Personal health monitoring and care system

Abstract

A personal health monitoring and care system includes at least one diagnostic device (2) implanted in a person (1), a data communication device (4) associated to the diagnostic device (2) for communicating relevant personal health data collected by the diagnostic device (2) to an external data information retrieval device (5), which processes and presents said relevant personal health data to the person (1) via information output means (6), wherein the person (1) according to the relevant personal health data perceived from the information output means (6) is able to start a health relevant action.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1. shows a schematic diagram of a personal health monitoring and care system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a person 1 who carries a diagnostic device in form of an implant 2. This implant is provided with a sensor 3 which collects data about a physiological parameter, like the blood pressure, heart rate or the like.

The diagnostic implant 2 is connected to a wireless data communication device 4 which communicates the relevant personal health data collected by the implant 2 with the help of the sensor 3 to an external data information retrieval device 5. This may be designed like e.g. a mobile phone including a display 6 and keys 7 to enter instructions or to input data or any other messages.

During the use of the personal health monitoring and care system the person 1 gets health relevant information from the data information retrieval device 5 e.g. by reading an according message in display 6 that the heart rate during jogging exercising is high. It is also possible that the device 5 sends an according audio message 16 to the person. Based upon this information the person 1 can start a health relevant action, e.g. reducing the running speed or dumbbell weight during his exercise. Another health relevant action might be e.g. intaking mineral pills 8 to deliver magnesium to the body of the person 1 or supplemental nutrients 9.

In FIG. 1 there is another implant 10 shown within the body of the person 1 which is a therapeutical implant, like a insulin pump. In case that the person 1 is subject to a higher physical strain the person can decrease the dispensing rate of the implanted insulin pump 10 e.g. by inputting according values via the keys 7 of the data information retrieval device 5.

To assist the person 1 in choosing health relevant action due to the personal health data retrieved from the monitoring and care system a remote expert station 11 is linked to the system. Such remote expert station is to be understood in general terms, i.e. this can be realized by a personal coach, a doctor, a hospital, a health centre, an automatic, computerized expert system or the like. The data information retrieval device 5 is configured to automatically or on demand send the relevant data processed and presented by the data information retrieval device 5 to the remote expert station 11 via a mobile phone or telephone communication line 12. In the remote expert station 11 a doctor or coach 13 evaluates the data and decides whether or not a health relevant action is necessary or at least recommendable. Alternatively the remote expert station 11 contains a computerized expert system, which is able to provide medical advice by means of a large data base and/or artificial intelligence algorithms. The coach/doctor/expert system 13 accordingly can contact the person 1 and give him an appropriate piece of advice to initiate a certain health relevant action. Further on it is possible that the expert, i.e. the doctor or coach 13 or expert system by way of remote control initiates a therapeutical action via the communication line 12, the data information retrieval device 5 and the data communication device 4 at the implant 10 directly, i.e. without involving the person 1.

Finally the data information retrieval device 5 itself can include sensors e.g. for measuring UV radiation 14, environmental temperature, air pressure, ozone or pollen concentration, ingested nutrition or medication, persons weight or the like and to incorporate the according data into the processing of the personal health relevant data.

Claims

1. A personal health monitoring and care system comprising: at least one diagnostic device (2) implanted in a non-expert person (1),a data communication device (4) associated to the diagnostic device (2) and communicating relevant personal health data collected by the diagnostic device (2) toan external data information retrieval device (5), which processes and presents said relevant personal health data to the non-expert person (1) via information output means (6),wherein the non-expert person (1) according to the relevant personal health data perceived from the information output means (6) is able to start a health relevant action.

2. A personal health monitoring and care system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one diagnostic device (2) comprises at least one sensor (3) adapted collecting a relevant physiological parameter.

3. A personal health monitoring and care system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one diagnostic device (2) is combined from or includes a therapeutical device (10) selected from at least one of heart pacemaker, defibrillator, cardioverter, insulin pump or neurostimulator.

4. A personal health monitoring and care system according to claim 3, wherein the therapeutical device (10) comprises an input device (7) to initiate a therapeutical action of the therapeutical device (10).

5. A personal health monitoring and care system according to claim 1, comprising a remote expert station (11) to which the data information retrieval device (5) sends the relevant personal health data.

6. A personal health monitoring and care system according to claim 5, wherein the data communication between the data information retrieval device (5) and the remote expert station (11) is provided via at least one of a wireless, mobile phone or land-line telephone communication means.

7. A personal health monitoring and care system according to claim 5, wherein an expert (13) checks the relevant personal health data and initiates the non-expert person (1) to start a health relevant action.

8. A personal health monitoring and care system according to claim 5, wherein an expert (13) checks the relevant personal health data and by remote control initiates a therapeutical action of a therapeutical device (10) which is combined with or included in the diagnostic device (2) implanted in the non-expert person (1).

9. A personal health monitoring and care system according to claim 7 wherein the expert (13) is a human being or a computerized expert system.

10. A personal health monitoring and care system according to claim 1, wherein the data communication retrieval device (5) communicates via wireless communication line (15) with the data communication device (4) of the diagnostic device (2).

11. A personal health monitoring and care system according to claim 2, wherein the relevant physiological parameter is selected from at least a heart rate, ECG, blood pressure, neuronal potentials or values of physiological fluids.