Monitoring apparatus and other devices

Abstract

A monitoring system for monitoring a patient using a device, such as all orthosis system is provided. The system includes a monitor that can be incorporated or otherwise coupled to the device. The monitor can have a position sensor, a temperature sensor, and a device type sensor for monitoring the patient's implementation of a protocol. The data obtained from the monitor can be remotely analyzed by a healthcare professional and the protocol can be adjusted accordingly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for monitoring a person, the system comprising:
 a wearable chemical sensor configured to measure the sugar level of the person, the sensor securely attached to a body part of the person;   a monitoring device, configured to be connected to the sensor, the monitoring device comprised of:
 a data acquisition system comprised of a microprocessor and memory, the microprocessor electrically coupled to the sensor, and the memory configured to store digital data representative of the measured sugar level of the person; 
 an electric power source, wherein the microprocessor is configured to control the electric power source to change the monitoring device from at least one of a powered non-sleep state and a low power sleep state; 
 a real time clock, wherein the real time clock is configured to link a time to the digital data; and 
 a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver configured to transfer the digital data and time linked thereto from the memory, wherein the transmission occurs at least one of instantaneously and at set intervals, and wherein the RF transmitter and receiver is configured to transmit an identifier; and 
   a portable communication device communicatively coupled to the monitoring device through the RF transmitter and receiver and the data transmission, the portable communication device comprising:
 an input device configured to receive the digital data from the monitoring device; 
 a software application configured to acquire the digital data from the monitoring device, store the digital data, and prepare the digital data, wherein the identifier transmitted by the RF transmitter and receiver of the monitoring device enables the software to access at least one of connection parameters and firmware stored on the portable communications device to communicate with the RF transmitter and receiver without downloading the parameters or firmware; and 
 an output device coupled to the input device and configured to display the digital data prepared by the software application, 
 wherein, the prepared digital data displayed on the output device is configured to be viewed by at least one of the person and an authorized user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable communication device is at least one of a laptop, a smartphone, a cellular device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a watch. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the portable communication device is configured to transfer the digital data through a cellular link. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output device comprised within the portable communication device is configured to display digital data and can remotely change the delivery protocol based on data measurements, wherein the output device that can modify the delivery protocol remotely is an insulin pump. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital data stored in the memory of the monitoring device is erased after the transmission of the digital data from the monitoring device to the portable communication device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the authorized user is at least one of a health care professional, physician, physical therapist, nurse, nurse practitioner, insurance carrier, and at least one other person authorized by the person. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the monitoring device having a unique device identification. 
     
     
         8 . A system for monitoring a person, the system comprising:
 a wearable chemical sensor configured to measure the sugar level of the person, the sensor securely attached to a body part of the person;   a monitoring device, configured to be connected to the sensor, the monitoring device comprised of:
 a data acquisition system comprised of a microprocessor and memory, the microprocessor electrically coupled to the one sensor, and the memory configured to store data representative of the measured sugar level of the person; 
 a power source, wherein the microprocessor is configured to control the electric power source to change the monitoring device from at least one of a powered non-sleep state and a low power sleep state; 
 a real time clock, wherein the real time clock is configured to link a time to the personal data; and 
 a wireless transmitter and receiver configured to securely transfer the personal data and time linked thereto from the memory, wherein the transfer occurs at least one of instantaneously and at set intervals; and 
   a portable communication device communicatively coupled to the monitoring device through the wireless transmitter and receiver and the data transmission, the portable communication device comprising:
 an input device configured to receive the personal data from the monitoring device; 
 a software application configured to securely acquire the personal data from the monitoring device, store the personal data, and prepare the personal data, 
 an output device coupled to the input device and configured to display the personal data prepared by the software application, 
 wherein the prepared personal data displayed on the output device is configured to be viewed by at least one of the person and an authorized user. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the portable communication device is at least one of a laptop, a smartphone, a cellular device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a watch. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the portable communication device is configured to transfer the digital data through a cellular link. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the output device comprised within the portable communication device is configured to display digital data and can remotely change the delivery protocol based on data measurements, wherein the output device that can modify the delivery protocol remotely is an insulin pump. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless transmitter and receiver is configured to transmit an identifier, and
 wherein the identifier transmitted by the RF transmitter and receiver of the monitoring device enables the software application of the portable communication device to access at least one of connection parameters and firmware stored on the portable communications device to communicate with the RF transmitter and receiver without downloading the parameters or firmware.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the digital data stored in the memory of the monitoring device is erased after the transmission of the digital data from the monitoring device to the portable communication device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the authorized user is at least one of a health care professional, physician, physical therapist, nurse, nurse practitioner, insurance carrier, and at least one other person authorized by the person. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising the monitoring device having a unique device identification. 
     
     
         16 . A system for monitoring a person, the system comprising:
 a sensor configured to measure at least one physiological parameter of the patient, the sensor securely attached to the person;   a monitoring device, configured to be communicatively connected to the sensor, the monitoring device comprised of:
 a data acquisition system comprised of a microprocessor and memory, the microprocessor electrically coupled to the at least one sensor, and the memory configured to store data representative of the at least one measured physiological parameter of the person; 
 a power source, wherein the microprocessor is configured to control the power source to change the monitoring device from at least one of a powered non-sleep state and a low power sleep state; 
 a real time clock, wherein the real time clock is configured to link a time to the personal data; and 
 a wireless transmitter and receiver configured to securely transfer the personal data and time linked thereto from the memory, wherein the transfer occurs at least one of instantaneously and at set intervals, and 
   wherein the monitoring device is firmly attached to the body part of the person; and   a portable communication device communicatively coupled to the monitoring device through the wireless transmitter and receiver and the data transmission, wherein the portable communication device is configured to securely receive the personal data from the monitoring device.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor is at least one of implanted in the person and securely attached to a body part of the person. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the physiological parameter is at least one of temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and sugar level. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the monitoring device is at least one of physically attached and wirelessly connected to the sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16  wherein, the portable communication device comprises:
 an input device configured to receive the personal data from the monitoring device; 
 a software application; and 
 an output device coupled to the input device and configured to display the personal data, wherein the prepared personal data displayed on the output device is configured to be viewed by at least one of the person and an authorized user. 
 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the portable communication device is at least one of a laptop, a smartphone, a cellular device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a watch. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the portable communication device is configured to transfer the digital data through a cellular link. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the output device comprised within the portable communication device is configured to display digital data and can remotely change the delivery protocol based on data measurements, wherein the output device that can modify the delivery protocol remotely is an insulin pump. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the wireless transmitter and receiver is configured to transmit an identifier, and
 wherein the identifier transmitted by the RF transmitter and receiver of the monitoring device enables the software application of the portable communication device to access at least one of connection parameters and firmware stored on the portable communications device to communicate with the RF transmitter and receiver without downloading the parameters or firmware.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the digital data stored in the memory of the monitoring device is erased after the transmission of the digital data from the monitoring device to the portable communication device. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 16  wherein, the portable communication device comprises:
 an input device configured to receive the personal data from the monitoring device; 
 a software application; and 
 an output device coupled to the input device and configured to display the personal data wherein the prepared personal data displayed on the output device is configured to be viewed by at least one of the person and at least one other person authorized by the person, wherein the one other person authorized is a friend, a family member, a health care professional, physician, physical therapist, nurse, nurse practitioner, insurance carrier, and insurance carrier. 
 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising the monitoring device having a unique device identification. 
     
     
         28 . A system for monitoring a person, the system comprising:
 a wearable sensor configured to measure the sugar level of the person, the wearable sensor configured to wirelessly transfer measured personal data;   a monitor communicatively connected to the sensor, the monitor comprised of:
 a wireless transmitter and receiver configured to securely receive the personal data wirelessly transferred from the sensor; wherein the transfer occurs at least one of instantaneously and at set intervals; 
 a data acquisition system comprised of a microprocessor and memory, the memory configured to store the personal data received from the sensor; 
 a power source, wherein the microprocessor is configured to control the power source to change the monitoring device from at least one of a powered non-sleep state and a low power sleep state; 
 a display; and 
 a communication port; 
   a cable configured to connect the communication port of the monitor to a computer and securely transfer the personal data from the monitor to the computer; and   a software application configured to run on the computer, the software application configured to acquire the personal data from the monitor, store the personal data, and prepare the personal data as a form displayed on the computer,   wherein the personal data displayed on the computer is configured to be viewed by at least one of the person and a user authorized by the person.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the authorized user is at least one of a health care professional, physician, physical therapist, nurse, nurse practitioner, insurance carrier, and at least one other person authorized by the person. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , further comprising the monitoring device having a unique device identification.