Method and apparatus for providing data processing and control in a medical communication system

• US 20080287762A1
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Doniger, Kenneth J., Hayter, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,560,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/365
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0252 using ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/492 Determining multiple analytes

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing data processing and control for use in a medical communication system are provided.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a signal associated with a monitored analyte level from an in vivo analyte sensor;

retrieving a predetermined number of stored signals associated with the monitored analyte level;

processing the received signal and the retrieved predetermined number of prior analyte level signals to determine a tolerance parameter;

comparing the tolerance parameter to a predetermined tolerance range; and

determining a glucose trend information based on the received signal and the retrieved predetermined number of stored signals when the tolerance parameter is within the predetermined tolerance range, wherein the tolerance parameter is related to the temporal spacing of the received signal and the retrieved stored signals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the trend information is determined based on analyte sensor sensitivity.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the tolerance parameter includes an acceptable number of missing data points from the retrieved stored signals to determine the glucose trend information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined tolerance range includes a minimum number of temporally spaced signals related to the monitored analyte level necessary to determine the glucose trend information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the predetermined number of retrieved stored signals associated with the monitored analyte level and the received signal associated with the monitored analyte level are temporally separated by approximately one minute or less.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the predetermined number of retrieved stored signals associated with the monitored analyte level and the received signal associated with the monitored analyte level are temporally separated by approximately more than one minute.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the glucose trend information includes a projected alarm associated with one or more of the rate of change of the analyte level, or a direction of the projected analyte level.

8. The method of claim 1 including outputting the glucose trend information.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the glucose trend information includes one or more of a visual output, an audible output, or a vibratory output.

10. An analyte monitoring device, comprising:

a communication unit to receive an analyte level related signal from an in vivo analyte sensor; and

a data processing unit coupled to the communication unit, the data processing unit configured to retrieving a predetermined number of stored signals associated with the monitored analyte level, process the received signal and the retrieved predetermined number of prior analyte level signals to determine a tolerance parameter, compare the tolerance parameter to a predetermined tolerance range, and determining glucose trend information based on received signal and the retrieved predetermined number of stored signals when the tolerance parameter is within the predetermined tolerance range, wherein the tolerance parameter is related to the temporal spacing of the received signal and the retrieved stored signals.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the trend information is determined based on analyte sensor sensitivity.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the tolerance parameter includes an acceptable number of missing data points from the retrieved stored signals to determine the glucose trend information.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein the predetermined tolerance range includes a minimum number of temporally spaced signals related to the monitored analyte level necessary to determine the glucose trend information.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein each of the predetermined number of retrieved stored signals associated with the monitored analyte level and the received signal associated with the monitored analyte level are temporally separated by approximately one minute or less.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein each of the predetermined number of retrieved stored signals associated with the monitored analyte level and the received signal associated with the monitored analyte level are temporally separated by approximately more than one minute.

16. The device of claim 10 including an output unit coupled to the processing unit, the output unit configured to output the glucose trend information.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the glucose trend information includes a projected alarm associated with one or more of the rate of change of the analyte level, or a direction of the projected analyte level, wherein the output unit is configured to output the projected alarm.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the output unit includes one or more of a visual output unit, an audible output unit, or a vibratory output unit, and further, wherein the outputted glucose trend information includes one or more of a visual output, an audible output, or a vibratory output.

19. The device of claim 10 wherein the analyte sensor includes a glucose sensor.

20. The device of claim 10 wherein at least a portion of the analyte sensor is configured for positioning under a skin layer of an individual substantially continuously over the life of the sensor.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the life of the sensor includes approximately 3 days.

22. The device of claim 20 wherein the life of the sensor includes approximately 5 days.

23. The device of claim 20 wherein the life of the sensor includes approximately 7 days or less.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication unit to receive a current analyte level signal; and

a data processing unit coupled to the communication unit, the data processing unit configured to retrieve a predetermined number of prior analyte level signals, process the current analyte level signal and the retrieved predetermined number of prior analyte level signals to determine a tolerance parameter, compare the tolerance parameter to a predetermined tolerance range, and determine a trend information based on the current analyte level signal, the retrieved predetermined number of prior analyte level signals when the tolerance parameter is within the predetermined tolerance range.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the trend information is determined based on current analyte sensor sensitivity.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the tolerance parameter includes a number of invalid data points in the predetermined number of prior analyte level signals.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the predetermined tolerance range includes a minimum number of analyte level signals necessary to determine the trend information.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein each of the predetermined number of prior analyte level signals and the current analyte level signal are temporally separated by approximately one minute or less.

29. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the trend information includes a projected alarm associated with one or more of the rate of change of the analyte level, or a direction of the projected analyte level.

30. The apparatus of claim 24 including a display unit coupled to the processing unit, and configured to display the trend information.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the display unit is configured to disable the display of the trend information when the tolerance parameter deviates from the predetermined tolerance range.

32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the trend information is displayed in one or more of a text representation, a graphical representation, an icon representation, an audible output, or a vibratory output.

33. The apparatus of claim 24 including a storage unit coupled to the data processing unit, the storage unit configured to store one or more of the current analyte level signal, the predetermined number of prior analyte level signals, the tolerance parameter, the predetermined tolerance range or the trend information.