Sensing system with auxiliary display

• US 20080064943A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mueller, John, Shah, Rajiv, Gottlieb, Rebecca, Talbot, Cary, Morgan, Wayne, Shahmirian, Varaz, Chernoff, Edward, Mastrototaro, John, Purvis, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,727,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/365
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• 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 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis

Abstract

A system is provided for sensing blood glucose data of a patient. The system includes a sensor, user interface, and an optional auxiliary device. If the connection between the sensor and user interface is by a wire, the sensor remains powered when the wire is disconnected. The communication between the sensor and the user interface may be wireless. The auxiliary device can be a patient monitor or other display or signal device, which displays information about the blood glucose data collected by the sensor. The sensor is connected to sensor electronics, which include a sensor power supply, a voltage regulator, and optionally a memory and processor.

Claims

1. A system for sensing blood glucose concentration of a person, the system comprising:

a real-time sensor to sense blood glucose data in real-time;

sensor electronics in electrical communication with the sensor and including a power source which supplies power to the sensor and is activated when the sensor is coupled to the sensor electronics; and

a user interface configured to communicate wirelessly with the sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a connector and the sensor electronics are coupled to the sensor using the connector.

3. The system of claim 1, further including a patient monitor configured to communicate wirelessly with at least one of the user interface and the sensor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the user interface and the patient monitor are integrated into a single unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor electronics further include a reference memory for storing reference values for the sensor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the reference values for the sensor are factory supplied reference values.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the reference memory is nonvolatile.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the reference values are values obtained from a blood glucose meter.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the blood glucose meter is coupled to the sensor electronics.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor electronics are configured to communicate with a second user interface.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes an input device configured to receive data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of a blood glucose meter, a keypad, and a personal computer.

13. A system for sensing blood glucose concentration of a person, the system comprising:

a sensor to sense blood glucose data;

sensor electronics coupled to the sensor and adapted to communicate with the sensor, the sensor electronics including a sensor power supply to supply power to the sensor, said sensor power supply being activated whenever the sensor is connected to a device; and

a user interface configured to communicate wirelessly with the sensor electronics.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor electronics further include memory to store information representative of the blood glucose data sensed by the sensor and to store reference values for calibration of the blood glucose data received from the sensor.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the user interface includes an input for inputting information into the memory of the sensor electronics.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising a patient monitor configured to communicate wirelessly with the user interface and including a display to display information representative of the blood glucose data sensed by the sensor.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the sensor power supply comprises at least one battery.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one battery is rechargeable, and at least one of the user interface and the patient monitor includes a power source for providing power to the sensor electronics for recharging the at least one battery.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the sensor power supply continues to supply power to the sensor when the sensor electronics is not in communication with the user interface and the patient monitor.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor electronics include a processor to process the blood glucose data received from the sensor.

21. An apparatus for use in sensing blood glucose concentration of a person, the apparatus comprising:

a real-time sensor to sense blood glucose data in real-time; and

sensor electronics including a rechargeable power supply coupled to the sensor for providing operational power to the sensor, wherein the rechargeable power supply is activated whenever the sensor is connected to the sensor electronics, and the sensor electronics are configured to communicate wirelessly with a device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the device is at least one of a user interface and a patient monitor.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the user interface and the patient monitor are configured to communicate with each other wirelessly.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the sensor electronics further include a processor to process the blood glucose data received from the sensor.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the sensor electronics include memory to store information representative of the blood glucose data sensed by the sensor and to store reference values for calibration of the blood glucose data received from the sensor.