Weight loss or weight management system

Abstract

A system for weight loss or weight management of a person may include a monitoring unit and remote computing system. The monitoring unit includes a transducer arranged to generate a signal representative of the patient's weight. It further includes a processor operatively coupled to the transducer and to a memory device. Further, an output device and an input device are operatively coupled to the processor. The memory device is programmed with a set of instructions causing the processor to cooperate with the output device to present questions directed toward weight loss and to cooperate with the input device to receive answers to the questions. The remote computing system is in communication with the monitoring unit. The remote computing system is programmed to receive the answers provided by the person and to receive the signal representative of the person's weight. The remote computing system generates an alert on the basis thereof.

1 .- 220 . (canceled) 
     
     
         221 . A medical device for monitoring a patient on a central computer, the medical device comprising:
 a processing unit;   a computer-readable medium associated with the processing unit;   a sensor, operably coupled with the processing unit, the sensor detecting at least one physiological parameter of the patient;   an output device operably coupled to the processing unit;   an input device operably coupled to the processing unit;   a communication device operably coupled to the processing unit;   wherein the computer-readable medium is programmed with a set of instructions that
 a) causes the processing unit to prompt the patient with a first question via the output device, and to receive at least one response to the first question via the input device; and thereafter 
 b) causes the processing unit to cooperate with the communication device to automatically initiate a communication session with the central computer, wherein during the communication session, data associated with the at least one physiological parameter is uploaded to the central computer. 
   
     
     
         222 . The medical device of  claim 221 , wherein the computer-readable medium is further programmed with a set of instructions that cause the processing unit to download data associated with the first question from the central computer. 
     
     
         223 . The medical device of  claim 221 , wherein the computer-readable medium is further programmed with a set of instructions that cause, during the communication session, the processing unit to upload data associated with the at least one response to the central computer. 
     
     
         224 . The medical device of  claim 223 , wherein the computer-readable medium is further programmed with a set of instructions that cause, during the communication session, the processing unit to download data associated with a second question from the central computer, based at least in part on the at least one response. 
     
     
         225 . The medical device of  claim 221 , wherein the processing unit initiates the communication session after receiving the at least one response to the first question. 
     
     
         226 . The medical device of  claim 221 , wherein the processing unit initiates the communication session after the sensor detects the at least one physiological parameter. 
     
     
         227 . The medical device of  claim 221 , wherein the first question comprises one of a plurality of wellness parameter questions, wherein the processing unit initiates the communication session after receiving a final response to a final question of the plurality of wellness parameter questions. 
     
     
         228 . The medical device of  claim 221 , wherein the computer-readable medium is further programmed with a set of instructions that cause, during a subsequent communication session, the processing unit to download data associated with a customized question from the central computer. 
     
     
         229 . The medical device of  claim 228 , wherein the customized questions are entered by a health care provider at a workstation remote from the central computer. 
     
     
         230 . A system for monitoring a patient, the system comprising:
 a central computer;   a processing unit;   a computer-readable medium associated with the processing unit;   a sensor, operably coupled with the processing unit, the sensor detecting at least one physiological parameter of the patient;   an output device operably coupled to the processing unit;   an input device operably coupled to the processing unit;   a communication device operably coupled to the processing unit to communicate with the central computer;   wherein the computer-readable medium is programmed with a set of instructions that
 a) causes the processing unit to prompt the patient with a first question via the output device, and to receive at least one response to the first question via the input device; and thereafter 
 b) causes the processing unit to cooperate with the communication device to automatically initiate a communication session with the central computer, wherein during the communication session, data associated with the at least one physiological parameter is uploaded to the central computer. 
   
     
     
         231 . The system of  claim 230 , wherein the central computer further comprises a computer-readable medium programmed with a set of instructions that cause the central computer to upload data associated with a second question to the processing unit, based on at least one of the at least one response and the data associated with the at least one physiological parameter. 
     
     
         232 . The system of  claim 231 , wherein the central computer computer-readable medium is further programmed with a set of instructions that cause the central computer to upload at least one of the at least one response and the data associated with the at least one physiological parameter to a workstation accessed by a healthcare provider. 
     
     
         233 . The system of  claim 232 , wherein the central computer computer-readable medium is further programmed with a set of instructions that cause the central computer to receive a healthcare provider question from the workstation and to upload the healthcare provider question to the processing unit. 
     
     
         234 . A method for monitoring a patient, the method comprising:
 providing a monitoring device comprising:
 a processing unit; 
 a computer-readable medium associated with the processing unit; 
 a sensor operably coupled with the processing unit; 
 an output device operably coupled to the processing unit; 
 an input device operably coupled to the processing unit; 
 a communication device operably coupled to the processing unit to communicate with the central computer; 
   detecting, by the sensor, at least one physiological parameter of the patient;   prompting the patient with a first question via the output device;   receiving at least one response to the first question via the input device;   initiating, after the receiving step, a communication session between the communication device and the central computer; and   uploading, during the communication session, data associated with the at least one physiological parameter to the central computer.   
     
     
         235 . The method of  claim 234 , further comprising downloading from the central computer to the processing unit, data associated with the first question. 
     
     
         236 . The method of  claim 234 , further comprising uploading from the processing unit to the central computer, during the communication session, data associated with the at least one response. 
     
     
         237 . The method of  claim 236 , further comprising downloading to the processing unit to the central computer, during the communication session, data associated with a second question based at least in part on the at least one response. 
     
     
         238 . The method of  claim 234 , further comprising initiating the communication session after receiving the at least one response to the first question. 
     
     
         239 . The method of  claim 234 , further comprising initiating the communication session after the sensor detects the at least one physiological parameter. 
     
     
         240 . The method of  claim 234 , further comprising downloading to the processing unit from the central computer, during a subsequent communication session, data associated with a customized question. 
     
     
         241 . The method of  claim 240 , further comprising receiving, by the central computer, the customized question from a health care provider located remote from the central computer.