Medical system and a method of controlling the system for use by a patient for medical self treatment

• US 6,540,672 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Iav, Steffen, Aasmul, Søren, Poulsen, Jens Ulrik, Christensen, Lars Hofmann, Simonsen, Jan Henning, Rokkjaer, Kent Halfdan
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCrosky, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/450,193
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 604/187, 604/65, 604/503, 600/300, 600/316, 600/584, 600/533, 600/309, 600/583, 600/367, 710/72, 235/380, 607/32, 607/60, 128/897, 128/898, 128/903, 709/208, 709/209
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0406 specially shaped apparatus housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/150267 Modular design or construction, i.e. subunits are assembled separately before being joined together or the device comprises interchangeable or detachable modules
• 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 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0409 with timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0066 with means for varying the dose size
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3126 Specific display means related to dosing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/05 : combined with other kinds of therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 : with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 : remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• 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 2205/3584 : using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 : with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 : User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 : Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/178 : Syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31545 : Setting modes for dosing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 : for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 : Radio telemetry

Abstract

This invention relates to an system for self treatment. The system consists of several portable modules where one of the modules is designated as a master module. The master module controls, supervises and monitors all the mutual information and data exchange between itself and the rest of the modules. The modules can e.g. consist of a BGM, a doser, an inhaler, a tablet dispenser and a storage container. The modules may be able to generate and store data which is transmitted to the master module if it is within range and active. If the master module is not within range, the data is kept locally in the module until the master module is available or a new master module is designated. The master module or another specific module can send the data to an external unit like a computer or database for further processing. A physician or an expert care-team can access the data in the database and give guidance to the patient on the basis of these processed data. This processing could also be done automatically by utilization of an expert system.

Claims

1. A medical system comprising a plurality of portable apparatuses for use by a patient for medical self-treatment, the treatment including a first operation and at least a second operation, the system comprising a first apparatus for performing the first operation and a second apparatus for performing the second operation, each of said first and second apparatuses comprising a means for storing, processing and/or displaying information and a means for transmitting and receiving of information so that each apparatus is able to exchange data with said other apparatus, wherein

(a) either said first or said second apparatus can function as a potential functional master module;

(b) one of said potential functional master modules is dynamically designated as the functional master module, and

(c) said functional master module is adapted to control an attempted data communication, initiated on request, between said apparatuses and is adapted to receive and store relevant information generated in at least one of the apparatuses, and

wherein said apparatuses are selected from the group consisting of;

a lancet device,

a body fluid analyzer,

a drug administration system for administering a predetermined dose of medication to the patient, and

a sensor for obtaining body characteristics.

2. A medical system according to claim 1, wherein both said means are preadjusted to handle a common set of measuring and information representations and wherein said common set of measuring and information representations comprises blood glucose concentrations.

3. A medical system according to claim 1, wherein said body fluid analyser is a blood glucose monitor.

4. A medical system according to claim 3, wherein said blood glucose monitor comprises storing, transmitting, and/or displaying means for blood glucose level and/or time stamp.

5. A medical system according to claim 1, wherein said body fluid analyser is a liquid monitor.

6. A medical system according to claim 1, wherein both said means are preadjusted to handle a common set of measuring and information representations and wherein said common set of measuring said information representations comprises body weight and blood pressure.

7. A medical system according to claim 1, wherein said drug administration system is selected from the group of:

an insulin injecting device;

an inhaler; and

a tablet dispenser.

8. A medical system according to claim 7, wherein said insulin injecting device comprises storing, transmitting, receiving and/or displaying means for a number of units of medication, type of medication and/or time stamp.

9. A medical system according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus has one or more storage containers for storing a supply of one or more of the following:

a supply of lancets;

a supply of test strips;

an extra supply of insulin; and

a supply of needles.

10. A medical system according to claim 9, wherein said one or more storage containers comprises storing, transmitting, receiving, and/or displaying means for inventory logistics.

11. A medical system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second apparatuses are the same type of apparatus.

12. The medical system of claim 11, wherein said first and second apparatuses are both drug administration units.

13. The medical system of claim 12, further comprising a body fluid analyser.

14. A medical system comprising a plurality of portable apparatuses for use by a patient for medical self-treatment, the treatment including a first operation and at least a second operation, the system comprising a first apparatus for performing the first operation and a second apparatus for performing the second operation, each of said first and second apparatuses comprising a means for storing, processing and/or displaying information and a means for transmitting and receiving of information so that each apparatus is able to exchange data with said other apparatus, wherein

(d) either said first or said second apparatus can function as a potential functional master module;

(e) one of said potential functional master modules is dynamically designated as the functional master module, and

(f) said functional master module is adapted to control an attempted data communication, initiated on request, between said apparatuses and is adapted to receive and store relevant information generated in at least one of the apparatuses, and

wherein said apparatuses are selected from the group of;

a lancet device,

a body fluid analyzer,

a drug administration system for administering a predetermined dose of medication to the patient, and

a sensor for obtaining body characteristics;

and wherein said system comprises a means for presentation of choices to the patient for a given situation, said presentation being dependent on said patients previous choices.

15. A method of controlling data information between a plurality of portable apparatuses for use by a patient for medical self-treatment, the treatment including a first operation and at least a second operation, said plurality of apparatuses comprising a first apparatus for performing the first operation, and at least a second apparatus for performing the second operation, each of said first and second apparatuses comprising a means for storing, processing and/or displaying information for transmitting and receiving of information and a means so that each apparatus is able to exchange date with said other apparatus, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) dynamically designating a single apparatus as a functional maser module among said at least two apparatuses;

(b) initiating an attempted data communication between said apparatuses on request, said communication being controlled by said functional master module;

(c) receiving and storing in said functional master module relevant information generated in said other apparatus;

and wherein the apparatuses are selected from the group of;

at least one lancet device;

at least one body fluid analyzer;

at least one drug administration system for administering a predetermined dose of medication to the patient; and

at least one sensor for obtaining body characteristics.