Audio Feedback for Medical Conditions

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed that comprises a sensor to detect a medical condition; a processor to evaluate the signals from the sensor; an input device and read/write medium to record cues that correspond to the various condition(s) detected by the sensor; and an audio output device to play prerecorded audio cues when a particular medical condition is detected. The audio cue provides a unique reminder message to encourage a person to take a certain action that is healthy.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for monitoring one or more medical conditions in a human patient, and for providing essentially immediate feedback concerning the one or more medical conditions to the patient; said apparatus comprising one or more sensors, a processor, a read/write medium, and an audio output device, wherein:
 (a) said one or more sensors are adapted to make one or more measurements that pertain to one or more medical conditions in the patient; and to output the one or more measurements to said processor;   (b) said processor is programmed to correlate the one or more measurements from said one or more sensors to the presence or absence of one or more medical conditions in the patient; and to command said read/write medium to transit one or more audio cues to said audio output device when one or more medical conditions are detected;   (c) said read/write medium is adapted to store one or more audio cues that are input from a source; and is adapted to transmit one or more audio cues to said audio output device upon command from said processor;   (d) said audio output device is adapted to play the one or more audio cues so that the patient hears the one or more audio cues, and the patient thereby receives feedback concerning the one or more medical conditions; and   (e) said apparatus is adapted and programmed thus to provide audio cue feedback to the patient when one or more medical conditions are present with essentially no delay.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a microphone adapted to transmit an audio cue provided by a user to said read/write medium to be stored by said read/write medium; wherein the user may be the patient, or the user may be someone other than the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said processor is additionally programmed to log measurements from said sensors onto said read/write medium for further analysis. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said processor is additionally programmed to conduct the further analysis of the logged measurements; and wherein the further analysis comprises a comparison between different alternative audio cues to determine which audio cues result in better patient compliance, and the subsequent optimization of the audio cues to optimize patient compliance. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said processor is additionally programmed to present the logged measurements in a form convenient to be viewed and analyzed by a human operator; and to accept input from the human operator to alter the one or more audio cues in order to optimize patient compliance; wherein the operator may be the patient, or the operator may be someone other than the patient. 
     
     
         6 . A system comprising the apparatus of  claim 3 , and a computer that is physically separate from said apparatus; wherein said system is adapted to transmit the logged measurements from said read/write medium to said computer; and wherein said computer is programmed to process the logged measurements for visual analysis or otherwise to make the logged measurements available for analysis by medical personnel. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more medical conditions that said apparatus is adapted to monitor comprise an undesirable head position. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more medical conditions that said apparatus is adapted to monitor comprise an undesirable gait. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more medical conditions that said apparatus is adapted to monitor comprise one or more nervous habits. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more medical conditions that said apparatus is adapted to monitor comprise a combination of a drop in blood pressure and an undesirable head condition, indicating that the patient is in danger of fainting or falling.