Systems and methods to provide communication and monitoring of user status

Abstract

An electronic and transducer device can be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance or other oral device to form a two-way communication assembly. The device contains a motion sensor to detect external forces imposed on the user such as an explosion, for example. The information is stored for medical treatment, among others. In another embodiment, the device provides an electronic and transducer device that can be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance or other oral device to form a medical tag containing patient identifiable information. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device fabricated from a thermal forming process utilizing a replicate model of a dental structure obtained by conventional dental impression methods. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 208,588 filed Aug. 12, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 041,100 filed Mar. 3, 2008 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,023,676), each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Millions of living Americans are serving, or have served, the nation in the armed services. Indeed, so many Americans have passed through military service that the Department of Defense (DoD) and individual branches of the armed forces has developed more than 60 separate clinical information systems since 1980 in an effort to keep track. These 60 disparate systems, while useful, resulted in an even greater diffusion of medical information, which became more difficult to access with each passing year. Therefore, the DoD was faced with the need for a “system of systems”—a comprehensive methodology that could meet the needs ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The system reduces paperwork, allows for the collection of more complete patient information, eliminates redundant data entry, increases responsiveness to medical situations and enables healthcare providers to make certain all patient episodes are captured and recorded no matter the environment. Most importantly; the system provides a standard of care to our soldiers by providing access to previously unavailable information. The system is a multi-purpose medical platform that is rugged, wireless and secure. The system provides commanders with real time visibility of their readiness status and provides support for medical command and control, telemedicine and medical informatics applications across the continuum of the entire spectrum of military medical operations but especially for the first responder and far forward medical facilities. With soldiers deployed in many different parts of the world, the system allows medical professionals to capture patient episodes anywhere, anytime, and ensure complete patient information is recorded and transferred to the soldier's medical record at home.

[0010]Certain embodiments of the system automatically inflates Kevlar coated jackets and helmets to protect the user from the forces of blasts or explosions. These embodiments receive the output of the motion sensors and detect the presence of blasts / explosions and cause the vests / helmets to become hardened to protect the wearer from the blasts / explosions. The system can provide an automated introduction of a protective, inflatable shield between the concussive force of a bomb blast or the impact energy of a projectile, and the body of the person at which it is directed.

[0011]The system is uniquely tailored to the individual and can contain tamper-proof electronics that disable the system if the system is removed from the authorized user and tampered with in order to be used by an unauthorized user. In this manner, the system is highly secured. Due to the security, the system can provide a dental identification means which is retained on the individual and thus is less subject to destruction, loss, forgetfulness, or any of the numerous other problems.

Problems solved by technology

These 60 disparate systems, while useful, resulted in an even greater diffusion of medical information, which became more difficult to access with each passing year.

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