Feedback systems and methods for communicating diagnostic and/or treatment signals to enhance obesity treatments

Abstract

Feedback systems and methods communicate implanted sensor-based feedback signals to promote behavior modifications that ameliorate obesity and other eating disorders. The system and methods described may also be applicable to any treatment in which presenting feedback regarding patients' eating and exercise habits is desired. The present invention provides a method and system for treating a patient by collecting ingestion and exercise information about the patient from an implanted sensor and communicating the collected information to the patient, his or her physician and/or other health care providers. In some embodiments, stimulation of the patient's stomach is also provided to reduce caloric intake. In some embodiments, the collected data is transmitted to a central server. Further embodiments may provide access to additional information in conjunction with the collected patient information, such as a calorie database, an exercise planner, and so forth, with the data optionally being used within a social networking system.

1 . A method of treating a patient comprising:
 implanting a device in a body of the patient, wherein the implanted device includes at least one sensor;   collecting patient data with the sensor(s) in response to ingestion by the patient and in response to activity by the patient;   analyzing the patient data to determine sensor-based eating and sensor-based activity information about the patient; and   presenting the ingestion and activity information so as to modify behavior by the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ingestion and activity information includes eating and exercise information provided to a user and the step of presenting the eating and exercise information includes providing remote access to the information. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein providing remote access to the information includes providing access to the information via the internet. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of presenting the ingestion and activity information includes presenting a graphical display of the information. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of presenting the ingestion and activity information includes displaying the information via a website, and the method further comprising:
 accepting data input to the website by the patient;   analyzing the patient input data in conjunction with the sensor patient data; and   presenting the analysis to a user.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the implanted device also includes stimulation circuitry for providing therapeutic stimulation to the patient. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ingestion and activity information is provided to at least one of the patient, a physician of the patient, a nutritionist of the patient, a member of a support group, or another health coach of the patient so as to facilitate feedback to the patient regarding actual eating and exercise behavior of the patient to help modify the actual behavior toward a healthy behavior. 
     
     
         8 . A system for providing feedback to treat a patient comprising:
 an implantable sensor adapted to be coupled with the stomach of the patient;   an implanted wireless transmitter coupled to the sensor;   a device comprising a processor, a storage medium, and transmitting/receiving circuitry; and   a remote server;   wherein the device is in communication with the sensor via the transmitting/receiving circuitry and with the server, the device configured to receive patient sensor-based food ingestion data from the sensor and transmit the patient data to the server.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless transmitter transmits sensor data to the device when the patient is within a proximal distance of the device, the device comprising a home monitor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the wireless transmitter transmits sensor data to the device when the patient is within a proximal distance of the device, the device comprising a portable device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the proximal distance is less than about 30 feet. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the server comprises a tangible medium embodying machine-readable instructions for analyzing the patient data received from the device and for communicating analysis results to the patient or another user. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the server is configured to communicate the analysis results to the user via at least one of an email, a text message, a phone call, or a web page. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the analysis results include a comparison of sensor-based performance with goals. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising patient stimulation circuitry wirelessly coupled to the device and/or coupled to the sensor, wherein the circuitry is adapted to be implanted in the patient and includes an electrode, the electrode coupled to the sensor by a processor of the circuitry so that the processor processes the data and delivers ingestion inhibiting signals to the patient via the electrodes. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the device is also configured to receive data from at least one of an electronic scale, a glucose monitor, a telephone, an image capture device or a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         17 . A method of communicating patient diagnostic and treatment information comprising:
 obtaining sensor data from at least one implanted sensor in a patient, where the sensor data is collected by the sensor(s) at intervals over a period of time; and   presenting the sensor data to a user via a graphical interface so as to promote sensor-based behavior modification of the patient.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising accepting patient-input data and presenting the patient-input data along with the sensor data. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising comparing the patient-input data with the sensor data and presenting comparison information to the user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor data includes ingestion information. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor data includes activity-level information. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor data includes ingestion and activity-level information. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the graphical interface is configured to allow the user to customize the presentation of the sensor data. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the graphical interface is configured to display at least one of a calorie database, a calorie counter, a packaged food database, meal preparation support, an activity diary, an exercise guide and planner, a weight tracking log, a body-mass index calculator, activity reports, meal frequency and duration reports, or a message center. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the graphical interface comprises a secure website. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the website is configured to allow the user to input information. 
     
     
         27 . A system for treating a patient, the system comprising:
 an implantable device having at least one sensor, the device configured to collect patient data with the sensor(s) in response to ingestion by the patient and in response to exercise by the patient when the device is implanted in a patient body;   a processor coupleable to the implantable device so as to, in response to the patient data, analyze the patient data to determine sensor-based ingestion information and sensor-based exercise information about the patient; and   a user interface coupled to the processor, communicating the sensor-based eating and exercise information so as to provide behavior modifying feedback to the patient.   
     
     
         28 . A method of treating an eating disorder of a patient, the method comprising:
 implanting a sensor in a body of the patient;   identifying a group using permission obtained from the patient to add members to the group;   uploading, to a server, information regarding ingestion and/or exercise of the patient generated using sensor signals from the sensor;   transmitting, in response to permission data regarding the group, message data from the server to a device associated with a member of the group, the message data generated using the information; and   presenting a message to the member in response to the message data, the message configured to promote the member encouraging healthy behavior by the patient.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising prompting the patient, in response to the sensor signals and via a device associated with the patient, to enter at least a portion of the information into the device associated with the patient, and uploading the at least a portion of the information from the device to the server. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the message comprises a positive reinforcement message so as to promote the member of the group encouraging a continuation of behavior by the patient, and wherein the sever transmits the message data in response to and within two days of:
 eating events sensed by the sensor being within an ingestion goal;   exercise activity sensed by the sensor meeting an exercise goal; and/or   a quantitative measurement of the patient indicating the patient has reached a weight-related goal, the weight related goal comprising a change in weight of the patient, a change in a size measurement of the patient, or a change in exercise performance of the patient.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the message comprises a negative reinforcement message so as to promote the at least one member of the group discouraging behavior by the patient, and wherein the server transmits the message data in response to and within two days of:
 eating events sensed by the sensor exceeding an ingestion goal, and/or   exercise activity sensed by the sensor being below an exercise goal.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising transmitting, to a device associated with the patient, other message data inciting another message regarding another member of the group generated using sensor signals from sensor data from a sensor of another device implanted in the other member of the group, the group comprising a support group of patients having implanted sensors. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the message comprises the information about ingestion and identifies sensor-based eating events of the patient. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the message comprises the information about exercise and identifies sensor-based exercise activities of the patient. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising generating an ingestion goal and/or an exercise goal in response to input from the patient, comparing the goal to the eating information and/or the exercise information to generate comparison data, and transmitting the comparison information from the server to a device associated with a member of the group so as to encourage the member to help increase alignment between the behavior of the patient and the goals. 
     
     
         36 . A method of treating an eating disorder of a patient, the patient having a sensor implanted in a body of the patient, the method comprising:
 receiving, with a server, uploaded information regarding ingestion and/or exercise of the patient generated using sensor signals from the sensor; and   transmitting, in response to permission data regarding a group identified using permission obtained from the patient, message data from the server to a device associated with a member of the group, the message data generated using the information and configured so as to induce the device to present a message to the member to promote the member encouraging healthy behavior by the patient.   
     
     
         37 . A system for treating an eating disorder of a patient, the patient having an implanted sensor generating sensor signals in response to an eating event and/or an exercise activity of the patient, the system comprising:
 a server coupleable to the sensor and a patient device, the server configured to transmit message data to a device associated with a member of a group, the message data being generated in response to the sensor signals, the message data being transmitted per permission input from the patient to add members to the group, the message data inducing the device associated with the member of the group to present a message to the member so as to promote the member encouraging healthy eating and/or exercise behavior by the patient.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , further comprising a device associated with the patient, wherein the patient device prompts the patient, in response to the sensor signals, to enter eating and/or exercise information into the patient device such that the information is uploaded to the server. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the message comprises a positive reinforcement message so as to promote the member of the group encouraging a continuation of behavior by the patient, and wherein the server is configured to transmit the message data in response to and within two days of:
 the eating events sensed by the sensor being within an ingestion goal;   the exercise activity sensed by the sensor meeting an exercise goal; and/or   a quantitative measurement of the patient indicating the patient has reach a weight-related goal, the weight related goal comprising a change in weight of the patient, a change in a size measurement of the patient, or a change in exercise performance of the patient.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the message comprises a negative reinforcement message so as to promote the at least one member of the group discouraging behavior by the patient, and wherein the server is configured to transmit the message data in response to and within two days of:
 eating events sensed by the sensor exceeding an ingestion goal; and/or   exercise activity sensed by the sensor being below an exercise goal.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 37 , further comprising a device associated with the patient, wherein the server is configured to transmit to the patient device message data inducing the patient device to present another message regarding another member of the group, the message data generated using sensor signals from sensor data from a sensor of another device implanted in the other member of the group, the group comprising a support group of patients having implanted sensors. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the message comprises information about ingestion and identifies the eating events of the patient. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the message comprises information about exercise and identifies the exercise activities of the patient. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 37 , further comprising generating an ingestion goal and/or an exercise goal in response to input from the patient, comparing the goal to the eating information and/or the exercise information to generate comparison data, and transmitting the comparison information from the server to a device associated with a member of the group so as to encourage the member to urge increased alignment between the behavior of the patient and the goal. 
     
     
         45 . A system for treating a plurality of patients, each patient having an associated device and an implanted sensor generating sensor signals, the system comprising:
 a server coupleable to the sensors and the patient devices, the server configured to transmit message data to the device associated with a first patient, the message data being generated in response to the sensor signals from a second patient.