Method and system for monitoring the heart of a patient

A method of monitoring health conditions of a patient comprising the steps of:

• providing the patient with a device for monitoring a predetermined bodily function of the patient at a patient station;
• transmitting from a transmitter of the device information about the predetermined bodily function monitored by the device when a predetermined event occurs;
• activating the patient station from a secondary station remote from the patient at the patient station by dialing a phone number of the patient station to create a communication channel between the patient station and the secondary station such that information relating to the predetermined bodily function of the patient can be transmitted to the secondary station by the device at the patient station;
• and
• providing data about the patient which supplements the information when the information is transmitted.

A system for monitoring health conditions of a patient comprising:

• a patient station having means for generating an electrocardiogram of the patient and a patient transmitter for transmitting information relating to the electrocardiogram, including means for automatically transmitting the information when a predetermined event occurs, said patient transmitter includes a first telecommunication line and a second telecommunication line;
• means for storing electrocardiogram information, said storing means in communication with the generating means, said storing means comprising a first storage device for storing predetermined cardiological events and a second storage device for storing the electrocardiogram generated by the generating means and means for detecting predetermined cardiological events of the patient, said detecting means in communication with the generating means;
• a secondary station remote from the patient at the patient station having a modem for creating a communication channel between the patient station and the secondary station such that information relating to the monitored electrocardiogram can be transmitted from the patient station to the secondary station, said secondary station in communication with the patient station, said secondary station in communication with the first telecommunication line;
• a database in communication with the secondary station which provides data about the patient which supplements the information to the secondary station when the information is transmitted from the patient;
• a central station in communication with the patient transmitter for automatically receiving the electrocardiogram transmitted by the patient transmitter when a predetermined cardiological event has occurred, said central station in communication with the second telecommunication line;
• a database in communication with the central station for storing and providing patient data to the central station when a predetermined cardiological event occurs;
• and
• display means in communication with the central station and the database for displaying the patient data and the transmitted electrocardiogram.

A system for monitoring health conditions of a patient comprising:

• a patient station having means for generating an electrocardiogram of the patient and a patient transmitter for transmitting information relating to the electrocardiogram, including means for automatically transmitting the information when a predetermined event occurs;
• means for storing electrocardiogram information, said storing means in communication with the generating means, said storing means comprising a first storage device for storing predetermined cardiological events and a second storage device for storing the electrocardiogram generated by the generating means and means for detecting predetermined cardiological events of the patient, said detecting means in communication with the generating means;
• a secondary station remote from the patient at the patient station having a modem for creating a communication channel between the patient station and the secondary station such that information relating to the monitored electrocardiogram can be transmitted from the patient station to the secondary station, said secondary station in communication with the patient station;
• a database in communication with the secondary station which provides data about the patient which supplements the information to the secondary station when the information is transmitted from the patient;
• a central station in communication with the patient transmitter for automatically receiving the electrocardiogram transmitted by the patient transmitter when a predetermined cardiological event has occurred, said secondary station communicates with the transmitter of the patient station through the central station;
• a database in communication with the central station for storing and providing patient data to the central station when a predetermined cardiological event occurs;
• and
• display means in communication with the central station and the database for displaying the patient data and the transmitted electrocardiogram.