Health monitoring and diagnostic device and network-based health assessment and medical records maintenance system

A hand-held health monitoring device, comprising:

• an enclosure for housing a disposable test strip for use with the health monitoring device;
• a holder for removably supporting a device for gathering a sample of biological fluid or tissue;
• a test strip reader operable for reading the test strip carrying the sample of biological fluid or tissue and obtaining test results based on the sample of biological tissue or fluid and calibration data specific to the test strip;
• a memory reading device functionally connected to the test strip reader and operable for reading the calibration data from a memory device;
• a user input device operable for receiving user input commands;
• a display device operable for displaying information;
• a processor functionally connected to the test strip reader, the user input device, and the display device, the processor containing a program module operable for obtaining the test results from the test strip reader and causing the display device to display the test results;
• and
• a data drive functionally connected to the processor and operable for writing the test results to a removable memory storage device.

A health monitoring device, comprising:

• a test strip reader operable for reading the test strip carrying a sample of biological fluid or tissue and obtaining health-related test results based on the sample of biological tissue or fluid and calibration data specific to the test strip;
• a memory reading device functionally connected to the test strip reader and operable for reading the calibration data from a memory device;
• a user input device operational for receiving user input commands;
• a display device operable for displaying information;
• and
• a processor functionally connected to the test strip reader, the user input device, and the display device, the processor containing a diagnostic program module operable for:
• obtaining the test results from the test strip reader,
• causing the display device to prompt the user to enter diagnostic information using the user input device,
• performing a diagnostic analysis to produce diagnostic results based on the test results and the diagnostic information, and
• causing the display device to display the diagnostic results.

A health monitoring device for use with a disposable test strip, comprising:

• a test strip reader operable for reading the test strip carrying a sample of biological fluid or tissue to obtain test results based on the sample of biological tissue or fluid and calibration data specific to the test strip;
• a memory device readable by the health monitoring device and storing a code number and the calibration data specific to the test strip;
• a user input device operable for entering a test strip identification number into the health monitoring device;
• and
• a processor functionally connected to the test strip reader, the memory device, and the user input device, the processor operable for:
• reading the code number from the memory device,
• mathematically deriving a test strip identification number corresponding to the code number,
• comparing the received test strip identification number to the derived test strip identification number, and
• activating the health monitoring device for use with the test strip only if the received test strip identification number corresponds to the derived test strip identification number.

A system for remotely producing health reports, comprising:

• a health monitoring device including:
• a test strip reader operable for reading a test strip carrying a sample of biological fluid or tissue and obtaining test results based on the sample of biological tissue or fluid and calibration data specific to the test strip,
• a memory reading device functionally connected to the test strip reader and operable for reading the calibration data from a memory device, and
• a data drive functionally connected to the test strip reader and operable for writing the test results to a memory storage device;
• a health report server operable for:
• receiving the test results and additional diagnostic information,
• compiling a health report based on the test results and the additional diagnostic information, and
• transmitting the health report;
• and
• a computer station operable for:
• reading the test results from the memory storage device,
• establishing a network connection with the health report server,
• receiving the additional diagnostic information,
• transmitting the test results and the additional diagnostic information to the health report server,
• receiving the health report from the health report server, and
• printing the health report.

A secure medical records maintenance system, comprising:

• a plurality of removable memory storage devices, each operable for storing medical data for an associated patient, a patient-specified personal identification number, and a medical records identification number secured by the patient-specified personal identification number;
• a first remote server operable for storing patient identification information indexed patient identification numbers;
• a second remote server operable for storing patient medical data indexed by the medical records identification numbers;
• and
• the medical data maintained in the second remote server cannot be correlated to the associated patient identification information maintained in the first remote server based on the information contained in the first and second remote servers.

A health monitoring device operable for:

• obtaining medical data associated with a patient;
• reading an initial monetary balance stored on a removable memory storage device;
• determining whether the initial monetary balance is sufficient to pay a monetary value assigned to performance of a test involving the medical data to be performed by the testing device;
• and
• if the initial monetary balance is sufficient to pay for the test,
• computing a revised monetary balance by deducting the monetary value assigned to performance of the test from the initial monetary balance,
• replacing the initial monetary balance with the revised monetary balance on the removable memory storage device, and
• activating the health monitoring device for performance of the test.

A system operable for performing diagnostic health tests, comprising:

• a removable memory storage device;
• an network-based server operable for remotely charging a cost to a payment source and crediting the cost to an initial balance stored on the removable memory storage device;
• and
• a health monitoring device, operable for:
• obtaining medical data associated with a patient;
• reading an initial monetary balance stored on a removable memory storage device;
• determining whether the initial monetary balance is sufficient to pay a monetary value assigned to performance of a test involving the medical data to be performed by the testing device;
• and
• if the initial monetary balance is sufficient to pay for the test,
• computing a revised monetary balance by deducting the monetary value assigned to performance of the test from the initial monetary balance,
• replacing the initial monetary balance with the revised monetary balance on the removable memory storage device, and
• activating the health monitoring device for performance of the test.