METHODS OF USE FOR HEALTH MONITORING AND COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE

1 . A method for using a device, the method comprising:

attaching the device to a user or the user's clothing; and

using the device to communicate with and receive data from one or more medical devices,

wherein the device has a length, a width, and a thickness,

wherein the device comprises electronic circuitry, a first power source, and a display,

wherein the device comprises a thickness of ¼″ or less, and

wherein the one or more medical devices are selected from one or more of the group consisting of: a blood glucose meter; a pacemaker; a blood pressure monitor; an insulin pump; a pulse oximeter; a Holter monitor; an electrocardiograph; an electroencephalograph; a blood alcohol monitor; an alcohol breathalyzer; an alcohol ignition interlock; a respiration monitor; an accelerometer; a skin galvanometer; a thermometer; a patient geolocation device; a scale; an intravenous flow regulator; a patient height measuring device; a biochip assay device; a monitor for biological agents; a hazardous chemical agent monitor; an ionizing radiation sensor; a sphygmomanometer; a loop recorder; a spirometer; an event monitor; a prothrombin time (PT) meter; an international normalized ratio (INR) meter; a tremor sensor; or a defibrillator.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device has a width of 2″ or less, or 1½″ or less, or 1″ or less or ¾″ or less.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to monitor one or more physical conditions of the user.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to analyze a plurality of the one or more physical conditions of the user to determine a health attribute of the user.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device includes one or more ports, wherein each of the one or more ports can be connected to a sensor, and the device is configured to receive information from at least one sensor.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the device has a plurality of ports.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the device has a plurality of sensors, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is connected to a port.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the device has a plurality of operating modes, and the operating mode of the device changes depending upon one or more of the sensors attached to the device.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the device has a plurality of operating modes, and the operating mode of the device changes upon one or more of the sensors attached to the device.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein data is received by the device from the one or more medical devices through a connection that comprises an optical fiber connection, a tip and sleeve (TS) connection, a tip, ring, and sleeve (TRS) connection, a tip, ring, ring, and sleeve (TRRS) connection, a serial peripheral interface bus (SPI) connection, a universal serial bus (USB) connection, an RS-232 serial connection, an Ethernet connection, a FireWire connection, or combinations thereof.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein data is received by the device from the one or more medical devices wirelessly using at least one of a satellite communication network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless mobile telephone network, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, a wireless local area network (WLAN), a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a Personal Communication Service (PCS) network, or an Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) network.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to transmit at least some of the data received from the one or more medical devices.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data received and transmitted includes:

a. one or more of a battery charge level, a temperature, a barometric pressure, a code relating to an accessory for the medical device, a data validity measurement, an elapsed time since a previous reading by the medical device, a test result parameter, a signal-to-noise parameter, or a quality of service (QoS) parameter;

b. one or more of a user's: heart rate, blood oxygen level, perspiration, electrical resistance on the skin, movement, blood pressure, fall or sudden impact, calories used, calories consumed, or body temperature; and

c. one or more of ambient air temperature, time, day, or location.

14 . The method of claim 12 that is configured to transmit or receive a user's health information, and to analyze the user's health information to identify a condition for the user.

15 . The method of claim 12 that is configured to alert the user or a health care professional when the user condition satisfies a predetermined threshold condition.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to communicate simultaneously with a plurality of medical devices, and wherein the electronic circuitry and display are flexible so as to be functional when manipulated into a circle having a diameter of 4″ or more, 5″ or more, 6″ or more, 7″ or more, 8″ or more, 9″ or more, or 10″ or more.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device functionality changes depending upon the one or more medical devices with which the device communicates.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to receive data from an apparatus implanted in a user of the device.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to analyze one or more medications taken by the user and determines whether the user is in compliance with a prescribed medical treatment.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the device is configured to determine whether a medication of one or more medications taken by a user may interact with one or more of: a second medication of the one or more medications taken by the user; a newly prescribed medication; an over-the-counter medication; an herbal supplement; a vitamin; or a food or a beverage.