Automobile Glucose Sensor Monitoring System and Method for Using the Same

• US 20070112261A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Enegren, Bradley, Kerr, David
• Application Number:
  US11/466,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20070112261A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/365
• 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 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An automobile monitoring system is for monitoring patient body characteristics. The automobile monitoring system includes at least one sensor to monitor at least one patient body characteristic, at least one transmitter operatively coupled to the at least one sensor to communicate sensor data, at least one monitor operatively coupled to the at least one transmitter to receive the sensor data, and automobile electronics operatively coupled to the at least one transmitter to receive sensor data. The at least one monitor and the automobile electronics display the sensor data to the patient. The at least one transmitter communicates with the at least one monitor and the automobile electronics using at least one wireless protocol including Bluetooth, infrared, radio frequency, 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g. The automobile electronics include at least one of a GPS navigation system, a DVD entertainment system, an on-system computer, or a stereo system.

Claims

1. An automobile monitoring system for monitoring patient body characteristics, the automobile monitoring system comprising:

at least one sensor to monitor at least one patient body characteristic;

at least one transmitter operatively coupled to the at least one sensor to communicate sensor data;

at least one monitor operatively coupled to the at least one transmitter to receive the sensor data;

automobile electronics operatively coupled to the at least one transmitter to receive sensor data,

wherein the at least one monitor and the automobile electronics display the sensor data to the patient.

2. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one patient body characteristic is blood glucose.

3. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one transmitter communicates with the at least one monitor and the automobile electronics using at least one wireless protocol.

4. The automobile monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the at least one wireless protocol is selected from the list of Bluetooth, infrared, radio frequency, 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g.

5. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the automobile electronics include at least one of a GPS navigation system, a DVD entertainment system, an on-system computer, or a stereo system.

6. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the automobile electronics include default maximum and minimum thresholds for the at least one patient body characteristic.

7. The automobile monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the automobile electronics prevent ignition of the automobile when the sensor data is above the maximum threshold or below the minimum threshold.

8. The automobile monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the automobile electronics display at least one warning when the sensor data is above the maximum threshold or below the minimum threshold.

9. The automobile monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the automobile electronics sound at least one alarm when the sensor data is above the maximum threshold or below the minimum threshold.

10. The automobile monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the at least one alarm provides at least one of audio, visual or tactile indications.

11. A method for monitoring patient body characteristics in an automobile, the method comprising the steps of:

installing at least one sensor in the body of a patient to monitor at least one patient body characteristic, wherein the sensor is coupled to at least one transmitter to communicate sensor data;

sending the sensor data to at least one monitor operatively coupled to the at least one transmitter;

sending the sensor data to automobile electronics operatively coupled to the at least one transmitter, and

displaying the sensor data on the at least one monitor and the automobile electronics.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one patient body characteristic is blood glucose.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one transmitter communicates with the at least one monitor and the automobile electronics using at least one wireless protocol.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one wireless protocol is selected from the list of Bluetooth, infrared, radio frequency, 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the automobile electronics include at least one of a GPS navigation system, a DVD entertainment system, an on-system computer, or a stereo system.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the automobile electronics include default maximum and minimum thresholds for the at least one patient body characteristic.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the automobile electronics prevent ignition of the automobile when the sensor data is above the maximum threshold or below the minimum threshold.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the automobile electronics display at least one warning when the sensor data is above the maximum threshold or below the minimum threshold.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the automobile electronics sound at least one alarm when the sensor data is above the maximum threshold or below the minimum threshold.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one alarm provides at least one of audio, visual or tactile indications.