Analyte detection system with software download capabilities

• US 20040093167A1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OptiScan Biomedical Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc.
• Inventors: Braig, James R., Goldberger, Daniel S., Munrow, Michael A., Cortella, Julian M., Azizi, Kamrava, Hewett, Gary E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,931,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An analyte concentration monitoring system having network-based communication features which provide a link between an analyte detection system and a centralized computer. The analyte detection system has a processor that calculates analyte concentration in accordance with software executable by the processor. Under certain conditions, the software needs to be updated. Accordingly, when the analyte detection system is connected to the centralized computer, the centralized computer determines whether a software update is needed. If a software update is needed, then the centralized computer conveniently provides the software update to the analyte detection system without intervention from a user.

Claims

1. An analyte concentration monitoring system, comprising:

an analyte detection system having a processor that calculates analyte concentration in accordance with software executable by said processor, and a network interface that is configured to provide connectivity to a computer;

wherein said analyte detection system is configured to receive an update to said software from said computer.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said software comprises an algorithm.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said software comprises data.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said software comprises instructions.

5. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said software comprises a program.

6. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said computer is configured to check an update status of said analyte detection system and select said update based on said update status.

7. The monitoring system of claim 6, wherein said computer automatically checks said update status upon connection of said computer to said analyte detection system via said interface.

8. The monitoring system of claim 7, wherein said computer sends said update to said analyte detection system without intervention from a user.

9. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said software comprises at least one warning and instructions for communication of said at least one warning to a user of said analyte detection system.

10. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said computer is at a remote location and said network interface connects to said computer via an Internet connection.

11. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said network interface comprises a wireless interface.

12. The monitoring system of claim 11, wherein said wireless connection comprises a Bluetooth interface.

13. The monitoring system of claim 11, wherein said wireless connection comprises an IEEE 802.11(b) interface.

14. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said computer is configured to encrypt said update.

15. The monitoring system of claim 14, wherein said analyte detection system is configured to decrypt said update.

16. A method of automatically updating software on an analyte detection system, comprising:

connecting an analyte detection system to a computer via a network;

in said computer, checking an update status of software included in said analyte detection system;

when said update status indicates that a software update is needed, sending said software update to said analyte detection system via said network without intervention from a user; and

in said analyte detection system, updating said software with said software update.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending information from said analyte detection system to said computer via said network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said information includes analyte concentration measurements.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising encrypting said information.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising decrypting said information.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said software update includes at least one warning and instructions for communication of said at least one warning to a user of said analyte detection system.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying a warning on said analyte detection system.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising calculating the analyte concentration, wherein said software update alters said calculating.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising encrypting said software update.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising decrypting said software update.

26. An analyte concentration monitoring system, comprising:

an analyte detection system comprising a processor, a software, and a network interface, wherein the processor is configured to calculate analyte concentration in accordance to said software, and wherein said network interface is configured to provide connectivity to a computer;

wherein said analyte detection system is configured to update said software according to instructions from said computer.

27. The monitoring system of claim 26, wherein said software comprises an algorithm.

28. The monitoring system of claim 26, wherein said software comprises data.

29. The monitoring system of claim 26, wherein said software comprises instructions.

30. The monitoring system of claim 26, wherein said software comprises a program.

31. The monitoring system of claim 26, wherein said computer is configured to check an update status of said analyte detection system and select said update based on said update status.

32. The monitoring system of claim 31, wherein said computer automatically checks said update status upon connection of said computer to said analyte detection system via said interface.

33. The monitoring system of claim 32, wherein said software comprises at least one warning and instructions for communication of said at least one warning to a user of said analyte detection system.

34. The monitoring system of claim 26, wherein said computer is at a remote location and said network interface connects to said computer via an Internet connection.

35. The monitoring system of claim 26, wherein said computer is configured to encrypt said instructions.

36. The monitoring system of claim 26, wherein said analyte detection system is configured to decrypt said instructions.

37. A method of automatically updating software on an analyte detection system, comprising:

connecting an analyte detection system to a computer via a network;

in said computer, checking an update status of software included in said analyte detection system;

when said update status indicates that a software update is needed, encrypting said software update and sending said software update to said analyte detection system via said network; and

in said analyte detection system, updating said software with said software update.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising sending information from said analyte detection system to said computer via said network.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said information includes analyte concentration measurements.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising encrypting said information.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising decrypting said information.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein said software update includes at least one warning and instructions for communication of said at least one warning to a user of said analyte detection system.

43. The method of claim 37, further comprising displaying a warning on said analyte detection system.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising calculating the analyte concentration, wherein said software update alters said calculating.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein sending said software update to said analyte detection system comprises sending said software update without intervention from a user.