Method and system for transferring analyte test data

• US 7,587,287 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mace, Chad Harold, Connolly, Brian Edmond, Lai, Marc R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau; Tung S
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUN, XIUQIN
• Application Number:
  US10/407,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20040249999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,349 Days
• Field of Search: 702/32, 600/300, 455/569.2
• US Class Current: 702/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• 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: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A system for transferring data includes an analyte test instrument (ATI) adapted to store data, a wirelessly enabled data management device (DMD) for comprehensively analyzing data, and an adaptor removably connected to the ATI for transferring data stored on the ATI to the DMD. The adaptor includes a data communication device capable of removable connection with the ATI, a microprocessor electrically connected to the data communication device, a wireless controller electrically connected to the microprocessor and a wireless transceiver electrically connected to the wireless controller. In use, data transfer is executed between the ATI and the DMD by electrically and mechanically connecting the adaptor to the ATI. Data stored on the ATI is then automatically downloaded into adaptor memory. Upon completion of the download, the user activates an externally accessible input device on the adaptor which, in turn, wirelessly transmits data from the adaptor memory to the DMD.

Claims

1. A system for transferring data comprising:

(a) an analyte test instrument which is adapted to store data, said analyte test instrument having a first data communication device, the first data communication device having a test port for receiving an analyte test strip;

(b) an adaptor removably connected to said analyte test instrument, said adaptor being in data communication with said analyte test instrument through a first data communication channel, and

(c) a data management device in data communication with said adaptor through a second data communication channel, said second data communication channel being a wireless data communication channel, said adaptor comprising;

(1) a second data communication device;

(2) a microcontroller in electrical connection with said second data communication device;

(3) a wireless controller in electrical connection with said microcontroller; and

(4) a wireless transceiver in electrical connection with said wireless controller, said wireless transceiver being adapted to wirelessly communicate with said data management device through the second data communication channel wherein, said adaptor further comprises;

(i) memory in electrical connection with said microcontroller;

(ii) a housing shaped to define an interior cavity; and

(iii) a portion of the second data communication device extending out from the housing and capable of being removably received within the analyte test port of the first communication device so as to establish the first data communication channel between said adaptor and said analyte test instrument.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second data communication device is adapted to be electrically and mechanically connected to the data communication device of said analyte test instrument.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second data communication device includes a rectangular strip with one or more contact strips deposited thereon.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first data communication device includes at least one contact strip and is adapted to electrically and mechanically receive the second data communication device.

5. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said adaptor further comprises a power source electrically connected to said memory, said microcontroller, said wireless controller, and said wireless transceiver.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adaptor further comprises a power source electrically connected to said memory, said microcontroller, said wireless controller, and said wireless transceiver.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the second data communication device comprises a substantially rectangular strip having a plurality of metal contact strips disposed thereon.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of metal contact strips are disposed substantially along an entire length of the rectangular strip.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of metal contact strips are spaced apart and generally parallel to each other.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the second data communication device extends through a narrow slot in the housing.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the adaptor further comprises:

a user input device disposed within the interior cavity of said housing and in electrical connection with said microcontroller, said user input device at least partially projecting out through said housing, and

an indicator disposed within the interior cavity of said housing and in electrical connection with said microcontroller, said indicator at least partially projecting out through said housing.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the second data communication device has the approximate width and thickness of the analyte test strip.

13. A method for transferring data stored on an analyte test instrument to a data management device via an adaptor, said adaptor being independent from said analyte test instrument, comprising:

(a) removably connecting said adaptor to a test port of an analyte test instrument to establish a first data communication channel between said adaptor and said analyte test instrument, the test port being configured to receive an analyte test strip when not connected to the adaptor;

(b) transferring data stored on said analyte test instrument to said adaptor through the first data communication channel; and

(c) transmitting the transferred data from said adaptor to said data management device through a second data communication channel, the second data communication channel being a wireless data communication channel, wherein said adaptor comprises;

(1) a first data communication device;

(2) a microcontroller in electrical connection with said first data communication device;

(3) a wireless controller in electrical connection with said microcontroller; and

(4) a wireless transceiver in electrical connection with said wireless controller, said wireless transceiver being adapted to wirelessly communication with said data management device through the second data communication channel, wherein said adaptor further comprises;

(i) memory in electrical connection with said microcontroller;

(ii) a housing shaped to device an interior cavity; and

(iii) a portion of a second data communication device extending out from the housing and capable of being removably received within the analyte test port of the first data communication device so as to establish the first data communication channel between said adapter and said analyte test instrument.

14. An adaptor for communicating data between a data management device and an analyte test instrument having an analyte test port configured for receiving an analyte test strip, comprising:

a housing shaped to define an interior cavity;

a data communication device disposed within the interior cavity, a portion of the data communication device extending out from the housing and capable of being removably received within the analyte test port of the data communication device so as to establish a first data communication channel between said adaptor and said analyte test instrument;

a microcontroller electrically coupled to the data communication device and disposed within the interior cavity;

a wireless controller electrically coupled to the microcontroller and disposed within the interior cavity; and

a wireless transceiver electrically coupled to the wireless controller and disposed within the interior cavity, the wireless transceiver being adapted to wirelessly communicate with the data management device so as to establish a second communication channel between the adaptor and the data management device.

15. The adaptor of claim 14, wherein the portion of the data communication device comprises a substantially rectangular strip having a plurality of metal contact strips disposed thereon.

16. The adaptor of claim 15, wherein the plurality of metal contact strips are disposed substantially along an entire length of the rectangular strip.

17. The adaptor of claim 15, wherein the plurality of metal contact strips are spaced apart and generally parallel to each other.

18. The adaptor of claim 14, wherein the portion of the data communication device extends through a narrow slot in the housing.

19. The adaptor of claim 14, wherein the adaptor further comprises:

a user input device disposed within the interior cavity of said housing and in electrical connection with said microcontroller, said user input device at least partially projecting out through said housing, and

an indicator disposed within the interior cavity of said housing and in electrical connection with said microcontroller, said indicator at least partially projecting out through said housing.