Weight scale and corresponding systems and methods for preventing advancement of congestive heart failure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10254153-B2
Application number	US-201615235962-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2016
Priority date	Aug 12, 2016
Publication date	Apr 9, 2019
Grant date	Apr 9, 2019

Abstract

A weight scale ( 100 ) for assisting with management of congestive heart failure and other ailments includes a housing ( 101 ) that can define a substantially flat planar surface ( 102 ). A weight measurement device ( 202 ) measures a weight of a user. A control circuit ( 201 ) stores in a memory ( 203 ) a first predefined weight threshold ( 205 ) and a second predefined weight threshold ( 206 ). The scale includes light sources ( 107,108,109 ) operable with the control circuit to selectively present one of three color-coded indications. When the weight is between the below the first predefined weight threshold, the light sources present a first color indication. When the weight is between the first predefined weight threshold and the second predefined weight threshold, the light sources present a second color indication. When the weight is above the second predefined weight threshold, the light sources present a third color indication.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A weight scale, comprising:
a housing defining a substantially planar surface;
a weight measurement device measuring a weight of a predefined user when on the substantially planar surface;
a display disposed along the substantially planar surface;
control circuit operable with the display, the control circuit storing in a memory a first predefined weight threshold of the predefined user and a second predefined weight threshold corresponding the predefined user; and
a plurality of light sources, operable with the control circuit to selectively present one of three color-coded indications, wherein each of the plurality of light sources is separate from the display;
the control circuit further causing:
when the weight is below the first predefined weight threshold, at least one light source of the plurality of light sources to present a first color indication;
when the weight is between the first predefined weight threshold and the second predefined weight threshold, the at least one light source of the plurality of light sources to present a second color indication; and
when the weight is above the second predefined weight threshold, the at least one light source of the plurality of light sources to present a third color indication;
further comprising one or more audio output devices disposed along the housing, the control circuit outputting instructions for one or more of accomplishing self-management to prevent congestive heart failure complications or obtaining medical assistance to prevent the congestive heart failure complications.

2. The weight scale of claim 1 , the control circuit further presenting the weight on the display.

3. The weight scale of claim 2 , wherein the second color indication indicates the self-management is required to the prevent congestive heart failure complications.

4. The weight scale of claim 3 , wherein the third color indication indicates the medical assistance is required to prevent the congestive heart failure complications.

5. The weight scale of claim 4 , wherein the first color indication comprises green light, the second color indication comprises yellow light, and the third color indication comprises red light.

6. The weight scale of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of light sources comprises three light sources.

7. The weight scale of claim 4 , the control circuit recording the weight in a weight log stored in the memory.

8. The weight scale of claim 7 , further comprising a wireless communication circuit operable with the control circuit, the control circuit transmitting the weight log to a remote electronic device with the wireless communication circuit.

9. The weight scale of claim 7 , further comprising a selectively detachable memory device, the control circuit also recording the weight log to the selectively detachable memory device.

10. The weight scale of claim 4 , at least one light source of the plurality of light sources comprising a touch sensitive user input device.

11. The weight scale of claim 10 , the control circuit causing the display to present a prompt requesting food ingestion information on the display.

12. The weight scale of claim 11 , the control circuit receiving the good ingestion information from the touch sensitive user input device in response to presentation of the prompt.

13. The weight scale of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the housing and measuring a contact area of the predefined user with the substantially planar surface.

14. The weight scale of claim 13 , the control circuit causing the display to present an indication of edema when the contact area exceeds a predefined threshold.

15. A method comprising:
measuring, with a weight measurement device coupled to a housing of a weight scale, a weight of a predefined user;
presenting, with control circuit, the weight on a display disposed along the housing;
comparing, with the control circuit, the weight to a first predefined weight threshold and a second predefined weight threshold; and
indicating with one or more output devices:
when the weight is between the first predefined weight threshold and the second predefined weight threshold, the predefined user requires self-management to prevent congestive heart failure complications; and
when the weight is above the second predefined weight threshold, the predefined user requires medical assistance to prevent the congestive heart failure complications.

16. The method of claim 15 , the one or more output devices comprising a plurality of sources presenting a first color indication when the predefined user requires the self-management to prevent the congestive heart failure complications and a second color indication when the predefined user requires the medical assistance to prevent the congestive heart failure complications.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
measuring, with a pressure sensor, a contact area of the predefined user with the housing; and
causing one or more of the display or the one or more output devices to present an indication of edema when the contact area exceeds a predefined threshold.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising delivering, with one or more audio output devices, instructions for one or more of accomplishing the self-management to prevent the congestive heart failure complications or obtaining the medical assistance to prevent the congestive heart failure complications.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising recording, with the control circuit, the weight in a weight log and transmitting the weight log to another device.

20. A weight scale, comprising:
a housing defining a substantially planar surface;
a weight measurement device measuring a weight of a predefined user when on the substantially planar surface;
a display disposed along the substantially planar surface;
control circuit operable with the display, the control circuit storing in a memory a first predefined weight threshold of the predefined user and a second predefined weight threshold corresponding the predefined user; and
a plurality of light sources, operable with the control circuit to selectively present one of three color-coded indications, wherein each of the plurality of light sources is separate from the display;
the control circuit further causing:
when the weight is below the first predefined weight threshold, at least one light source of the plurality of light sources to present a first color indication;
when the weight is between the first predefined weight threshold and the second predefined weight threshold, the at least one light source of the plurality of light sources to present a second color indication; and
when the weight is above the second predefined weight threshold, the at least one light source of the plurality of light sources to present a third color indication;
further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the housing and measuring a contact area of the predefined user with the substantially planar surface;
the control circuit causing the display to present an indication of edema when the contact area exceeds a predefined threshold.

21. A weight scale, comprising:
a housing defining a substantially planar surface;
a weight measurement device measuring a weight of a predefined user when on the substantially planar surface;
a display disposed along the substantially planar surface;
control circuit operable with the display, the control circuit storing in a memory a first predefined w

Assignees

• Medline Ind Inc

Inventors

• Moore Martie
• Roberts Derek

Classifications

• G01G23/3721

  with particular representation of the result, e.g. graphic · CPC title

• G01G19/44 Primary

  for weighing persons · CPC title

• G01G19/50 Primary

  having additional measuring devices, e.g. for height · CPC title