Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6539947
-
Patent Number
6,539,947
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, December 12, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 1, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Winakur; Eric F.
- Veniaminov; Nikita R
Agents
- Yee; Duke W.
- Walder, Jr.; Stephen J.
- Kaufman; Stephen C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 607 27
- 607 32
- 607 30
- 607 9
- 607 60
- 607 25
- 600 558
- 600 485
- 600 510
- 600 521
- 128 899
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An apparatus, system, method and computer program product for monitoring and controlling bio-enhancement implants is provided. With the apparatus, system, method and computer program product, a user may control the operation of implantable devices within the user's body by operation of a personal digital device. The personal digital device may obtain operational settings of the various implantable devices based on information stored within the personal digital device and/or information obtained from a network. The settings of the various implants are established in view of the possible interactions of the implants with one another. The personal digital device further monitors the operation of the implantable devices and the user's biological indicia. Based on the monitoring, the operation of the implantable devices are modified to obtain a desired result. If an emergency situation is encountered, the personal digital device may contact emergency response services with the location of the user so that emergency personnel are dispatched accordingly.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention provides an apparatus, system, method and computer program product for controlling bio-enhancement implants. In particular, the present invention provides a mechanism by which a user may control the operation of bio-enhancement implants to provide a desired result.
2. Description of Related Art
The field of medical science is a rapidly evolving one. Advancements in medical science seem to be made at an ever increasing rate. For example, recently a pace maker, having a size smaller than a quarter, was implanted into a premature newborn and was successfully used to regulate the newborn's heart beat. Other amazing medical devices have been recently devised and introduced to our communities.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,734 to Jacobsen et al., entitled “Method for Automatic Dosing of Drugs,” describes an implantable device having doses of drugs. A timer of the implantable device may be remotely triggered by a transmitter outside the body of the organism in which the implantable device is implanted.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,530 to Weissman et al., entitled “Remotely Interrogated Implant Device with Sensor for Detecting Accretion of Biological Matter” describes an implant device which has a sensor for detection the accretion of biological material. The sensor is operatively coupled to a communication element which communicates wirelessly to a remotely located element outside the organism in which the implant device is implanted.
Enhancement of individual's characteristics through surgical means is being increasingly accepted by society. Cosmetic surgery, surgery to combat obesity, sex change operations, and many other “elective” procedures are more common place today than ever before and are becoming more accepted by mainstream society.
As medical implants become more advanced, individuals will increasingly elect to have these implants surgically implanted into their bodies in a similar manner that cosmetic surgery is now becoming common place. It is conceivable that individuals may have many different implants that may interfere or otherwise interact with one another. Thus, it would be beneficial to have an apparatus, system, method and computer program product for controlling these implants, in view of their interactions with one another, to obtain results desired by the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus, system, method and computer program product for monitoring and controlling bio-enhancement implants. With the present invention, a user may control the operation of implantable devices within the user's body by operation of a personal digital device. The personal digital device may obtain operational settings of the various implantable devices based on information stored within the personal digital device and/or information obtained from a network. The settings of the various implants are established in view of the possible interactions of the implants with one another.
The personal digital device further monitors the operation of the implantable devices and the user's biological indicia. Based on the monitoring, the operation of the implantable devices are modified to obtain a desired result. If an emergency situation is encountered, the personal digital device may contact emergency response services with the location of the user so that emergency personnel are dispatched accordingly. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in, or will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of, the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is an exemplary block diagram of a distributed data processing system in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an exemplary block diagram of a data processing system that may be used to implement the server of the present invention;
FIG. 3
is an exemplary block diagram of a data processing system that may be used to implement a client system in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4
is an exemplary block diagram of a personal digital device according to the present invention;
FIG. 5
is an exemplary diagram illustrating a graphical user interface for setting parameters for bio-enhancement implants in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 6
is an exemplary diagram illustrating a graphical user interface for starting operation of bio-enhancement implants based on received settings, in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 7
is an exemplary diagram illustrating a graphical user interface for monitoring the operation of bio-enhancement implants in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 8
is a flowchart outlining an exemplary operation of the present invention when determining optimum operating settings for the bio-enhancement implants; and
FIG. 9
is a flowchart outlining an exemplary operation of the present invention when monitoring the operation of bio-enhancement implants.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference now to the figures,
FIG. 1
depicts a pictorial representation of a network of data processing systems in which the present invention may be implemented. Network data processing system
100
is a network of computers in which the present invention may be implemented. Network data processing system
100
contains a network
102
, which is the medium used to provide communications links between various devices and computers connected together within network data processing system
100
. Network
102
may include connections, such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables.
In the depicted example, a bio-enhancement server
104
is connected to network
102
. In addition, client devices
106
-
108
are also connected to network
102
. The client devices
106
-
108
may be, for example, personal computers, portable computers, personal digital assistants, wearable computers, network computers, or the like. The bio-enhancement server
104
provides data and applications to client devices
106
-
108
. Client devices
106
-
108
are clients to server
104
. Network data processing system
100
may include additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown.
In the depicted example, network data processing system
100
is the Internet with network
102
representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands of commercial, government, educational and other computer systems that route data and messages. Of course, network data processing system
100
also may be implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as for example, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).
FIG. 1
is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation for the present invention.
With the present invention, an individual, such as the individual
110
, is surgically altered to include one or more bio-enhancement implants. Such implants may include pace makers, muscle stimulant devices, drug dosing devices, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,734, which is hereby incorporated by reference, monitoring devices, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,530, which is also hereby incorporated by reference, or the like. Various implantable devices may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The implants are preferably equipped with transceivers for transmitting and receiving information with the client device
108
.
The bio-enhancement server
104
compiles various information regarding individuals
110
, such as their individual bio-enhancement implants, their medical information, various activities performed by the individuals and the settings of their implants during those activities, and the like. The information may be obtained, for example, from the client devices
106
-
108
, from the individuals themselves, or obtained from some other source. For example, the client device
108
may monitor the activities of the individual
110
, the settings and operation of his/her implants, and report this information back to the bio-enhancement server
104
via a wireless communication link and network
102
.
The client device
108
is a personal digital device that is preferably portable or wearable by the user. In a preferred embodiment, the client device
108
is a personal digital assistant (PDA), such as a Palm Pilot™, Nino™, or the like. The client devices
106
-
108
may include a software application for entering information regarding the user's biological implants, the activities that are to be performed by the user, and downloading implant setting information from the bio-enhancement server
104
via the network
102
.
The software application is provided with information about the individual configuration of the user's biological implants. The configuration information may be input by the user or, in the case of the client device
108
, may be obtained from interrogating the biological implants themselves using a wireless communication link and broadcasting a request for configuration information to the biological implants.
The user, via the client device
108
or client device
106
, inputs a desired activity and parameters about the activity. For example, the user may enter into the client device
106
the parameters regarding a mountain hike that the user plans on attempting. Such parameters may include the starting and ending elevations, the length of the hike, the time that the hike should take, the weather conditions, the user's weight, or any other type of parameter information that may be pertinent for determining the proper operation of the implants and the user's body.
Based on the activity parameter information and the user's implant configuration information, the client device
106
or
108
, sends a request for recommended implant settings to the bio-enhancement server
104
. Alternatively, the implant settings may be determined based on information stored completely within the client device
108
using an application that takes the activity parameter information and implant configuration information as input and generates settings based on this information. One benefit from using a bio-enhancement server
104
is that information uploaded to the bio-enhancement server
104
may be used to refine the bio-enhancement server's optimized settings based on actual experiences of users.
The settings determined by either the bio-enhancement server
104
or the client device
108
may be settings that are recommended to provide a certain result. In a preferred embodiment, the settings are “optimal” settings determined using an application or algorithm that optimizes the settings of the various implants taking into consideration the cross effects of the implant operations with each other. The present invention, however, is not limited to determining “optimal” settings and non-optimal settings may be determined and/or recommended by the bio-enhancement server
104
or client device
108
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For purposes of the following description, it will be assumed that optimal settings are determined for the implants.
Whether performed entirely within the client device
108
, or with the aid of the bio-enhancement server
104
, a software application generates optimized implant settings based on the activity parameter information and the implant configuration information. The optimized settings may indicate, for example, the setting of the implant as well as the expected result obtained from the biological system directly affected by the implant.
The software application takes into consideration the possible interactions of the various implants identified in the implant configuration information. For example, the software application may adjust settings of a heart implant from a first setting to a second setting based on the fact that the implant configuration information indicates that the user also has a respiratory system implant. In this way, an overall optimization of all of the user's implants with respect to one another, is obtained based on the particular activity that the user wishes to engage in.
The client device
106
may be used to enter activity and implant configuration information and obtain optimized implant operational settings. The optimized implant operational settings may then be downloaded to the client device
108
via a wired or wireless connection between the client devices
106
and
108
. The client device
108
may then store the optimized implant operational settings until the user is ready to make use of them.
Once the optimized operational settings of the implants are determined and stored in the client device
108
, the user may implement the optimized settings at any time. Thus, the user may, for example, input a command to transmit the optimized implant operational settings to the user's implants when the user starts the desired activity. The client device
108
then transmits the optimized implant operational settings to the user's implants via a wireless connection.
The user's implants contain wireless transceivers for receiving and sending messages and data from and to the client device
108
. The user's implants receive the optimized setting information from the client device
108
via the wireless transceivers and adjust their operation accordingly.
Periodically, the implants will report back to the client device
108
, actual measured operation information of the implant and any biological systems directly affected by the implant. For example, if the implant is a heart implant that affects the beats-per-minute of the user's heart, the implant will periodically report back to the client device
108
the actual period of impulses applied by the heart implant and the beats-per-minute being obtained through use of the implant.
The client device
108
receives the monitored operational information and compares it to the optimized settings and the expected biological system results. Based on this comparison, the client device
108
determines a new adjustment of the implant to obtain a desired result from the biological system. In this way, the implants provide information to the client device
108
and the implant operation is adjusted using a feedback loop. Of course, this feedback loop adjustment also takes into consideration the latest information obtained from the other user implants in a manner similar to the determination of the optimized settings.
In addition to using the feedback information obtained from the implants to adjust their operation, the feedback information may further be used to determine if an emergency situation is presently occurring or there is a threat of an emergency situation occurring. The determination of an actual or potential emergency situation may be performed based on threshold information stored in the client device
108
.
If reported information of a biological system indicates that the biological system is operating within an emergency range as determined by established thresholds, the client device
108
will indicate an emergency situation is either occurring or dangerously close to occurring. If an emergency situation is identified, the client device
108
may send a command to the implants to cease functioning, if this is in the best interest of the user's health, or to function in such a manner as to best preserve the user's health. In addition, the client device
108
may be equipped with a location determination device, such a global positioning system (GPS), for identifying the location of the user. The location of the user may then be sent to an emergency response service using the wireless transceiver of the client device
108
so that emergency personnel may be dispatched to the user's location. For example, the client device
108
may call contact a 911 emergency response communication line and transmit the location of the user so that an ambulance or paramedic unit may be dispatched.
Once the user has completed the desired activity, the user may discontinue use of the implants by inputting a command to discontinue into the client device
108
. When the command to discontinue is received, the client device
108
transmits a command to the implants to discontinue operation. In response the implants may discontinue operation. Such discontinuing of the operation of the implants may require a slow or gradual ramping down of the operation so that irreparable harm is not caused to the user's biological systems.
In addition to discontinuing the operation of the implants, the client device
108
may send a history report to the bio-enhancement server
104
via a wireless communication connection to the network
102
. The history report may include, for example, the optimum settings for the implants, the actual operation of the implants and the corresponding biological systems, and the like. This information may be stored in the bio-enhancement server
104
in conjunction with a user identifier, for example. The information may be used in future implant usage to obtain a refined optimization of the implant settings. The history report information may be used only with the user or with a plurality of users registered with the bio-enhancement server to better refine the determination of optimum implant settings for various activities.
Thus, the present invention provides a mechanism by which one or a plurality of implants may be monitored and controlled to obtain optimum performance of the user's biological systems. The present invention allows for determination of optimum settings of implants based on previously compiled implant setting information by other users involved in similar activities. In addition, the present invention provides the ability to notify emergency services should the user's biological systems be placed into an emergency situation.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, a block diagram of a data processing system that may be implemented as a server, such as server
104
in
FIG. 1
, is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Data processing system
200
may be a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system including a plurality of processors
202
and
204
connected to system bus
206
. Alternatively, a single processor system may be employed. Also connected to system bus
206
is memory controller/cache
208
, which provides an interface to local memory
209
. I/O bus bridge
210
is connected to system bus
206
and provides an interface to I/O bus
212
. Memory controller/cache
208
and I/O bus bridge
210
may be integrated as depicted.
Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus bridge
214
connected to I/O bus
212
provides an interface to PCI local bus
216
. A number of modems may be connected to PCI bus
216
. Typical PCI bus implementations will support four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors. Communications links to network computers
108
-
112
in
FIG. 1
may be provided through modem
218
and network adapter
220
connected to PCI local bus
216
through add-in boards.
Additional PCI bus bridges
222
and
224
provide interfaces for additional PCI buses
226
and
228
, from which additional modems or network adapters may be supported. In this manner, data processing system
200
allows connections to multiple network computers. A memory-mapped graphics adapter
230
and hard disk
232
may also be connected to I/O bus
212
as depicted, either directly or indirectly.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in
FIG. 2
may vary. For example, other peripheral devices, such as optical disk drives and the like, also may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted example is not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention.
The data processing system depicted in
FIG. 2
may be, for example, an IBM RISC/System 6000 system, a product of International Business Machines Corporation in Armonk, N.Y., running the Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX) operating system.
With reference now to
FIG. 3
, a block diagram illustrating a data processing system is depicted in which the present invention may be implemented. Data processing system
300
is an example of a client computer. Data processing system
300
employs a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus architecture. Although the depicted example employs a PCI bus, other bus architectures such as Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) and Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) may be used.
Processor
302
and main memory
304
are connected to PCI local bus
306
through PCI bridge
308
. PCI bridge
308
also may include an integrated memory controller and cache memory for processor
302
. Additional connections to PCI local bus
306
may be made through direct component interconnection or through add-in boards. In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter
310
, SCSI host bus adapter
312
, and expansion bus interface
314
are connected to PCI local bus
306
by direct component connection. In contrast, audio adapter
316
, graphics adapter
318
, and audio/video adapter
319
are connected to PCI local bus
306
by add-in boards inserted into expansion slots.
Expansion bus interface
314
provides a connection for a keyboard and mouse adapter
320
, modem
322
, and additional memory
324
. Small computer system interface (SCSI) host bus adapter
312
provides a connection for hard disk drive
326
, tape drive
328
, and CD-ROM drive
330
. Typical PCI local bus implementations will support three or four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors.
An operating system runs on processor
302
and is used to coordinate and provide control of various components within data processing system
300
in FIG.
3
. The operating system may be a commercially available operating system, such as Linux or Windows 2000, which is available from Microsoft Corporation. An object oriented programming system such as Java may run in conjunction with the operating system and provide calls to the operating system from Java programs or applications executing on data processing system
300
. “Java” is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented operating system, and applications or programs are located on storage devices, such as hard disk drive
326
, and may be loaded into main memory
304
for execution by processor
302
.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware in
FIG. 3
may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash ROM (or equivalent nonvolatile memory) or optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIG.
3
. Also, the processes of the present invention may be applied to a multiprocessor data processing system.
As another example, data processing system
300
may be a stand-alone system configured to be bootable without relying on some type of network communication interface, whether or not data processing system
300
comprises some type of network communication interface. As a further example, data processing system
300
may be a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, which is configured with ROM and/or flash ROM in order to provide nonvolatile memory for storing operating system files and/or user-generated data.
The depicted example in FIG.
3
and above-described examples are not meant to imply architectural limitations. For example, data processing system
300
also may be a notebook computer or hand held computer in addition to taking the form of a PDA. Data processing system
300
also may be a kiosk or a Web appliance.
FIG. 4
is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a personal digital device, such as client device
108
, according to the present invention. As shown in
FIG. 4
, the personal digital device includes a controller
410
, an implant configuration information storage device
420
, a wireless transceiver interface
430
, a graphical user interface engine
440
, an implant setting adjustment device
450
, and a history information storage device
460
. The elements
410
-
460
are in communication with one another via control/data bus
470
. Although a bus architecture is shown in
FIG. 4
, any architecture may be used which facilitates the exchange of control messages and data among the elements
410
-
460
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The elements
410
-
460
may be implemented as hardware devices, software instructions, or a combination of hardware devices and software instructions. For example, the elements
410
-
460
may be implemented as software instructions executed by processor
302
and hardware devices depicted in FIG.
3
.
The controller
410
controls the overall operation of the personal digital device. The controller
410
instructs the other elements
420
-
460
in their operation, coordinates operations among the various elements
420
-
460
and performs other functions as necessary. The controller
410
further receives messages and data via the wireless transceiver interface
430
and routes the messages and data to the appropriate elements
420
-
460
.
The implant configuration information storage device
420
stores implant configuration information for the user of the personal digital device. The implant configuration information may be obtained from inputs by the user, through interrogating implants in the user, or the like. The implant configuration information is then used to determine optimized implant settings for various activities as well as adjusting the implant settings to obtain a desired biological system operation, as described above.
The wireless transceiver interface
430
is used to send and receive messages and data to devices outside the personal digital device. The wireless transceiver interface
430
is used to communicate information to the bio-enhancement server
104
via the network
102
, to the implants within the body of the user, to the client device
106
, and the like.
The graphical user interface engine
440
is used to generate graphical user interfaces on the personal digital device in order to provide the user with information and receive inputs from the user. The graphical user interface engine
440
generates interfaces having virtual buttons that may be operated by way of a pointing device, touch screen, stylus and touch screen, or the like. Through the graphical user interfaces, the user may enter desired activity parameter information, implant configuration information, requests for optimized implant settings, commands to start and/or stop implant optimization, commands to contact emergency services, and the like.
The implant setting adjustment device
450
receives information regarding the implant configuration of the user from the implant configuration information storage device
420
, actual implant and biological system operating conditions from the wireless transceiver interface
430
and/or history information storage device
460
, and the like. Based on this information, the implant setting adjustment device
450
may adjust the settings of the various implants to obtain a desired biological system result. In an embodiment in which optimized implant settings are determined within the personal digital device, the implant setting adjustment device
450
may determine these optimized implant settings.
The history information storage device
460
stores history information regarding the optimum settings of the various implants of the user, the actual implant and biological system operations occurring, and the like. The history information storage device
460
may provide this information to the implant setting adjustment device
450
and/or the bio-enhancement server
104
for use in adjusting the settings of the user's implants to obtain a desired biological system operating result. This history information may further be used by the bio-enhancement server
104
to refine the determination of optimum implant settings for other registered users of the bio-enhancement server
104
.
FIG. 5
is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a graphical user interface for entering information regarding the desired activity of the user. As shown in
FIG. 5
, the graphical user interface includes one or more virtual buttons
510
for accessing information regarding various implants of the user. The particular implant buttons shown to the user will depend on the implants determined to be within the user's body based on information entered by the user, an interrogation of implants, or the like. Through the virtual buttons
510
, the user may obtain information relating the types of each implant, the current operational status, and the like.
A plurality of pull down menus
520
, or other input receiving devices, are provided for entering activity parameters regarding the activity for which the user desires bio-enhancement implants to be activated. The activity parameters may be any parameters that may affect the operation of the bio-enhancement implants including the particular activity, elevation, estimated duration of the activity, ambient temperature of the location in which the activity will take place, any stop condition that the user may wish for stopping the operation of the implants, and the like.
The graphical user interface further includes a virtual button
530
for submitting the activity parameters for use in determining optimum settings for the various implants. Another virtual button
540
is provided for canceling the user's selection of activity parameters. Still another virtual button
550
is provided for the user to indicate that an emergency situation has occurred and requesting that the personal digital device contact emergency services personnel.
FIG. 6
is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a graphical user interface for displaying optimum implant settings and initiating the use of optimum implant settings in accordance with the present invention. As shown in
FIG. 6
, the graphical user interface includes one or more fields for identifying the optimum implant settings in accordance with the optimum implant settings determined by either the personal digital device or the bio-enhancement server
104
. The graphical user interface further includes a virtual button
620
for initiating use of the optimum implant settings, a virtual button
630
for canceling the use of the optimum implant settings, and an emergency virtual button
550
. When the virtual button
620
is selected by the user, the optimum implant settings are sent to the implants which then use these settings to adjust their operation. The sending of the optimum implant settings may further include the gradual increase of the operation of the implants from a standard condition to the optimum settings in order to avoid and possible damage to the user's biological systems.
FIG. 7
is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a graphical user interface for displaying current implant and biological system operating conditions. As shown in
FIG. 7
, the graphical user interface includes one or more fields
710
for informing the user of current implant and biological system conditions. In addition, the graphical user interface includes a virtual button
720
for stopping the operation of the implants. The fields
710
are updated periodically based on measured results obtained from the implants. When the virtual button
720
is selected by the user, the implants are returned to a standard setting. The return of the implants to a standard setting may be performed immediately or gradually in order to avoid damage to the user's biological systems.
FIG. 8
is a flowchart outlining an exemplary operation of the present invention when determining optimum operating settings for the bio-enhancement implants. As shown in
FIG. 8
, the operation starts with obtaining implant configuration information (step
810
). Thereafter, activity parameter information is obtained (step
820
). The optimum implant settings are then determined based on the implant configuration information and the activity parameter information (step
830
). The optimum implant settings are stored in the personal digital device (step
840
) and the input interface is monitored for selection of the start virtual button to start use of the optimum settings (step
850
).
A determination is then made as to whether or not the start virtual button is selected (step
860
). If the start virtual button is selected, the optimum settings are sent to the implants and the implant operation is monitored (step
870
). If the start virtual button is not selected, a determination is made as to whether a cancel button is selected (step
880
). If so, the operation is canceled (step
890
) and the operation ends. If the cancel button is not selected, the operation returns to step
850
where monitoring for input from the user is continued.
FIG. 9
is a flowchart outlining an exemplary operation of the present invention when monitoring the operation of bio-enhancement implants. The operation starts with receiving information from the implants regarding their current operation and the operation of the biological systems associated with the implants (step
910
). A determination is made as to whether or not an emergency situation has occurred (step
915
). If so, a message is sent to emergency response personnel identifying the user's current location (step
917
). If not, the operation continues to step
920
.
The information from the implants is compared to expected operation information (step
920
). Control signals are generated based on the difference between the expected operation information and the measured information obtained from the implants (step
930
). The control signals are then transmitted to the implants (step
940
).
A determination is made as to whether or not a stop condition has occurred (step
950
). A stop condition may be, for example, the input of a stop command by the user, or the like. If a stop condition has not occurred, the operation returns to step
910
and continues to monitor and adjust the operation of the implants. If the stop condition occurs, a stop command is sent to the implants (step
960
) and the operation ends.
Thus, the present invention provides a mechanism by which a user may monitor and control the operation of one or more bio-enhancement implants in the user's body. Furthermore, the present invention may make use of historical information for identifying the optimum settings for the implants taking into consideration the possible interaction of the implants with one another. In addition, the present invention provides a mechanism by which, if an emergency situation arises, the emergency response personnel may be notified of the user's location for immediate dispatch of emergency personnel to aid the user.
It is important to note that while the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functioning data processing system, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the processes of the present invention are capable of being distributed in the form of a computer readable medium of instructions in a variety of forms and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computer readable media include recordable-type media such a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a RAM, a CD-ROM, and transmission-type media such as digital and analog communications links.
The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Claims
- 1. A method for controlling one or more implantable devices, comprising:obtaining activity information identifying a physical activity to be performed by a user of the one or more implantable devices; obtaining configuration information for the one or more implantable devices; and determining a setting for the one or more implantable devices based on the activity information and the configuration information.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity information includes at least one of an indicator of the activity, starting elevation, ending elevation, length of the activity, a user's weight, ambient temperature, and period of time of the activity.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is obtained from inputs received from a user.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is obtained from interrogating the one or more implantable devices.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the setting for the one or more implantable devices includes taking into consideration possible interactions of implantable devices identified in the configuration information.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the setting for the one or more implantable devices includes:sending the activity information and the configuration information to a server; and receiving the setting for the one or more implantable devices from the server.
- 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the server determines the setting for the one or more implantable devices based on the activity information, the configuration information and history information compiled from one or more registered users of the server.
- 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the history information compiled from one or more registered users of the server includes information identifying settings of implantable devices associated with the one or more registered users.
- 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the setting for the one or more implantable devices to the one or more implantable devices.
- 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:monitoring an operation of the one or more implantable devices; and controlling the operation of the one or more implantable devices to obtain a desired operation.
- 11. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the operation of the one or more implantable devices includes:obtaining operation information from the one or more implantable devices; and sending commands to the one or more implantable devices based on a comparison of the operation information to the desired operation.
- 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:monitoring an operation of a biological system of a user of the one or more implantable devices; determining if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation; and notifying emergency personnel of a location of the user if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein notifying emergency personnel of a location of the user includes obtaining a location of the user from a global positioning device.
- 14. The method of claim 10, wherein determining if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation includes:comparing measured operational parameters of the biological system to a threshold; and determining if an emergency situation is present based on the comparison.
- 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating use of the setting by the one or more implantable devices.
- 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:deactivating use of the setting by the one or more implantable devices; and uploading a history report of an operation of the one or more implantable devices and an operation of a corresponding biological system to a server.
- 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in a personal digital device.
- 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the personal digital device is one of a personal digital assistant, a notebook computer, a hand held computer, a Web appliance, a cellular telephone, and a wearable computer.
- 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in a client-server distributed data processing system.
- 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting is an optimal setting.
- 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in one of a personal digital assistant, a hand-held computer, a cellular telephone, and a wearable computer.
- 22. An apparatus for controlling one or more implantable devices, comprising:a first interface for obtaining activity information identifying a physical activity to be performed by a user of the one or more implantable devices; a second interface for obtaining configuration information for the one or more implantable devices; and a computing device for determining a setting for the one or more implantable devices based on the activity information and the configuration information.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the activity information includes at least one of an indicator of the activity, starting elevation, ending elevation, length of the activity, a user's weight, ambient temperature, and period of time of the activity.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second interface is an input interface through which the configuration information is obtained from inputs received from a user.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second interface is a transceiver through which configuration information is obtained from interrogating the one or more implantable devices.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the computing device determines the setting for the one or more implantable devices taking into consideration possible interactions of implantable devices identified in the configuration information.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a transceiver, wherein the computing device is a server and wherein the activity information and the configuration information is transmitted to the server.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the server determines the setting for the one or more implantable devices based on the activity information, the configuration information and history information compiled from one or more registered users of the server.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the setting for the one or more implantable devices to the one or more implantable devices.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:a monitoring device for monitoring an operation of the one or more implantable devices; and a controller for controlling the operation of the one or more implantable devices to obtain a desired operation.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the controller includes a receiver for receiving operation information from the one or more implantable devices, wherein the controller transmits, via the transmitter, commands to the one or more implantable devices based on a comparison of the operation information to the desired operation.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:a monitor device for monitoring an operation of a biological system of a user of the one or more implantable devices; means for determining if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation; and means for notifying emergency personnel of a location of the user if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation.
- 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for notifying emergency personnel of a location of the user includes a global positioning device for obtaining a location of the user.
- 34. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for activating use of the setting by the one or more implantable devices.
- 35. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:means for deactivating use of the setting by the one or more implantable devices; and means for uploading a history report of an operation of the one or more implantable devices and an operation of a corresponding biological system to a server.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is a personal digital device.
- 37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the personal digital device is one of a personal digital assistant, a notebook computer, a hand held computer, a Web appliance, a cellular telephone, and a wearable computer.
- 38. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is part of a client-server distributed data processing system.
- 39. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the setting is an optimal setting.
- 40. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for controlling one or more implantable devices, comprising:first instructions for obtaining activity information identifying a physical activity to be performed by a user of the one or more implantable devices; second instructions for obtaining configuration information for the one or more implantable devices; and third instructions for determining a setting for the one or more implantable devices based on the activity information and the configuration information.
- 41. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the activity information includes at least one of an indicator of the activity, starting elevation, ending elevation, length of the activity, a user's weight, ambient temperature, and period of time of the activity.
- 42. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the configuration information is obtained from inputs received from a user.
- 43. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the configuration information is obtained from interrogating the one or more implantable devices.
- 44. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the third instructions for determining the setting for the one or more implantable devices includes instructions for taking into consideration possible interactions of implantable devices identified in the configuration information.
- 45. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the third instructions for determining the setting for the one or more implantable devices includes:instructions for sending the activity information and the configuration information to a server; and instructions for receiving the setting for the one or more implantable devices from the server.
- 46. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the server determines the setting for the one or more implantable devices based on the activity information, the configuration information and history information compiled from one or more registered users of the server.
- 47. The computer program product of claim 40, further comprising fourth instructions for transmitting the setting for the one or more implantable devices to the one or more implantable devices.
- 48. The computer program product of claim 47, further comprising:fifth instructions for monitoring an operation of the one or more implantable devices; and sixth instructions for controlling the operation of the one or more implantable devices to obtain a desired operation.
- 49. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein controlling the operation of the one or more implantable devices includes:seventh instructions for obtaining operation information from the one or more implantable devices; and eighth instructions for sending commands to the one or more implantable devices based on a comparison of the operation information to the desired operation.
- 50. The computer program product of claim 40, further comprising:fourth instructions for monitoring an operation of a biological system of a user of the one or more implantable devices; fifth instructions for determining if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation; and sixth instructions for notifying emergency personnel of a location of the user if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation.
- 51. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein the sixth instructions for notifying emergency personnel of a location of the user includes instructions for obtaining a location of the user from a global positioning device.
- 52. The computer program product of claim 40, further comprising fourth instructions for activating use of the setting by the one or more implantable devices.
- 53. The computer program product of claim 52, further comprising:fifth instructions for deactivating use of the setting by the one or more implantable devices; and sixth instructions for uploading a history report of an operation of the one or more implantable devices and an operation of a corresponding biological system to a server.
- 54. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the computer program product is executed in a personal digital device.
- 55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the personal digital device is one of a personal digital assistant, a notebook computer, a hand held computer, a Web appliance, a cellular telephone, and a wearable computer.
- 56. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the computer program product is executed in a client-server distributed data processing system.
- 57. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the setting is an optimal setting.
- 58. A method of controlling the operation of a plurality of implantable devices implanted in a human user, comprising:obtaining configuration information from the plurality of implantable devices; and determining a setting for a selected implantable device of the plurality of implantable devices taking into consideration possible interactions of the operation of the selected implantable device on the operation of the other implantable devices of the plurality of implantable devices.
US Referenced Citations (11)