Handheld controller for monitoring/using medical parameters

• US 6,494,830 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2001
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Guidance Interactive Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Wessel, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Astorino, Michael C
• Application Number:
  US09/884,968
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300-301, 600/365, 600/347, 600/309-310, 600/316, 600/322, 128/903-904, 702/19, 702/104, 379/106.01, 379/106.02, 434/235-238, 434/262, 273/429, 273/440, 273/459, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• 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 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6896 Toys

Abstract

The Invention presents a system and method of combining a medical device, a medical testing procedure, in a combination of hardware and software that provide motivation and digital rewards through a hand held video game controller or other hand held computing device.

Claims

1. A medical monitoring system comprising:

I. A module comprising;

a. said module having a single mechanical housing that combines both medical diagnostic circuitry and supplemental video game circuitry for motivating or rewarding a user;

b. a display on the housing for displaying medical test results;

c. an interface that provides a physical connection from the housing into a hand held computing device;

d. aperture on the housing wherein the aperture is adapted to allow insertion, retention, and analysis of a medical blood test strip for performing a blood glucose analysis;

e. a power supply within the housing in the medical diagnostic circuit;

f. wherein the supplemental video game circuitry comprises a means for receiving an electrical input or a plurality of inputs from the hand held video game controller;

g. means for electronically sending medical testing results data from medical diagnostic circuitry to the supplemental video game circuitry;

h. means for temporarily storing the medical test results in a memory location of the supplemental video game circuitry for determination of reward data to motivate a user of the system; and

i. wherein said interface is used to send reward data from the to the hand held video game controller;

II. A hand held computing device consisting of;

a. A distinct operating system, power supply, and physical interface connection that allows for insertion and extraction and execution of different software programs of a particular mechanical interface;

b. An input device.

2. The system of claim 1 whereby the medical test results, is the determinant for progression, recession, completion or elimination for motivational stimuli.

3. The system of claim 1 whereby the stored medical test results, are the determinant for progression, recession, completion or elimination for motivational stimuli.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein an interface between the medical diagnostic circuitry and supplemental video game circuitry can be a hardwired or a wirelessly coupled interface.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein stored medical test results can be transmitted into a specific memory location within the supplemental video game circuitry;

whereby the motivational test results can be transmitted by any external computing device the group comprising of;

desktop computer, laptop computer, PDA, cellular telephone or a hand held video game controller.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the hand held computing device displays rewards and motivational information.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the module display displays rewards and motivational information.