Remote Medical Testing via Personal Devices for Asynchronous Care
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional healthcare systems face geographic and time hindrances due to the need for physical proximity and simultaneous availability of healthcare providers and patients, limiting access to medical services and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing general-purpose personal devices like smartphones to enable self-administered medical tests, allowing asynchronous data capture and analysis, and enabling healthcare professionals to review results remotely through prescriptive applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional in-person healthcare testing is used, then diagnostic information can be gathered directly by healthcare providers, but geographic and temporal hindrances limit access and increase costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces personal communication devices (smartphones, tablets, computers) as intermediary tools that patients use to complete medical tests and provide diagnostic information. These devices act as mediators between the patient and healthcare provider, enabling remote test completion without requiring physical presence at a clinic. The device serves as an intermediary that captures diagnostic data and transmits it to the healthcare provider's system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of in-person physical testing with electronic and digital systems. Instead of healthcare providers physically examining patients in clinics, the system uses software applications on personal devices to administer tests, capture data through sensors and input methods, and electronically transmit results. This substitution eliminates geographic and temporal constraints while maintaining diagnostic capability.
2Loss of time
If real-time testing is required, then diagnostic information is obtained immediately, but healthcare providers and patients must be available at the same time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables patients to complete medical tests in advance of the healthcare provider's availability. Patients can take diagnostic tests, complete questionnaires, and provide information at any time before their scheduled appointment or at their own convenience. This preliminary action allows the patient to prepare and submit diagnostic data before the provider needs to review it, eliminating the constraint that both parties must be available simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the diagnostic process to continue independently of the healthcare provider's schedule. Patients can continuously complete tests, update information, and submit data at any time, creating an uninterrupted flow of diagnostic information. The system maintains continuous operation regardless of provider availability, with data being transmitted and processed asynchronously.
3Adaptability or versatility
If custom built medical devices are used for remote services, then specialized medical functions are available, but access is limited by location and equipment availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes personal communication devices universal platforms for medical testing by enabling them to perform specialized diagnostic functions that traditionally required dedicated medical equipment. The same smartphone or computer can administer various types of tests including neurological, musculoskeletal, and other diagnostic evaluations. This multi-functionality allows a single device type to replace multiple specialized equipment, greatly expanding remote accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates software copies of medical testing capabilities that can run on personal devices. Instead of requiring physical copies of expensive specialized equipment, the system uses software applications that replicate diagnostic functions on affordable personal devices. These software copies enable the same diagnostic capabilities as expensive medical equipment to be accessed through standard smartphones, tablets, or computers.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical monitoring and surveillance system uses a server communicating with a general-purpose personal device running an application. The application may be downloadable. The application is configured by the server. The application configures the device to perform medical tests using the sensors, preexisting capabilities, and functionality built into the device. The device may be a cellular telephone with data communication and other functionality, a personal digital organizer, a portable entertainment device, or another similar personal device. The application reports the results of the medical tests to the server or a third party device. Various trigger events and associated tasks may be incorporated in the server or in the application residing on the device. A trigger event may occur, for example, in response to the test results meeting one or more predetermined criteria. Once a trigger event occurs, a task associated with the trigger event is performed.