Medical device for delivering drug and/or performing physical therapy

Abstract

Current methods of delivering drug usually require a certain degree of human intervention. For example, a doctor, a paramedic or a patient is required to inject insulin manually when the blood sugar level becomes low. This invention provides a medical device for use with a patient for performing at least one of the functions of delivering drug and performing physical therapy to the patient. The device of this invention includes a sensor for measuring at least one parameter from the patient, an analyzer for analyzing the parameter to determine appropriate function to be carried out on the patient by said medical device, and at least one actuator to perform at least one of the functions of delivering drug and performing physical therapy.

1 . A medical device for use in delivering a drug to a patient, the device including:
 at least one sensor for measuring at least one parameter of the patient;   an analyzer for analyzing the parameter of the patient;   at least one actuator for delivering the drug to the patient via a portion of the patient's skin in response to the analyzed parameter; and   at least one actuator for applying a physical therapy to the patient at the portion of the person's skin substantially simultaneously with delivery of the drug to the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1  including a drug storage unit for storing at least one drug, said drug storage unit being operatively connected to the actuator for delivering said drug to the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the parameter is selected from a group including electrical current or resistance, temperature, pressure, tension, humidity, flow circulation in blood vessels, pH, intensity of at least one predetermined wavelength of electromagnetic wave, sonic signal, concentration of at least one chemical compound, and their combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 3 , wherein said chemical compound is selected from a group including glucose, sodium chloride, dimethyl sulfoxide, azone, isopropyl myristate, propylene glycol, Carbomer resins, gelling agents and their combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the physical therapy is selected from a group including mechanical stimulus, temperature stimulus, ultrasonic stimulus, magnetic stimulus, and irradiation of at least one predetermined wavelength. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 1  including an attachment means for attaching the medical device to the patient. 
     
     
         7 . A method of delivering a drug to a patient using a medical device, the method including the steps of:
 measuring at least one parameter of the patient;   analyzing the parameter of the patient;   delivering the drug to the patient via a portion of the patient's skin in response to the analyzed parameter;
 wherein a physical therapy is simultaneously applied to the portion of the person's skin during delivery of the drug to the patient. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the medical device includes a drug storage unit for storing at least one drug, said drug storage unit being operatively connected to the actuator for delivering said drug to the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the parameter is selected from a group including electrical current or resistance, temperature, pressure, tension, humidity, flow circulation in blood vessels, pH, intensity of at least one predetermined wavelength of electromagnetic wave, sonic signal, concentration of at least one chemical compound, and their combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said chemical compound is selected from a group including glucose, sodium chloride, dimethyl sulfoxide, azone, isopropyl myristate, propylene glycol, Carbomer resins, gelling agents and their combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the physical therapy is selected from a group including mechanical stimulus, temperature stimulus, ultrasonic stimulus, magnetic stimulus, and irradiation of at least one predetermined wavelength. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  including the step of attaching the medical device to the patient. 
     
     
         13 . A medical device for use in applying a physical therapy to a patient, the device including:
 at least one sensor for measuring at least one parameter of the patient;   an analyzer for analyzing the parameter; and   at least one actuator to apply the physical therapy to the patient in response to the analyzed parameter.   
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the parameter is selected from a group including electrical current or resistance, temperature, pressure, tension, humidity, flow circulation in blood vessels, pH, intensity of at least one predetermined wavelength of electromagnetic wave, sonic signal, concentration of at least one chemical compound, and their combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 14 , wherein said chemical compound is selected from a group including glucose, sodium chloride, dimethyl sulfoxide, azone, isopropyl myristate, propylene glycol, Carbomer resins, gelling agents and their combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the physical therapy is selected from a group including mechanical stimulus, temperature stimulus, electrical stimulus, ultrasonic stimulus, magnetic stimulus, and irradiation of at least one predetermined wavelength. 
     
     
         17 . The medical device of  claim 13  including an attachment means for attaching the medical device to the patient. 
     
     
         18 . A method for applying a physical therapy to a patient using a medical device, said method including the steps of:
 measuring at least one parameter of the patient;   analyzing the measured parameter; and   applying the physical therapy to the patient in response to the analyzed parameter.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the parameter is selected from a group including electrical current or resistance, temperature, pressure, tension, humidity, flow circulation in blood vessels, pH, intensity of at least one predetermined wavelength of electromagnetic wave, sonic signal, concentration of at least one chemical compound, and their combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said chemical compound is selected from a group including glucose, sodium chloride, dimethyl sulfoxide, azone, isopropyl myristate, propylene glycol, Carbomer resins, gelling agents and their combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the physical therapy is selected from a group including mechanical stimulus, temperature stimulus, electrical stimulus, ultrasonic stimulus, magnetic stimulus, and irradiation of at least one predetermined wavelength. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  further including the step of attaching the medical device to the patient by an attachment means.