Method and apparatus for providing rechargeable power in data monitoring and management systems

• US 20070078323A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fennell, Martin, Reggiardo, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/347
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• 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 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes

Abstract

Method and apparatus for providing a disposable power supply source integrated into the housing of the transmitter unit mount that is placed on the skin of the patient, and configured to receive the transmitter unit is disclosed. The transmitter unit mount is configured to be disposable with the analyte sensor so that power supply providing power to the transmitter unit is also replaced. The transmitter unit may include a rechargeable battery that is recharged by the power supply unit of the transmitter unit mount when the transmitter is mounted to the transmitter unit mount. Other energy store configurations including single large capacitor (supercap) or a capacitor and DC/DC converter configurations are disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus including a data transmission unit, comprising:

a sensor;

a transmitter base including a first power supply; and

a transmitter unit coupled to the transmitter base, the transmitter unit including a second power supply, the transmitter unit further configured to establish electrical contact with the sensor, and further, wherein the transmitter unit is configured to draw power from one or more of the first power supply and the second power supply.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes an analyte sensor transcutaneously positioned in a patient such that at least a portion of the analyte sensor is in fluid contact with a biological fluid of the patient.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first power supply includes a disposable battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the disposable battery includes a silver oxide battery.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second power supply includes a rechargeable battery configured to selectively draw power from the first power supply.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first power supply and the second power supply includes one of a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitter unit is configured to transmit one or more signals, where the one or more signals corresponds to a respective one or more signals received from the sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the transmitter unit is configured to wirelessly transmit the one or more signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the one or more signal received from the sensor correspond to one or more analyte levels of a patient detected by the sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the one or more analyte levels include glucose levels.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a sensor transcutaneously positioned in a patient;

a transmitter base including a transmitter base power supply; and

a transmitter unit coupled to the transmitter base power supply of the transmitter base, the transmitter base power supply of the transmitter base configured to provide power to the transmitter unit, the transmitter unit further configured to establish electrical contact with the sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the sensor includes an analyte sensor where least a portion of the analyte sensor is in fluid contact with a biological fluid of the patient.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the biological fluid includes one of interstitial fluid, lactate or oxygen.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the transmitter unit is configured to transmit one or more signals, where the one or more signals corresponds to a respective one or more signals received from the sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further including a receiver unit configured to receive the one or more signals from the transmitter unit.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the transmitter base power supply includes a disposable battery.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the disposable battery includes a silver oxide battery.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the transmitter unit further includes a transmitter unit power supply disposed substantially within the housing of the transmitter unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the transmitter unit power supply includes a rechargeable battery, and further wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to substantially draw power from the transmitter base power supply.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a rechargeable battery; and

a transmitter unit coupled to the rechargeable battery configured to draw power from the rechargeable battery.

21. A method, comprising the steps of:

providing a power supply to a transmitter mount;

operatively coupling a transmitter unit to the transmitter mount such that the transmitter unit is in electrical contact with the power supply; and

operatively coupling a transcutaneously positioned analyte sensor to the transmitter unit such that the transmitter unit receives one or more signals corresponding to one or more analyte levels from the sensor.