| 摘要 |
A portable unit comprises a sampling mechanism used by a patient to take a sample of a bodily fluid or tissue that can be tested for any property indicative of a medical condition of the patient, a microprocessor for determining a treatment for the condition based on a test of the sample, and an administration mechanism for administering the treatment based on the determination by the microprocessor. Operationally, the unit samples a bodily function, evaluates the sample, determines from stored protocols and criteria if treatment is required, and administers treatment. Two-way wireless communication between the unit and one or more remote networks enables numerous functionalities, including (i) collection and collation of medical information and records relating to multiple users of information stored by their units for access by healthcare providers, regulatory agencies, insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, and others, (ii) unit maintenance and resupply of consumables, and (iii) direct user-to-user communication. |
| 主权项 |
1. A treatment administration unit comprising:
a housing of a size suitable for transport in a handbag or clothing pocket; a sampling module in the housing operable to take a biological sample from a patient and test a property of the sample relating to a medical condition of the patient; a microprocessor in the housing for operating the sampling module and determining the medical condition of the patient from the property tested by the sampling module; an administration module in the housing including (i) a container for a substance effective to treat the medical condition and (ii) an administration device operable to administer the substance internally of the patient from the container under the control of the microprocessor, wherein a start signal is generated when operation of the administration device has been enabled; a proximity sensor for generating a sensing signal when the unit is oriented relative to the patient for operation of the administration device; a wireless communication device in the housing and under the control of the microprocessor; and circuitry in the housing for detecting the location of the unit, wherein: the microprocessor includes a treatment protocol memory for an individual patient that stores parameters for determining when the medical condition determined by the testing of the sample property presents a potential danger to the patient and a healthcare facility index with geographical locations and contact information for a plurality of healthcare facilities, the unit includes timer circuitry for measuring a time elapsed from the determination by the microprocessor that the medical condition presents a potential danger to the patient and for measuring a time elapsed from generation of the start signal, the microprocessor is operable to determine from the location of the unit and the healthcare facility index a location of a healthcare facility that can treat the patient, the microprocessor automatically operates the administration device to introduce the substance internally of the patient when the sensing signal is generated prior to the elapse of a first predetermined time after generation of the start signal, and the wireless communication device automatically notifies a healthcare facility of the existence of the medical condition presenting a potential danger to the patient and the location of the unit in the absence of a start signal before the elapse of a second predetermined time. |
