Medical System Comprising a Sensor Device

• US 20090118592A1
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Klitgaard, Peter Christian
• Application Number:
  US12/095,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20090118592A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• 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 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/155 Devices specially adapted for continuous or multiple sampling, e.g. at predetermined intervals devices loaded with multiple lancets simultaneously A61B5/15146
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6849 in combination with a needle set
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1581 Right-angle needle-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1585 Needle inserters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation

Abstract

A medical system is provided comprising a sensor unit and a receiving unit is provided, the sensor unit being adapted to generate sensor data indicative of a time-dependent characteristic of a subject, and transmit data to a receiver at intervals determined by an analysis of time-dependent changes in the generated sensor data, the receiving unit being adapted to receive sensor data at a non-predetermined rate. By this arrangement sensor data can be transmitted only when considered necessary in accordance with a predetermined strategy, this reducing the energy consumption associated with the transmission of data. The strategy may set out that the transmission of sensor data is skipped in case there is no or only a small change in an actual sensor data value. On the other hand, in case of rapid changes in sensor data values, sensor data may be transmitted at higher rate.

Claims

1. A medical system (800) comprising a sensor unit (840) and a receiving unit (830), the sensor unit being adapted to generate sensor data indicative of a time-dependent body characteristic of a subject, and transmit data to the receiver unit at intervals determined by an analysis of time-dependent changes in the generated sensor data, the receiving unit being adapted to receive sensor data at a non-predetermined rate.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the receiving unit comprises a display for graphically displaying sensor data related information as a function of time.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is adapted to generate estimated sensor data values for time intervals at which no sensor data has been received from the sensor unit.

4. A system as in claim 2, wherein the receiving unit is adapted to display a continuous graphical representation of sensor data related information.

5. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a telemetry system in which sensor data can be transmitted during synchronized, pre-selected transmission respectively receiving windows of time.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein periods of time between receiving windows are controlled by the sensor unit and determined by an analysis of the time-dependent changes in the generated sensor data.

7. A system as in claim 5, wherein the period of time between receiving and/or transmitting windows can be selected for one or more individual periods.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is adapted to store sensor data values in a memory and transmit the stored values to the receiving unit at a desired point of time.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is adapted to transmit instructions to a drug delivery device.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein the receiving unit comprises a drug delivery device.

11. A system as in claim 9, wherein the receiving unit is adapted to use received sensor data to calculate delivery parameters for use in the drug delivery device.

12. A system as in claim 1 wherein the sensor unit comprises a transcutaneous sensor adapted to provide an analyte dependent signal.

13. A system as in claim 11, wherein the sensor unit comprises a sensor adapted to detect electrical occurrences in the subject.

14. A system as in claim 1, wherein the sensor unit provides continuous or quasi-continuous data representative of a body characteristic of a subject

15. A medical sensor unit adapted to generate sensor data indicative of a time-dependent body characteristic of a subject, and transmit data to a receiver at intervals determined by an analysis of time-dependent changes in the generated sensor data.

16. A method of operating a medical system, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a sensor unit (840) and a receiving unit (830), the sensor unit being adapted to generate sensor data indicative of a time-dependent characteristic of a subject,

(b) transmitting data to the receiving unit at intervals determined by an analysis of time-dependent changes in the generated sensor data,

wherein the receiving unit is adapted to receive sensor data at a non-predetermined rate.