Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-26
2004-02-17
Lieu, Julie (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S539120, C340S517000, C706S930000, C702S023000, C702S029000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06693546
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of medical devices and advising systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to allergen detection and air or asthma related advising systems.
2. Background Information
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects among other things, the lung functions of a patient. It is estimated that 6% to 9% of the population of the developed world are affected, and the number of diagnosed cases is growing at 5% per year, ten times the rate of population growth. The number of newly diagnosed cases of pediatric asthma has the health authorities of many countries consider asthma to be an epidemic. In United States, about 15 millions American are affected, making it the sixth ranked chronic disease of the country. About 5,500 people die from asthma related complication each year. The annual medical cost is estimated to be $6 billion. In addition, thousands of work and school days are lost.
Lung irritants such as particulates, plants and animal allergens, and certain types of man-made pollution are the usual triggers leading to asthma attacks. Typically, they are 50 microns or smaller. In the home setting, recent research has determined that allergens can accumulate to levels 2×-10× higher than outside levels. More importantly, “respirable” particulates less than 5 microns in size are of particular concern to health authorities. Current asthma treatment guidelines typically advise a patient to, in order of priority, (1) prevent an attack by avoiding asthma triggers, (2) check their lung function regularly and (3) take medication when necessary.
Although prevention is a high priority or even preferred aspect of the treatment plan for a patient, currently, very limited help is available to assist a patient to avoid asthma triggers, especially in the home setting. This is because allergenic particles that are 50 microns or smaller in size are too small to see without a microscope. Much of the air monitoring devices known in the art are catered for commercial (i.e. workplace) use, designed to monitor industrial pollutants. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,001,463 and 5,646,597 issued to Hamburger disclosed two allergen detection devices for triggering an alarm when allergen level exceeding certain predetermined threshold is detected. A filter, collection and detection arrangement is employed in the '463 patent, whereas the '597 patent improves on the optical detection of the 463 patent. However, both devices suffer from at least the following disadvantages:
(a) neither devices are designed to detect respirable allergens that are smaller than 5 microns, which as mentioned above, have recently been identified by medical research as among the most relevant allergens to avoid;
(b) both devices are only capable of generating an alarm based on the amount of allergens detected in the ambient air of the location of the monitoring device, which when located indoor, ignore the critical component of outdoor air quality (i.e. the air quality of the immediate outdoor area surrounding the indoor location);
(c) the vertical sampling arrangement requires the use of extensive filtering and purging system;
(d) the art ignores the role of humidity and temperature in the lung function;
(e) maintaining, including cleaning, and calibrating these devices are difficult, requiring extensive disassembly and instrumentation; and
(f) no provisions are provided for storing and communicating the collected data.
Thus, an improved approach to allergen monitoring and air/asthma advice generation is desired.
3. Terminology
Throughout the remaining specification, including the claims, usage of the term “allergen” is intended to include particulates, plants and animal allergens, man-made pollution, and the like, and usage of the term “air/asthma advice” is intended to cover air quality and/or asthma related information, suggestion, counsel, guidance, recommendation, admonition, direction, instruction, alert, warning, and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A sub-assembly for detecting and reporting on allergen data (preferably, for allergen with sizes smaller than 5 micron) is provided to a basic allergen data collection device as well as a multi-function personal asthma management device. Both devices are communication enabled, to allow the allergen data of the location where the device is situated (typically indoor), to be provided to an air/asthma advice server, that generates air/asthma advice for an asthma patient, taking into consideration allergen condition of a location as well as air quality of the surrounding area. In one embodiment of the basic model, the communication interface is tailored for “harsh environment” local area networking. In one embodiment of the multi-function model, the communication interface is tailored for “controlled environment” wide area networking.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4249244 (1981-02-01), Shofner et al.
patent: 4420256 (1983-12-01), Fladda et al.
patent: 5001463 (1991-03-01), Hamburger
patent: 5394934 (1995-03-01), Rein et al.
patent: 5428964 (1995-07-01), Lobdell
patent: 5549117 (1996-08-01), Tacklind et al.
patent: 5589824 (1996-12-01), Lynch
patent: 5626144 (1997-05-01), Tacklind et al.
patent: 5646597 (1997-07-01), Hamburger et al.
patent: 5704366 (1998-01-01), Tacklind et al.
patent: 5732709 (1998-03-01), Tacklind et al.
patent: 5786767 (1998-07-01), Severino
patent: 5831876 (1998-11-01), Orr et al.
patent: 5848378 (1998-12-01), Shelton et al.
patent: 6023223 (2000-02-01), Baxter, Jr.
patent: 6114964 (2000-09-01), Fasano
patent: 6288646 (2001-09-01), Skardon
William F. Lyon, Ohio State University Extension Facsheet; Entomology, “House Dust Mites,” reprinted Feb. 26, 1998, pp. 1-4.
“Model 1060 Features and Specifications,” http://www.ppmcorp.com/products/hh60spec.html, reprinted Mar. 8, 1999, 1 page.
Joel Johnson and Gerry Flanagan, “Real-Time Dust Monitoring provides Data on Aerosols and Particulates,” reprinted from Industrial Hygiene News, 2 pages.
“Model 1060 Handheld Aerosol Monitor with Detached Sensor,” http://www.ppmcorp.com/products/hh60desc.html, reprinted Mar. 8, 1999, 1 page.
“Model 1010 Handheld Aerosol Monitor,” http://www.ppmcorp/hh05desc.html, reprinted Mar. 8, 1999, 1 page.
Health and Safety Application Note ITI-036, “Dusttrak™ Aerosol Monitor Theory of Operation, Revised Nov. 14, 1997,” http://www.tsi.com/his/homepage/applnote/iti_036.htm, Copyright 1996 TSI Incorporated, reprinted Mar. 8, 1999, 2 pages.
“Dusttrak™ Aerosol Monitor Model 8520, Features, Specification and Accessories,” Revised Sep. 10, 1998, http://www.tsi.com/his/homepage/dusttrak/dustspec.htm, Copyright 1997 TSI Incorporated, reprinted Mar. 8, 1999, pp. 1-4.
Opto-System project Team, ELECOM Group, Sharp Corporation, “Dust Sensor GP2U 5 Application Note,” Nov. 28, 1997, pp. 2-14.
Sharp Corporation, “GP2U06 High Sensitivity Dust Sensor,” as of May 1997, 2 pages.
AirAdvice, Inc.
Lieu Julie
Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt P.C.
LandOfFree
Particulate detection and air advice provision does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Particulate detection and air advice provision, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Particulate detection and air advice provision will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3304611