COMBINED HUMAN AND PET WELLNESS FACILITY

Abstract

A combined human and pet wellness facility includes a wellness facility, at least one human exercise station inside the wellness facility, and at least one pet exercise station together with the human exercise station. The at least one human exercise station and the at least one pet exercise station are configured for simultaneous use.

Claims

1. A combined human and pet wellness facility comprising: at least one human exercise station inside the combined human and pet wellness facility; at least one pet exercise station together with the human exercise station; wherein the at least one human exercise station and the at least one pet exercise station are configured for simultaneous use.

2. The combined human and pet wellness facility of claim 1, wherein the at least one pet exercise station is near the human exercise station.

3. The combined human and pet wellness facility of claim 1, wherein the at least one pet exercise station is next to the human exercise station.

4. The combined human and pet wellness facility of claim 1, wherein the at least one pet exercise station includes a pet exercise device or open space.

5. The combined human and pet wellness facility of claim 4, wherein the pet exercise device is one of a dry pet treadmill, an underwater pet treadmill, and an endless pool.

6. The combined human and pet wellness facility of claim 4, wherein the human exercise station includes a human exercise device or an open space, or a designed space.

7. The combined human and pet wellness facility of claim 6, wherein the human exercise device is one of a dry treadmill, a recumbent bike, a speed bike, an elliptical machine, a weight machine, a resistance machine, a stair stepper, and a rowing machine.

8. The combined human and pet wellness facility of claim 1, further comprising a facility network comprising at least one computing device, the at least one pet exercise station, and a server.

9. The combined human and pet wellness facility of claim 8, wherein the facility network is a wireless network in communication with a wide area network.

10. The combined human and pet wellness facility of claim 8, wherein the facility network includes a pet biosensor.

11. The combined human and pet wellness facility of claim 10, wherein the pet biosensor senses and communicates to the server a biophysical parameter of the pet carrying the pet biosensor.

12. The combined human and pet wellness facility of claim 8, wherein the facility network comprises a social networking area in communication with the facility network.

13. A method for combined human and pet wellness, the method comprising the steps of: presenting a pet together with an owner of the pet at a combined human and pet wellness facility comprising: at least one human exercise station inside the combined human and pet wellness facility; at least one pet exercise station together with the human exercise station; exercising the pet at the least one pet exercise station while an owner of the pet is exercising at the at least one human exercise station.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of performing a veterinary medical exam of the pet to determine a prescribed pet wellness program that includes at least one of a prescribed pet exercise plan and a pet nutritional plan.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a pet biosensor carried by the pet to sense at least one biophysical parameter of the pet.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of exercising the pet at the at least one pet exercise station includes the step of exercising the pet at the at least one pet exercise station according to the prescribed pet exercise plan.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of storing the prescribed pet wellness program in a digital pet medical record stored in a server that is part of a network, the network including at least one computing device in the combined human and pet wellness facility, and the at least one pet exercise station.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of retrieving the prescribed pet exercise plan from the server by a veterinary professional when the pet arrives at the combined human and pet wellness facility.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of reading in real time the at least one sensed biophysical parameter of the pet by the veterinarian professional.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of recording a result of a pet's exercise according to the prescribed pet exercise plan in the pet's digital medical record.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of a veterinarian comparing the result of the pet's measured combined human-pet wellness performance with the prescribed pet wellness program medical objectives.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

[0052] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a combined pet and human wellness facility;

[0053] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of a combined pet and human wellness facility;

[0054] FIG. 3 is another partial perspective view of the combined pet and human wellness facility;

[0055] FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example of a method for using a combined pet and human and wellness facility; and

[0056] FIG. 5A and its continuation in FIG. 5B diagram another embodiment of a method for using a combined pet and human wellness facility.

[0057] While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0058] Turning now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an exemplary schematic drawing of an embodiment of a combined human and pet wellness facility 100 (hereinafter, wellness facility). While such an exemplary embodiment will be utilized in describing various features and advantages of examples of the invention, such a description should be taken by way of example and not by limitation.

[0059] The wellness facility 100 may be a brick and mortar construction where pet owners are able to exercise together with their pets. As previously discussed, the pet exercise may be a prescribed pet exercise program that is part of an overall prescribed pet wellness plan established after a veterinary physical examination.

[0060] The wellness facility 100 includes a reception area 104 that may include a reception registration kiosk. The reception area 104 may include a computing device 106 that is connected via wired, wireless or optical physical layer interconnect to a facility network 108 that may be a local area network 108 that may communicate with a wide area network 110 such that it can retrieve and store information in at least one on-site secure server 112 or at least one off-site secure server 114. Processing of the information may occur either at the computing device 106 or at the on-site secure server 112 or off-site secure server 114. Non limiting examples of the computing device may include a personal computer, lap top computer, tablet, or a mobile device such as a smart phone.

[0061] The wellness facility 100 may also include at least one human exercise station 116, 118 inside the wellness facility. The wellness facility 100 may have any number human exercise stations 116, 118 depending on the size and exercise user capacity of the wellness facility 100. The human exercise station 116, 118 may be in an open space where the owner may exercise or it may be a designed space 119 such as indoor running track or pool. In other examples, the human exercise station 116,118 may have a human exercise device 120, 122 with an interactive programmable controller 124, 126 with display that is connected to the local area network 108 and/or to the wide area network 110. Examples of human exercise devices 120, 122 may include by way of non-limiting examples, a dry treadmill, a recumbent bike, a speed bike, an elliptical machine, a weight machine, a resistance machine, a stair stepper, and a rowing machine, etc.

[0062] The wellness facility 100 may also include at least one pet exercise station 128, 130 together with the human exercise station 116, 118. The pet exercise station 128, 130 may have a pet exercise device 132, 134 such as a dry pet treadmill or an underwater pet treadmill, or an endless pool, etc. Alternatively, the pet exercise station 128, 130 may be an open area where pet exercise may take place such as agility training. The pet exercise device 132, 134 may include an interactive programmable controller 136, 138 with display that is connected to the local area network 108 and/or the wide area network 110. The pet exercise station 128, 130 may also include an electronic display 140 such as a smart TV that may be part of the local area network 108 that permits the pet to watch prerecorded and/or real-time content such as a rabbit or duck in a nature video or real time exercise of the owner in the wellness facility 100 so as to enhance the medical benefits for the pet obtained from the pet viewing the owner.

[0063] In an embodiment of the wellness center 100, the pet and the owner enter the wellness facility 100 together. When the pet and the owner are there for the benefit of exercising together, the owner may check in with an employee at the reception area 104. They may also present to the social networking area 105 that may be in communication with the local area network 108 such that sensed measurements from the biosensor may be recorded if desired. Thereafter, the owner and the pet may then proceed to an open or pet exercise station 128, 130 where the owner, who may be assisted by an employee at the wellness facility, may harness the pet for safety if necessary and start the pet exercising at the pet exercise station 128, 130. The owner then begins to exercise at a human exercise station 116, 118 that is near or next to the pet so as to ensure the pet is safe while exercising and to enjoy the health benefit that is obtained from the pet directly seeing the owner, where directly is understood as viewing the owner without any digital assistance such as on the electronic display 140 while the pet and owner are exercising.

[0064] In another example, the pet and owner enter the wellness facility 100 together in order to participate in a prescribed pet exercise plan that is part of prescribed wellness program for the pet as prescribed by a veterinarian. The owner may check in with a veterinary professional who may retrieve sensed biophysical parameters from at least one biosensor (not shown) carried on or embedded in, for example, the pet's collar, or carried on or embedded in the pet. Such retrieval may be, but is not limited to, RF communication where the veterinary assistant can obtain identity information, such as the pet's name and address and/or a unique pet identifier. By unique it is meant a number or string of characters or letters or numbers or combinations thereof that identify only that pet. In other examples, the biosensor may be configured for communication with the local area network 108. The veterinary professional may input the pet identity information into the computing device 106 to retrieve the pet's digital medical record from the secure on-site server 112 or the off-site secure server 114. The pet and the owner may also present to the social networking area 105.

[0065] Once the pet's digital medical record is retrieved and displayed to the veterinary professional, the veterinary professional may record in the pet's digital medical record any relevant medical information from the owner. Such medical information may include, for example, the pet's nutrition quality and quantity, its quantity and cycle of sleeping or its general comportment such as its activity level or perceived mobility issues, e.g. agility, limps, response to commands, etc. The veterinary professional may also retrieve stored or real time sensed biophysical parameters retrieved from at least one biosensor carried on or embedded in the pet, carried on the owner, or attached either physically or electronically to the pet exercise station 128, 130.

[0066] Thereafter, the veterinarian professional, may conduct a physical examination of the pet, and record the results in the pet's digital medical record. The type of physical examination may depend on whether the veterinary professional is a veterinarian or another trained professional such as a veterinary technician. Provided there are no medical findings that would prevent the pet from exercising, the veterinary professional will take the pet to the prescribed pet exercise station 128, 130. The pet may be furnished with a harness for safety and or for the sensing of biophysical parameters of the pet that can be viewed by the veterinary professional at the pet exercise station 128, 130 for example via either a mobile device or the interactive programmable controller 136, 138 with display at the pet exercise station 128, 130. Thus, remote monitoring of the sensed biophysical parameters may be available via the mobile device for example or where there is access to the internet via a personal computer.

[0067] The pet and owner are together while they exercise and the owner may or may not, as previously discussed be visible to the pet. This togetherness, where the pet and owner enter a facility together but may not be visible to one another during certain events is common in owner-pet veterinary facility visits where the owner and the pet may become physically separated as when, for example, the pet is under anesthesia during surgery prior to subsequent, post-recovery physical client-pet re-union.

[0068] During exercise and after the pet has completed its exercise as scheduled in the prescribed pet exercise plan, the veterinary professional may record any further relevant medical information in the pet's digital medical record. Pet exercise data obtained by at the least one biosensor may be automatically uploaded to the secure on-site server 112 or the off-site secure server 114. The owner and the pet may also present to the social networking area 105 after the exercise has been completed and either before or after they present to the veterinary professional.

[0069] The veterinary professional is able to retrieve the biosensor data and or digital medical record of the pet from the on site secure server 112 or the off site secure server 114. The digital medical record includes but is not limited to the results of the scheduled exercises of the prescribed pet exercise program carried out at the wellness facility 100. The exercise results together with any other biosensor diagnostics and/or physical exam findings may be used to modify the prescribed pet wellness plan including the prescribed pet exercise plan with the goal of regaining the pet's health, improving the pet's health, or maintaining the pet's health.

[0070] Accordingly, periodically or when medical concerns found at the wellness facility 100 by the veterinary professional are found either from direct pet examination or from biosensor data, and/or when the owner notes concerns outside the wellness facility 100, the pet may be further evaluated by the DVM for medical improvement.

[0071] The pet and owner may then return to the wellness facility 100 to simply exercise without supervision by a veterinary professional or to carry out a prescribed pet wellness program including a prescribed pet exercise plan under the supervision of a veterinary professional until the goals of the pet wellness program have been met.

[0072] The wellness facility 100 may include a pet kennel area 142, employee/veterinary professional locker room 144, and an owner locker room 146.

[0073] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a wellness center 200 that is similar to the wellness center 100. The human exercise stations 216, 218 are next to the pet exercise stations 228, 230, respectively. The human exercise stations 216, 218 each include a human exercise device 220, 222 that is a dry treadmill in the illustrated embodiment. The pet exercise stations 228, 230 each include a pet exercise device 232, 234 that is a dry pet treadmill in the illustrated embodiment. The pet exercise stations 228, 230 may each have an electronic display 240.

[0074] FIG. 3 illustrates another view of the wellness center 200. The human exercise stations 242, 244 are next the pet exercise stations 246, 248. The human exercise stations 242, 244 each include a human exercise device 250, 252 that is a recumbent bike in the illustrated embodiment. The pet exercise stations 246, 248 each include a pet exercise device 254, 256 that is a dry pet treadmill in the illustrated embodiment.

[0075] Turning now to FIG. 4 and with reference to FIG. 1, an example of steps of a method of use of a combined human and pet wellness center 100 (FIG. 1) of the invention are set forth. The method may include the step 156 of presenting a pet together with an owner of the pet at a combined human and pet wellness facility 100 (FIG. 1). The method may include the step 158 exercising the pet at the least one pet exercise station 128 (FIG. 1) while an owner of the pet is exercising at the at least one human exercise station 116 (FIG. 1). By exercising the pet it is meant that a human, for example the owner, or an employee must ensure the pet presents to the pet exercise station 116 to which it may be assigned and/or may need to safely start a pet exercise device 132 (FIG. 1) for the pet to exercise.

[0076] In another embodiment of a method of use of the combined human and pet wellness center 100 (FIG. 1) is set forth in FIG. 5A and continued in FIG. 5B. The method may include the step 160 of conducting a veterinary evaluation of the pet. The veterinary evaluation may be needed, for example, because of a trauma or sudden change in medical condition suffered by the pet, for example, a broken leg, dangerously elevated temperature or critical respiratory anomaly. Alternatively, the veterinary evaluation in conjunction with veterinary staff review of biosensor biophysical data may be a routine evaluation of the pet to find or prevent any possible medical conditions that would be detrimental to the pet's wellness, for example recent injury, blood irregularities, lymph node swelling, a heart murmur or abdominal bloating, that may lead to dramatic alteration in the quality of the pet's life.

[0077] The veterinary evaluation may include the pet owner's description of the pet's eating, sleeping, activity level, nutrition or observed conditions such as skin, weight changes, hair, respiratory, heart or mobility problems. The veterinary evaluation may include review of real-time and or historical and or continuously monitored biosensor data, predictive medical analytics based on historical pet diagnostics and biosensor data, ordering or evaluating additional diagnostic testing for example, complete blood count, serum biochemical analysis, urinalysis, fecal exam, intra-ocular pressure measurement, blood pressure measurement, electrocardiogram, radiographs, ultrasound, biopsies with histopathology examination, operative findings, MRI's, and CT scans by way of a few non-limiting examples.

[0078] The veterinary evaluation may include the step 162 of reading the pet's real time or stored sensed biophysical parameter obtained from one or more biosensors that may be carried by the pet. Alternatively, the veterinarian may place a biosensor on or embed the biosensor in the pet to permit the reading of sensed biophysical parameter for use after the veterinary evaluation in determining whether there has been medical improvement in the pet.

[0079] The method may include the step 164 of diagnosing the pet. The diagnosis may be based on the pet's symptoms, diagnostic results, and sensed biophysical parameters. The method may further include the step 166 of prescribing a pet wellness program or modification of an existing pet wellness program. The pet wellness program may include the step 168 of prescribing a pet exercise plan and the step 170 of prescribing a pet nutritional plan.

[0080] The prescribed pet exercise plan may be of prescribed exercises such as walks or runs. They may be of high intensity or low intensity or combinations thereof. They may have set periods of rest and may require aerobic or anaerobic exercise or combinations thereof which may also be accomplished pet exercise devices 132 (FIG. 1) such as on a dry pet treadmill. Such exercises of the prescribed pet exercise plan may also be low impact exercises such as swimming or walking on an underwater treadmill that may also be aerobic or anaerobic exercises and that can be carried out for example, on underwater pet treadmills or in pet swimming pools. Moreover, such prescribed exercises of the prescribed pet exercise plan may require monitoring and supervision by a trained veterinary professional such as the veterinarian, a veterinary technician, or veterinary assistant trained in carrying out, monitoring, and recording the results of the pet's exercise. The veterinary professionals may also obtain from the pet certain biophysical parameters before, during and after the pet's exercise or therapy.

[0081] The method may include the step 172 of storing both the prescribed pet wellness program and the data from biosensors in a digital medical record of the pet on the on-site secure server 112 (FIG. 1) or the off-site secure server 114 (FIG. 1) or both.

[0082] The method may include the step 174 of presenting the pet together with the owner at the combined human and pet wellness center 100 (FIG. 1) to carry out the prescribed pet exercise plan. The presenting includes presenting to a veterinary professional inside the wellness facility 100 (FIG. 1) who may carry out the step 176 of retrieving the pet's prescribed exercise plan of the prescribed pet wellness program from the pet's digital record on the on site server 112 (FIG. 1) or secure off site server 114 (FIG. 1).

[0083] In another step 178 of the method, the veterinary professional may retrieve stored or real time sensed biophysical parameters of the pet. The sensed biophysical parameters may be retrieved from the biosensor carried on or embedded in the pet or integrated in the pet exercise station 128, 130 (FIG. 1) for real time viewing at the pet's presentation in the wellness facility 100 (FIG. 1) or throughout the pet's exercising or as stored via various information storage means such as on the biosensor or mobile device or secure on site server 112 (FIG. 1) or secure off site server 114 (FIG. 1) or stored on some combination of these information storage means. The sensed biophysical parameters may be transmitted from storage to the pet's digital medical record on the secure on-site server 112 (FIG. 1) or secure off-site server 114 (FIG. 1).

[0084] The method may include the step 180 of evaluating and/or analyzing the pet and the pet's biophysical parameters by a veterinary professional inside the wellness facility 100 (FIG. 1). The evaluation, may include retrieving the pet's prescribed exercise plan, reading the sensed biophysical parameters and conducting a physical exam. The physical exam may include the pet's weight and or respiration, to name a few non-limiting examples of possible findings.

[0085] Thereafter, the veterinary professional may carry out a further step 182 of the method of starting an exercise for the pet as ordered in the prescribed pet exercise plan while the owner is also invited to exercise together with the pet in the wellness facility 100 (FIG. 1). The prescribed pet exercise plan may require use of any number of different pet exercise stations 128, 130 (FIG. 1). For example, the pet exercise station 128,130 (FIG. 1) may include a pet exercise device 132 (FIG. 1) such as a dry pet treadmill, an underwater pet treadmill, or endless pool. Alternatively, the pet exercise station 128,130 (FIG. 1) may be an open area for pet agility exercise that may have been prescribed and that can be carried out in an open area within the wellness facility 100 (FIG. 1).

[0086] The pet is then brought to the pet exercise station 128, 130 (FIG. 1) to start the prescribed pet exercise. In an example, the pet exercise station 128, 130 (FIG. 1) includes a pet exercise device 132, 134 (FIG. 1). The pet exercise device 132, 134 (FIG. 1) may include an interactive programmable controller 136, 138 (FIG. 1) with an interactive electronic display and may be a smart device that is able to communicate via Wi-Fi with a secure server 112, 114 (FIG. 1) to retrieve the pet's digital medical record and prescribed pet exercise plan. At the pet exercise device 132, 134 (FIG. 1) the veterinary professional may be able to retrieve the pet's digital medical record and the prescribed exercise plan and then set the machine parameters as indicated in the pet's prescribed exercise plan. For example, the pet may start the prescribed exercise plan in the endless pool or underwater treadmill or dry pet treadmill. The veterinary professional may harness the pet for safety in the endless pool or underwater treadmill or dry pet treadmill apparatus. The harness may or may not have biosensors that communicate real time sensed bio parameters of the pet. The pet exercise station 128, 130 (FIG. 1) may be an open area where the pet may be harnessed or leashed for safety and to facilitate the pet exercise plan and or collection of sensed biophysical parameters of the pet.

[0087] The step 182 of starting an exercise of the pet may include setting pet exercise equipment control of the pet exercise device 132, 134 (FIG. 1) according to the prescribed pet exercise plan. For example, with an endless pool, pool water propulsion acceleration, speed or deceleration may be set to control pet swimming resistance. So too, a motor speed or treadmill inclination may be set on the dry pet treadmill and a duration of time and or frequency of acceleration, speed and deceleration cycles for the exercise may be set. The physical settings of components of the pet exercise devices 132, 134 (FIG. 1) may be done manually by the veterinary professional or may be done automatically by commands received by the pet exercise device 132,134 (FIG. 1) or by commands received via, for example, by the computing device 106 (FIG. 1), the secure on site server 112 (FIG. 1), or the secure off site server 114 (FIG. 1).

[0088] Real time sensed biophysical parameters of the pet while it is exercising may be retrieved for example by a biosensor embedded in the pet or on the pet's collar or from a biosensor on the harness that may be physically connected to the pet exercise device or wirelessly connected to the pet exercise device or local area network. The veterinary professional may periodically monitor the pet and the real time sensed biophysical parameters of the pet during the prescribed pet exercise plan to ensure pet safety and to carry out the prescribed pet exercise plan. The veterinary professional may save the sensed results in the pet's digital medical record.

[0089] While the pet is exercising, the owner may be together with the pet in the same wellness facility 100 (FIG. 1) exercising but the owner may not be visible to the pet. The pet owner may be visible to the pet via an electronic display 140 (FIG. 1) for example a TV that displays to the pet the owner in real time exercising in another part of the wellness facility 100 (FIG. 1) at a human exercise station 116 (FIG. 1), but as discussed earlier, such an electronic display does not have to be present for the pet and owner to experience the benefit of togetherness as entering the wellness facility together, may suffice.

[0090] The method may include the step 184 of saving the results of the prescribed pet exercise in the digital medical record of the pet. For example, after the pet has completed its prescribed exercise of the prescribed exercise plan, the veterinary professional may perform another physical examination and or record any further relevant medical information, for example, the pet's weight, or post exercise sensed biophysical parameters. in the pet's digital medical record for review by a veterinarian. Provided there are no medical reasons for the pet to present to the veterinarian again, steps from 176 and following to step 184 may be repeated to complete the prescribed pet exercise plan at the wellness facility 100 (FIG. 1) with the owner.

[0091] The method may also include the step 186 of conducting a further veterinary evaluation of the pet in which the step 188 of modifying or ending the prescription pet wellness may take place. In an example, the veterinary evaluation my take place as part of a periodically scheduled set of veterinary evaluations for assessing whether the prescribed pet wellness plan is enabling the pet to meet expected medical health improvement outcomes. In another example, the veterinary evaluation my take place if medical concerns are raised at the wellness facility 100 by the veterinary professional, or where the owner finds concerns outside the wellness facility 100 (FIG. 1). Thus, steps 160 and following may be repeated such that the prescribed pet wellness program may remain the same or be modified depending upon whether there has been medical improvement or until the goals of the pet wellness program have been met. Where the pet has achieved the expected medical results the pet wellness program may be adjusted such that steps 160 and following are used to meet long-term optimal wellness medical objectives as the pet ages.

[0092] The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0093] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.