Medical monitoring system

Abstract

A medical monitoring system that facilitates end-users in obtaining medical information concerning their health or wellness is disclosed. In one embodiment, an end-user is provided with a medical monitoring appliance. In another embodiment, an end-user acquires an appropriate medical monitoring appliance. The end-user can utilize the medical monitoring appliance to capture health data concerning the end-user. The health data can be electronically stored at a central repository and be available for electronic access by medical personnel and/or the end-user. The invention also facilitates remote evaluation of an end-user's health data by another person, such as a medical specialist.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a distributed health and wellness system according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a health and wellness system according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a skin monitoring system according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the skin monitoring system illustrated in FIG. 3A according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4A is a view of a skin reference device according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4B is a view of a skin reference device according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate how the skin reference devices can be utilized in acquiring appropriate images of skin conditions by an end-user according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 5D-5F illustrate how devices according to another embodiment of the invention can be utilized in acquiring appropriate images by an end-user.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are flow diagrams of a skin monitoring process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6C is a flow diagram of an image acquisition process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a distributed health and wellness system according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8A is a flow diagram of a monitoring data upload process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 8B and 8C are flow diagrams of a host server process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a distributed health and wellness system according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are flow diagrams of a server process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 shows one embodiment of such a base that can be electrically coupled to a medical monitoring device or appliance.

Claims

1. A camera box for use with a camera to assist a user in capturing pictures of skin conditions of a user, said camera box comprising: a housing;said housing including at least: a camera interface suitable for being coupled to a camera, said camera interface including an opening to allow images to be captured by the camera; anda skin surface interface suitable for being coupled to a skin surface of the user, said skin surface interface including an opening that provides a picture border for the pictures being taken.

2. A camera box as recited in claim 1, wherein said camera interface enables the camera to be removably coupled thereto.

3. A camera box as recited in claim 1, wherein an inner surface of said skin surface interface includes at least a portion of a ruler.

4. A camera box as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing further includes a lens, said lens being provided internal to said housing and positioned between said camera interface and said skin surface interface, and at a predetermined distance from said skin surface interface.

5. A camera box as recited in claim 4, wherein said lens is movable to provide two predetermined distances from said skin surface interface, with a first distance being for close-up pictures, and a second distance being for taking pictures further away.

6. A camera box as recited in claim 4, wherein said camera or said housing further includes a light for use in providing light when pictures are taken.

7. A camera box as recited in claim 1, wherein the camera is a disposable digital camera.

8. A health care monitoring system, comprising: a data management subsystem that coordinates storage and retrieval of medical information for a plurality of users;a remote medical review subsystem that coordinates review of select ones of the users' stored medical information available from said data management subsystem;a health care provider subsystem that permits authorized health care providers to access stored medical information available from said data management subsystem; anda monitoring device delivery/return subsystem that coordinates the delivery and/or return of monitoring devices for monitoring certain health conditions of a plurality of the users,wherein information regarding the certain health conditions monitored by the monitoring devices is subsequently stored in the data management subsystem.

9. A health care monitoring system as recited in claim 8, wherein said health care monitoring system determines when a particular type of health monitoring is to be performed by a user at a specific time, andwherein said monitoring device delivery/return subsystem coordinates sending a monitoring device corresponding to the particular type of health monitoring to the user.

10. A health care monitoring system as recited in claim 9, wherein when the particular type of health monitoring is skin condition monitoring, the monitoring device includes at least a heating mechanism and a thermal image acquisition mechanism.

11. A health care monitoring system as recited in claim 9, wherein when the particular type of health monitoring is skin condition monitoring, the monitoring device includes at least a camera box.

12. A health care monitoring system as recited in claim 9, wherein the type of health monitoring is designed to be performed by the user at home.

13. A health care monitoring system as recited in claim 8, wherein said health care provider subsystem limits access to the stored medical information to authorized individual or by way of a group affiliation.

14. A method for personal monitoring of skin conditions for a user, said method comprising: (a) receiving digital picture data pertaining to a plurality of photos at a centralized processing facility, the photos being photos of one or more regions of the user's skin that can have suspect skin conditions;(b) processing the digital picture data to organize and electronically evaluate the digital picture data;(c) electronically storing the organized digital picture data so as to be associated with the user;(d) determining whether medical personnel should review the organized digital picture data associated with the user; and(e) requesting medical personnel to review the organized digital picture data associated with the user, if medical personnel should review the data upon said determining (d).

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said receiving (a) requires a person physically delivering the digital picture data or a representation of the digital picture data to a company.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said method further comprises: (f) receiving a medical report concerning the skin condition of the user from the one or more medical personnel;(g) electronically storing the medical report so as to be associated with the user;(h) determining whether the user should be notified concerning the skin condition of the user;(i) producing a notification regarding the skin condition of the user if the user is determined to be notified; and(j) sending the notification to the user,wherein the notification includes a recommendation for the user.

17. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the user has acquired the photos through the use of a personal medical monitoring appliance, andwherein the user report can be electronically accessed by an authorized personnel.

18. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said determining (d) periodically determines whether medical personnel should review data associated with the user at a frequency previously determined.

19. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said processing (b) further comprises processing the received data to correlate such data with other previously stored picture data of the user.

20. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said method further comprises: (f) determining whether the user should be provided with a medical monitoring device; and(g) initiating physical mailing of the medical monitoring device to the user if the user should receive such a device.