Researchers Submit Patent Application, “Automated Health Data Acquisition, Processing And Communication System”, for Approval (USPTO 20210090709)

2021 APR 09 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- From Washington, D.C., NewsRx journalists report that a patent application by the inventors Ohnemus, Peter (Herrliberg, CH); Naef, Andre (Zurich, CH); Jacobs, Laurence (Thalwil, CH); Leason, David (Chappaqua, NY), filed on December 4, 2020, was made available online on March 25, 2021.

The patent’s assignee is dacadoo ag (Zurich, Switzerland).

News editors obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Despite advances in many areas of technology, there are still barriers to assessing the relative health of a person in a rapid, cost effective, and timely manner. With the increase in health care costs and prevalence of diseases related to unhealthy lifestyles such as diabetes and heart disease, it is important to assess the relative health of individuals, and this has not been adequately addressed. In many areas of the world, access to doctors is limited. Even in the developed world, a doctor’s time is considered a precious commodity and there are often long waiting lists and doctor-to-specialist referral systems have to be navigated before being seen. In more developed countries the ratio of doctors to the population may be on the order of 1:1,000 persons, while in less developed countries the ratio may be 1:100,000. There are also cost barriers to having access to a doctor because an appointment with a doctor can be very expensive, especially if an individual does not have any health insurance or lacks sufficient coverage. Accordingly, it can be very difficult to gain access to medical professionals in order to receive information about one’s health.

“Even if an individual had access to his or her health information, the mechanisms for conveying that information to others is lacking or non-existent. Privacy laws restrict the type of information that can be shared and the manner in which it can be shared. Privacy laws relating to health information are particularly strict in regard to the information that can be shared. This is to protect a person from disclosure of sensitive information. Accordingly, the sharing of health related information is generally discouraged. It is also difficult to share health related information with friends and family. Often health information is only verbally conveyed by a doctor to a patient, or the patient will only receive paper copies of lab test results. Systems are lacking for easily sharing such information with others, especially with large groups of persons located in geographically remote locations.

“Prior art systems that provide a limited type of numerical score which is related to a person’s health have been disclosed. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0105550 to Rothman et al. discloses a system and method for providing a health score for a patient. However, this disclosure is primarily directed to calculating a health score of a patient in a hospital, post surgery, and the health score is based on medical data measured from the patient (e.g., blood pressure, temperature, respiration, etc.). This method fails to take into account the extrinsic activities of the patient, such as the daily physical exercise activities of the patient. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0228692 to Hodgdon discloses a system that calculates a health score based on measured medical data and can include a self assessment survey, which can include surveying a participant’s exercise habits. However, this only takes into account a person’s purported habits, not the actual exercise activity that a person engages in each day. Accordingly, the score is static and does not change in relation to actual activity performed.

“Such disclosed systems are primarily directed to medical practitioners for addressing issues in continuity of care and require input from practitioners in order to produce and maintain scores. Clearly, while the attention of a medical practitioner is needed in emergency and critical care situations, cost and resource factors mean that such systems are usable only in such situations and such systems do not address the general issues discussed above. Additionally, the score is only relevant to the particular instant in time at which it was last updated by the medical practitioner.”

As a supplement to the background information on this patent application, NewsRx correspondents also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent application: “According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer implemented method for processing private health related data into a masked numerical score suitable for publishing. The method comprises receiving data into a memory on a plurality of intrinsic medical parameters and extrinsic physical activity parameters of a user. The received data and weighting factors are stored in the memory. The received data is processed by executing code in a processor that configures the processor to apply the weighting factors to the intrinsic medical parameters and the extrinsic physical activity parameters. The weighting factors for at least the extrinsic physical activity parameters include a decay component arranged to reduce the relative weight of the extrinsic physical activity parameters for a physical activity in dependence on at least one factor associated with the user. The processed data concerning the intrinsic medical parameters and the extrinsic physical activity parameters are transformed by further code executing in the processor into a masked composite numerical value in which the code is operative to combine the weighted parameters in accordance with an algorithm. The masked composite numerical value is automatically published to a designated group via a portal (such as a social web site) using code executing in the processor and free of any human intervention. Meanwhile, the collected information concerning the intrinsic medical parameters and the extrinsic physical activity parameters is maintained private.

“According to a further aspect of such a method as can be implemented in a particular embodiment thereof, the factor associated with the user can be an age or an age range of the user such that the decay component reduces the relative weight of the extrinsic physical activity parameters for a first user of a first age or age range differently than a second user of a second age or age range.

“According to still another aspect of such a method as can be implemented in a particular embodiment thereof, the published masked composite numerical value can comprise an average of a group of users to arrive at a group composite numerical value determination using further code executing in the processor.

“According to an additional aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer implemented health monitoring system which comprises a communication unit operable to receive data on a plurality of intrinsic medical parameters and extrinsic physical activity parameters of a user. A memory is arranged to store the received data and to store weighting factors. Also, a processor is arranged to process the received data by executing code that configures the processor to apply the weighting factors to the intrinsic medical parameters and the extrinsic physical activity parameters. The weighting factors for at least the extrinsic physical activity parameters include a decay component arranged to reduce the relative weight of the physical activity parameters for a physical activity in dependence on at least one factor associated with the user. The processor is further arranged to execute code to transform the processed data concerning the intrinsic medical parameters and the extrinsic physical activity parameters into a masked composite numerical value using the processor by combining the weighted parameters in accordance with an algorithm. A portal is arranged to publish the masked composite numerical value to a designated group while maintaining the collected information concerning the intrinsic medical parameters and the extrinsic physical activity parameters private.

“Such a system can preferably be configured so that the factor associated with the user can be an age or an age range of the user such that the decay component reduces the relative weight of the extrinsic physical activity parameters for a first user of a first age or age range differently than a second user of a second age or age range.

“An embodiment in accordance with further aspects of the invention can comprise a system that communicates either the processed data or the masked composite numerical value to an exercise machine. The machine works in conjunction with the system through programming thereat to automatically establish an exercise program on the basis of the communicated data or the masked composite numerical value. Preferably, the system so-configured receives from the exercise machine into its memory activity information for inclusion among the extrinsic physical activity parameters.

“Embodiments of the present invention seek to combine data from multiple medical and non-medical sources in a system and method that produce a normalized score for a person that takes into account available medical, physical activity and optionally lifestyle data (such as diet) in an arrangement that can be operated and updated in substantially real-time and does not need frequent access to a medical practitioner. The score and trends associated with it can be used for various purposes including triggering alerts as to possible medical issues or repercussions, providing user feedback, automated motivation and/or goal setting, training scheduling, automated referrals for medical analysis. Among the alerts that can be generated are alerts that are triggered based on monitoring of a composite numerical value of a health score that is computed, the computed value of which can cause a feedback communication to be sent to the user (e.g., within the system portal or by email, SMS, etc.), as a result of code executing in a processor and without human intervention, if the monitoring detects a change in the user’s score such as due to decay in value by operation of the algorithm, or reduction in value due to eating habits, or in fulfillment of goals input into the system by the user or by a group the user has associated with, or as part of a non-user-specific goal program that the system can have to motivate wellness (e.g., good exercise or eating habits). Embodiments of the present invention apply a weighting factor to the respective physical activity and/or lifestyle data such that recent events have a greater impact on the score than those that occurred further in the past.

“In the described embodiments, a unique health score computation method is disclosed which masks underlying health statistics, yet provides a benchmark for a variety of applications. In one embodiment, a method for collecting and presenting health related data is provided. The method includes collecting information concerning a plurality of intrinsic medical parameters and extrinsic physical activity parameters of a user. The collected information is stored in a memory and weighting factors are stored in the memory. The collected information is processed by executing code in a processor that configures the processor to apply the weighting factors to the intrinsic medical parameters and extrinsic physical activity parameters. The collected information concerning the intrinsic medical parameters and extrinsic physical activity parameters is transformed into a masked composite numerical value using the processor by combining the weighted parameters in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. The masked composite numerical value is published to a designated group via a portal while maintaining the collected information concerning the intrinsic medical parameters and extrinsic physical activity parameters private.

“Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to provide a normalized rating system that can provide an assessment of the relative health of an individual that can be used as the basis of a fair comparison to other individuals having different ages, sex, medical status or lifestyles.

“Various features, aspects and advantages of the invention can be appreciated from the following Description of Certain Embodiments of the Invention and the accompanying Drawing Figures.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A computer implemented method for processing private health related data into a masked numerical score suitable for publishing, comprising the steps of: receiving data into a memory, wherein the received data represents at least one intrinsic medical parameter and at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter of a user; storing the received data in the memory; storing weighting factors in the memory; processing the received data by executing code in a processor that configures the processor to: apply respective ones of the weighting factors to the at least one intrinsic medical parameter and the at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter, and apply a decay component to the processed at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter to reduce the relative weight of the processed at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter for a physical activity in dependence on at least one factor associated with the user; transform the processed received data by executing additional code in the processor, wherein the processed received data are transformed into a masked composite numerical value by combining the weighted parameters in accordance with an algorithm; and automatically publish the masked composite numerical value to a designated group via a portal, using code executing in the processor and free of human intervention, while maintaining the received data representing the at least one intrinsic medical parameter and the at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter private.

“2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one factor associated with the user is an age or an age range of the user such that the decay component reduces the relative weight of the processed at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter for a first user of a first age or age range differently than for a second user of a second age or age range.

“3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of averaging the published masked composite numerical value of a group of users to determine a group composite numerical value using further code executing in the processor.

“4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: receiving data into the memory representing at least one extrinsic lifestyle parameter of the user, wherein the step of processing the received data further includes executing additional code in the processor that configures the processor to: apply respective ones of the weighting factors to the at least one extrinsic lifestyle parameter, and apply a decay component to reduce the relative weight of the at least one extrinsic lifestyle parameter in dependence on the at least one factor or at least one other factor associated with the user, wherein the step of transforming the processed received data further includes executing code in the processor that configures the processor to combine the at least one processed intrinsic medical parameter, the at least one processed extrinsic physical activity parameter and the at least one processed extrinsic lifestyle parameter in accordance with the algorithm.

“5. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of processing, transforming and publishing are performed substantially automatically upon receipt of any of the received data.

“6. The method of claim 5, additional steps of: communicating either the processed received data or the masked composite numerical value to an exercise machine and automatically establishing an exercise program on that basis, and communicating activity information from the exercise machine to the memory for inclusion among the at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter.

“7. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the composite numerical value and causing triggering of a feedback communication by executing code in the processor and without human intervention.

“8. The method of claim 7, wherein the feedback communication is operative to provide an alert to the user to initiate a physical activity or change a scheduled physical activity.

“9. The method of claim 7, wherein the feedback communication comprises an alert sent to a predetermined person.

“10. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of monitoring comprises monitoring value over time and triggering alert in dependence on change over time.

“11. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of triggering a feedback communication comprises sending an electronic communication directed to the user including directions on changes to the user’s physical activity and/or lifestyle for improving the masked composite numerical value.

“12. The method of claim 7, further comprising calculating, by executing additional code in the processor, a predicative masked composite numerical value, which is indicative of a predicted future state based on past data, using the received data of the user in accordance with a predicative algorithm and causing triggering of a predictive feedback communication.

“13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing the received at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter includes: obtaining a measure of calories expended in the physical activity into the memory; and executing further code in the processor that configures the processor to: transform the measured calories into a metabolic equivalent, MET, value by dividing by the user’s body weight; divide the MET value between a health pool and a bonus pool, wherein the bonus pool has a predetermined size and any divided MET value exceeding the bonus pool size is allocated to the health pool; and apply a daily decay component to the bonus pool; wherein the step of transforming the processed data comprises combining the processed at least one intrinsic medical parameter and a weighted health pool value in accordance with the algorithm.

“14. A health monitoring system comprising: a communication unit operable to receive data on at least one intrinsic medical parameter and at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter of a user; a memory arranged to store the received data and to store weighting factors; a processor arranged to process the received data by executing code that configures the processor to: apply respective ones of the weighting factors to the at least one intrinsic medical parameter and the at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter, apply a decay component arranged to reduce the relative weight of the processed at least one physical activity parameter for a physical activity in dependence on at least one factor associated with the user; the processor being further arranged to execute code to transform the processed received data into a masked composite numerical value using the processor by combining the weighted parameters in accordance with an algorithm; and a portal arranged to publish the masked composite numerical value to a designated group while maintaining the received data representing the at least one intrinsic medical parameter and the at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter private.

“15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one factor associated with the user is an age or an age range of the user such that the decay component reduces the relative weight of the processed at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter for a first user of a first age or age range differently than for a second user of a second age or age range.

“16. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication unit is further arranged to receive data on at least one extrinsic lifestyle parameter of a user, wherein the processor is further arranged to execute code to: apply respective ones of the weighting factors to the at least one extrinsic lifestyle parameter, apply a decay component to reduce the relative weight of the at least one extrinsic lifestyle parameter in dependence on the at least one factor or at least one other factor associated with the user, and transform the processed data by combining the at least one processed intrinsic medical parameter, the at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter and the at least one extrinsic lifestyle parameter in accordance with an algorithm.

“17. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is arranged to automatically perform the processing upon receipt of any of the received data.

“18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a remote user device, the system being arranged to communicate with the remote user device during physical activity to receive at least selected ones of the at least one extrinsic physical activity parameter.

“19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a monitoring unit arranged to monitor the composite numerical values and being arranged to cause triggering of a feedback communication upon detecting a predetermined event associated with the monitored composite numerical values.

“20. The system of claim 19, wherein the feedback communication is operative to reconfigure a program to define or that is defining a scheduled physical activity for the user.

“21-24. (canceled)”

For additional information on this patent application, see: Ohnemus, Peter; Naef, Andre; Jacobs, Laurence; Leason, David. Automated Health Data Acquisition, Processing And Communication System. Filed December 4, 2020 and posted March 25, 2021. Patent URL: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220210090709%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20210090709&RS=DN/20210090709

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