation, possibly combined with telemonitoring of critical body values and, on this basis, early detection of risk situations, having a databank with a multiplicity of treatment modules stored in digital form, which can be interlinked with one another with the aid of operators to form a treatment plan.

Abstract: A patient information system for the patient-oriented interactive explanation of medical findings, includes an expert system with an input device accessible to the patient and that interprets and explains the information contained in medical findings which are input on the basis of a rule mechanism stored in the system in accordance with input individual information about the patient. The system converts the findings, which are incomprehensible as a result of specialist medical expressions, into more comprehensible everyday language containing more extensive explanations of the specialist medical expressions.