Smartphone Based Meter and Injector

• US 20160088136A1
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Finley, Paolo Di Donato
• Original Assignee: John Finley, Paolo Di Donato
• Inventors: Di Donato, Paolo, Finley, John
• Application Number:
  US14/495,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20160088136A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150305 Packages specially adapted for piercing devices or blood sampling devices kits for diabetes A61M5/003; packaging in general B65D
• 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 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15087 short range, e.g. between console and disposable using implanted devices A61B5/150877
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/151 Devices specially adapted for taking samples of capillary blood, e.g. by lancets , needles or blades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15186 Devices loaded with a single lancet, i.e. a single lancet with or without a casing is loaded into a reusable drive device and then discarded after use; drive devices reloadable for multiple use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/003 Kits for diabetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/178 Syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/28 Syringe ampoules or carpules, i.e. ampoules or carpules provided with a needle
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention incorporates a comprehensive blood glucose monitoring system into the case of a smartphone or other device that a patient normally carries with them. This system may include a glucose meter, lancets, test strips, logic to report the result of the blood test in the glucose meter, and a communication module to report the results to the smartphone. In addition, the system may also include small syringes of insulin concealed within the case or attached to the case. This would allow the user to inject if he or she needed to, after obtaining the results of the test.

Claims

1. A case for attachment to an electronic device, such as a smartphone or tablet, the case comprising:

a case adapted to attach to the rear surface of an electronic device, said structure comprising;

a structure to interface with the rear surface of an electronic device,

surfaces protruding from said structure and perpendicular to the largest plane of said electronic device that surround at least a portion of each of the long edges of said electronic device, and

a provision for containing a blood testing module in said structure;

a blood testing module configured to test and analyze a blood sample; and

a wireless communication module configured to communicate the results of said analysis of said blood sample to the electronic device.

2. The case of claim 1, wherein said blood testing module comprises:

at least one lancet;

at least one test strip;

a processor;

a testing module configured to analyze blood placed on said test strip when said test strip is brought into contact with said testing module.

3. The case of claim 2, wherein said blood testing module is adapted to test blood glucose levels.

4. The case of claim 3, wherein said lancet and said testing module are placed on a separate insert that is contained in said case structure.

5. The case of claim 4, further comprising at least one insulin injector.

6. The case of claim 1, wherein at least part of said blood testing module uses the software on the electronic device to perform analysis functions.

7. The case of claim 3, wherein said case is sized to be portable and carry upon one'"'"'s person when attached to a smartphone.

8. The case of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication module uses the Bluetooth communication protocol.

9. The case of claim 1, further comprising a software module resident on the electronic device, wherein said software module communicates with said case and records a history of results from said blood testing module.

10. The case of claim 1, further comprising a software module resident on the electronic device, wherein said software module communicates with said case and notifies the user of the electronic device when it is time for an injection.

11. The case of claim 1, further comprising a software module resident on the electronic device, wherein said software module communicates with said case and notifies the user of said electronic device when it is time to test their blood.

12. The case of claim 1, further comprising a software module resident on the electronic device, wherein said software module communicates the results of said blood testing module to a remote location using a wireless communication circuit in the electronic device.

13. The case of claim 4, further comprising a software module resident on the electronic device, wherein said software module communicates with said case to record a history of results from said blood testing module, notify the user of said electronic device when it is time for an injection, notify the user of said electronic device when it is time to test their blood, and to communicate the result of said blood testing module to a remote location using a wireless communication circuit in the electronic device.

14. The case of claim 5, further comprising a software module resident on the electronic device, wherein said software module communicates with said case to record a history of results from said blood testing module, notify the user of said electronic device when it is time for an injection, notify the user of said electronic device when it is time to test their blood, and to communicate the result of said blood testing module to a remote location using a wireless communication circuit in the electronic device.

15. The case of claim 7, further comprising a software module resident on the electronic device, wherein said software module communicates with said case to record a history of results from said blood testing module, notify the user of said electronic device when it is time for an injection, notify the user of said electronic device when it is time to test their blood, and to communicate the result of said blood testing module to a remote location using a wireless communication circuit in the electronic device.

16. A system for testing blood glucose with a smartphone, the system comprising:

a case adapted to attach to the rear surface of a smartphone, said case comprising;

a structure to interface with the rear surface of an electronic device,

surfaces protruding from said structure and perpendicular to the largest plane of said smartphone that surround each of the long edges of said electronic device smartphone, and

a provision for containing an insert in said structure;

a processor;

a blood glucose testing system in communication with said processor, configured to test and report the glucose level of a blood sample;

said blood glucose testing system comprising;

at least one lancet,

at least one test strip, and

a testing module configured to analyze blood placed on said test strip when said test strip is brought into contact with said testing module;

a wireless communication module in communication with said processor configured to communicate the results of said analysis of said blood sample to said smartphone;

a software module resident on said smartphone comprising;

a module designed to communicate with said case via said wireless communication module;

a module designed to receive a report of said glucose level from said blood glucose testing system, and

a module designed to alert a user of said system if they need to inject insulin; and

at least one insulin injector contained in said structure of said case.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said wireless communication module uses the Bluetooth protocol.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said software module further comprises:

a module designed to record a history of results from said blood testing system, a module designed to notify the user of said system when it is time to test their blood, and

a module designed to communicate the result of said blood testing system to a remote location using a wireless communication circuit in said smartphone.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said case is sized compact enough to keep the joined smartphone and case system portable on the user'"'"'s person.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said insert structure contains said lancet and said testing module, wherein said insert attached to said case structure.