US 6,196,970 B1 · Research data collection and analysis

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system by which research data can be collected and analyzed during the course of the research testing, and the research testing itself possibly modified to account for conclusions drawn from the research data. In a first aspect of the invention, a research subject can respond to a protocol stored on a server by manipulating input keys on a remotely located client device onto which a research protocol has been installed. The protocol can include questions concerning the subject's physical or mental well being such as whether their symptoms are relieved or not, or even exacerbated. The protocol can also include calling for data obtained by coupling the client device with another medical device such as a glucose monitor. In a preferred embodiment, the subject is presented with narrowly structured questions and suggested answers provided by the protocol. The set of possible answers is restricted. In the event that a suggested answer is ambiguous, inapplicable or raises new questions, a protocol can present a new question to the subject. This elimination of fuzzy answers imposes a logical structure upon the subjects' assessments. In a second aspect of the invention, data entered by the subject is relayed using a communication link to a server device. This incoming data can be aggregated with other incoming data from subjects and their associated client devices.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An automated computer implemented dynamic medical research testing method comprising:

a. collecting medical data from a plurality of medical research subjects, using a medical research testing protocol for collecting data, wherein said medical research testing protocol includes receiving data from said subjects using an input devices according to a medical research testing goal;
b. sending the medical data collected from said input devices to a server device over a communications network, wherein said server is located relatively remote from said input device;
c. automatically aggregating the sent medical data;
d. automatically performing statistical analysis of the aggregated medical data;
e. automatically generating an updated medical research testing protocol according to the statistically analyzed data and a predefined medical research testing protocol logic;
f. sending the statistically analyzed data to a medical research expert device associated with a medical research expert;
g. presenting the statistically analyzed data at the medical research expert device for viewing by a medical research expert, wherein said medical research expert device is relatively remote from said input device;
and
h. repeating a-g using the generated updated medical research testing protocol until at least one of the medical research expert or the medical research testing protocol logic determines the medical research testing is complete.

6 more elements

An automated medical research testing system comprising:

a medical research subject system comprising:
an input device for collecting medical data from medical research subjects according to a medical research testing protocol, wherein said medical research testing protocol includes a component for receiving medical data from said subjects according to a medical research testing goal;
and
a communication component for sending the collected data over a communications network;
a server comprising:
a first component for receiving the sent data over the communications network;
a processor for aggregating the received medical data, for automatically performing statistical analysis of the aggregated medical data and for automatically generating an updated medical research testing protocol according to the statistically analyzed data and a predefined medical research testing protocol logic;
and
a second component for sending the formatted data over the communications network;
and
a medical research expert device associated with a medical research expert comprising:
a first component for receiving the statistically analyzed data sent over the communications network;
and
a presentation device for presenting the received statistically analyzed data to the medical research expert;
wherein the medical research subject system and the server repeat their respective functions using the generated updated medical research testing protocol until at least one of the medical research expert or the medical research testing protocol logic determines the medical research testing is complete.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Research data collection and analysis

Life of this patent

Research data collection and analysis

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10