Sensor configuration

• US 20070027507A1
• Filed: 04/13/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toumaz Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Bio-Nano Sensium Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Burdett, Alison, Padden, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/403,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20070027507A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• 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 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist

Abstract

Apparatus for monitoring and or treating a substance or body. The apparatus comprises a sensor 1, at least a portion of which 6 is arranged in use to come into contact with a body, tissue, bodily fluid or other substance, and a computer device 3. Both the sensor 1 and the computer device 3 have radio frequency circuitry 12,16 for facilitating the transmission of data between them via a wireless communication link, the computer device 3 having means 15,17 for selecting wireless link transmission properties based upon user location, and for signalling these properties to the sensor 1.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring a property or condition of a substance or body, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor, at least a portion of which is arranged in use to come into contact with said substance or body; and

a computer device,

both the sensor and the computer device having radio frequency circuitry for facilitating the transmission of data between them via a wireless communication link, the computer device having means for selecting wireless link transmission properties based upon user location, and for signalling these properties to the sensor.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the properties selected by the computer system comprise one or more of the following:

radio frequency spectrum

Radio frequency carrier frequency;

Modulation scheme;

Transmission power;

Data rate;

Bias Voltage;

Bias Current;

Control signals;

Data signals;

Channel bandwidth.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 and comprising a user interface allowing a user to select a location, the device having a processor for receiving the selection and for extracting the appropriate properties from a memory of the device.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2 and comprising means for detecting the location of the user.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, said means comprising a Global Navigation Satellite System receiver, cellular telephone apparatus, or a radio receiver for receiving broadcast radio data.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, said means comprising means for communicating with a discrete Global Navigation Satellite System receiver, cellular telephone apparatus, or a radio receiver held separately by the user.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, said computer device comprising a memory storing a look-up table mapping locations to wireless link properties.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, said sensor comprising one or more of the following:

A computer processor;

A computer memory (RAM or ROM or both);

A radio frequency receiver and or transmitter or both (a transceiver);

Signal processing circuitry;

Data conversion circuits;

Bias and control circuits;

Signal processing algorithms.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, said computer device comprising one or more of the following:

A computer processor;

A computer memory (RAM or ROM or both);

A radio frequency receiver and or transmitter or both (a transceiver);

A user interface;

Data conversion circuits;

Signal processing algorithms;

A display device;

An input device.

2. Apparatus for monitoring and or treating a medical condition, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor, at least a portion of which is arranged in use to come into contact with a user'"'"'s body, tissue, or bodily fluid; and

a computer device,

both the sensor and the computer device having radio frequency circuitry for facilitating the transmission of data between them via a wireless communication link, the computer device having means for selecting wireless link transmission properties based upon user location, and for signalling these properties to the sensor.

11. A method of monitoring and or treating a substance or body or condition thereof, the apparatus comprising:

using a sensor to monitor one or more parameters of the substance or body;

transmitting data between said sensor and a computer device via a wireless communication link; and

at the computer device, selecting wireless link transmission properties based upon user location, and signalling these properties to the sensor.

12. A method of monitoring and or treating a medical condition, the apparatus comprising:

using a sensor to monitor one or more parameters of a user'"'"'s body, tissue, or bodily fluid;

transmitting data between said sensor and a computer device via a wireless communication link; and

at the computer device, selecting wireless link transmission properties based upon user location, and signalling these properties to the sensor.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the selected properties are signalled to the sensor either directly, by sending parameter values to the sensor, or indirectly, by setting transmission properties of the computer device and allowing the sensor to detect the new in-use properties.