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 medical monitoring system also facilitates remote evaluation of an end-user's health data by another person, such as a medical specialist.

1 . A method for monitoring skin conditions for a user, said method comprising:
 (a) receiving digital picture data pertaining to at least one photo at a processing facility, the at least one photo being a photo of at least one region of the user's skin that can have a suspect skin condition;   (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).   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said receiving (a) results from a person physically delivering the digital picture data or a representation of the digital picture data to a company. 
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , 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.   
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the notification includes a recommendation for the user. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the at least one photo was acquired through the use of a medical monitoring appliance, and   wherein the medical report can be electronically accessed by an authorized personnel.   
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said determining (d) periodically determines whether medical personnel should review data associated with the user at a frequency previously determined. 
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said processing (b) further comprises processing the received data to correlate such data with other previously stored picture data of the user. 
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , 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.   
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one photo was acquired using a monitoring device. 
     
     
         10 . A health care monitoring system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the monitoring device includes at least an image acquisition device. 
     
     
         11 . A health care monitoring system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the image acquisition device is provided to assist for use in capturing pictures of skin conditions of the at least one region of the user's skin. 
     
     
         12 . A health care monitoring system as recited in  claim 10 ,
 wherein the image acquisition device comprises a camera and a housing, and   wherein the housing includes at least:
 a camera interface suitable for being coupled to a camera, the camera interface including an opening to allow images to be captured by the camera; and 
 a skin surface interface suitable for being coupled to a skin surface of the user, the skin surface interface including an opening that provides a picture border for pictures being taken. 
   
     
     
         13 . A health care monitoring system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the camera interface enables the camera to be removably coupled thereto. 
     
     
         14 . A health care monitoring system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein an inner surface of the skin surface interface includes at least a portion of a ruler. 
     
     
         15 . A health care monitoring system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the housing further includes a lens, the lens being provided internal to the housing and positioned between the camera interface and the skin surface interface, and at a predetermined distance from the skin surface interface. 
     
     
         16 . A health care monitoring system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the lens is movable to provide at least first and second predetermined distances from the skin surface interface, with the first distance being for close-up pictures, and with the second distance being for taking non-close-up pictures. 
     
     
         17 . A health care monitoring system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the camera or the housing further includes a light source configured to provide light for use in taking pictures. 
     
     
         18 . A health care monitoring system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the camera is a disposable digital camera. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code for monitoring skin conditions for a user, said computer readable medium comprising:
 computer program code for receiving digital image data pertaining to a plurality of images at a processing facility, the images being images of one or more regions of the user's skin that can have one or more suspect skin conditions;   computer program code for processing the digital image data to organize and electronically evaluate the digital image data;   computer program code for electronically storing the organized digital image data so as to be associated with the user;   computer program code for determining whether medical personnel should review the organized digital image data associated with the user; and   computer program code for requesting medical personnel to review the organized digital image data associated with the user, if medical personnel should review the data as determined by said computer program code for determining.