# US 11,109,934 B2 · System, method, and apparatus for remote patient care > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,109,934 B2 - Document ID: US11109934B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/683,637 - Filed: 2019-11-14 - Published: 2020-03-12 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-29 - Assignees: DEKA Products Limited Partnership - Applicants: DEKA Products Limited Partnership - Inventors: Jason A. Demers; Frederick Morgan; George W. Marchant, Jr.; David E. Collins; Katie A. DeLaurentis; Dean Kamen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11109934B2 ## CPC - A61B 50/31: Carrying cases or bags, e.g. doctors' bags - A61B 5/150022: {for capillary blood or interstitial fluid} - A61B 5/150305: {Packages specially adapted for piercing devices or blood sampling devices} - A61B 10/007: {for taking urine samples (measuring urological functions A61B5/20; genital receptacles A61F5/451; urinals for bed-ridden persons A61G9/006)} - A61B 34/25: {User interfaces for surgical systems} - A61B 90/30: Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure - A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders - A61M 16/0051: {with alarm devices} - A61M 16/021: {operated by electrical means (A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence)} - A61M 16/10: Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours - B41J 3/4075: {Tape printers; Label printers} - B41J 15/044: {Cassettes or cartridges containing continuous copy material, tape, for setting into printing devices} - B65D 5/0085: {the container body comprising two mating compartments hinged together (B65D77/006 takes precedence)} - G01G 19/40: with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight (indicating means for weighing apparatus G01G23/18; recording means for weighing apparatus G01G23/18; computers in general G06) - G01G 19/52: Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture (with walking sticks A45B3/08) - G16H 20/00: ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - G16H 80/00: ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring - A61B 5/150343: {Collection vessels for collecting blood samples from the skin surface, e.g. test tubes, cuvettes (sampling from within body cavities A61B5/150015, A61B5/150045)} - A61B 5/157: {Devices} characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood - A61B 2017/00199: {with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display} - A61B 2017/00221: {with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves} - A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated} - A61B 2050/0056: {about a lateral axis in the lid plane} - A61B 2050/3008: {having multiple compartments} - A61B 2050/311: {Cases} - A61B 2560/0252: using ambient temperature - A61B 2560/0257: using atmospheric pressure - A61B 2562/029: Humidity sensors - A61B 2562/182: Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage - A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen - A61M 2205/15: Detection of leaks - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/3569: sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable - A61M 2205/3592: using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission - A61M 2205/581: by audible feedback - A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback - A61M 2205/6054: Magnetic identification systems - A61M 2209/06: Packaging for specific medical equipment - A61M 2209/084: Supporting bases, stands for equipment - A61M 2230/04: Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation - A61M 2230/205: partial oxygen pressure (P-O2) - A61M 2230/30: Blood pressure (A61M2230/04 takes precedence) - A61M 2230/50: Temperature - G16H 10/65: stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD - G16H 40/60: for the operation of medical equipment or devices - G16H 40/63: for local operation - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract A portable patient-care kit is disclosed. The kit includes two-housing portions, a plurality of compartments and a touch-screen user interface device. The two-housing portions pivotally coupled together to form a container space. The plurality of compartments is disposed within at least one of the housing portions such that each compartment is configured to retain at least one medical apparatus. The touch-screen user interface device has a transceiver that can communicate via a mobile data network. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable patient-care kit, comprising: two-housing portions pivotally coupled together to form a container space; a plurality of compartments disposed within at least one of the two-housing portions, each compartment configured to retain at least one medical apparatus; a central control unit comprising a touch-screen user interface device having a transceiver configured to communicate via a mobile data network; and a plurality of lights, each of the plurality of lights being configured to supply light within a separate one of each of the plurality of compartments, wherein a compartment of the plurality of compartments includes a door, wherein the touch-screen user interface device is in operative communication with the door to instruct the door to automatically open, and wherein the central control unit is configured to illuminate the plurality of lights so as to illuminate the plurality of compartments and the at least one medical apparatus retained therein in a sequence of operation, the control unit configured to automatically illuminate a next compartment in the sequence of operation based on data from at least one of the at least one medical apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of medical devices are stored at least one of the plurality of compartments, wherein the touch-screen user interface device is pre-paired with the plurality of medical devices, the plurality of medical devices including the at least one medical apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The kit according to claim 2, wherein the touch screen user interface device is pre-paired via a Bluetooth LE pairing schema. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, wherein a housing portion of the two-housing portions includes a battery and a power supply configured to supply power to the at least one medical apparatus using the battery. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, wherein the touch-screen user interface device is a tablet computer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The kit according to claim 5, wherein the tablet computer is configured to teleconference with a physician having a computer device selected from the group of a PC, a second tablet computer, a smart phone, a terminal and a phablet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, wherein any measurement of a person using one or more of the at least one medical apparatus is at least one of stored in a cloud server or communicated to a physician. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The kit according to claim 5, wherein the at least one medical apparatus is at least one of a sphygmomanometers, a pulse oximeter, a photoplethysmogram, a thermometer, an electro cardiogram sensor, a blood glucose meter, a blood-based diagnostic meter, a urine sample container, and a blood collector container. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, wherein a housing portion of the two-housing portions includes a communications component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The kit according to claim 9, wherein the communications component is a hotspot. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The kit according to claim 10, wherein the touch-screen user interface device is a tablet computer, and the tablet computer uses the hotspot to communicate with a cloud server. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The kit according to claim 11, wherein the tablet computer communicates with the at least one medical apparatus and relays data therefrom to the cloud server. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The kit according to claim 12, wherein the tablet computer communicates the relayed data to the cloud server through the communications component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The kit according to claim 10, wherein the at least one medical apparatus communicates with the hotspot to transmit data to a cloud server. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, wherein the touch-screen user interface device is a tablet computer and is configured to act as a hot spot. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The kit according to claim 13, wherein the at least one medical apparatus uses the tablet computer to communicate with the cloud server. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, further comprising an environmental monitor component. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The kit according to claim 17, wherein the environmental monitor component monitors at least one of a temperature, a humidity, a vibration, and a shock. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The kit according to claim 17, wherein the environmental monitor component communicates a monitored parameter to a tablet. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The kit according to claim 17, wherein the environmental monitor component communicates a monitored parameter to a cloud server. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The kit according to claim 20, wherein the environmental monitor component communicates the monitored parameter to the cloud server through an internal hot spot of the kit. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The kit according to claim 20, wherein the environmental monitor component communicates the monitored parameter to the cloud server through a tablet. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two-housing portions includes a communications component having a secure communications link and an unsecure communications link. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The kit according to claim 23, wherein the secure communications link communicates identifiable patient data. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The kit according to claim 23, wherein the unsecure communications link is an Internet link. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The kit according to claim 23, wherein the communications component is a hotspot. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The kit according to claim 26, wherein the hotspot is for at least one of the touch-screen user interface device and the at least one medical apparatus. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, further comprising an RFID reader configured to record an inventory of the at least one medical apparatus. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, further comprising an RFID reader configured to read a sensor value from an RFID tag. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, further comprising an RFID reader configured to identify a user to allow a lock to unlock to gain access to a compartment of the plurality of compartments. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, in which an RFID reader communicates with the touch-screen user interface device. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, in which an RFID reader communicates with a communications component. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, wherein a payment terminal is available including at least one of a debit card reader, a credit card reader, a health insurance card reader, or a money acceptor. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, wherein there are four foldable legs to turn the opened kit into a table-like structure. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the two-housing portions is at least one of magnetically shielding, electrostatically shielding, or electromagnetic shielding. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, wherein the touch-screen user interface device is a tablet, wherein the tablet is configured to provide instructions to a patient how to use the at least one medical apparatus. ### Claim 37 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of compartments is an environmentally controlled compartment configured to control at least one of temperature, humidity, pressure, or atmospheric composition. ### Claim 38 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, wherein the touch-screen user interface device is a tablet, wherein the tablet is configured to teleconferencing with a physician. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, further comprising an oxygen leak sensor. ### Claim 40 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, further comprising an oxygen generator. ### Claim 41 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, further comprising a communications component configured to connect to a wireless access point. ### Claim 42 (depends on 1) The kit according to claim 1, further comprising a communications component configured to interface with external medical apparatuses. ### Claim 43 A portable patient-care kit, comprising: two-housing portions pivotally coupled together to form a container space; a plurality of compartments disposed within at least one of the two-housing portions, each compartment configured to retain at least one medical apparatus; a central control unit comprising a touch-screen user interface device having a transceiver configured to communicate via a mobile data network; a plurality of lights, each of the plurality of lights being configured to supply light within a separate one of each of the plurality of compartments; and an RFID reader configured to record an inventory of the at least one medical apparatus, wherein each compartment includes a different antenna in which the RFID reader can determine which antenna of the plurality of antennas an RFID is in close proximity with to thereby determine which compartment the at least one medical apparatus is located, wherein the central control unit is configured to illuminate the plurality of lights so as to illuminate the plurality of compartments and the at least one medical apparatus retained therein in a sequence of operation, the control unit configured to automatically illuminate a next compartment in the sequence of operation based on data from at least one of the at least one medical apparatus. ### Claim 44 A portable patient-care kit, comprising: two-housing portions pivotally coupled together to form a container space; a plurality of compartments disposed within at least one of the two-housing portions, each compartment configured to retain at least one medical apparatus; a central control unit comprising a touch-screen user interface device having a transceiver configured to communicate via a mobile data network; and a plurality of lights, each of the plurality of lights being configured to supply light within a separate one of each of the plurality of compartments, wherein a cover of a compartment of the plurality of compartments is configured to be side illuminated, and wherein the central control unit is configured to illuminate the plurality of lights so as to illuminate the plurality of compartments and the at least one medical apparatus retained therein in a sequence of operation, the control unit configured to automatically illuminate a next compartment in the sequence of operation based on data from at least one of the at least one medical apparatus. ### Claim 45 A portable patient-care kit, comprising: two-housing portions pivotally coupled together to form a container space; a plurality of compartments disposed within at least one of the two-housing portions, each compartment configured to retain at least one medical apparatus; a central control unit comprising a touch-screen user interface device having a transceiver configured to communicate via a mobile data network; and a plurality of lights, each of the plurality of lights being configured to supply light within a separate one of each of the plurality of compartments, wherein a cover of a compartment of the plurality of compartments is automatically actuatable, and wherein the central control unit is configured to illuminate the plurality of lights so as to illuminate the plurality of compartments and the at least one medical apparatus retained therein in a sequence of operation, the control unit configured to automatically illuminate a next compartment in the sequence of operation based on data from at least one of the at least one medical apparatus. ### Claim 46 A portable patient-care kit, comprising two-housing portions pivotally coupled together to form a container space; a plurality of compartments disposed within at least one of the two-housing portions, each compartment configured to retain at least one medical apparatus; a central control unit comprising a touch-screen user interface device having a transceiver configured to communicate via a mobile data network; a plurality of lights, each of the plurality of lights being configured to supply light within a separate one of each of the plurality of compartments; and an audible alarm, wherein the touch-screen user interface device is configured to alarm the audible alarm if a signal is wirelessly communicated to the touch-screen user interface device indicating that the kit should alarm, wherein the central control unit is configured to illuminate the plurality of lights so as to illuminate the plurality of compartments and the at least one medical apparatus retained therein in a sequence of operation, the control unit configured to automatically illuminate a next compartment in the sequence of operation based on data from at least one of the at least one medical apparatus. ### Claim 47 A portable patient-care kit, comprising: two-housing portions pivotally coupled together to form a container space; a plurality of compartments disposed within at least one of the two-housing portions, each compartment configured to retain at least one medical apparatus; and a central control unit comprising a touch-screen user interface device having a transceiver configured to communicate via a mobile data network; a plurality of lights, each of the plurality of lights being configured to supply light within a separate one of each of the plurality of compartments, wherein the touch-screen user interface device is configured to receive a prescription from a physician via a communication link, the touch-screen user interface device is configured to authorize a pill dispenser within a compartment of the plurality of compartments to dispense the prescription, and wherein the central control unit is configured to illuminate the plurality of lights so as to illuminate the plurality of compartments and the at least one medical apparatus retained therein in a sequence of operation, the control unit configured to automatically illuminate a next compartment in the sequence of operation based on data from at least one of the at least one medical apparatus. ### Claim 48 A portable patient-care kit, comprising: two-housing portions pivotally coupled together to form a container space; a plurality of compartments disposed within at least one of the two-housing portions, each compartment configured to retain at least one medical apparatus; a central control unit comprising a touch-screen user interface device having a transceiver configured to communicate via a mobile data network; a plurality of lights, each of the plurality of lights being configured to supply light within a separate one of each of the plurality of compartments; and an RFID reader configured to record an inventory of the at least one medical apparatus, wherein the touch-screen user interface device is configured to communicate a demand for new supplies to be delivered with a supply is below a predetermined threshold, wherein the central control unit is configured to illuminate the plurality of lights so as to illuminate the plurality of compartments and the at least one medical apparatus retained therein in a sequence of operation, the control unit configured to automatically illuminate a next compartment in the sequence of operation based on data from at least one of the at least one medical apparatus.