Sensor and monitor system

• US 8,550,997 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2009
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Talbot, Cary, Holtzclaw, Kris R., Wenstad, Hans K., Cohen, Gary, Kannard, Brian T., DeBrunner, Keith E., Arsanious, Joseph Makram, Meng, Fan, Bryan, Andrew Michael, Rankers, Ulrich H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kahelin, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wang, Yunqing
• Application Number:
  US12/651,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20110160553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 600/316, 600/347, 600/365
• US Class Current: 600/365
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14514 using means for aiding extraction of interstitial fluid, e.g. microneedles or suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement

Abstract

A monitor system is disclosed. The monitor system includes a sensor with a sensor port. The monitor system further includes a recorder with a recorder port within a recording housing. The recorder port interfaces with the sensor port to receive signals from the sensor port. A recorder clock is defined within the recorder housing, with a recorder processor to store signals from the sensor. The recorder includes a data port to interface with a dock receiver. The monitor system includes a dock remotely located from the sensor and the recorder. The dock receiver couples the recorder to the dock. The monitor system further includes a data processor to analyze the sensor signals from the recorder. The data processor includes memory and a clock. Further included with the data processor are program instructions to assign the time and date of the sensor signals.

Claims

1. A monitor system to monitor a characteristic of a user, the system comprising:

a sensor to produce a sensor signal on a continuous basis, the sensor signal being indicative of a glucose characteristic measured in the user when placed in subcutaneous tissue, the sensor having a sensor port;

a recorder that includes a recorder housing,

a battery being contained within the recorder housing,

a recorder port defined to interface with the sensor port to receive the produced signals from the sensor,

a recorder clock defined within the recorder housing to assign a time to the signals from the sensor,

a recorder processor that includes a recorder memory coupled to the recorder port to store the produced signals from the sensor,

a data port defined to interface with a dock receiver,

a dock remotely located from the sensor and the recorder, the dock includes the dock receiver to physically couple the recorder to the dock via the data port,

a dock processor coupled to the dock receiver, and a data processor defined to analyze the signals from the sensor that were stored in the recorder, the data processor includes;

a data processor memory to store data from the recorder and a data processor clock,

wherein the data processor is programmed to assign the time and date of the signals from the sensor by comparing the time and date on the data processor clock with the time assigned to the signals from the sensor by the recorder clock,

wherein the sensor port and the data port are combined into one multifunction port.

2. A monitor system according to claim 1, wherein the data processor is further programmed to convert the signals from the sensor to glucose concentration values experienced by the user.

3. A monitor system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a meter having an internal meter clock to provide reference values to the data processor, the reference values including a timestamp from the internal meter clock, and the data processor includes a program to assign time and date to the reference values by comparing the time and date on the processor clock with the timestamp of the reference values from the meter.

4. A monitor system according to claim 1, wherein the dock further includes a dock port.

5. A monitor system according to claim 4, wherein the data processor further includes a data processor port.

6. A monitor system according to claim 5, further comprising a cable defined to interface between the dock port and the data processor port.

7. A monitor system according to claim 1, such that when the recorder is coupled to the dock, the dock is programmed to:

(a) recharge the battery of the recorder, (b) perform a diagnostic test of the recorder, and (c) provide actionable feedback based on results of the diagnostic test.

8. A monitor system according to claim 7, wherein the actionable feedback is provided using at least one light integrated into the dock.

9. A monitor system according to claim 7, wherein the actionable feedback is provided using audible tones.

10. A monitor system according to claim 8, wherein a first light condition indicates that the recorder is charging or there are no stored signals from the sensor on the recorder.

11. A monitor system according to claim 7, wherein the diagnostic test includes a test of the recorder processor and the recorder memory.

12. A monitor system according to claim 8, wherein a second light condition indicates a state where the recorder has passed the diagnostic test, the recorder is charged and the recorder contains no stored signals from the sensor.

13. A monitor system according to claim 7, wherein the actionable feedback includes notification when the recorder fails the diagnostic test.

14. A monitor system according to claim 1, wherein the recorder further includes feedback indicator.

15. A monitor system according to claim 14, wherein the feedback indicator is a light that periodically illuminates to indicate proper hydration of the sensor and establishment of communication between the sensor and recorder.

16. A monitor system according to claim 1, wherein the recorder provides power to initialize the sensor.

17. A monitor system according to claim 16, wherein the recorder clock begins running when the sensor is initialized.

18. A monitor system according to claim 17, wherein the recorder automatically stops recording sensor data after the recorder clock has been running for a predefined duration.

19. A monitor system according to claim 18 wherein the recorder clock continues to run after the recorder stops recording sensor data.