METHOD AND/OR SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING BLOOD GLUCOSE REFERENCE SAMPLE TIMES

• US 20170065212A1
• Filed: 09/16/2016
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gottlieb, Rebecca K., Ramachandran, Meena
• Granted Patent: US 10,433,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6849 in combination with a needle set
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00

Abstract

Subject matter disclosed herein relates to monitoring and/or controlling blood glucose levels in patients. In particular, times for obtaining metered blood glucose samples of a patient may be altered based, at least in part, on a blood glucose level of said patient observed from a blood glucose sensor.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining from a patient a first blood glucose reference sample measurement while monitoring a blood glucose level in the patient by processing signals from a continuous blood glucose sensor;

determining a time for obtaining from the patient a second blood glucose reference sample measurement,

wherein the determining of the time is performed by one or more processors and is based, at least in part, on a difference between the first blood glucose reference sample measurement and an upper bound of a target range blood glucose level being less than a first threshold; and

responsive to the determined time, generating signals to provide a message to an operator or attendant indicating an option to extend the time for obtaining the second blood glucose reference sample measurement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the time is further based, at least in part, on a prediction that a blood glucose level in the patient is to be within the target range at a scheduled blood glucose reference sample time after the obtaining of the first blood glucose reference sample measurement.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the time is further based, at least in part, on a reliability indicator (RI) exceeding a second threshold, wherein the RI comprises a numerical value expressing an indication of a reliability of the continuous blood glucose sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the time is further based, at least in part, on a variability of the monitored blood glucose level being below a second threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the time is further based, at least in part, on an observed change in an insulin sensitivity of the patient being below a second threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the time is further based, at least in part, on a prediction that an insulin infusion rate for the patient is to remain constant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first threshold is 50.0 mg/dl.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating of the signals to provide the message comprises displaying the message to the operator or attendant indicating the option to extend the time for obtaining the second blood glucose reference sample measurement.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining of the time is further based, at least in part, on:

a reliability indicator (RI) exceeding a second threshold, wherein the RI comprises a numerical value expressing an indication of a reliability of the continuous blood glucose sensor,

a prediction that the blood glucose level in the patient is to be within the target range at a scheduled blood glucose reference sample time after the obtaining of the first blood glucose reference sample measurement,

a variability of the monitored blood glucose level being below a third threshold,

an observed change in an insulin sensitivity of the patient being below a fourth threshold, and

a prediction that an insulin infusion rate for the patient is to remain constant.

10. A method comprising:

obtaining from a patient a first blood glucose reference sample measurement while monitoring a blood glucose level in the patient by processing signals from a continuous blood glucose sensor;

determining a time for obtaining from the patient a second blood glucose reference sample measurement,

wherein the determining of the time is performed by one or more processors and is based, at least in part, on a difference between an observed blood glucose level and an upper or lower bound of a target range blood glucose level, wherein the observed blood glucose level is as observed from the continuous blood glucose sensor; and

displaying the determined time or initiating an alarm responsive to the determined time to prompt an operator or attendant to obtain the second blood glucose reference sample measurement.

11. An apparatus for use by an operator or an attendant, for use with a continuous blood glucose sensor, and for use with a first blood glucose reference sample measurement taken from a patient, the apparatus comprising:

an interface configured to receive the first blood glucose reference sample measurement and

a controller configured to;

monitor a blood glucose level in the patient by processing signals from the continuous blood glucose sensor;

determine a time for obtaining from the patient a second blood glucose reference sample measurement based, at least in part, on a difference between the first blood glucose reference sample measurement and an upper bound of a target range blood glucose level being less than a first threshold; and

responsive to the determined time, initiate a signal to provide a message to the operator or attendant indicating an option to extend the time for obtaining the second blood glucose reference sample measurement.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the time based, at least in part, on a reliability indicator (RI) exceeding a second threshold, wherein the RI comprises a numerical value expressing an indication of a reliability of the continuous blood glucose sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the time based, at least in part, on a variability of the monitored blood glucose level being below a second threshold.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the time based, at least in part, on an observed change in an insulin sensitivity of the patient being below a second threshold.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further for use with a display device and wherein the controller is further configured to initiate the signal to provide the message to the operator or attendant by initiating the signal to display the message on the display device to the operator or attendant.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the time based, at least in part, on:

a reliability indicator (RI) exceeding a second threshold, wherein the RI comprises a numerical value expressing an indication of a reliability of the continuous blood glucose sensor,

a prediction that the blood glucose level in the patient is to be within the target range at a scheduled blood glucose reference sample time after the obtaining of the first blood glucose reference sample measurement,

a variability of the monitored blood glucose level being below a third threshold,

an observed change in an insulin sensitivity of the patient being below a fourth threshold, and

a prediction that an insulin infusion rate for the patient is to remain constant.

17. An apparatus for use by an operator or an attendant, for use with a display device and a continuous blood glucose sensor, and for use with a first blood glucose reference sample measurement taken from a patient, the apparatus comprising:

an interface configured to receive the first blood glucose reference sample measurement and

a controller configured to;

determine a time for obtaining from the patient a second blood glucose reference sample measurement, based, at least in part, on a difference between an observed blood glucose level and an upper or lower bound of a target range blood glucose level, wherein the observed blood glucose level is as observed from the continuous blood glucose sensor; and

initiate a signal to display the determined time on the display device or initiate an alarm responsive to the determined time to prompt the operator or the attendant to obtain the second blood glucose reference sample measurement.