Communication interface clip for a handheld medical device

• US 10,054,579 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2016
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Sams, Howard, Staubert, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Balseca, Franklin
• Application Number:
  US15/098,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20160238588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3273 Devices therefor, e.g. test element readers, circuitry details not specific to biochemical electrodes G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48785 Electrical and electronic details of measuring devices for physical analysis of liquid biological material not specific to a particular test method, e.g. user interface or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48792 Data management, e.g. communication with processing unit for in vivo diagnostics A61B5/0002; transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4905 Determining clotting time of blood by chemical methods G01N33/86, C12Q1/56
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A communication interface apparatus is provided for use with a handheld medical test device. The communication interface apparatus is comprised of an attachment member configured to detachably couple to a housing of the medical test device, where the attachment member substantially overlays a rear side of the medical test device. The communication interface apparatus houses an infrared receiver, a secondary transceiver and a controller. The infrared receiver is arranged such that its input port aligns with an output port of an infrared transmitter in the medical test device when the attachment member is coupled to the medical test device.

Claims

1. A communication interface apparatus for use with a handheld medical test device having an infrared transmitter, comprising:

an attachment member providing an enclosure and configured to detachably couple to a housing of the medical test device, where the attachment member substantially overlays a rear side of the medical test device;

an infrared receiver residing in the enclosure and configured to receive data wirelessly in accordance with a first communication protocol from the infrared transmitter of the medical test device, where an input port of the infrared receiver aligns with an output port of the infrared transmitter in the medical test device when the attachment member is coupled to the medical test device;

a secondary transceiver residing in the enclosure and configured to transmit data wirelessly in accordance with a second communication protocol, where the first communication protocol differs from the second communication protocol;

a controller residing in the enclosure and that operates in a low power mode, wherein the controller is configured to periodically transition from the low power mode to a normal mode, and interacts with the infrared receiver in the normal mode to receive data from the medical test device, where the communication interface apparatus consumes more electric power in the normal mode than the low power mode; and

a power source residing in the enclosure and interfaced with the controller,

wherein the attachment member has a planar body that defines a top edge, a bottom edge, two opposing side edges extending between the top edge and the bottom edge and the enclosure therein, wherein the planar body of the attachment member defines a longitudinal axis extending between the top edge and the bottom edge of the planar body and the planar body is shaped such that the longitudinal axis is parallel with a horizontal surface upon which the attachment member rests while the attachment member is coupled to the medical test device;

wherein the infrared receiver is arranged in line-of-sight with the infrared transmitter in the medical test device when the attachment member is coupled to the medical test device;

the controller is interfaced with the infrared receiver and the secondary transceiver and operable to convert data between the first and second communication protocols;

a power switch is electrically interconnected between the power source and the controller, where the power switch is actuatable by a user to selectively power on and off the communication interface apparatus;

the attachment member has two clip portions that extend outwardly from opposing side edges of the attachment member and configured to clip to an outer side surface of the medical test device, such that the attachment member overlays a rear side of the medical test device when the attachment member is coupled to the medical test device; and

the attachment member has an overhang portion extending outwardly from a top edge of the attachment member and overlays a portion of a top side of the medical test device when the attachment member is coupled to the medical test device, wherein the overhang portion encases the infrared receiver and the input port of the infrared receiver faces the top side of the medical test device.

2. The communication interface apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a visual indicator residing in the overhang portion and electrically connected to the controller, wherein the visual indicator is illuminated while data is transmitted between the medical test device and the communication interface apparatus.

3. The communication interface apparatus of claim 1 wherein the secondary transceiver transmits data in accordance with IEEE 802.15 wireless communication standard.

4. The communication interface apparatus of claim 1 wherein the infrared receiver and the secondary transceiver are powered down in the low power mode and powered up in the normal mode.

5. A system comprising

a communication interface apparatus according to claim 1, and

a handheld medical test device having an infrared transmitter.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the housing of the medical test device is formed by an upper shell and a lower shell coupled together and forms a groove where an edge of the upper shell abuts against an edge of the lower shell, and each clip portion of the attachment member of the communication interface apparatus includes a tongue that is received in the groove to create a tongue-and-groove joint when the attachment member is coupled to the medical test device.

7. A kit for interfacing with a medical test device, comprising

a communication interface apparatus of claim 1 or a system of claim 5, and

a communication hub that plugs into a AC power source and is configured to communicate data wirelessly with the secondary transceiver of the communication interface apparatus.

8. The kit of claim 7 wherein the communication interface apparatus operates in a low power mode and periodically transitions from the low power mode to a normal mode that consumes more electric power than the low power mode, wherein, upon transitioning to the normal mode, the controller interacts with the infrared receiver to query the medical test device and

wherein, upon failing to receive a response to the query from the medical test device, the communication interface apparatus transitions back to the low power mode, and

wherein, upon receiving a response to the query from the medical test device, the controller interacts with the infrared receiver to transmit a request for test results to the medical test device.

9. The kit of claim 8 wherein, in response to receiving a test result from the medical test device, the controller interacts with the secondary transceiver to transmit the test result to the communication hub.