Patent Publication Number: US-2013241725-A1

Title: Roadway Medical Complication Alert Method and Device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention is directed to a roadway medical complication alert method and device. The roadway medical complication alert method provides a remotely monitored roadway medical complication alert device on a vehicle to a patient with at least one medical complication who is hurriedly proceeding on a roadway to a health care professional. 
     The inventor of the present invention is a father. When his wife was pregnant he noticed how much time it consumed to take her back and forth from their home to the hospital due to traffic congestion, traffic lights, and stop signs. One day his wife was experiencing contractions. As they were rushing to the hospital they were pulled over by a state trooper. The trooper did not notice that the wife was experiencing contractions until he walked up to the car and heard the wife screaming from pain. After realizing the situation, the trooper let the couple go without question. At this moment the inventor of the current invention recognized a problem. 
     The inventor thought about his predicament, and envisioned creating a warning system similar to the one used by emergency vehicles; except for pregnant woman. The system would be able to alleviate the stresses and hazards associated with transporting the pregnant woman to the hospital. Furthermore, the system could reduce travel time by informing fellow drivers and pedestrians on the roadway of the medical emergency. This would reduce the time wasted by traffic congestion, traffic lights, and stop signs, and eliminate these obstacles. This system would also have the capability of informing the law enforcement officers on the roadway that there was a medical emergency. The officers would have the choice of escorting the vehicle containing the pregnant woman to the hospital or, at least not stopping the vehicle. 
     After the husband got home from the hospital he started researching the amount of time and energy that is lost when a woman is being rushed to the hospital. He found that there were many instances of women&#39;s water breaking while being puled over by law enforcement, leading to wasted time of that officer that could be spent more wisely. On top of that there were instances of a pregnant woman driving in traffic and her water breaks and slows traffic while the ambulance arrives to take her to the hospital. He realized that it all boiled down to the time saved by informing people that there was a pregnant woman rushing to the hospital and they should exercise caution. 
     As the inventor was brainstorming of how to implement his idea, he settled on a system of disbursing a medical prescription alert device as if it were a medication. An issue brought to his attention was that when women experienced contractions, they often drove to hospitals and that they required an easy method of being able to warn others of their predicament. The present invention is a method that uses a light that can only be used by women in distress when going to see a physician; the light can be tracked remotely when being placed in use. 
     The inventor also noticed that there was potential for abuse of the warning device, such as people using the warning device to run their errands more efficiently. He decided to incorporate a registration system and penalty structure for belated returns of the warning device. He also utilized a beacon in the device to monitor the device&#39;s position on the roadways. The monitoring system has the capability of communicating the location of said alert device. This information can be sent to officers or emergency personnel in the case when the car breaks down or if the alert device stops communicating before it reaches the hospital. This information can be used to prove the misuse of the alert device and fines issued accordingly. 
     For the foregoing reasons, there is a Roadway Medical Complication Alert Method and Device that is prescribed like medication to qualified pregnant women; affixes to the vehicle of a pregnant woman who is hurrying to the hospital; alerts law enforcement, drivers, and pedestrians on the roadway of the hurriedly proceeding vehicle; monitors the location and usage of the alert device; and prevents abuse by requiring registration and penalizing belated returns of the device. 
     Warning devices for the roadways have been utilized in the past; yet none with the present cost reducing characteristics of the present invention. See U.S. Patent No. 2010/0019932; 2004/0021580; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,089. 
     For the foregoing reasons, there is a roadway medical complications alert method and device that allows a pregnant woman to more safely and efficiently arrive at the hospital during medical complications or labor. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to a roadway medical complication alert method and device that can be remotely monitored that will place others on notice that the person using the device is in distress. The device shall only be issued to pregnant women that have pregnancy related complications or women that are at least in their second trimester of pregnancy. The roadway medical complication alert method allows a woman who experiences excessive pregnancy complications and contractions to obtain a special limited time medical prescription from a health care professional, such as gynecologist. Upon reaching six months into the pregnancy, the woman qualifies to obtain the limited time prescription. The medical prescription permits the women access to obtain and register, from a roadway authority, a roadway medical complication alert device. 
     The roadway medical complication alert device is a portable warning light with a magnetic base that actuates upon engaging with a metal surface of the vehicle. The roadway medical complication alert device includes numerous components that allow it to efficaciously alert drivers and pedestrians on a roadway that the woman using the alert device is hurriedly proceeding to the hospital or to see her physician. The chief components of the device include: a base, wherein the roadway medical complication alert device actuates when the base engages the vehicle; at least one lens member; at least one illuminating member; a power source; a control circuit operatively connected to the at least one illuminating member to produce at least one visually distinct alerting light signal; and a beacon device for transmitting a vehicle position to a remote processor. The roadway medical complication alert device also utilized exterior technological components that allow for remotely monitoring the vehicle while the woman proceeds to the hospital during labor. These include: a remote user interface for monitoring the vehicle position through the beacon device, the remote user interface being in communication with the remote processor. 
     In function, the roadway medical complication alert device is a flashing light positioned on the top of the vehicle that alerts fellow drivers and pedestrians that the vehicle has a pregnant woman inside who is hurriedly preceding to the hospital. The roadway medical complication alert device includes a beacon that relays its position to a remote processor. A remote user interface that communicates with the remote processor monitors a position of the vehicle, and reports the position to the roadway authorities, such as law enforcement officers. In one embodiment, police might escort the vehicle to the hospital. After the woman terminates her pregnancy or the limited time prescription terminates, the woman is obligated to return the roadway medical complication alert device to the roadway authorities. If the woman is belated in returning the roadway medical complication alert device, she is penalized. In one embodiment, the penalty could be a $250 fine and could include further late penalty fees. 
     An object of the present invention is to allow a woman with the pregnancy related medical complication to have safe and efficient access to the hospital and the health care professional during labor; whether the woman drives herself, or is driven. 
     Another object of the present invention is to alert other drivers and pedestrians that the vehicle is hurriedly proceeding to the hospital, for it is carrying a pregnant woman in distress. 
     Another object of the present invention is to regulate the number of pregnant women obtaining the roadway medical complication alert device by requiring the limited time prescription and registration with the roadway authorities. 
     Another object of the present invention is to help law enforcement officials identify the vehicle rushing to the hospital so that they can escort the vehicle to the hospital and avoid stopping the vehicle. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a flowchart showing the steps in the roadway medical complication alert method; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the chief components of the roadway medical complication alert method; and 
         FIG. 3  is a sectioned side view of the roadway medical complication alert device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     One embodiment of a roadway medical complication alert method  100  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . The roadway medical complication alert method  100  is used to provide a remotely monitored roadway medical complication alert device  200  on a vehicle  300  to a patient  302  with at least one medical complication  306  who is hurriedly proceeding on a roadway  314  to see a health care professional  304 . The roadway medical complication alert method  100  comprises the following steps: 
     Visiting  102  a health care professional  304  with regards to at least one medical complication  306 . If the health care professional  304  diagnosis that the patient  302  has the at least one medical complication  306  that justifies a need for the roadway medical complication alert method  100 , the next step is, obtaining  104  a limited time prescription  308 . Prior to obtaining the roadway medical comp cation alert device  200  though, the patient  302  commits to agreeing  106  to return the roadway medical complication alert device  200  after the at least one medical complication  306  or the limited time prescription  308  terminate. The patient  302  then is free to proceed to a roadway authority  310  for the purpose of obtaining  108  the roadway medical complication alert device  200 . Next, the patient  302  registers  110  the roadway medical complication alert device  200  with the roadway authority  310 . The patient  302  is then able to perform the step of utilizing  112  the roadway medical complication alert device  200  on the vehicle  300  while proceeding to the health care professional  304  during the at least one medical complication  306 . While proceeding to the health care professional  304 , the vehicle  300  is transmitting  114  a vehicle position  312  from the roadway medical complication alert device  200  to a remote processor  218 . Monitoring  116  the vehicle position  312  from a remote user interface  220  is then possible; with the remote processor  218  functioning to communicate the vehicle position  312  to the remote user interface  220 . Because the vehicle  300  is monitored, notifying  118  at least one roadway authority  310  on the vehicle position  312  as the patient  302  proceeds to the health care professional  304  is possible. The patient  302  is then responsible for returning  120  the roadway medical complication alert device  200  to the roadway authority  310  after the at least one medical complication  306  or the limited time prescription  308  terminate. There is also a final step of penalizing  122  the patient  302  for belatedly returning the roadway medical complication alert device  200  after the at least one medical complication  306  or the limited time prescription  308  terminate (See  FIG. 1 ). 
     In one embodiment (See  FIG. 2 ), the patient  302  is a pregnant woman and the health care professional  304  is a gynecologist. However there are other embodiments in which the patient  302  could be epileptic, or susceptible to heart disease. Upon reaching six months into the pregnancy, the pregnant woman qualifies to obtain the limited time prescription  308 . The limited prescription permits  308  the woman access to obtain and register, from the roadway authority  310 , the roadway medical complication alert device  200 . The health care professional  304  prescribes the limited time prescription  308 . The limited time prescription  308  is only prescribed to the patient  302  with at least one medical complication  306 , such as early contractions, leaking water, and the like. This is to avoid abuse and retain the integrity of the roadway medical complication alert method  100 . The patient  302  then signs appropriate forms, agreeing to return the roadway medical complication alert device  200  after the at least one medical complication  306  or the limited time prescription  308  terminates. The patient  302  then goes to the Department of Motor Vehicles, or similar governing roadway authority  310  to obtain the roadway medical complication alert device  200 . There could be a fee involved. The patient  302  also registers the roadway medical complication alert device  200  so that the roadway authority  310  can better monitor the patient&#39;s  302  use of the roadway medical complication alert device  200 . The roadway authority  310 , for this purpose, is the Department of Motor Vehicles, a law enforcement officer, or a similar bureaucratic department responsible for maintaining maintenance and safety on the roadways. 
     At the time of labor or other pregnancy related complication, the patient  302  attaches the roadway medical complication alert device  200  to the roof of the vehicle  300  used for transporting the patient  302  to the health care professional  304 . Upon engagement with the roof of the vehicle  300 , the roadway medical complication alert device  200  actuates to emit a pink light. Simultaneous audio alerts are also possible from the roadway medical complication alert device  200 . The intent of the pink light is to signal to the other drivers and pedestrians on the roadway  314  that the vehicle  300  is hurriedly preceding to the health care professional  304 —most likely in a hospital or clinic. The roadway medical complication alert device  200  includes a beacon device  216  that transmits the vehicle position  312  to the remote processor  218 . The remote user interface  220  then communicates with the remote processor  218  to monitor the vehicle position  312 . The vehicle position  312  is used to inform the roadway authorities  310 , such as law enforcement officers, that the patient  302  is hurriedly preceding to the hospital. For example, police escort the vehicle  300  to the hospital, or know not to stop the vehicle  300 . After the woman terminates her pregnancy or the limited time prescription  308  terminates, the woman is obligated to return the roadway medical complication alert device  200  to the roadway authorities  310 . If the woman is belated in returning the roadway medical complication alert device  200 , she is penalized. The penalty is a $250 fine and $20 each month thereafter. 
     The roadway medical complication alert device  200  that is used in the roadway medical complication alert method  100  comprises of the following components: The roadway medical complication alert device  200  comprises of a base  204  (See  FIG. 3 ). The roadway medical complication alert device  200  further comprises of at least one lens member  206 . The roadway medical complication alert device  200  further comprises of at least one illuminating member  208 . The roadway medical complication alert device  200  further comprises of a power source  210 . The roadway medical complication alert device  200  further comprises of a control circuit  212  operatively connected to the at least one illuminating member  208  to produce at least one visually distinct alerting light signal  214 . The roadway medical complication alert device  200  further comprises of a beacon device  216  for transmitting a vehicle position  312 . A remote processor  218  is utilized for receiving transmissions of the vehicle position  312  from the beacon device  216 . And a remote user interface  220  is utilized for monitoring the vehicle position  312  and notifying the vehicle position  312 ; wherein the remote user interface  220  communicates with the remote processor  218 . 
     In one embodiment, the roadway medical complication alert device  200  actuates when the base  204  engages the vehicle  300 . The base  204  is magnetic and attaches to the metal roof of the vehicle  300 . Each lens member  206  is configured to reflect light in multiple directions. Each illuminating member  208  might be a pink light bulb. The color pink is ideal for this purpose because of its association with babies and pregnancies. However other colors could be utilized for different types of medical complications  306 . The power source  210  is internally positioned, portable. A lithium battery or any other type of battery now known or later developed may be used. However, in further embodiments, a power cord could attach the roadway medical complication alert device  200  to a vehicle power source, such as a lighter outlet. A control circuit  212  is operatively connected to the at least one illuminating member  208  to produce at least one visually distinct alerting light signal  214 . The control circuit  212  utilizes a standard lighting schematic to regulate current throughout the roadway medical complication alert device  200 . The visually distinct alerting light signal  214  might be a flashing pink illumination that informs other drivers and pedestrians on the roadway  314  that the vehicle  300  is going to the hospital or clinic. 
     The beacon device  216  might transmit the vehicle position  312  through a satellite global positioning system to the remote processor  218 . The remote processor  218  might be a server or any other cloud technology. However, it is foreseen that any future technological advancements of remote processing might perform the same task. In a further embodiment, a SIM card might alert the remote processor  218  that the roadway medical complication alert device  200  is actuated. The remote processor  218  communicates with the remote user interface  120 , such as a private company or the Department of Motor Vehicles, to monitor the vehicle position  312  as the vehicle  300  travels to the health care professional. This would allow, for example, a police officer to the vehicle  300  to a hospital. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it allows a pregnant woman to quickly and safely arrive to a hospital during a medical emergency. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it does not require expensive equipment or excessive staffing of the roadway authorities  310 . 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention are numerous abuse prevention techniques such as, the utilization of limited time prescriptions  308 , registration requirements, penalization for belated returns, and remote monitoring. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is the potential to generate revenue for a municipality or roadway authority  310  through penalty fees or registration fees. 
     Thus the reader will see that the roadway medical complication alert method  100  and roadway medical complication alert device  200 : protects the health of a pregnant woman who has pregnancy related complications, protects the public from vehicles  300  that are hurriedly proceeding to the hospital, and generates revenue. 
     While the inventor&#39;s above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of several preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, the roadway medical complication alert method  100  could be utilized for patients  302  with epileptic seizures. Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.