Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – For radio sonde
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-22
2004-08-24
Wong, Albert K. (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
For radio sonde
C361S689000, C361S724000, C361S728000, C600S372000, C706S032000, C706S032000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06781522
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a portable storage case for housing a medical monitoring device and, more particularly, to a portable storage case and an associated method for housing a medical monitoring device and for facilitating communication therewith.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In addition to the periodic examination by a physician in the physician's office, it is oftentimes desirable to monitor the medical condition of a patient on a more frequent basis including at times during which the patient is otherwise engaged in normal day-to-day activities. For example, diabetic patients must generally test their blood sugar several times a day. If the blood sugar readings are either abnormally high or abnormally low, the patient can then take appropriate remedial action in order to bring their blood sugar back within the normal range. For example, the patient may administer an insulin shot, drink a glass of orange juice, eat a candy bar or rest for a while in order to allow their blood sugar to return to normal. As another example, patients suffering from various types of heart conditions may need to monitor their blood pressure, pulse rate and the like on a fairly frequent basis throughout the day such that a patient can identify instances in which they should rest and/or relax in order to maintain their blood pressure, pulse and the like at normal levels.
Patients who are both knowledgeable of their medical condition and diligent in monitoring their medical condition can generally identify instances in which remedial action is desirable and then decide upon and institute the appropriate remedial action, such as by adjusting their medication, diet and/or their level of exertion, on an ongoing basis such that they remain in a relatively stable condition. However, a number of patients are either incapable of or unwilling to monitor their medical condition, and then decide upon and institute the appropriate remedial action in order to remain in a relatively stable condition.
For example, a number of children are afflicted with juvenile diabetes. Like adults who are diabetic, children stricken with juvenile diabetes must test their blood sugar several times during a day and must adjust their medication, diet and/or level of exertion in order to maintain their blood sugar at a relatively normal level since failure to maintain their blood sugar at a relatively normal level may cause the child to suffer a diabetic seizure and, over an extended period of time, may lead to blindness, amputation, strokes and even death. Notwithstanding the severe consequences of failing to maintain their blood sugar at a relatively normal level, children oftentimes become preoccupied with other activities and fail to test their blood sugar as frequently as desired. Even in instances in which a child does test his or her blood sugar on a frequent basis, the child may lack the knowledge and experience that is required to determine the remedial steps that should be taken in order to return their blood sugar to a normal level. In addition, a number of elderly patients may be either unable or unwilling to repeatedly monitor their medical condition and to make an educated decision as to whether remedial action is necessary and, if so, what type of remedial action is required in order to remain in a relatively stable condition.
In these situations in which the patient, such as a child or an elderly person, is either unable or unwilling to gather the medical data, interpret the medical data and/or take appropriate remedial actions, a physician, a nurse or other caregiver must intervene in order to remedy the situation. Unfortunately, except in instances in which the patient is hospitalized or is a resident at a nursing home, an extended care facility or the like, the patient is generally remote from the physician, nurse or other caregiver.
In order to obtain the assistance of a physician, a nurse or other caregiver, the patient may be required to visit the physician's office on both a very frequent basis as well as in instances in which abnormal medical data is detected. Even in instances in which the patient promptly goes to the physician's office following the detection of abnormal medical data, some time delay will occur between the detection of the abnormal data and the conference between the patient and the physician. During this time delay, the condition of the patient may worsen since the patient may otherwise fail to take proper remedial action until they have consulted with their physician. This time delay is obviously further exacerbated in instances in which the patient fails to identify an abnormal situation. In addition to the potentially harmful effects to the patient's health occasioned by the failure to remedy the situation until after visiting the physician's office, the patient will incur substantial costs for each office visit, thereby potentially discouraging the patient from visiting the physician as often as otherwise desirable in a misguided attempt to reduce medical costs.
In order to properly treat the patient's condition and to identify the cause of the problem, a physician oftentimes would like to have additional medical data from earlier in the day, the prior day or even before. As such, a variety of monitors have been developed for monitoring a number of medical conditions that include memory devices for storing the medical data for some period of time such that a physician can download the medical data during the patient's visit to the physician's office in order to review at least the recent history of the patient. For example, blood glucose meters have been developed for monitoring the blood sugar of a patient and for storing the measured values obtained over a period of time, typically with a time and date stamp defining when the blood sugar reading was obtained. Likewise, heart monitors having memory devices have been developed and are worn by patients to monitor and store their pulse rate, their heart rhythm and the like.
In addition to a monitor, the patient oftentimes require the number of accessories. For example, in order to monitor the blood sugar of a diabetic patient, the patient not only must carry a blood glucose meter, but also must generally carry a number of lancets and a lancing device. In addition, a diabetic patient must also typically carry a number of test strips as well as a vial of calibration liquid. As such, carrying cases have been developed for storing the blood glucose meter and the testing accessories. Some patients, however, carry the various accessories loosely in their briefcase, purse, backpack or the like and, as a result may have difficulty readily locating all of the necessary accessories in order to test their blood sugar since the briefcase, purse, backpack or the like generally includes a large number of other items. In addition, the accessories must generally be quite clean in order to attain accurate readings. As such, storage of the accessories in a loose manner in a briefcase, purse, backpack or the like may undesirably soil or otherwise contaminate the accessories and therefore somewhat decrease the reliability of the resulting readings. In addition, for those tests that draw blood, such as tests of a patient's blood sugar, the accessories, such as the lancets and test strips, that are utilized for the test may need to be stored and disposed of in a controlled fashion, such as at the patient's home. As such, a patient may also have to carry a bag or the like for collecting those accessories that have been exposed to blood.
In order to permit patients to provide their physician with medical data without having to visit the physician's office, systems have been developed that permit a patient to periodically log onto a computer in their home or office and to then uplink the medical data collected by the monitor to their physician for analysis. Upon analyzing the medical data, the physician can contact the patient if the medical data is abnormal or i
Schimelfenig Kevin James
Schimelfenig Kyle McGeever
Sleva Michael Zigmund
Kivalo, Inc.
Wong Albert K.
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