Electronic Skin Patch for Real Time Monitoring of Cardiac Activity and Personal Health Management

Abstract

A novel wearable electronic skin patch sensor device configured for the real time acquisition, processing and communicating of cardiac activity and other types of biological information within a wired or wireless network is disclosed. A system level scheme for networking the sensor device with client devices that include intelligent personal health management appliances, cellular telephones, PDAs, portable computers, personal computers, RFID Tags and servers is disclosed. The sensor device and the system enable distributed processing, archival and correlation of the biological information with biometrics, gastronomic information, user profiles and health factors that include height, weight, blood pressure and physical activity facilitating real time personal health management at any time and any place.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A health management system, comprising:
 a network configured for one or more of wired and wireless communications;   a first device that includes a personal health management appliance (PHMA) coupled to the network, the first device including a processor coupled to a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to receive biological parameters of a user and the processor is configured to transfer the biological parameters over the network and to receive information over the network;   a second device coupled to the network, the second device including a second processor, wherein the second device includes one or more of a second PHMA, a client device, and a server;   an identification device configured for carriage on the user, the identification device including one or more of a radio frequency (RF) tag and the client device, wherein the identification device includes use information that includes one or more of a user profile and a user identification;   an authentication component coupled to one or more of the first device, the second device, and the identification device, the processing component processing one or more of the biological parameters and other information of the user to generate health information; and   an interface coupled to the network and configured to allow controlled access to the biological parameters and the health information.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an interface component coupled to the interface and configured to allow the user to manage the user's personal health in one or more of a home environment, an office environment, an institutional environment, and a transportation environment; and   a gateway coupled to the network, the gateway configured to couple a plurality of devices including a plurality of PHMAs within an area.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interface is configured for secure personal health monitoring and management by the user in conjunction with one or more of the first device, the second device, and the identification device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interface is configured to acquire biometric identification information of the user, the biometric identification information including one or more of audio, voice, handwriting, photograph, retinal, and fingerprint data, wherein the processing component uses the biometric identification information to enable access to the biological parameters. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first device includes one or more of a personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, portable computer (PC), and server. 
     
     
         6 . A health management system, comprising:
 a network configured for one or more of wired and wireless communications; and   at least one mobile device coupled to the network, the mobile device including a processor and a processing component configured as a personal health management appliance (PHMA), the mobile device coupled to a sensor and an interface, wherein the mobile device is configured to receive via the sensor biological parameters of a user, transfer the biological parameters over the network, and receive information via the network, wherein the interface is configured to acquire biometric identification information of the user, the biometric information including one or more of audio, voice, handwriting, photograph, retinal, and fingerprint data of the user, wherein the processing component is configured to process one or more of the biological parameters and other information of the user to generate health information, wherein the processing component uses the biometric identification information to enable access to the biological parameters and the health information, wherein the mobile device includes one or more of a personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, and portable computer (PC).   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , comprising an identification device configured for carriage on the user, the identification device including one or more of an electronic tag and a radio frequency (RF) tag, wherein the identification device includes user information that includes one or more of a user profile and a user identification, wherein the processing component is configured to automatically recognize and communicate with the identification device and authenticate the user with the user information received from the identification device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the interface is configured to allow the user to select one ore more levels of authentication and specify individuals authorized to access one or more databases that include the biological parameters and the health information. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to transfer one or more of the biological parameters and health information via the network to at least one other of the mobile devices. 
     
     
         10 . A device, comprising:
 a processor coupled to a processing component configured as a personal health management appliance (PHMA);   an interface coupled to the processor, the interface including one or more of an input/output device, a keyboard, a touch screen, a touch-sensitive display, and a microphone, wherein the interface is configured to allow a user to input command information and health query information;   a sensor coupled to the processor that receives biological parameters of a body of a user;   a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device including at least one database for storing the biological parameters;   a communication device configured to request and receive health information from a remote device and to exchange information with the remote device in response to a user input via the interface;   a comparator coupled to the processor and configured to compare the biological parameters with the health information and generate a comparison result, wherein the health information is one or more of received from the remote device and stored in the database; and   a display coupled to the processor, the display configured to present one or more of the biological parameters, the health information, and the comparison result.