초록 ▼

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, a

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for monitoring health information of a plurality of patients, the system comprising:a data gathering device comprising: a respiration sensor, a wireless transmitter, and a self-contained power source; a node wirelessly coupled to the data gathering device; a wide area network coupled to

1. A system for monitoring health information of a plurality of patients, the system comprising:a data gathering device comprising: a respiration sensor, a wireless transmitter, and a self-contained power source; a node wirelessly coupled to the data gathering device; a wide area network coupled to the node; and a monitoring center located remote to the node and coupled to the wide area network, wherein: the respiration sensor measures movement between two points on skin of a one of the plurality of patients where the two points are proximate to the one's chest, the two points are between the respiration sensor and the skin of the one, and an area of two square inches or less is covered by the data gathering device. 2. The system for monitoring health information of the plurality of patients as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of nodes where each is linked to both a different patient and the wide area network.3. The system for monitoring health information of the plurality of patients as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitoring center reports medical data relating to diagnosing at least one of: lung disease, heart disease, sleep apnea, arrhythmia, ischemia, congestive heart failure, and sudden infant death syndrome.4. The system for monitoring health information of the plurality of patients as recited in claim 1, wherein the data gathering device further includes a digitizer to digitize an analog signal from the respiration sensor.5. The system for monitoring health information of the plurality of patients as recited in claim 1, wherein the node comprises:a portable device worn on one of the plurality of patients, and a wireless connection to the wide area network. 6. The system for monitoring health information of the plurality of patients as recited in claim 1, wherein the wide area network includes at least one of: a wireless datalink, a telephone line, an Internet connection, and a private network.7. The system for monitoring health information of the plurality of patients as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter has a range of up to about 300 feet.8. The system for monitoring health information of the plurality of patients as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second data gathering device comprising at least three of the following:a heart rate sensor, a pulse pressure sensor, a blood pressure sensor, an oxymetry sensor, an exhaled CO2 sensor, an electrocardiogram sensor, a peripheral tissue edema sensor, a second wireless transmitter, and a second self-contained power source. 9. The system for monitoring health information of the plurality of patients as recited in claim 1, further comprising a medical professional interface proximate to the monitoring center, wherein the medical professional interface provides heart rate and respiration data to a medical professional.10. The system for monitoring health information of the plurality of patients as recited in claim 1, wherein:the data gathering device produces a digital signal representative of an analog signal from the sensor, and the data gathering device processes the digital signal with the data gathering device. 11. The system for monitoring health information of the plurality of patients as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitoring center is provided with heart rate and ventilation data for the one.12. The system for monitoring health information of the plurality of patients as recited in claim 1, wherein ventilation is determined by the respiration sensor measuring movement of the two points over time.13. A method for remotely monitoring heart rate and ventilation of a patient, the method comprising:measuring at least two of heart rate, chest wall movement, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, exhaled CO2 levels, and peripheral tissue edema with a data gathering device; producing digital medical data indicative of the measuring step; wirelessly transmitting the digital medical data to a node; transmitting the digital medical data over a wide area network from the node to a remote location; receiving circulating brain natriuretic peptide level data for the patient; analyzing the circulating brain natriuretic peptide level data; and processing the digital medical data at the remote location to produce heart rate and ventilation data for the patient. 14. The method for remotely monitoring heart and/or lung function of the patient as recited in claim 13, further comprising steps of:measuring one more of heart rate, chest wall movement, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, exhaled CO2 levels, and peripheral tissue edema with a second data gathering device; producing second digital medical data related to the immediately-preceding measuring step; wirelessly transmitting the second digital medical data to the node; transmitting the second digital medical data over the wide area network to the remote location; and processing the second digital medical data at the remote location. 15. The method for remotely monitoring heart and/or, lung function of the patient as recited in claim 14, further comprising a step of displaying information related to the first and second digital medical data for a medical professional.16. The method for remotely monitoring heart and/or lung function of the patient as recited in claim 13, wherein the node comprises:a portable device worn on the patient, and a wireless connection to the wide area network. 17. The method for remotely monitoring heart and/or lung function of the patient as recited in claim 13, wherein the measuring step comprises measuring with at least one of:a heart rate sensor, a respiration sensor, a pulse pressure sensor, a blood pressure sensor, an oxymetry sensor, an exhaled CO2 sensor, an electrocardiogram sensor, and a peripheral tissue edema sensor. 18. The method for remotely monitoring heart and/or lung function of the patient as recited in claim 13, further comprising a step of providing information related to the digital medical data at the node in a form recognizable by a human.