Control of data transmission between a remote monitoring unit and a central unit

Abstract

A patient is monitored using a monitoring apparatus including a remote monitoring unit associated with the patient and having a sensor that measures a physiological characteristic of the patient, a central unit, and a communications device which selectively establishes a communications link between the remote monitoring unit and the central unit. The remote monitoring unit obtains a monitored data set for the patient, analyzes the monitored data set to obtain a derived data set from the monitored data set, and determines from the derived data set that communication with the central unit is required. A communications link is established with the central unit, and the remote monitoring unit transmits to the central unit an initially transmitted data set related to the monitored data set. The central unit analyzes the initially transmitted data set and instructs the remote monitoring unit as to any additional transmitted data set related to the monitored data set that is to be transmitted from the remote monitoring unit to the central unit and a time at which the additional transmitted data set is to be transmitted.

1. A method of monitoring a patient, comprising the steps of providing a monitoring apparatus including
 a remote monitoring unit associated with the patient, the remote monitoring unit including a sensor that measures a physiological characteristic of the patient, 
 a central unit, and 
 a communications device which selectively establishes a communications link between the remote monitoring unit and the central unit; 
 the remote monitoring unit obtaining a monitored data set for the patient; 
 the remote monitoring unit analyzing the monitored data set to obtain a derived data set from the monitored data set; 
 the remote monitoring unit determining from the derived data set that communication with the central unit is required; 
 establishing a communications link with the central unit; 
 the remote monitoring unit transmitting to the central unit an initially transmitted data set related to the monitored data set; 
 the central unit analyzing the initially transmitted data set to determine whether an additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the remote monitoring unit; and 
 the central unit, when the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required, instructing the remote monitoring unit as to any that the additional transmitted data set related to the monitored data set that is to be transmitted from the remote monitoring unit to the central unit and as to a time at which the additional transmitted data set is to be transmitted based on the condition sensed initially transmitted data set received from the remote monitoring unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monitored data set comprises a cardiogram of the patient. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of the remote monitoring unit analyzing the monitored data set includes the step of
 comparing at least one element of the derived data set to a warning limit. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of the central unit instructing the remote monitoring unit as to a time includes the step of
 the central unit instructing the remote monitoring unit to transmit the additional transmitted data set substantially immediately. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of the central unit instructing the remote monitoring unit as to a time includes the step of
 the central unit instructing the remote monitoring unit to transmit the additional transmitted data set at a delayed time. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additional transmitted data set and the monitored data set are not the same. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of the central unit analyzing the initially transmitted data set includes the step of
 the central unit obtaining a patient history from a memory, and 
 analyzing the initially transmitted data set in relation to the patient history. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communications device comprises a radio frequency telephone terminal and a land-line telephone terminal. 
     
     
       9. A method of monitoring a patient, comprising the steps of providing a monitoring apparatus including
 a remote monitoring unit associated with the patient, 
 a central unit, and 
 a communications device which selectively establishes a communications link between the remote monitoring unit and the central unit; 
 the remote monitoring unit obtaining a monitored data set for the patient; 
 the remote monitoring unit establishing a communications link with the central unit; 
 the remote monitoring unit transmitting to the central unit an initially transmitted data set related to the monitored data set; 
 the central unit analyzing the initially transmitted data set to determine whether an additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the remote monitoring unit; 
 the central unit, when the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required, instructing the remote monitoring unit as to an that the additional transmitted data set that is to be transmitted from the remote monitoring unit to the central unit and instructing as to a time at which the additional transmitted data set is to be transmitted; and 
 the remote monitoring unit transmitting the additional transmitted data set to the central unit at the time instructed by the central unit based on the condition sensed initially transmitted data set received from the remote monitoring unit. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least a part of the additional transmitted data set is related to the monitored data set. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the monitored data set comprises a cardiogram of the patient. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of the central unit instructing the remote monitoring unit as to a time includes the step of
 the central unit instructing the remote monitoring unit to transmit the additional transmitted data set substantially immediately. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of the central unit instructing the remote monitoring unit as to a time includes the step of
 the central unit instructing the remote monitoring unit to transmit the additional transmitted data set at a delayed time. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the additional transmitted data set and the monitored data set are not the same. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of the central unit analyzing the initially transmitted data set includes the step of
 the central unit obtaining a patient history from a memory, and 
 the central unit analyzing the initially transmitted data set in relation to the patient history. 
 
     
     
       16. A method of monitoring a patient, comprising the steps of providing a monitoring apparatus including
 a remote monitoring unit associated with the patient, the remote monitoring unit including a sensor that measures a physiological characteristic of the patient, 
 a central unit, and 
 a communications device which selectively establishes a communications link between the remote monitoring unit and the central unit; 
 the remote monitoring unit obtaining a monitored data set for the patient; 
 the remote monitoring unit analyzing the monitored data set to obtain a derived data set from the monitored data set; 
 the remote monitoring unit determining from the derived data set that communication with the central unit is required; 
 establishing a communications link with the central unit; 
 the remote monitoring unit transmitting to the central unit an initially transmitted data set related to the monitored data set; 
 the central unit analyzing the initially transmitted data set to determine whether an additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the remote monitoring unit; and 
 the central unit instructing the remote monitoring unit as to any that the additional transmitted data set related to the monitored data set that is to be transmitted from the remote monitoring unit to the central unit and as to a time at which the additional transmitted data set is to be transmitted based on the step of the central unit analyzing the initially transmitted data set. 
 
     
     
       17. A method of monitoring a patient, comprising the steps of providing a monitoring apparatus including
 a remote monitoring unit associated with the patient, the remote monitoring unit including a sensor that measures a physiological characteristic of the patient, 
 a central unit, and 
 a communications device which selectively establishes a communications link between the remote monitoring unit and the central unit based on to a condition sensed; 
 the remote monitoring unit obtaining a monitored data set for the patient; 
 the remote monitoring unit analyzing the monitored data set to obtain a derived data set from the monitored data set; 
 the remote monitoring unit determining from the derived data set that communication with the central unit is required; 
 establishing a communications link with the central unit; 
 the remote monitoring unit transmitting to the central unit an initially transmitted data set related to the monitored data set; 
 the central unit analyzing the initially transmitted data set to determine whether an additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the remote monitoring unit; and 
 the central unit instructing the remote monitoring unit as to any that the additional transmitted data set related to the monitored data set that is to be transmitted from the remote monitoring unit to the central unit and as to a time at which the additional transmitted data set is to be transmitted based on the condition sensed. 
 
     
     
       18. A method of monitoring a patient, comprising the steps of providing a monitoring apparatus including
 a remote monitoring unit associated wit with the patient, the remote monitoring unit including a sensor that measures a physiological characteristic of the patient, 
 a central unit, and 
 a communications device which selectively establishes a communications link between the remote monitoring unit and the central unit; 
 the remote monitoring unit obtaining a monitored data set for the patient; 
 the remote monitoring unit analyzing the monitored data set to obtain a derived data set from the monitored data set; 
 the remote monitoring unit determining from the derived data set that communication with the central unit is required based upon the a condition sensed; 
 establishing a communications link with the central unit; 
 the remote monitoring unit transmitting to the central unit an initially transmitted data set related to the monitored data set; 
 the central unit analyzing the initially transmitted data set to determine whether an additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the remote monitoring unit; and 
 the central unit, when the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required, instructing the remote monitoring unit as to any that the additional transmitted data set related to the monitored data set that is to be transmitted from the remote monitoring unit to the central unit and as to a time at which the additional transmitted data set is to be transmitted. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required, the central unit determining whether the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the monitoring unit immediately or at a later time.  
     
     
       20. The method of claim 9, further comprising the central unit further determining whether the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the monitoring unit immediately or at a later time.  
     
     
       21. The method of claim 16 wherein analyzing the initially transmitted data set to determine whether an additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the remote monitoring unit further comprises determining, based at least on a personal history of the patient, whether the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the remote monitoring unit.  
     
     
       22. The method of claim 16, further comprising, when the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required, determining whether the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the monitoring unit immediately or at a later time.  
     
     
       23. The method of claim 17, wherein analyzing the intially transmitted data set to determine whether an additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the remote monitoring unit further comprises determining, based at least on a personal history of the patient, whether the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the remote monitoring unit.  
     
     
       24. The method of claim 17, further comprising, when the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required, determining whether the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the monitoring unit immediately or at a later time.  
     
     
       25. The method of claim 18, wherein analyzing the intially transmitted data set to determine whether an additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the remote monitoring unit further comprises determining, based at least on a personal history of the patient, whether an additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the remote monitoring unit.  
     
     
       26. The method of claim 18, further comprising, when the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required, determining whether the additional data set related to the monitored data set is required to be transmitted by the monitoring unit immediately or at a later time.