Array and method for dosing a hormone regulating blood sugar in a patient

• US 7,806,853 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Rinne, Helmut, Wittmann, Uwe, Gessler, Ralf, Pfleiderer, Hans-Joerg
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehta; Bhisma
• Application Number:
  US12/471,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20090254024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 604/29, 604/30, 604/65, 604/66, 604/67, 604/131, 604/151, 604/890.1
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/62 Posture
• 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

The invention concerns an array and a method for dosing a hormone regulating the blood glucose, especially insulin, of a diabetic patient. In order to improve the administration of the hormone, the invention provides the following characteristic combination: a first sensor for measuring tissue glucose level; a controller having as an input the measured tissue glucose level from the first sensor, the controller having a control algorithm to determine an amount of hormone to be dosed based upon the measured tissue glucose level; a hormone dosing unit connected to the controller and automatically administering a hormone dose based upon a signal received from the controller; a second sensor for measuring an influencing patient variable; a pilot control device connected to the second sensor, the pilot control device connected to and forming a circuit with the controller, the pilot control device acting on the controller in accordance with the influencing patient variable that is measured by the second sensor, whereby the pilot control device reduces dead time of the controller.

Claims

1. An array for dosing a hormone suitable for regulating blood glucose of a patient, comprising:

a first sensor for measuring tissue glucose level;

a controller having as an input the measured tissue glucose level from the first sensor, the controller having a control algorithm to determine an amount of hormone to be dosed based upon the measured tissue glucose level;

a hormone dosing unit connected to the controller and automatically administering a hormone dose based upon a signal received from the controller;

a second sensor for measuring an influencing patient variable;

a pilot control device connected to the second sensor, the pilot control device connected to and forming a circuit with the controller, the pilot control device having a corrective action on the controller based on the influencing patient variable that is measured by the second sensor, whereby the pilot control device reduces dead time of the controller in responding to changes in the patient'"'"'s blood glucose level.

2. The array of claim 1, wherein an operating range of the controller is limited to positive values when the hormone is insulin.

3. The array of claim 1, wherein the pilot control device acts on the controller while maintaining a reserve for adjustment of the hormone dose to be administered.

4. The array of claim 1, wherein the controller is a state controller having a control algorithm.

5. The array of claim 1, wherein the controller has a proportional-integral element to address disturbance values.

6. The array of claim 1, wherein the hormone dosing unit comprises a dosage pump designed for subcutaneous hormone infusion.

7. The array of claim 1, wherein the first sensor, the controller and the pilot control device comprises a small portable instrument that can be carried on the patient'"'"'s body.

8. The array of claim 1, wherein the pilot control device comprises mercury switches.

9. The array of claim 1, wherein the pilot control device has spirit levels.

10. The array of claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises a position sensor to detect resting states of the patient.

11. The array of claim 1, wherein the second sensor detects body parameters of the patient.

12. The array of claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises a movement sensor.

13. The array of claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises a skin conductivity sensor.

14. The array of claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises at least two individual sensors, each of which measures a different influencing variable selected from position, movement, heart rate, body temperature and skin conductivity of the patient.

15. The array of claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises an activity measuring unit for the sensory detection of a degree of physical activity of the patient.

16. The array of claim 1, wherein the pilot control device comprises a basal control element for continuous pre-administration of a basal dose of the hormone.

17. The array of claim 1, wherein the pilot control device has a timer.

18. The array of claim 1, wherein the pilot control device has a set-point output connected to the controller in order to pre-set a command variable.

19. The array of claim 1, wherein the pilot control device and the controller are connected on an output side via a summation element to the hormone dosing unit.

20. The array of claim 1, wherein the pilot control device is configured to select the control algorithm or to pre-set parameters of the controller.

21. The array of claim 1, wherein the pilot control device comprises a monitoring stage to monitor and limit the hormone dose.