Abstract:
The invention concerns a monitoring system for monitoring patients with disturbed motor function. The monitoring system is characterized by at least one observation station ( 3 ) with an electronic camera for recording video motion pictures and devices ( 10 ) for marking an object field to be covered by the camera ( 9 ), a storage device for the digital storage of video pictures of a patient, which are to be recorded at preselected intervals by the camera in the movement station, an image processing system for processing the video pictures recorded in time intervals to obtain a shortened video picture sequence, and a video display device for displaying the video picture sequence.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1.Field of the Invention 
   The invention concerns a monitoring system for monitoring the progress of neurological diseases, especially for monitoring patients with disturbed motor function. 
   2.Description of the Related Art 
   The tasks involved in monitoring the progress of neurological diseases include that of observing the effect of drug administration. For example, in some patients with Parkinson&#39;s disease, a reduction of the duration of action is observed after about four years, which initially can still be compensated by reducing the time intervals between drug doses. In the further course of the disease, the duration of action changes irregularly and hyperkinesia may even appear after the drug has been taken, which can be so violent in individual cases that it constitutes an indication for epileptic surgical intervention. 
   Fluctuations of drug effects are thus a frequent reason for hospitalization of patients with disturbed motor function to allow,observation following drug intake. Observation periods spread over days in time intervals of, say, hours, are desirable. However, in everyday practice, this can scarcely be organized to a sufficient extent, even in the case of hospital treatment. Assessments are based on few samples, which, to make matters worse, are made by different persons on the basis of insufficiently standardized criteria. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The objective of the present invention is to improve the treatment options of neurological diseases, especially of patients with disturbed motor function. 
   This objective is achieved by a monitoring system, which is characterized by
         at least one observation station with an electronic camera for recording video motion pictures and devices for marking an object field to be covered by the camera,   a storage device for the digital storage of video pictures of a patient, which are to be recorded at preselected intervals by the camera in the movement station,   an image processing system for processing the video pictures recorded in time intervals to obtain a shortened video picture sequence, and   a video display device for displaying the video picture sequence.       

   In this monitoring system, the patient goes at predetermined times after taking his medication, e.g., at intervals of about 1 hour, to the observation station, where he performs a specific type of movement he has previously agreed to perform in the object field covered by the camera, e.g., he walks along a path marked on the floor. The video information, which is possibly stored over a period of one day, is compressed by the image processing system. The attending physician can view the video motion pictures recorded at intervals in the observation station in immediate succession in the compressed video. There is no need for the physician himself to follow any observation schedule. The viewing of the compressed video picture sequence makes it possible to detect any changes in the movement of the patient more precisely than would be possible by direct observation of the patient at intervals of time. The system ultimately allows exact quantification and objectification of the fluctuation in effect. The quality of the monitoring of the progress of neurological diseases can be significantly increased with less input of personnel. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, several observation stations and a central evaluation station that comprises the video display device are provided, wherein the central evaluation station contains the video display device and preferably consists of a computer networked with the observation stations. In turn, the individual observation stations can be equipped with a computer unit, which is connected to the electronic camera, whose video data it receives and preprocesses. Accordingly, this computer unit can constitute the storage device and the processing system and can be used for data communication with the central evaluation station. 
   In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the system is intended for the monitoring of a large number of patients, who visit at least one observation station at different times. In this case, the observation station has devices for automatic patient identification, and the storage device and image processing system are designed for patient-specific image storage and processing, i.e., they carry out the storage and processing in coordination with identification data and ultimately the patient data files. 
   In a further refinement of the invention, the video recording can be controlled by the electronic camera via the patient identification device. For example, the patient identification device can be equipped with a reading device for a transponder worn by the patient. After the transponder has been read and a certain waiting time has passed, during which the patient can move to the object field, the camera is activated, which can be indicated to the patient, e.g., by a light signal, whereupon the patient then carries out the stipulated movements. 
   In addition, it is advantageous to provide a programmable signaling device, which is carried by the patient and reminds him at preselected times to take his medication and to go to the observation station. In particular, this signaling device can be automatically programmed through suitable accessory devices on the basis of data input into the computer unit or the personal computer. 
   In other advantageous refinements of the invention, devices for the automatic coordination of observation times can be provided, which prevent double occupation of the observation stations and search for the alternative time for a patient that is optimum with respect to the administration of a drug. 
   It is advantageous to provide a device at the observation station for the output of information for the patient, e.g., a printer, which prints out a change in medication made as a result of the evaluation. 
   In a further refinement of the invention, the image processing system can be designed to go beyond sequencing to process the recorded images themselves. For example, the individual video motion pictures recorded at different times can be converted to time-lapse recordings that further shorten the sequence, or automatic comparisons can be made between the individual images, and, e.g., superimposed images can be displayed, which clearly bring out changes in the recorded movements. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to a specific embodiment and to the accompanying drawings that illustrate this embodiment. 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of a monitoring system in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows an observation station used in the monitoring system of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A central evaluation station  1  is connected with several observation stations, either directly or by a network  2 , e.g., a network that includes the telephone network. 
   The central evaluation station  1  comprises a personal computer  4 , which has the usual central computer unit  5 , a monitor  6 , and an input keyboard  7 . 
   A modem  8  allows the personal computer  4  to establish data communication with the observation stations  3  via the network  2 . 
   Each of the observation stations  3  is equipped with an electronic camera  9 . An object field, at which the camera  9  is aimed, is marked by strip-shaped marking on the floor. The camera  9  is equipped with a wide-angle lens. 
   In addition, a card reader  19  and a programming unit  20  are connected to the personal computer. 
   The central evaluation station  1  may be located, e.g., in a hospital neurology unit. The observation stations  3  are located in different locations, e.g., in nursing homes or other facilities close to the patient. 
   We now turn our attention to  FIG. 2 , which shows details of an observation station  3 . 
   The electronic camera  9 , which is equipped with a wide-angle lens and is suitable for recording motion pictures, is connected to a central computer unit  11 , which, like the computer  4  in the central evaluation station  1 , may consist of a personal computer. 
   The computer unit  11  constitutes a central control unit for the observation station  3 . It is able to establish data communication with the personal computer  4  in the central evaluation station  1  via a modem  12 . 
   In addition, a printer  13  is connected to the computer unit  11 . 
   A transponder reader  14  and a programming unit  15  are also connected to the computer unit  11 . The transponder reader  14  is used to read a transponder, which is contained in a unit  16  worn on a patient&#39;s arm. The unit  16 , which is attached to an armband  17 , also contains a signaling device, whose signals remind the patient to take medications and to go to the observation station  3  at predetermined times. 
   This signaling device can be automatically programmed via the programming unit  15  connected to the computer unit  11 . 
   Finally, the camera  9  is equipped with a mechanical moving device  18 , which can be controlled via the computer unit  11 . 
   A patient to be treated reports for treatment to the central evaluation station  1  in a hospital, and, e.g., his insurance card is read in by the card reader  19 , and a patient data file is established or opened. The patient is given an armband  17  with the unit that contains the transponder and the signaling device. The transponder supplies an identification code. Means are provided to prevent double assignment of this code. The code is assigned to the patient data file. 
   The attending physician uses the keyboard  6  to enter drug administration times and times at which the patient is to report to an appropriate treatment station  3 . The signaling device in the unit  16  is automatically programmed via the programming unit  20  on the basis of this data. In the present embodiment, a plug connection is established between the programming unit  20  and the unit  16  to accomplish this programming. However, this type of programming could also be accomplished by wireless data exchange. 
   The signaling device furnishes signals to the patient to remind him to take his medication and later furnishes additional signals at predetermined time intervals to remind him to go to one of the treatment stations  3 . 
   When he arrives at the treatment station  3 , the patient reports by allowing his transponder to be read by the transponder reader  14 . When the patient has been identified in this way, his patient data file is opened in the computer unit  11 . In the present embodiment, this data file was previously transmitted by the central evaluation station  1  to the given computer unit  6  over the network  2 . 
   At the same time, the camera  9  is activated by the identification, and after a delay, the operation of the camera is indicated by a signal light on the camera. It is advantageous to arrange the transponder reader  14  near the floor marking  10 , so that the patient is already in the starting position for a previously stipulated movement to be performed in each observation cycle and can immediately begin this movement when the signal light on the camera goes on. In the present embodiment, the Parkinson&#39;s patient walks along the floor marking  10  in each observation cycle. Naturally, any other types of movements to be recorded by the camera  9  are also possible. If necessary, the camera can be designed to follow the subject by means of a mechanical moving device  18 , and it is conceivable that this following motion could be controlled by motion detection or by the transponder signal, e.g., by installing transmitter-receivers that respond to the transponder along the floor marking  10 . 
   The computer unit  11  digitally stores the patient-specific video signals it receives from the camera  9  in coordination with the clock time and stores the signals from observation to observation in the memory in such a way that, in a subsequent readout by the central evaluation station  1  on the monitor  7 , a sequence of the video motion pictures that were recorded over periods of, e.g., 5 seconds, at intervals of, e.g., 1 hour, can be displayed in continuous form. 
   The attending physician evaluates these video pictures in the central evaluation station  1 , e.g., on certain days, and as a result of the compression of the pictures collected at intervals over a period of days into picture sequences of short duration, he is able to care for a large number of patients at the same time. 
   The personal computer  4  of the central evaluation station  1  can be programmed for more extensive image processing for displaying the individual images of a sequence, e.g., by a time-lapse technique, for changing the order of images of the sequence, or for displaying several images of the sequence superimposed on one another. 
   After a certain treatment time, new medications, including the times of administration and observation times, can be established, which the attending physician enters by the keyboard  6 . Information transmitted to the computer unit  11  over the network  2  can be printed out for the patient by the printer  13 . In addition, the patient has the opportunity to automatically reprogram his signaling device at the observation station by means of the programming unit  15 . 
   It goes without saying that the device functions that have been described are extensively supported by the programming of the personal computer  4  and the computer unit  11 , and the software can be distributed between the two intercommunicating computers in different ways for the same function. For example, the image storage and processing could conceivably be carried out only in the central evaluation station  1 . However, to limit the accumulation of data there, it is more convenient to do as much data preprocessing as possible in the observation stations  3 .