WO2021151191A1 - System and method for consistent user data acquisition and monitoring - Google Patents

Abstract

Described are various embodiments of a system and method for consistently acquiring data related to a user. The system includes a database with dynamically-updatable user-related data where a user inputs data to a device associated with them and the database is updated. The user updates the database by providing biophysical data and/or answers to questionnaires at predetermined time points in exchange for an incentive or medication. The system integrates and analyzes the data, generally related to patient health, and alerts a healthcare provider if an intervention or consolation should be considered.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSISTENT USER DATA ACQUISITION AND

MONITORING RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application is related to and claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application serial number 62/968,389, filed January 31, 2020 and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSISTENT USER DATA ACQUISITION AND MONITORING”, the disclosure of which is herein fully incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure relates to user monitoring, and, in particular, to a system and method for consistently acquiring user data.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Conventional family medical practices often suffer from several interrelated issues which may frustrate patients and physicians aiming to provide a level of ongoing support targeted to the appropriate individual. These may include large amounts of detailed data delivered daily for physician review, a high frequency of visits of chronic and elderly patients, problems related to continuity of care (i.e. emergency room visits arising as a result of a missed health issue), the ability to specifically target patients in need, and the regular collection of key patient data on an ongoing basis in order to diagnose and/or monitor patient health of an individual.

[0004] Among the approximately 1500 patients supported by a physician, chronic and elderly patients may account for the majority of the physician’s time. Furthermore, it is common with such patients that a family member or other care giver assist a patient in initiating, scheduling, and attending a physician consultation, which may be a lengthy process. Consequently, it is typical that physician consultations are initiated when a patient has a medical issue related to a specific event, such as a broken bone or a rash, since the caregiver does not have the time to take a patient to check-ups or the patient does not want to be bothersome to the caregiver. This may result in a less than optimal frequency of visits, and often results in the provision of data to the physician that is related to an issue that is already suspected, such as the results of a requested blood sample analysis. This dearth of regular visits may translate into a nonlinear collection of data, or the collection of data that is too infrequent or specific for timely diagnosis of arising patient issues, physician intervention, or treatment. Furthermore, the collection of data in this way tends to be reactive to symptoms and not proactive for a physician to intervene in a medical issue while in its infancy; perhaps at a stage when it is easier to treat. Proactively recognizing medical issues may allow for better and earlier treatments since patients tend to only seek medical attention when symptoms have advanced and not at a point where a trained medical practitioners may note early symptoms of certain medical issues.

[0005] The majority of elderly patients with one or more chronic diseases are actively treated with three or more medications. Managing such regimens can be particularly challenging for such patients, and often results in issues such as non-compliance and misuse of medications. United States Patent Application No. 2018/0079586 Al, published March 22, 2018 to Burton, et al. and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RELIABLY

DISPENSING PRE-PACKAGED PHARMACEUTICALS”, discloses a pill dispensing assembly that provides a communication link between a patient and a healthcare professional that may assist in monitoring patient compliance with a medication regimen.

[0006] Canadian Patent Application No. 3,003,736, published May 4, 2017 to Tee and entitled “A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOBILE PLATFORM DESIGNED FOR DIGITAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR REMOTE PATIENT MONITORING” discloses a wearable device that monitors patient biometrics. Such a system may manage a patient’s electronic medical record (EMR), and provide alerts to a caregiver in a situation in which a patient is exhibiting a sign of a potential medical issue, such as an abnormal blood glucose level in a diabetic patient.

[0007] International Patent Application WO 2008/094351 Al, published August 7, 2008 to Cuddihy and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTONOMOUS DATA GATHERING AND ASSESSMENT” discloses a system for querying a patient via a questionnaire and relaying user responses to an assessment algorithm which may use patient responses to intelligently guide future queries.

[0008] United States Patent Application No. 2017/0270257 Al, published September 21, 2017 to St. Clair, et al. and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HEALTH CARE DATA INTEGRATION AND MANAGEMENT” discloses a method for aggregate and process data from various electronic health records related to a patient, and analysing a resultant summary to assess the risk level related to various health conditions of a patient. Further disclosed is the notion of applying predictive modeling techniques to identify appropriate treatment strategies, or which patients may require extensive medical services, and the respective associated costs.

[0009] This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art or forms part of the general common knowledge in the relevant art. SUMMARY

[0010] The following presents a simplified summary of the general inventive concept(s) described herein to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is not intended to restrict key or critical elements of embodiments of the disclosure or to delineate their scope beyond that which is explicitly or implicitly described by the following description and claims.

[0011] A need exists for a system and method for consistent user data acquisition and monitoring that overcome some of the drawbacks of known techniques, or at least, provides a useful alternative thereto. Some aspects of this disclosure provide examples of such a system and method for consistent user data acquisition and monitoring.

[0012] In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a system for consistently acquiring data related to a user, the system comprising: a database having user-related data, a device associated with the user and the database, the device operable to receive input data related to the user, and a digital application operable to communicate with the database and the device. The digital application is further operable to initiate a plurality of data acquisition sessions over a designated time span, wherein the data acquisition sessions each comprise an input of subsequent data related to the user via the device, updating the database with the subsequent data and adding to the user-related data to provide cumulative user-related data and assess a state of the user based on the cumulative user-related data in the database. The device is also configured to provide the user with a designated incentive via the device upon completion of each one of the data acquisition sessions.

[0013] In some embodiments, the database comprises an electronic medical record (EMR). In some embodiments, the user-related data is health-related data.

[0014] In some embodiments, the device comprises a pill dispenser. In some embodiments, the pill dispenser is operable to monitor compliance with a medication regimen and communicate the compliance as data that is updated in the database by the digital application. [0015] In some embodiments, the device is operable to wirelessly receive user data. In some embodiments, the user data is wirelessly transmitted by a wearable device worn by the user. In some embodiments, the user-related data is any one or more of a biometric or physiological measurement.

[0016] In some embodiments, the device comprises a user interface operable to receive as input data related to the user. In some embodiments, the user interface is further operable to display content to a user.

[0017] In some embodiments, the user interface is operable to display a prompt to the user during the session. In some embodiments, the prompt comprises a questionnaire comprising one or more questions, and wherein the user interface is further operable to receive a user response to the one or more questions, wherein the input of data related to the user comprises the user response. In some embodiments, the one or more questions relate any one or more designated criteria. In some embodiments, the designated criteria relate to any one or more health conditions. In some embodiments, the questionnaire further comprises one or more control questions.

[0018] In some embodiments, the incentive is a dispensing of a medication.

[0019] In some embodiments, the digital application is further operable to enable a video conference between the user and one or more remote parties via the device.

[0020] In some embodiments, the user is a patient, the one or more remote parties comprise one or more healthcare professionals, and the video conference comprises a medical consultation.

[0021] In some embodiments, the digital application is further operable to receive as input data related to the user from the one or more remote parties via a remote device and update the database with the input data.

[0022] In some embodiments, the digital application is operable assess the state of the user via comparison with any one or more models. In some embodiments, the comparison is performed by an artificial intelligence system accessible to the digital application. In some embodiments, the artificial intelligence system comprises a neural network. In some embodiments, the comparison employs a Bayesian inference process. In some embodiments, the artificial intelligence system is operable to update the any one or more models or generate a new model based on an analysis of the database. In some embodiments, the one or more models relate to a health condition. [0023] In some embodiments, the digital application is further operable to generate an alert. In some embodiments, the alert is generated upon the digital application identifying the state of the user as corresponding to any of one or more designated states. In some embodiments, the one or more designated states relates to a medical condition or risk thereof. In some embodiments, the digital application is operable to issue the alert to any one or more of the user or a remote party. In some embodiments, the remote party is a physician. In some embodiments, the physician may initiate a remote consultation via the digital application. [0024] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a method for consistently acquiring data related to a user via a device associated with both the user and a database comprising user-related data, the method to be digitally executed by a digital application in communication with the database and the device, the method comprising: initiating a plurality of data acquisition sessions over a designated time span, the data acquisition sessions performed via the device; receiving as input subsequent data related to the user; updating the database with the subsequent data to provide cumulative user-related data; assessing a state of the user based on the cumulative user-related data in the database; and providing the user with a designated incentive via the device upon completion of each one of the data acquisition sessions.

[0025] In one embodiment of the method, the database comprises an electronic medical record (EMR) or health-related data.

[0026] In one embodiment of the method, the device comprises a pill dispenser.

[0027] In one embodiment, the method further comprises monitoring, via the pill dispenser, compliance with a medication regimen, communicating the compliance as compliance data, and updating the database with the compliance data.

[0028] In one embodiment, the method further comprises wirelessly receiving user data. In one embodiment, the user data is wirelessly transmitted by a wearable device worn by the user. In one embodiment, the user data is any one or more of a biometric or physiological measurement.

[0029] In one embodiment of the method, the receiving as input subsequent data related to the user comprises receiving as input subsequent data related to the user via a user interface associated with the device.

[0030] In one embodiment, the method further comprises displaying content to an input user via the user interface.

[0031] In one embodiment, the method further comprises displaying a prompt to the input user during the data acquisition session. In one embodiment, displaying a prompt comprises displaying a questionnaire comprising one or more questions, and receiving as input a user response to the one or more questions, wherein the receiving as input subsequent data related to the user comprises the receiving as input the user response. In one embodiment, the one or more questions relate to any one or more designated criteria. In one embodiment, the designated criteria relate to any one or more health conditions. In one embodiment, the questionnaire further comprises one or more control questions.

[0032] In one embodiment of the method, providing the user with a designated incentive comprises dispensing a medication.

[0033] In one embodiment, the method further comprises performing, via the device, a video conference between the user and one or more remote parties. In one embodiment, the user is a patient, the one or more remote parties comprise one or more healthcare professionals, and wherein the video conference comprises a medical consultation.

[0034] In one embodiment, the method further comprises receiving as input from a remote device associated with the one or more remote parties remote data related to the user, and updating the database with the remote data.

[0035] In one embodiment of the method, assessing the state of the user comprises performing a comparison with any one or more models. In one embodiment, performing a comparison is performed by an artificial intelligence system accessible to the digital application. The artificial intelligence system may comprise a neural network. In one embodiment, performing a comparison comprises performing a Bayesian inference process.

[0036] In one embodiment, the method further comprises analysing the database via the artificial intelligence system. In one embodiment, the method further comprises updating the any one or more models based on a result of the analysing the database. In one embodiment, the method further comprises generating a new model based on a result of the analysing the database.

[0037] In one embodiment of the method, the one or more models relate to a health condition. [0038] In one embodiment, the method further comprises generating an alert. In one embodiment, the method further comprises identifying, via the digital application, the state of the user as corresponding to any of one or more designated states, wherein the generating an alert comprises generating an alert in response to a positive identification of the state of the user corresponding to the any one or more designated states. In one embodiment, the one or more designated states relates to a medical condition or risk thereof.

[0039] In one embodiment, the method further comprises issuing the alert to any one or more of the user or a remote party. In one embodiment, the remote party is a physician in one embodiment, the method further comprises initiating, by the physician and via the digital application, a remote consultation.

[0040] Other aspects, features and/or advantages will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0041] Several embodiments of the present disclosure will be provided, by way of examples only, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0042] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of potential interconnectivity of users of an alert exchange system, in accordance with at least one of the various embodiments;

[0043] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a patient and physician interaction with an alert exchange system to, for instance, conduct a remote consultation, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0044] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a workflow for acquiring user data, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0045] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram representing the periodic acquisition of user input data, in accordance with at least one of the various embodiments; and [0046] Figure 5 is an exemplary questionnaire that may be used in assessing a medical condition, in accordance with at least one of the various embodiments.

[0047] Elements in the several figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be emphasized relative to other elements for facilitating understanding of the various presently disclosed embodiments. Also, common, but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Various implementations and aspects of the specification will be described with reference to details discussed below. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the specification and are not to be construed as limiting the specification. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various implementations of the present specification. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of implementations of the present specification.

[0049] Various apparatuses and processes will be described below to provide examples of implementations of the system disclosed herein. No implementation described below limits any claimed implementation and any claimed implementations may cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed implementations are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses or processes described below. It is possible that an apparatus or process described below is not an implementation of any claimed subject matter.

[0050] Furthermore, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the implementations described herein. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the relevant arts that the implementations described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the implementations described herein.

[0051] In this specification, elements may be described as “configured to” perform one or more functions or “configured for” such functions. In general, an element that is configured to perform or configured for performing a function is enabled to perform the function, or is suitable for performing the function, or is adapted to perform the function, or is operable to perform the function, or is otherwise capable of performing the function.

[0052] It is understood that for the purpose of this specification, language of “at least one of X, Y, and Z” and “one or more of X, Y and Z” may be construed as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more items X, Y, and Z (e.g., XYZ, XY, YZ, ZZ, and the like). Similar logic may be applied for two or more items in any occurrence of “at least one ...” and “one or more...” language.

[0053] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

[0054] Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The phrase “in one of the embodiments” or “in at least one of the various embodiments” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may. Furthermore, the phrase “in another embodiment” or “in some embodiments” as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment, although it may. Thus, as described below, various embodiments may be readily combined, without departing from the scope or spirit of the innovations disclosed herein.

[0055] In addition, as used herein, the term “or” is an inclusive “or” operator, and is equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “based on” is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factors not described, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout the specification, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" include plural references. The meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on."

[0056] The term “comprising” as used herein will be understood to mean that the list following is non-exhaustive and may or may not include any other additional suitable items, for example one or more further feature(s), component(s) and/or element(s) as appropriate.

[0057] The term “healthcare professional”, herein referred to interchangeably as “healthcare provider” or “medical practitioner”, will be understood to mean a person or persons who are at least in part related to the provision of medical treatment, advice, medication, diagnosis, or the like. Non-limiting examples of a healthcare professional may include, but are not limited to, a physician, a pharmacist, a nurse, one or more members of an emergency response team, a medical office assistant (MOA), a medical technician, a medical scientist, an analyst, or the like.

[0058] The term “patient”, as used herein, may refer additionally or alternatively to one or more caregivers of a patient or individual being monitored for/and/or receiving medical interventions. For instance, and without limitation, an elderly, infirm, or unresponsive patient may have an associated caregiver responsible therefor, and may, in accordance with various embodiments act on their behalf. The term “patient”, as used herein, may also refer to an individual being medically, or otherwise, physically and/or mentally monitored and in exchange for monitoring compliance receiving something which they desire or need, such as information or a physical object.

[0059] The term “health-related data” as used herein may refer to any datum, data, dataset, or data subset related to a patient health. Such data may be quantitative or qualitative, and may be automatically acquired, collected, or processed, or may be manually entered by a patient or caregiver. Non-limiting examples of such data are further described below, and in addition to relating to patient illness, disease, disease monitoring, or the like, as herein described, may also relate to other aspects of general physical wellness (e.g. data acquired before, during, or after a physical workout routine or sporting activity), or may relate to various parameters that may be utilised in health-related models. [0060] The term “electronic medical record” (EMR), as used herein, may refer to any partial or complete digital form of medical history. This term is not intended to be limiting, and may refer to any such record known in the art, examples of which may include, but are not limited to, an electronic health record (EHR), an electronic medication administration record (eMAR), a personal health record (PHR), a payer-based health record (PBHR), or the like. An EMR may originate from any relevant source, such as a physician, insurance company, hospital, patient, caregiver, or the like, and may comprise any form of medical or health-related data, or summary thereof, with non-limiting examples including a medical history, patient response to a query, consultation information, a medication regimen or related compliance, a patient biometric, a MRI image, or the like. Accordingly, an EMR or health-related data may, in accordance with various embodiments, comprise quantitative and/or qualitative information. An EMR may also be referred to herein as a “database”, and may be accessed by a digital application. Existing systems for managing an EMR, a non-limiting example of which may be the OSCAR EMR™ clinical management system, may also be employed within the methods and systems herein disclosed, in accordance with various embodiments.

[0061] The terms “artificial intelligence” and “artificial intelligence network”, as used herein, will be understood to mean any system or algorithm that executed by a non-human, such as a computer or digital application, that may process and/or analyse a datum, data, and/or datasets. Non-limiting examples of an artificial intelligence network may include, but are not limited to, any one or more of a neural network, a machine learning system, a Bayesian inference engine, or the like. In accordance with various embodiments, an artificial intelligence network may comprise one or more algorithms of various complexity. For instance, an artificial intelligence network may comprise complex neural networks employing Bayesian inference methods to infer a conclusion based on any number of data points, or may additionally or alternatively comprise computer code operable to compare one or more quantitative or qualitative raw or processed input values with a designated metric (e.g. compare a “yes” or “no” response to a query with a stored value).

[0062] The systems and methods described herein provide, in accordance with different embodiments, different examples in which patient health and/or risk of various medical conditions may be monitored in a consistent or continuous fashion. Various aspects of the disclosure relate to a method and system operable to monitor patient compliance with medication and/or treatment regimen, and additionally or alternatively monitor quantitative and/or qualitative metrics related to patient health. Furthermore, and in accordance with various embodiments, such data may be incorporated within a patient medical record or EMR, which may be shared between any one or more of a patient and a healthcare professional. Various aspects may additionally or alternatively relate to automatic processing or analysis of medical data or an EMR to identify a potential health risk or medical condition, wherein such processing may be guided by an artificial intelligence system. The results of data processing, in accordance with various embodiments, may be incorporated within an EMR associated with a patient. In accordance with various embodiments, a patient, a caregiver, or a healthcare professional may be alerted to a potential health risk as assessed by the processing of patient data. In accordance with various aspects, such an alert may vary based on assessed severity, examples of which may include, but are not limited to, a message that a patient should take a dose of medication, a physician being notified that a remote visitation with a patient should be scheduled, or that a patient is in danger and requires immediate medical attention from an emergency response team.

[0063] In accordance with various embodiments is a means of providing enhanced medical care by relevant healthcare professionals and caregivers through the use of an “alert exchange” system, also referred to herein as ALEX. Such a system may comprise a digital application operative to perform one or more of the following functions: collect data consistently over time, access and/or update EMRs, monitor patient compliance with medication regimens, receive and/or process qualitative and/or quantitative patient data, interface with medication dispensing devices, interface to provide a patient something which they desire such as access to information, conduct remote audio and/or video conferencing, and/or communicate with servers and/or digital applications operable to analyse data, such as an artificial intelligence system.

[0064] In accordance with various aspects, an ALEX system may interface with a medication dispensing system, such as that disclosed by United States Patent Application No. 2018/0079586 Al, published March 22, 2018 to Burton, et al. and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RELIABLY DISPENSING PRE-PACKAGED PHARMACEUTICALS”. Another non-limiting example of a medication dispensing system that may be used in accordance with various embodiments is the Spencer™ system by Catalyst Healthcare™. Such an apparatus may comprise simplified hardware, software, and user interface systems for ease of use by patients or caregivers. Simplified systems may be particularly beneficial for elderly or frail patients, or those not familiar with sophisticated technologies. In accordance with some embodiments, an ALEX system may provide advanced compliance monitoring of medication via a dispensing device, and may optionally provide alerts related to, for instance, non-compliance. In accordance with various embodiments, a pill dispensing system may enable audio and/or video communication for the purposes of, for instance, conducting a remote doctor-patient consultation. In accordance with some embodiments, an ALEX system may provide advanced compliance monitoring of patient physical parameters and questionnaires via a wearable, personal digital assistant (PDA), or App, which similarly may enable audio and/or video communication for the purposes of, for instance, conducting a remote doctor- patient consultation.

[0065] In accordance with various embodiments, an exemplary scenario in which a patient may acquire and/or use pill dispensing device associated with an ALEX system associated will now be described with respect to Figure 1, which diagrammatically shows potential interconnectivity of various participants within the exemplary embodiment. It will be understood that various aspects, participants, or interconnectivity may be removed from, modified, or added to the following operational example while remaining within the scope of the disclosure.

[0066] In accordance with one aspect, an ALEX system 100 may comprise a computer application operable to connect a physician 115 with a patient 110 via an EMR 105 associated with the patient. A pharmacist 120, or medication provider 125 or organisation related to the provision of medical interventions, may also be associated with the patient via the EMR 105, may provide a pill dispensing device 130 and/or medication to the patient. [0067] Initially, if a patient shows interest in acquiring and/or using a pill dispenser 130 and/or ALEX system 100, a patient may see aMOA associated with a doctor 115 upon completion of a physician consultation, wherein the MOA may enroll the patient for the ALEX system service through the EMR. The doctor may review medications recommended to or associated with the patient and update the EMR 105, which is then accessible to all parties, as required or desired, enrolled in the system (e.g. the pharmacist 120, the doctor 115, the EMR 105, and optionally the patient 110). The pharmacist 120 and pill dispenser supplier and/or organisation 125 may then arrange the delivery of the pill dispensing device 130 to the patient’s home. Once in operation, the device, in communication with the ALEX system 100, may confirm the operation via a transaction completion notice, and in so doing may assign a patient device ID and/or link the patient with the pill dispenser and the ALEX system 100 via the patient’s EMR 105. In accordance with various embodiments, EMR management, which may include, but is not limited to, organising, processing, filtering, or updating, or managing an EMR, may be performed through a clinical management system 106, a non -limiting example of which may be the OSCAR™ system.

[0068] In accordance with various embodiments, an ALEX system may be further operable to arrange and manage a remote consultation between a physician 115 and patient 110. While such visitations may be initiated by a patient, one aspect of an ALEX system 100 is its ability to provide coordination of all relevant parties associated with a patient EMR 105 may also enable a doctor 115 and/or MOA to initiate such visitations. In accordance with one aspect, the MOA may arrange for a patient visitation based on a time slot which has a doctor as determined. The MOA may, via the EMR 105, arrange for a remote video visitation. This may be enabled by the ALEX system querying the EMR for a video visit and establishing a virtual video waiting room and sending relevant information necessary to log the video connection request to a patient device operable to enable a video visitation. In accordance with various aspects, the patient device may be the pill dispenser, wearable, or PDA, or App associated with the patient comprising a visual and/or audio input/output systems. At the appointed time slot for the visitation, the ALEX system may provide the doctor with a virtual waiting room list of one or more patients and a validated status thereof (e.g. logged in, not present, etc.). The doctor may then choose the appropriate or desired patient on the list with whom to initiate a remote visitation, and/or organise the list of patients to an order of their choosing (e.g. choose time slots for each patient). Upon the doctor choosing a patient, the ALEX system may initiate a video connection, whereby the doctor may conduct the visitation with access to the patient’s EMR. Upon completion of a visitation, the ALEX system may terminate or drop the connection, and collect any information or statistics from the visitation to update the patient’s EMR.

[0069] Certain aspects may comprise additional groups, may omit certain groups, or may exhibit various additional or alternative connectivity of various groups shown in Figure 1 without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, in various embodiments, a system may be one which manages a physician consultation, as diagrammatically shown in Figure 2. In this non-limiting example, both a patient 210 and physician 220 have access to respective audio and/or visual interfaces 215 and 225, respectively, which are operatively associated with an ALEX system 200. Via the ALEX system 200, the physician may access and/or update the patient EMR 205 during the remote consultation as described above.

[0070] In accordance with various embodiments, patient monitoring may be performed automatically, such as through the use of one or more wearable devices operable to measure biometric and/or physiological data. Non-limiting examples of such data may include blood pressure (BP), glucose levels, heart rate (HR), oxygen levels, breathing rate, and the like. Data may be, in accordance with some aspects, be transmitted to a digital application, database, EMR, or the like, either by periodically connecting a wearable device to a digital processor (e.g. uploading device data at the end of the day via a an ethernet port), or via periodic or continuous wireless transmissions (e.g. via Bluetooth, WiFi, etc.).

[0071] Once a patient and an associated EMR are recognised within an ALEX system, the ALEX system may include various means of providing improved health care for the patient. In accordance with various embodiments, the ALEX system may acquire, process, communicate or store patient health-related data.

[0072] In accordance with various embodiments, quantitative health-related information such as patient weight, medication dosages, memory assessments, cognitive ability, medication compliance, and the like, may be communicated to an EMR manually from a patient or caregiver, or automatically communicated by a digital application associated with an electronic device, wherein data may be communicated either wirelessly or via a direct connection. [0073] In accordance with some aspects, qualitative information may be input to a digital application by a patient or caregiver. Non-limiting examples of qualitative or subjective information are described in greater detail below, and may include, but are not limited to, responses to queries or questionnaires related to patient health, feelings, mental state, pain levels, shortness of breath, memory, emotional state, restlessness, cognition, anxiety, and the like, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0074] In accordance with various embodiments, quantitative and/or qualitive information, which may include, but is not limited to, biometric or physiological data, patient responses to queries, or the like, may be translated to numerical values prior to or subsequent to entry in a patient EMR and/or processing/analysis by a healthcare professional, an artificial intelligence system, or a comparison algorithm.

[0075] Again, with reference to Figure 1, and in accordance with at least one aspect, health-related data 112 and/or a patient EMR 105 may be analysed by an artificial intelligence system 140. As a non-limiting example, a neural network employing a Bayesian inference engine may assess data for correlations. In this example, data be related to a single patients or multiple patients, and an inference engine may look for significant correlations to determine, for instance, outcome probabilities for one or more conditions. This information may be subject to review by a physician, healthcare professional, or panel thereof, represented in Figure 1 as the doctor group 150, to provide additional perspective, knowledge, expertise, or analysis on a prospective model derived by the engine. A model may then be retested from the same or other health-related data be an engine to refine outcome probabilities.

[0076] Upon engine-based analysis of patient data, if a probability for a condition is assessed to be high, an alert 145 may be developed which may be then be reviewed by one or more healthcare professionals. In accordance with at least one embodiment, this assessment may then be used to inform one or more respective healthcare professionals associated with a part or the whole of the patient database, so as to alert them of a potential health concern associated with the respective patients.

[0077] In accordance with various embodiments, such a model may only require small amounts of data to be added iteratively to the knowledge base. Data may be variably sourced, and may first validated by a healthcare professional. Data correlations that exist or are found may be similarly subject to a validation and/or a vetting process, and may form a baseline for a given model. Furthermore, various aspects of the disclosure relate to the capture, input, and transmission of a medical professional’s knowledge to update such models. Furthermore, and in accordance with some aspects, known models 155 related to various health concerns may be implemented within an ALEX system to aid in assessments.

[0078] In accordance with other embodiments, an ALEX system may collect or receive data consistently over time. This may be contrasted with, for instance, the sporadic and infrequent collection of health-related data that arises from in-person physician consultations. The regularly acquired data by an ALEX system may be objective, subjective, quantitative, and/or qualitative, from, for instance, wearable biometric monitoring devices or patient responses to queries in a questionnaire. While quantitative data may be automatically transmitted continuously via, for instance, Bluetooth systems, qualitative data, or that requiring patient or caregiver input, may be, in accordance with various embodiments, linked to, for instance, multiple times of the day.

[0079] For instance, a questionnaire may be offered to a patient at designated pill dispensing times (e.g. twice a day). While medical care-based questionnaires may otherwise often be ignored, or otherwise misleadingly responded to due to excessive repetition and/or patient inattention, careful responses to a questionnaire may, in accordance with various embodiments, be associated with the dispensing of the patient’s medication or providing something which they need or desire, such as information. For example, medication dispensing devices associated with an ALEX system may only dispense medication upon successful completion by the patient of a series of questions and/or an upload of otherwise-acquired health-related data. As such, continuous acquisition of health-related information may be enabled or improved.

[0080] While the following description uses the example of a pill dispenser as a means of engaging a patient, aspects are not limited to such embodiments. For instance, other embodiments may include other means of regularly acquiring data through a “rewards- based” system or interface, wherein non-limiting examples of data acquisition may include recording a designated step count within a day, or the registry of some other health-related endeavour via any means known in the art, and may performed on any user device, such as a smartphone, tablet, PDA, wearable, computer, or the like. Rewards in such examples may include any digital or physical component that may entice a user to input data or perform specific tasks, such as noted above as something which they need or desire, such as information.

[0081] Figure 3 schematically illustrates this concept in accordance with various embodiments. In this exemplary process, an ALEX system may request data at regular intervals, corresponding one or more predetermined times 310 (e.g. twice daily at times of 09:00 and 14:00). An interface linked with the user or patient, such as a pill dispensing device, smartphone, tablet, or the like, which is linked to a database associated with the user, such as an EMR or user profile, may then request data from the user, which may be in the form of a visual, haptic, or audio prompt 320. The user may then input requested data in step 330, which may include, but is not limited to, answering one or more questions, performing a task, uploading data such as biometric or physiological logs, or the like. Upon completion of data input, the ALEX system may, in accordance with various embodiments, reward the user with an incentive, as in element 340, non-limiting examples of which may be the dispensing of medication, unlocking an achievement within a digital application, granting access to a previous withheld resource, or the like.

[0082] In the abovementioned example of a health monitoring system, and in accordance with various embodiments, it may be possible to obtain information from a very small number of questions (e.g. two questions per pill dispensing, twice a day) which, over the course of days, weeks and/or months, may, cumulatively or individually, be of tremendous value in monitoring or diagnosing a condition or risk factor, or in alerting a relevant party to any measure that may be taken to improve a patient outcome. Furthermore, with such periodic and/or continuously acquired data, medical models may be more readily developed and/or improved (e.g. models may be more appropriately sensitive to various health-related parameters).

[0083] Furthermore, and in accordance with various embodiments, queries associated with a questionnaire may be designed to assess a wide range of health-related conditions. Resultant data from such queries within a questionnaire may be used in assessment of any one or more conditions (e.g. data related to a patient heart rate over time may be used in models related to a probability of an impending infarction as well as a probability of a patient experiencing depression). Questionnaires may also comprise queries specifically related to different conditions that are being monitored. For example, questions specifically designed to monitor an emotional state (e.g. depression) may be combined in a questionnaire with a query designed to assess a cognitive ability as it related to, for instance, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, patient input and response data may be used in any existing models for assessing a health-related issue, non-limiting examples of which may include a fall risk assessment (FALLs), depression (e.g. PHQ9), anxiety (e.g. GAD7), cognitive function (e.g. MOCA), an ECQ questionnaire-based evaluation of everyday competence in older adults, or the like. Furthermore, data currently unrelated to existing tests, or data related to any health-related tests developed in the future also fall within the scope of the disclosure.

[0084] Queries may further be included in questionnaires to ensure that a patient is responding in earnest (rather than, for instance, responding without thought, dishonestly, or is incapable of appropriately answering), the design of which will be appreciated by the skilled artisan. In accordance with some embodiments, alerts may be generated for a patient or healthcare professional in a situation in which a patient is unable to provide appropriate answers to such questions.

[0085] In accordance with various embodiments, an ALEX system may provide regular interactions with a patient population, the quantitative and/or qualitative results of which may enable preventative measures for patient treatment and/or diagnosis. In embodiments where an ALEX system is associated with a pill dispensing device, qualitative and/or quantitative data can be acquired on a regular schedule, enabling a regular collection of data, which may support, for instance, a Bayesian network analysis. Similar data acquisition can be performed using timed automated questionnaires sent to, for instance, a smartphone, tablet, or other patient device.

[0086] An ALEX system may have a wide range of data sources through a high degree of interconnectivity. In some simpler embodiments, existing measures established by the medical community may be used to alert appropriate caregiver(s) or health care provider(s) without the use of an artificial intelligence algorithm. However, various other embodiments may employ AI to use existing bases of measures in addition to other data sources to analyse acquired data through inference engines (e.g. Bayes) linked with neural networks. As such, new potential alerts may be identified, analysed, validated, and/or presented to the medical community to vet respective usefulness.

[0087] Various examples of data that may be captured by and/or input to an ALEX system, potentially for analysis by an artificial intelligence system, in accordance with various embodiments, will now be described. The skilled artisan will appreciate that such inputs are a small fraction of the potential examples that may be of use for medical applications that fall within the scope of the disclosure. Entry of any objective or subjective data may be entered, for instance, using a touch screen, an audio speech recognition, a keyboard, a mouse, or any such known method of manual data entry. Data may also be communicated wirelessly, for instance using a Bluetooth-enabled device, smartphone, or the like.

[0088] Objective data may include, but are not limited to, the following examples: la. Weight lb. Blood pressure (BP) lc. Oximetry

Ld. Pulse/heart rate (HR) le. Glucose level [0089] Subjective data may be entered as a numeric score, such as 1 to 5, or another measure, such as “never”, “occasionally”, “always”, or the like. The following are non limiting potential examples of such subjective data, with exemplary prompts in bold, potential responses and/or scores in regular typeface, and potential tests to which such a prompt may correspond in italics. In operation, a patient may, in accordance with various embodiments, only be provided with a prompt, or only a prompt and potential responses. 2a. How frequently do you forget the location of common objects? - Never (1), Occasionally (2), Commonly (3) - Fast (Alzheimer’s)

2b. How often do you feel unsteady when walking? - Never (1), Occasionally (2), Commonly (3) - BC FALLS

2c. Do you feel sad or depressed? - Never (1), Occasionally (2), Commonly (3) - Various

2d. Are you so restless that it’s hard to sit still objects? Never (1), Occasionally (2), Commonly (3) - GAD 7 (Anxiety)

2e. How often are you easily annoyed or irritable? Never (1), Occasionally (2), Commonly (3) - GAD 7 (Anxiety)

2f. Are you passing urine more frequently or is the urge to urinate more severe than typical? - Never (1), Occasionally (2), Commonly (3)

2g. Do you feel short of breath that is progressive, persistent, or gets worse with exercise? - Never (1), Occasionally (2), Commonly (3)

[0090] Within a questionnaire, for instance one provided during a scheduled pill dispensing, any one or more data entries such as those listed above could be provided on a timely basis that may be important for present or future analysis. For instance, an oximeter reading (lc above) may indicate low oxygen levels, which, along with feeling sad or depressed (2c above) may, within a single questionnaire, or provided longitudinally over the course of a day, week, or month, may be, in accordance with various embodiments, used in an assessment of sleep apnea. Similarly, a fluctuation in weight (la above) along with shortness of breath (2g above) may serve as an indicator of heart disease. Such data entries may additionally be used to complement data acquired during subsequent assessments, and/or data acquired from various other patients associated with the system. [0091] A schematic of an exemplary embodiment is shown in Figure 4. In this example, various question sets or criteria 410 and 412 may be developed that are associated with, for instance, various conditions A and B, respectively. Such question sets may be of any length and accessible to an ALEX system 400. The ALEX system may combine elements from various question sets, optionally including control questions or criteria that may be of interest from a control set 414. At designated times, the ALEX system may prompt the user 405 to input data or respond to combined questionnaires, which also may be of any length. For instance, a first questionnaire 420 may combine a question related to condition A (Al) and a control question C2. Over time, the user may respond to further combined questionnaires 422 and 424, each of which may be relayed to the ALEX system 400. Such combined questionnaires, where only a few questions from any given qualitative questionnaire test are presented to the patient at any one time may then be split out and the answers reorganized to be other answers from the same test where the data can be analyzed and presented to healthcare provider. For example, one or two question from the GAD7 may be presented to the patient at time point A along with one or two questions from the FALLs. At the next time point, B one or two further questions from the GAD7 may be presented with one or two questions from the MOCA and so on for subsequent time points. Over the course of a few days or a week, for example, all of the questions from all of the qualitative tests select for answering by a healthcare provider may have been answered and the answers reorganized by ALEX such that the answers from each test segregated in to a corresponding bin for each test. The questions from the various tests may thus be randomly combined and presented at various time points. In this regard, by randomly combining the questions in small chunks, the patient may perceive that they just answering questions and thus may be less likely to be affected by “white-coat” syndrome and give misleading or inaccurate answers by recognizing a given test and/or artificially alter a biophysical measurement. The questions, to the patient, may seemingly not be directed to any given test and thus promote more truthful and accurate answers. Constant repetitions of such a sequence then can allow a healthcare provider to longitudinally monitor a patient and the ALEX system to detect changes in relation to one more of the tests. Such data, whether health- or other-related data may be assessed by various engines 404 (e.g. a neural network), to compare user data with existing models 402 to determine a user status (e.g. health). If the ALEX system or engine assesses that there is, for instance, a health-related concern, an alert 426 may be generated that may be relayed to a relevant party 430, such as a physician. The relevant party may then contact the user and/or take appropriate measures. For instance, the ALEX system may notify a physician 430 that a video consultation should be held with a patient 405. The ALEX system may also use data collected over time to refine existing models 402 or generate new or otherwise improved models. The results of such assessment may be relayed to experts 440 for evaluation, improvement, or feedback. The skilled artisan will appreciate that any number of users may provide data within the scope of such a system for assessment, and the results of such assessments may be relayed to any number of professions (e.g. physicians) as alerts or notifications related to any one or more users. Furthermore, while an ALEX system, in accordance with various embodiments, may make use of many data inputs over time to arrive at conclusions and/or find correlations, it may also assess individual data points to provide an action, such as alerting a physician. For instance, if a heart rate input is deemed to be dangerously high, a notification may be immediately sent to a relevant professional to take action.

[0092] In accordance with yet another embodiment, a patient may be provided with a specific questionnaire, either randomly, as prescribed by a physician as part of a routine check-in, or as determined by an analysis engine. A non-limiting example of such a test, the GAD7, often used in part to assess generalised anxiety disorder, is shown in Figure 5. The skilled artisan that other such questionnaires, tests, or datasets that exist or remain to be developed may be employed within the scope of an ALEX system as herein disclosed.

[0093] While the present disclosure describes various embodiments for illustrative purposes, such description is not intended to be limited to such embodiments. On the contrary, the applicant's teachings described and illustrated herein encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, without departing from the embodiments, the general scope of which is defined in the appended claims. Except to the extent necessary or inherent in the processes themselves, no particular order to steps or stages of methods or processes described in this disclosure is intended or implied. In many cases the order of process steps may be varied without changing the purpose, effect, or import of the methods described.

[0094] Information as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described object of the present disclosure, the presently preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, and is, thus, representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure fully encompasses other embodiments which may become apparent to those skilled in the art, and is to be limited, accordingly, by nothing other than the appended claims, wherein any reference to an element being made in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or more." All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment and additional embodiments as regarded by those of ordinary skill in the art are hereby expressly incorporated by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, no requirement exists for a system or method to address each and every problem sought to be resolved by the present disclosure, for such to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. However, that various changes and modifications in form, material, work-piece, and fabrication material detail may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as set forth in the appended claims, as may be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, are also encompassed by the disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A system for consistently acquiring data related to a user, the system comprising: a database having user-related data; a device associated with the user and said database, the device being operable to receive input data related to the user; and a digital application operable to communicate with said database and said device, wherein said digital application is further operable to: initiate a plurality of data acquisition sessions over a designated time span, wherein said data acquisition sessions each comprise an input of subsequent data related to the user via said device; update said database with said subsequent data and add to said user-related data to provide cumulative user-related data; assess a state of the user based on said cumulative user-related data in said database; and provide the user with a designated incentive via said device upon completion of each one of said data acquisition sessions.

2. The system of Claim 1, wherein said database comprises an electronic medical record (EMR).

3. The system of either one of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said user-related data is health-related data.

4. The system of any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said device comprises a pill dispenser.

5. The system of Claim 4, wherein said pill dispenser is operable to monitor compliance with a medication regimen and communicate said compliance as data that is updated in said database by said digital application.

6. The system of any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said device is operable to wirelessly receive user data.

7. The system of Claim 6, wherein said user data is wirelessly transmitted by a wearable device worn by the user.

8. The system of Claim 7, wherein said user data is any one or more of a biometric or physiological measurement.

9. The system of any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein said device comprises a user interface operable to receive as input data related to the user.

10. The system of Claim 9, wherein said user interface is further operable to display content to an input user.

11. The system of Claim 10, wherein said user interface is operable to display a prompt to said input user during said data acquisition session.

12. The system of Claim 11, wherein said prompt comprises a questionnaire comprising one or more questions, and wherein said user interface is further operable to receive a user response to said one or more questions, wherein said input of data related to the user comprises said user response.

13. The system of Claim 12, wherein said one or more questions relate to any one or more designated criteria.

14. The system of Claim 13, wherein said designated criteria relate to any one or more health conditions.

15. The system of any one of Claims 12 to 14, wherein said questionnaire further comprises one or more control questions.

16. The system of any one of Claims 1 to 15, wherein said incentive is a dispensing of a medication.

17. The system of any one of Claims 10 to 16, wherein said digital application is further operable to enable a video conference between the user and one or more remote parties via said device.

18. The system of Claim 17, wherein the user is a patient, said one or more remote parties comprise one or more healthcare professionals, and said video conference comprises a medical consultation.

19. The system of any one of Claims 17 or 18, wherein said digital application is further operable to receive as input data related to the user from said one or more remote parties via a remote device and update said database with said input data.

20. The system of any one of Claims 1 to 19, wherein said digital application is operable assess said state of the user via comparison with any one or more models.

21. The system of Claim 20, wherein said comparison is performed by an artificial intelligence system accessible to said digital application.

22. The system of Claim 21, wherein said artificial intelligence system comprises a neural network.

23. The system of either one of Claims 21 or 22, wherein said comparison employs a Bayesian inference process.

24. The system of any one of Claims 21 to 23, wherein said artificial intelligence system is operable to update said any one or more models or generate a new model based on an analysis of said database.

25. The system of any one of Claims 20 to 24, wherein said one or more models relate to a health condition.

26. The system of any one of Claims 1 to 25, wherein said digital application is further operable to generate an alert.

27. The system of Claim 26, wherein said alert is generated upon said digital application identifying said state of the user as corresponding to any of one or more designated states.

28. The system of Claim 27, wherein said one or more designated states relates to a medical condition or risk thereof.

29. The system of any one of Claims 26 to 28, wherein said digital application is operable to issue said alert to any one or more of the user or a remote party.

30. The system of Claim 29, wherein said remote party is a physician.

31. The system of Claim 30, wherein said physician may initiate a remote consultation via said digital application.

32. A method for consistently acquiring data related to a user via a device associated with both the user and a database comprising user-related data, the method to be digitally executed by a digital application in communication with the database and the device, the method comprising: initiating a plurality of data acquisition sessions over a designated time span, said data acquisition sessions performed via the device; receiving as input subsequent data related to the user; updating the database with said subsequent data to provide cumulative user- related data; assessing a state of the user based on said cumulative user-related data in said database; and providing the user with a designated incentive via the device upon completion of each one of said data acquisition sessions.

33. The method of Claim 32, wherein the database comprises an electronic medical record (EMR).

34. The method of either one of Claim 32 or Claim 33, wherein the user-related data comprises health-related data.

35. The method of any one of Claims 32 to 34, wherein the device comprises a pill dispenser.

36. The method of Claim 35, further comprising: monitoring, via said pill dispenser, compliance with a medication regimen; communicating said compliance as compliance data; and updating the database with said compliance data.

37. The method of any one of Claims 32 to 36, further comprising: wirelessly receiving user data.

38. The method of Claim 37, wherein said user data is wirelessly transmitted by a wearable device worn by the user.

39. The method of Claim 38, wherein said user data is any one or more of a biometric or physiological measurement.

40. The method of any one of Claims 32 to 39, wherein said receiving as input subsequent data related to the user comprises receiving as input subsequent data related to the user via a user interface associated with the device.

41. The method of Claim 40, further comprising: displaying content to an input user via said user interface.

42. The method of Claim 41, further comprising: displaying a prompt to said input user during said data acquisition session.

43. The method of Claim 42, wherein said displaying a prompt comprises: displaying a questionnaire comprising one or more questions; and receiving as input a user response to said one or more questions, wherein said receiving as input subsequent data related to the user comprises said receiving as input said user response.

44. The method of Claim 43, wherein said one or more questions relate to any one or more designated criteria.

45. The method of Claim 44, wherein said designated criteria relate to any one or more health conditions.

46. The method of any one of Claims 44 to 45, wherein said questionnaire further comprises one or more control questions.

47. The method of any one of Claims 32 to 46, wherein said providing the user with a designated incentive comprises dispensing a medication.

48. The method of any one of Claims 41 to 47, further comprising: performing via the device a video conference between the user and one or more remote parties.

49. The method of Claim 48, wherein the user is a patient, said one or more remote parties comprise one or more healthcare professionals, and wherein said video conference comprises a medical consultation.

50. The method of any one of Claims 48 or 49, further comprising: receiving as input from a remote device associated with said one or more remote parties remote data related to the user; and updating the database with said remote data.

51. The method of any one of Claims 32 to 50, wherein said assessing a state of the user comprises performing a comparison with any one or more models.

52. The method of Claim 51, wherein said performing a comparison is performed by an artificial intelligence system accessible to the digital application.

53. The method of Claim 52, wherein said artificial intelligence system comprises a neural network.

54. The method of either one of Claim 52 or Claims 53, wherein said performing a comparison comprises performing a Bayesian inference process.

55. The method of any one of Claims 52 to 54, further comprising: analysing the database via said artificial intelligence system.

56. The method of Claim 55, further comprising: updating said any one or more models based on a result of said analysing the database.

57. The method of either one of Claim 55 or Claim 56, further comprising: generating a new model based on a result of said analysing the database.

58. The method of any one of Claims 51 to 57, wherein said one or more models relate to a health condition.

59. The method of any one of Claims 32 to 58, further comprising generating an alert.

60. The method of Claim 59, further comprising: identifying, via the digital application, said state of the user as corresponding to any of one or more designated states, wherein said generating an alert comprises generating an alert in response to a positive identification of said state of the user corresponding to said any one or more designated states.

61. The method of Claim 60, wherein said one or more designated states relates to a medical condition or risk thereof.

62. The method of any one of Claims 59 to 61, further comprising: issuing said alert to any one or more of the user or a remote party.

63. The method of Claim 62, wherein said remote party is a physician.

64. The method of Claim 63, further comprising: initiating, by said physician and via the digital application, a remote consultation.