Method and apparatus for implementing patient data download for multiple different meter types

• US 10,198,555 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Thompson, Brian C., Ruggiero, Joseph E., Lett, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shumate, Victoria P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Teresa S
• Application Number:
  US11/579,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20080109259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 5,016 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2, 705 3, 600309, 600300-301, 435 25
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method and apparatus implements patient data downloading for multiple different meter types, such as multiple different blood glucose meters. A plurality of serial ports is provided, each arranged for connection to a respective meter of the multiple different meter types. Information is displayed and user selections are identified. Responsive to user entry identifying a particular meter type, a connection port/cable number for the meter connection is displayed for viewing by the user. Predefined instructions for the particular meter type are displayed. A data collection computer system is provided as an integral unit including a unitary housing containing a processor device, a printer, and a display touch screen. When a meter connection is identified, information is displayed, patient data is downloaded from the meter and is printed in a selected format together with selected reports generated from the downloaded patient data.

Claims

1. A data collection kiosk downloading and processing patient analyte data for diagnosing or managing of one or more physiological abnormalities, the data collection kiosk comprising:

a processor device;

a plurality of ports coupled to said processor device, said plurality of ports connecting said processor device with multiple different meter types, each of the respective ports including a respective distinct cable, each respective distinct cable having an associated connector which connects to a respective one of said different meter types, said meter types all being configured to measure patient analyte data and transmit said patient analyte data to said processor device of said data collection kiosk via said cables, said patient analyte data including a determination of analytes in body fluids for diagnosis and maintenance of the one or more physiological abnormalities, said determination of analytes in body fluids including periodical receipt and processing of a fluid sample from the user;

an input device coupled to said processor device and operable for receiving entries from a user;

a display touch screen coupled to said processor device and operable for displaying information and options available for selection by the user, the information and options facilitating the downloading of the patient analyte data via direct interaction between the user and the data collection kiosk without requiring assistance from a health care professional, and

a unitary housing containing the processor device, the plurality of ports, the input device, and the display touch screen to form a unitary system for the multiple different meter types,

wherein said processor device, responsive to an entry received by said input device from the user identifying one of said meter types, directs the display touch screen to;

display connection information to said user detailing how to connect a meter of the identified meter type to the respective port via said respective distinct cable, and

display to said user distinct predefined instructions detailing how to transfer said patient analyte data from the identified meter type to said data collection kiosk,

wherein said processor device, responsive to said user fulfilling said predefined instructions, transfers said patient analyte data from the identified meter type to said data collection kiosk without any interaction required from the health care professional, and

wherein said processor device, responsive to said transfer of said patient analyte data, presents processed data of at least some of the patient analyte data to the health care professional for synthesis and interpretation of clinical implications.

2. The data collection kiosk of claim 1, further including a printer coupled to said processor device and contained within said unitary housing, said printer being configured for printing downloaded patient data from an attached meter.

3. The data collection kiosk of claim 2, further including a memory coupled to said processor device, said memory storing a meter communications control and intelligent diabetes data interpretation (IDDI) system program, wherein said meter communications control and intelligent diabetes data interpretation (IDDI) system program are configured for generating and printing a selected report from the patient data.

4. The data collection kiosk of claim 2, further including an uninterruptible power supply coupled to said processor device and said printer, said uninterruptible power supply being contained within said unitary housing.

5. The data collection kiosk of claim 2, wherein each of said cables includes an associated connector, each of said associated connectors being configured to connect to a respective one of said different meter types.

6. The data collection kiosk of claim 5, wherein said unitary housing includes a channel connected to each of said plurality of ports, said channel adapted to receive each of said respective cables, said associated connector being arranged for connection to a respective meter without opening said unitary housing.

7. The data collection kiosk of claim 1, further including one of a USB to hub or a multiple port adapter for coupling an attached meter to said processor device.

8. The data collection kiosk of claim 1, wherein said processor device is further programmed to direct the display touch screen to display predefined information for each particular meter type responsive to a user entry.

9. The data collection kiosk of claim 1, wherein said processor device is further programmed to direct the display touch screen to display predefined educational information for viewing by a patient.

10. The data collection kiosk of claim 1, wherein said multiple different meter types all measure a blood glucose level, and each respective meter corresponding to said respective one of said meter types is a blood glucose monitor.

11. The data collection kiosk of claim 1, wherein said multiple different meter types correspond to more than one brand for a meter.

12. A kiosk dedicated to managing data generated by various distinct types of analyte testing meters, the kiosk downloading and processing patient analyte data for diagnosing or managing of one or more physiological abnormalities, the kiosk comprising:

a unitary housing;

a central processing unit (CPU) inside the unitary housing;

an electronic display device mounted to the housing and coupled to the CPU, the electronic display device being configured to display to a user information related to transferring data from analyte meters to the kiosk and options available for selection by the user, said data including a determination of analytes in body fluids for diagnosis and maintenance of the one or more physiological abnormalities, said determination of analytes in body fluids including periodical receipt and processing of a fluid sample from the user;

an electronic input device mounted to the housing and coupled to the CPU, the electronic input device being configured to receive entries from the user and generate electronic signals indicative thereof;

a memory inside the unitary housing and coupled to the CPU, the memory being adapted to store a meter communications control and intelligent diabetes data interpretation (IDDI) system program;

a plurality of cable ports coupled to the CPU, the cable ports connecting the CPU with the various distinct types of analyte testing meters; and

a plurality of cables with associated connectors, each of the cables being coupled to the CPU by a respective one of the cable ports, each of the associated connectors connecting to meters corresponding to a respective one of the various distinct types of analyte testing meters,

wherein the unitary housing forms a unitary system for the various distinct types of analyte testing meters, the unitary housing containing the CPU, the electronic display device, the electronic input device, the memory, the plurality of cable ports and the plurality of cables,

wherein, responsive to the electronic display device receiving and the CPU processing an entry from the user identifying one of the types of analyte testing meters, the electronic display device displays to the user connection information for the user to connect an analyte testing meter of the identified analyte testing meter type to the respective port via the appropriate cable and associated connector, the connection information facilitating the downloading of the data via direct interaction between the user and the kiosk without requiring assistance from a health care professional, and

wherein said CPU, responsive to said downloading, presents processed data of at least some of the data to the health care professional for synthesis and interpretation of clinical implications.

13. A method of operating a data collection kiosk for downloading and processing patient analyte data for diagnosing or managing of one or more physiological abnormalities, the method comprising:

providing, to a user via a data collection kiosk with a processor device, an input device, and a display device, a plurality of ports configured to connect the processor device with multiple different meter types, each of the respective ports including a respective distinct cable, each respective distinct cable having an associated connector which connects to a respective one of said different meter types, the meter types all being configured to measure patient analyte data and transmit the patient analyte data to the processor device of the data collection kiosk via the cables, said patient analyte data including a determination of analytes in body fluids for diagnosis and maintenance of the one or more physiological abnormalities, said determination of analytes in body fluids including periodical receipt and processing of a fluid sample from the user, the data collection kiosk having a unitary housing containing the processor device, the input device, the display device, and the plurality of ports, the unitary housing forming a unitary system for the different meter types;

displaying to the user, on a screen of the display device of the data collection kiosk, options available for selection by the user to operate the kiosk, the options facilitating the downloading of the patient analyte data via direct interaction between the user and the data collection kiosk without requiring assistance from a health care professional;

responsive to an entry received by the input device, and processed by the processor device of the kiosk, from the user identifying one of the meter types, displaying to the user, on the screen of the display device, connection information detailing how to connect a meter of the identified meter type to the respective port via the respective distinct cable;

displaying to the user, on the screen of the display device, distinct predefined instructions detailing how to transfer the patient analyte data from the identified meter type to the data collection kiosk;

in response to said user fulfilling said predefined instructions, transferring said patient analyte data from the identified meter type to said data collection kiosk without any interaction required from the health care professional; and

in response to said transfer of said patient analyte data, presenting processed data of at least some of the patient analyte data to the health care professional for synthesis and interpretation of clinical implications.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the cables includes an associated distinct connector, the associated distinct connector being configured to connect to the meters corresponding to the respective one of the multiple different meter types.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the data collection kiosk further includes a printer within the unitary housing, the processor device being coupled to the plurality of ports, and the input device comprising a display touch screen coupled to the processor device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising printing a selected report generated from the patient analyte data.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising processing, via the processor device, the downloaded patient analyte data and generating an intelligent diabetes data interpretation (IDDI) report.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying, via the display device, selected information responsive to a user entry requesting the selected information.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying, via the display device, a prompt for the user to enter a type of meter to be attached.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the multiple different meter types all measure a blood glucose level, and each respective meter corresponding to the respective one of the meter types is a blood glucose monitor.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the multiple different meter types correspond to more than one brand of meter.