Handheld diabetes manager with touch screen display

• US 8,427,817 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Lewis, Joseph B., Lotarski, Derek C., DeRossi, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US12/905,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.02, 455/90.3
• US Class Current: 361/679.02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/04 Constructional details of apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

A handheld diabetes manager having a blood glucose measurement engine comprises a housing having a blood glucose measuring engine and a printed circuit board disposed in the housing. A touch screen can be coupled to the housing. The touch screen can have a transparent portion surrounded by a non-transparent portion. The non-transparent portion can have adhesive thereon that seals the touch screen to the housing. A flexible connector can electrically connect at least two independent electrical leads between the touch screen and the printed circuit board. An antenna assembly can be disposed in the housing and comprise a molded carrier, a conductive portion on the molded carrier and a speaker. The conductive portion can be electrically connected to the printed circuit board and be configured to receive a radio signal. The carrier can include a recess that receives the speaker and is configured to project sound from the speaker.

Claims

1. A handheld diabetes manager having a blood glucose measurement engine, the handheld diabetes manager comprising:

a housing;

a blood glucose measuring engine disposed in the housing;

a printed circuit board disposed in the housing;

a touch screen coupled to the housing, the touch screen having a transparent portion surrounded by a non-transparent portion, the non-transparent portion having adhesive thereon that seals the touch screen to the housing;

a flexible connector that electrically connects at least two independent electrical leads between the touch screen and the printed circuit board; and

an antenna assembly disposed in the housing and comprising a molded carrier, a conductive portion arranged on the molded carrier, and a speaker, wherein the conductive portion is electrically connected to the printed circuit board and is configured to receive a radio signal and wherein the carrier includes two pairs of opposing sidewalls that form a recess that receives the speaker and is configured to project sound from the speaker.

2. The handheld diabetes manager of claim 1 wherein the touch screen comprises a first electrode film disposed on a substrate.

3. The handheld diabetes manager of claim 2 wherein the touch screen further comprises a second electrode film, the first electrode film disposed intermediate the second electrode film and the substrate.

4. The handheld diabetes manager of claim 3 wherein the touch screen further comprises a graphic film disposed on the second electrode film.

5. The handheld diabetes manager of claim 2, further comprising at least two independent electrical pins that connect the at least two electrical leads respectively to the touch screen.

6. The handheld diabetes manager of claim 5 wherein the flexible connector has a first segment that connects to the electrical pins, a second segment that connects to the printed circuit board and an intermediate segment that connects between the first and second segments, wherein the first and second segments extend along parallel and offset planes.

7. The handheld diabetes manager of claim 1 wherein the molded carrier defines an aperture configured to receive a fastener that couples the carrier to the housing.

8. The handheld diabetes manager of claim 1 wherein the molded carrier includes a support wall that generally connects between the first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls.

9. The handheld diabetes manager of claim 8 wherein the support wall extends along a plane that is transverse to respective planes of each of the opposing sidewalls and wherein the support wall is located substantially at a midpoint of each of the opposing sidewalls.

10. The handheld diabetes manager of claim 8 wherein the recess defines an outlet that is configured to project sound from the speaker and the support wall is positioned intermediate the speaker and the outlet.

11. The handheld diabetes manager of claim 10, further comprising a foam member disposed intermediate the speaker and the support wall, wherein the foam and the support wall both define substantially aligned openings.

12. A handheld diabetes manager having a blood glucose measurement engine, the handheld diabetes manager comprising:

a housing having a passage;

a blood glucose measuring engine disposed in the housing;

a printed circuit board disposed in the housing;

a touch screen coupled to the housing, the touch screen having a transparent portion surrounded by a non-transparent portion, the non-transparent portion having adhesive thereon that couples the touch screen to the housing and seals the touch screen to the housing; and

a flexible connector that electrically connects at least two independent electrical leads between at least two corresponding independent electrical pins on the touch screen and the printed circuit board, wherein the flexible connector has a first segment that connects to the electrical pins, a second segment that connects to the printed circuit board and an intermediate segment that passes through the passage in the housing and connects between the first and second segments, wherein the first and second segments extend along parallel and offset planes.

13. The handheld diabetes manager of claim 12 wherein the touch screen comprises a first electrode film disposed on a substrate, and a second electrode film, the first electrode film disposed intermediate the second electrode film and the substrate and a graphic film disposed on the second electrode film.

14. A handheld diabetes manager having a blood glucose measurement engine, the handheld diabetes manager comprising:

a housing;

a blood glucose measuring engine disposed in the housing;

a printed circuit board disposed in the housing; and

an antenna assembly disposed in the housing and comprising a molded carrier, a conductive portion arranged on the molded carrier, and a speaker, wherein the conductive portion is electrically connected to the printed circuit board and is configured to receive a radio signal and wherein the carrier includes two pairs of opposing sidewalls that form a recess that receives the speaker and is configured to project sound from the speaker.

15. The handheld diabetes manager of claim 14 wherein the molded carrier includes a support wall that generally connects between the first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls and wherein the support wall extends along a plane that is transverse to respective planes of each of the opposing sidewalls and wherein the support wall is located substantially at a midpoint of each of the opposing sidewalls.

16. The handheld diabetes manager of claim 15 wherein the recess defines an outlet that is configured to project sound from the speaker and the support wall is positioned intermediate the speaker and the outlet and further comprising a foam member disposed intermediate the speaker and the support wall, wherein the foam and the support wall both define substantially aligned openings.