Portable remote patient telemonitoring system

A health parameter data collection and monitoring system, comprising:

• a sensor band having a sensor assembly for application to a subject, said sensor assembly producing a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject, said sensor band further comprising a transmitter which transmits said data signal over a first communications link;
• a transceiver coupled to said first communications link so as to receive said health parameter data for retransmission of said data signal over a second, wireless communications link, said transceiver including a buffer which stores health parameter data received from said sensor band at least during times when said second communications link is disconnected, lost, or unreliable, said transceiver stopping data transmission when said second communications link becomes disconnected, lost, or becomes unreliable, and said transceiver retransmitting said data signal over said second communications link from said transceiver at an increased transmission rate after said second communications link is restored as compared to a transmission rate before said second communications link is disconnected, lost, or becomes unreliable;
• and
• a remote monitoring station disposed so as to receive said retransmitted data signal from said transmitter via said second communication link.

A health parameter data collection and monitoring system, comprising:

• a sensor band having a sensor assembly for application to a subject, said sensor assembly producing a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values at least one health parameter of the subject, said sensor band further comprising a transmitter having a first antenna which transmits said data signal over a first wireless communications link;
• a transceiver having a second antenns inductively coupled to said first communiations link so as to form a wireless inductive loop with said first antenna for reception of said health parameter data, said transceiver further retransmitting said data signal over a second wireless communications link;
• and
• a remote monitoring station disposed so as to receive said retransmitted data signal from said transmitter via said second wireless communications link.

A health parameter data collection and monitoring system, comprising:

• a sensor band having a sensor assembly for application to a subject, said sensor assembly producing a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject, said sensor band further comprising a transmitter which transmits said data signal over a first communications link;
• a transceiver coupled to said first communications link so as to receive said health parameter data for retransmission of said data signal over a second, wireless communications link;
• and
• a remote monitoring station disposed so as to receive said retransmitted data signal from said transceiver via said second communications link, said remote monitoring station capturing said health parameter data and storing said health parameter data in a database with health parameter data from a plurality of other subjects, said remote monitoring station including a user interface which provides access to health parameter data in said database and processing of said health parameter data.

A method of collecting health parameter data, comprising the steps of:

• applying a sensor band having a sensor assembly to a subject whereby said sensor assembly produces a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject;
• said sensor band transmitting said data signal over a first communications link to a transceiver which is disposed so as to receive said health parameter data;
• said transceiver retransmitting said data signal over a second, wireless communications link to a base station unit;
• said base station unit storing said health parameter data until a designated time for transmission of said health parameter data to a remote monitoring station;
• and
• said remote monitoring station receiving said retransmitted data signal from said base station unit via a third communications link and capturing said health parameter data for storage in a database as a continuous record of the subject's health parameters.

A method of collecting health parameter data, comprising the steps of:

• applying a sensor band having a sensor assembly to a subject whereby said sensor assembly produces a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject;
• said sensor band transmitting said data signal over a first communications link to a transceiver which is disposed so as to receive said health parameter data;
• said transceiver retransmitting said data signal over a second, wireless communications link unless said second communications link becomes disconnected, lost, or becomes unreliable;
• said transceiver storing health parameter data received from said sensor band at least during times when said second communications link is disconnected, lost, or unreliable and retransmitting said data signal over said second communications link from said transceiver at an increased transmission rate after said second communications link is restored as compared to a transmission rate before said second communications link is disconnected, lost, or becomes unreliable;
• and
• a remote monitoring station receiving said retransmitted data signal from said transceiver and capturing said health parameter data for storage in a database as a continuous record of the subject's health parameters.

A method of remotely collecting health parameter data continuously for at least a day, comprising the steps of:

• applying a sensor band having a sensor assembly to a subject whereby said sensor assembly produces a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject;
• said sensor band transmitting said data signal over a first communications link to a transceiver which is disposed so as to receive said health parameter data;
• said transceiver retransmitting said data signal over a second, wireless communications link;
• a remote monitoring station receiving said retransmitted data signal from said transceiver and capturing said health parameter data for storage in a database as a continuous record of the subject's health parameters;
• and
• temporarily buffering said health parameter data so as to prevent data loss in the event of transmission error over said first or second communications links.

A method of continuously monitoring a subject's health parameters during a drug/therapy trial, comprising the steps of:

• applying a sensor band having a sensor assembly to a subject whereby said sensor assembly produces a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject;
• said sensor band transmitting said data signal over a first communications link to a transceiver which is disposed so as to receive said health parameter data;
• providing a drug/therapy to the subject and electronically providing event data indicating that such an event has occurred and when;
• said transceiver retransmitting said data signal and event data over a second, wireless communications link;
• and
• a remote monitoring station receiving said retransmitted data signal and event data from said transceiver and capturing said health parameter data and event data for storage in a database as a continuous record of the subject's health parameters during a trial period of said drug/therapy, whereby said subject's physiological condition during said trial period may be monitored remotely.