Medical testing telemetry system

Abstract

A medical testing system includes telemetry features whereby physiological data collected by a collection device at a medical facility is transmitted to a remote processing center for analysis by a trained analyst to provide a test result. In one embodiment, the collection device is a heart rate monitor capable of collecting data with which heart rate variability can be assessed. The heart rate monitor includes a display on which is displayed a waveform showing the breathing performance of the patient during data collection along with standards against which to compare the waveform in order to determine the extent to which the patient followed a predetermined breathing regimen during data collection. The operator of the monitor can use the performance waveform to assess how well the test was taken (i.e., how well the patient complied with the prescribed breathing regimen) and can accept or reject the physiological data accordingly. Also described is a medical testing telemetry system including two processing centers, with each collection device being capable of communicating with both processing centers. Each collection device randomly chooses one of the processing centers for analysis of the collected physiological data. The two processing centers are interconnected in order to permit physiological data and test results to be replicated and stored at both sites.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heart rate variability system comprising: 
 a plurality of heart rate monitors, each located at a medical facility and operable to collect physiological data of a patient from which heart rate variability can be assessed; and    a processing center located remotely from, and in communication with said plurality of heart rate monitors, wherein said processing center is adapted to receive said physiological data from each of said plurality of heart rate monitors and to analyze said physiological data to provide results of one or more tests based on the patient's heart rate variability and indicative of the patient's autonomic nervous system function.    
     
     
         2 . The heart rate variability system of  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of heart rate monitors is in communication with said processing center through at least one of a POTS line and a T1 line.  
     
     
         3 . The heart rate variability system of  claim 1  wherein said processing center includes: 
 a processor on which an R-wave detection routine is implemented; and  
 a user interface adapted to receive an input from an analyst by which R-wave detections are added or deleted.  
 
     
     
         4 . The heart rate variability system of  claim 3  wherein said user interface is further adapted to receive an input from said analyst by which a heart rate variability waveform generated in response to said detected R-waves is modified.  
     
     
         5 . The heart rate variability system of  claim 1  wherein each of said heart rate monitors comprises a display for displaying a waveform showing the breathing performance of said patient during collection of said physiological data and standards against which to compare said waveform in order to determine the extent to which said patient followed a predetermined breathing regimen during collection of said physiological data.  
     
     
         6 . The heart rate variability system of  claim 5  wherein each of said plurality of heart rate monitors includes a user interface adapted to receive an input from an operator by which said physiological data of said patient is accepted or rejected, wherein only accepted physiological data is transmitted to said processing center for analysis.  
     
     
         7 . The heart rate variability system of  claim 6  wherein said physiological data of said patient is rejected by said operator if comparison of said waveform to said standards reveals greater than a predetermined deviation between said waveform and said standards.  
     
     
         8 . The heart rate variability system of  claim 6  wherein said physiological data of said patient is accepted by said operator if (a) comparison of said waveform to said standards reveals less than a predetermined deviation between said waveform and said standards; or (b) comparison of said waveform to said standards reveals greater than a predetermined deviation between said waveform and said standards and said acceptance is based on a request by said operator for feedback from said processing center.  
     
     
         9 . The heart rate variability system of  claim 1  wherein said processing center is further adapted to transmit said results to the one of said plurality of collection devices at which said physiological data is collected.  
     
     
         10 . The heart rate variability system of  claim 1  wherein said processing center is further adapted to compare said results to predetermined acceptance criteria and to reject said results if said comparison reveals greater than a predetermined deviation between said results and said predetermined acceptance criteria.  
     
     
         11 . A medical testing telemetry system comprising: 
 a plurality of collection devices, each one located at a medical facility and operable to collect physiological data of a patient, wherein each of said collection devices comprises: 
 a display for displaying a waveform showing the patient's performance during collection of the physiological data and standards against which to compare said performance waveform in order to determine the extent to which said patient followed a predetermined breathing regimen during collection of the physiological data; and  
 a user interface adapted to receive an input indicating acceptance of said physiological data if said comparison reveals less than a predetermined deviation between said performance waveform and said standards or indicating rejection of said physiological data if said comparison reveals greater than a predetermined deviation between said performance waveform and said standards; and  
   a processing center located remotely from, and in communication with said plurality of collection devices, wherein said processing center is adapted to receive said accepted physiological data from each of said plurality of collection devices and to analyze said physiological data to provide a test result.    
     
     
         12 . The medical testing telemetry system of  claim 11  wherein each of said collection devices is a heart rate monitor adapted to collect physiological data from which the patient's heart rate variability can be assessed and wherein said test is selected from the Valsalva test, the E/I test, and the standing test.  
     
     
         13 . The medical testing telemetry system of  claim 12  wherein said performance waveform shows breath pressure versus time when said test is the Valsalva test.  
     
     
         14 . The medical testing telemetry system of  claim 12  wherein said performance waveform shows breath volume versus time when said test is the E/I test.  
     
     
         15 . A medical testing telemetry system comprising: 
 a collection device located at a medical facility and operable to collect physiological data of a patient,    a first processing center located remotely from, and capable of communication with said collection device wherein said first processing center is adapted to receive said physiological data of the patient and to analyze the physiological data of the patient to provide a test result based on the physiological data; and    a second processing center located remotely from, and capable communication with said collection device, wherein said second processing center is adapted to receive said physiological data of the patient and to analyze the physiological data of the patient to provide a test result based on the physiological data.    
     
     
         16 . The medical testing telemetry system of  claim 15  wherein said collection device comprises a processor which randomly selects one of said first and second processing centers to analyze said physiological data of the patient.  
     
     
         17 . The medical testing telemetry system of  claim 15  wherein said first and second processing centers are interconnected.  
     
     
         18 . The medical testing telemetry system of  claim 17  wherein said first and second processing centers are interconnected by a plurality of communication links.  
     
     
         19 . The medical testing telemetry system of  claim 15  wherein said first and second processors are further adapted to transmit the test result to said collection device at which said physiological data is collected.