PATIENT MONITORING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ORTHOSIS AND OTHER DEVICES
A monitoring system for monitoring a patient using a device, such as all orthosis system is provided. The system includes a monitor that can be incorporated or otherwise coupled to the device. The monitor can have a position sensor, a temperature sensor, and a device type sensor for monitoring the patient's implementation of a protocol. The data obtained from the monitor can be remotely analyzed by a healthcare professional and the protocol can be adjusted accordingly.
1 . A physical therapy apparatus comprising:
a therapeutic device;
a plurality of sensors positionable on the therapeutic device; and
a patient monitor comprising a memory and operable between an administrative mode, a treatment mode, and a data transfer mode, wherein in the administrative and data transfer modes the patient monitor is detachably connected to a computer, and in the treatment mode the patient monitor is detachably connected to the plurality of sensors.
2 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein in the administrative mode treatment parameters are stored in the memory.
3 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein in the treatment mode the patient monitor controls an exercise session according to the stored treatment parameters, and takes and stores patient use data from the plurality of sensors in the memory.
4 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein in the treatment mode the patient monitor provides instructional steps for completing the exercise session.
5 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein in the data transfer mode the stored patient use data from the exercise session is downloaded to the computer.
6 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further comprising:
an electronic device identifier connected to the therapeutic device: and
the plurality of sensors includes a device sensor connected to the electronic device identifier, such that in the treatment mode the device sensor identifies the treatment parameters for the therapeutic device.
7 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein in the administrative mode a plurality of treatment parameters for a plurality of therapeutic devices are stored in the memory.
8 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the plurality of sensors includes a position sensor for measuring a position of the therapeutic device.
9 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the plurality of sensors includes a temperature sensor for determining when the therapeutic device is being worn by a patient.
10 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the patient monitor includes a timer for determining when a predetermined time period has expired since the position sensor detected a stopping of movement of the therapeutic device.
11 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a buzzer connected to the timer for generating a patient detectable signal indicated the expiration of the predetermined time period.
12 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the therapeutic device is an orthosis device, an electrostimulation device, a bone growth stimulation, a drug delivery system, a cardiac rehabilitation; an insulin pumps for diabetics, a medication pump, or a chemical sensor.
13 . A physical therapy apparatus comprising:
a therapeutic device;
a plurality of sensors positionable on the therapeutic device;
a patient monitor including an external memory and a data communication interface, the patient monitor operable between an administrative mode, a treatment mode, and a data transfer mode, wherein in the treatment mode the plurality of sensors are detachably connected to the data communications interface of the patient monitor and
a computer including application software for processing patient use data from the external memory, the computer being detachably connected to the data communications interface of the patient monitor in the administrative and data transfer modes,
14 . The physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the data communication interface receives parameters and commands from the computer and transmits the patient use data to the computer.
15 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein:
in the administrative mode treatment parameters are received from the computer and stored in the external memory;
in the treatment mode the patient monitor controls an exercise session according to the stored treatment parameter, and takes and stores the patient use data in the external memory; and
in the data transfer mode the patient use data from the exercise session is transmitted to the computer.
16 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein the patient use data for a plurality of exercise sessions are stored in the external memory, such that in the data transfer mode the stored patient use data from the plurality of exercise sessions are transmitted to the computer.
17 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 16 further comprising:
a electronic device identifier affixed to the therapeutic device, wherein the plurality of sensors includes a device sensor connected to the electronic device identifier, and
wherein in the administrative mode a plurality of treatment parameters for different therapeutic devices are stored in the external memory, such that in the treatment mode the device sensor identifies the therapeutic device treatment parameters for the therapeutic device from the plurality of treatment parameters.
18 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the plurality of sensors includes a position sensor for measuring a position of the therapeutic device.
19 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein the plurality of sensors includes a temperature sensor for determining when the therapeutic device is being worn by a patient.
20 . A physical therapy apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein the patient monitor includes a timer for determining when a predetermined time period has expired since the position sensor detected a stopping of movement of the therapeutic device