MOBILE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM FOR THE EARLY DETECTION OF VASCULAR DISEASES

Abstract

A mobile diagnostic system (1) for the early detection of vascular diseases includes a measuring module (2) and an evaluation module (7), wherein the measuring module (2) comprises a measuring cuff (3) made of a textile material and at least one sensor (4) for measuring expansion, pressure, temperature and/or moisture, and wherein the evaluation module (7) comprises an evaluation and diagnostic unit designed to derive a biomarker identifying a vascular disease from the measured variable detected by the at least one sensor (4).

Claims

1. A mobile diagnostic system (1) for the early detection of vascular diseases comprising a measuring module (2) and an evaluation module (7), wherein the measuring module (2) comprises a measuring cuff (3) made of a textile material and at least one sensor (4) for measuring expansion, pressure, temperature and/or moisture, and wherein the evaluation module (7) comprises an evaluation and diagnostic unit designed to derive a biomarker identifying a vascular disease from the measured variable detected by the at least one sensor (4).

2. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor (4) is integrated into the textile material of the measuring cuff (3) or is part of the textile material of the measuring cuff (3).

3. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the measuring module (2) comprises a memory device (5) for buffering measured variables detected by the at least one sensor (4) within a predefined or predefinable period of time.

4. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor (4) is or is able to be brought into a communication link with the memory device (5) via a data line integrated into the textile material of the measuring cuff (3) or consisting of a textile material, particularly for transmitting the measured variables detected by the at least one sensor (4) as needed or continuously.

5. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the memory device (5) comprises an interface (6) via which the measured variables of the at least one sensor buffered in the memory device (5) can be transmitted to the evaluation and diagnostic unit as needed or continuously.

6. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the memory device (5) is detachably connected directly or indirectly to the measuring cuff (3).

7. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor (4) is designed to directly or indirectly detect the occurrence of particularly a nocturnal erection of the user.

8. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation and diagnostic unit is designed to derive the probability or the risk of the presence of an erectile dysfunction or a biomarker identifying an erectile dysfunction on the basis of the measured variables detected by the at least one sensor (4).

9. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation and diagnostic unit is designed to derive the probability or the risk of the presence of an erectile dysfunction or a biomarker identifying an erectile dysfunction on the basis of the measured variables detected by the at least one sensor (4) over a predefined or predefinable period of time.

10. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the evaluation and diagnostic unit is designed to assess the risk of vascular disease or the risk of a vascular disease being present using the derived probability or derived risk respectively of the presence of an erectile dysfunction or the derived biomarker identifying an erectile dysfunction.

11. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation and diagnostic unit comprises a display device for depicting biomarkers, risk indicators or predictive information derived from the measured variables detected by the at least one sensor (4).

12. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation and diagnostic unit is realized as application software, particularly within the realm of mobile operating systems.

13. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 4, wherein the memory device (5) comprises an interface (6) via which the measured variables of the at least one sensor buffered in the memory device (5) can be transmitted to the evaluation and diagnostic unit as needed or continuously.

14. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 13, wherein the memory device (5) is detachably connected directly or indirectly to the measuring cuff (3).

15. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 14, wherein at least one sensor (4) is designed to directly or indirectly detect the occurrence of particularly a nocturnal erection of the user.

16. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 15, wherein the evaluation and diagnostic unit is designed to derive the probability or the risk of the presence of an erectile dysfunction or a biomarker identifying an erectile dysfunction on the basis of the measured variables detected by the at least one sensor (4).

17. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 16, wherein the evaluation and diagnostic unit is designed to derive the probability or the risk of the presence of an erectile dysfunction or a biomarker identifying an erectile dysfunction on the basis of the measured variables detected by the at least one sensor (4) over a predefined or predefinable period of time.

18. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 17, wherein the evaluation and diagnostic unit is designed to assess the risk of vascular disease or the risk of a vascular disease being present using the derived probability or derived risk respectively of the presence of an erectile dysfunction or the derived biomarker identifying an erectile dysfunction.

19. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 18, wherein the evaluation and diagnostic unit comprises a display device for depicting biomarkers, risk indicators or predictive information derived from the measured variables detected by the at least one sensor (4).

20. The diagnostic system (1) according to claim 19, wherein the evaluation and diagnostic unit is realized as application software, particularly within the realm of mobile operating systems.

Description

[0033] Shown is:

[0034] FIG. 1 a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the diagnostic system according to the invention.

[0035] The diagnostic system 1 according to the invention, as depicted schematically in FIG. 1, is in particular designed as a mobile diagnostic system 1 so as to enable home use.

[0036] In the exemplary embodiment of the inventive diagnostic system 1, the measuring module 2 and particularly the measuring cuff 3 comprising the at least one sensor 4 integrated therein are in particular designed to effect a diagnosis of erectile dysfunction.

[0037] The inventive diagnostic system 1, as shown schematically in FIG. 1, is in particular designed to provide a biomarker for vascular disease.

[0038] Particularly in the case of vascular diseases, the treatment of which can have the patient taking medications for years, along with the associated side effects, a reliable diagnosis of the disease is essential, Biomarkers are becoming more and more important here as they can confirm a difficult diagnosis or even make it possible in the first place. Particularly vascular diseases are often preceded by an early asymptomatic stage of the disease. During this stage, biomarkers help to identify asymptomatic high-risk individuals in a timely and reliable manner.

[0039] The inventive diagnostic system 1 enables a corresponding biomarker to be obtained for diagnostic purposes via self-measurement. In particular, the inventive system allows a rapid test such that the result of the biomarker detection is available within a few days, which is important for the attending physician in order to be able to quickly start treatment.

[0040] FIG. 1 schematically shows the at least one sensor 4 of the measuring module 2, which is preferably integrated into the measuring cuff 3. Likewise shown schematically is a memory device 5 allocated to the measuring module 2, in which the measured variables detected by the at least one sensor 4 within a predefined or predefinable period of time are buffered.

[0041] The memory device 5 allocated to the measuring module 2 is preferably connectible to the evaluation module 7 of the diagnostic system 1 via a wireless communication link 6. A radio link or a Bluetooth connection is for example conceivable in this context. The evaluation module 7 can query and read out the measured variables buffered in the memory device 5 as needed or continuously via said communication link 6.

[0042] The evaluation and diagnostic unit, or the evaluation module 7 respectively, is designed to derive the probability or the risk of the presence of an erectile dysfunction or a biomarker identifying an erectile dysfunction on the basis of the measured variables detected by the at least one sensor 4, Said biomarker in turn enables the evaluation and diagnostic unit to assess the risk of vascular disease or the risk of a vascular disease being present, which is shown to the user on a corresponding display device.