Module for a computer interface

• US 20050033148A1
• Filed: 08/16/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Haueter, Ulrich, Imhof, Erich
• Granted Patent: US 7,931,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• 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 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• 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 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/487 : of liquid biological material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48785 : Electrical and electronic details of measuring devices for physical analysis of liquid biological material not specific to a particular test method, e.g. user interface or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/49 : Blood chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/10 : Plug-in assemblages of components , e.g. IC sockets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 : Telephone telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 : Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

The present invention provides a module for a computer interface including a transducer wherein the transducer receives a measurement value and makes this measurement value available for monitoring an individual'"'"'s health by means of the computer interface, for example, for monitoring an individual'"'"'s blood glucose level, wherein the measurement value is obtained by means of a sensor.

Claims

1. A system for administering a medical fluid to a body and for monitoring a substance level in a bodily fluid, the system comprising:

an administration device comprising a reservoir adapted to contain the medical fluid, a motor and drive mechanism for displacing the medical fluid from the reservoir into the body, and a first communication interface; and

a communication terminal remote from the administration device and comprising a housing, a processor, an input means in communication with the processor, a display in communication with the processor, a second communication interface in communication with the processor and adapted to communicate with the first communication interface, and a measuring module adapted to communicate with the processor and comprising a sensor adapted to sense the substance level in the bodily fluid.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a sample region adapted to come into contact with the bodily fluid.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the measuring module is an independent module that is removable from the communication terminal, the measuring module further comprises a first port, the communication terminal further comprises a second port adapted to mate with the first port, and the measuring module may be repeatably connected to the communication terminal via the first and second ports.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the measuring module is integral with the housing of the communication terminal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second communication interfaces are wireless.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication terminal further comprises a memory in communication with the processor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the memory stores historical medical fluid administration data.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the historical administration data pertains to insulin administration.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the memory stores substance level measurement values over time.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the substance level measurement values pertain to blood-sugar measurements.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the memory stores a particular medical fluid administration setup of an individual person.

12. A method for administering a medical fluid to a body based on a monitored substance level in a bodily fluid, the method comprising:

placing the bodily fluid in contact with a sensor on a measuring module associated with a communication terminal;

sensing the substance level in the bodily fluid;

communicating the substance level to a processor in the communication terminal;

determining a medical fluid dosage to be administered to the body by an administration device remote from the communication terminal;

wirelessly communicating a dosage command from the communication terminal to the administration device; and

administering the medical fluid to the body via the administration device according to the dosage command received from the communication terminal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising connecting the measuring module to the communication terminal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the measuring module is integral with the communication terminal.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing in a memory the historical medical fluid administration data, wherein the memory is part of the communication terminal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the historical administration data pertains to insulin administration.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing in a memory the substance level measurement values over time, wherein the memory is part of the communication terminal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the substance level measurement values pertain to blood-sugar measurements.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing in a memory the particular medical fluid administration setup of an individual person, wherein the memory is part of the communication terminal.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising reading a fluid administration force and comparing the force to upper and lower threshold values to determine the existence of an occlusion or leak relating to the delivery of the medical fluid from the administration device to the body.

21. A system for administering a medical fluid to a body and for monitoring a substance level in a bodily fluid, the system comprising:

a computer including a processor and a communication port; and

a measuring module separate and distinct from the computer and including a sensor adapted to sense the substance level in the bodily fluid and a transducer adapted to communicate with the communication port.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the module further includes a memory.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the memory is adapted to store data pertaining to the substance level sensed by the sensor.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the computer is a desktop type personal computer.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the computer is a laptop type personal computer.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the computer is a hand-held or palm type personal computer.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the communication port and the transducer physically mate with each other to be placed in communication with each other.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the transducer is a standard interface card.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the transducer is a PCMCIA card.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein the computer further includes a first communication interface and the system further comprises an administration device remote from the computer and including a reservoir adapted to contain the medical fluid, a motor and drive mechanism for displacing the medical fluid from the reservoir into the body, and a second communication interface adapted to communicate with the first communication device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the first and second communication interfaces are wireless.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the computer further includes a memory adapted to store data pertaining to the administration of the medical fluid.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the computer is provided with software that allows the medical fluid administration data to be displayed graphically.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the computer is provided with software that allows the medical fluid administration data to be displayed in a spread sheet.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the administration device further includes a means for monitoring the displacement of the drive mechanism.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein, under normal operating conditions, the computer sends control signals to the motor via the first and second communication interfaces.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the administration device further includes an emergency control that assumes control of the motor when the control signals from the computer are not available to the motor.

38. The system of claim 21, wherein the computer further includes a memory adapted to store data pertaining to the substance level sensed by the sensor.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the computer is provided with software that allows the substance level data to be displayed graphically.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the computer is provided with software that allows the substance level data to be displayed in a spread sheet.

41. A system for administering a medical fluid to a body and for monitoring a substance level in a bodily fluid, the system comprising:

a communication terminal including a processor, a communication port; and

a first wireless communication interface;

a measuring module including a sensor adapted to sense the substance level in the bodily fluid and a transducer adapted to communicate with the communication port; and

an administration device remote from the communication terminal and including a reservoir adapted to contain the medical fluid, a motor and drive mechanism for displacing the medical fluid from the reservoir into the body, and a second wireless communication interface adapted to communicate with the first wireless communication device.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the communication port and the transducer physically mate with each other to be placed in communication with each other.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the transducer is a standard interface card.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the transducer is a PCMCIA card.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the measuring module further includes a memory adapted to store data pertaining to the substance level sensed by the sensor and a processor adapted to process said data.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the communication terminal further includes a memory adapted to store data pertaining to the substance level sensed by the sensor.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the communication terminal is provided with software that allows the substance level data to be displayed graphically.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the communication terminal is provided with software that allows the substance level data to be displayed in a spread sheet.

49. The system of claim 41, wherein, under normal operating conditions, the communication terminal sends control signals to the motor via the first and second wireless communication interfaces.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the administration device further includes an emergency control that assumes control of the motor when the control signals from the communication terminal are not available to the motor.

51. The system of claim 41, wherein the communication terminal further includes a memory adapted to store data pertaining to the administration of the medical fluid.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the communication terminal is provided with software that allows the medical fluid administration data to be displayed graphically.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the communication terminal is provided with software that allows the medical fluid administration data to be displayed in a spread sheet.

54. The system of claim 51, wherein the communication terminal is adapted to communicate the medical fluid administration data to a computer.

55. A method of administering a medical fluid to a body and monitoring a substance level in a bodily fluid, the method comprising:

reading the substance level with a sensor in communication with a transducer;

mating the transducer with a communication port of a computer; and

downloading substance level data into the computer from the transducer.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising using the computer to wirelessly control the administration of the medical fluid from an administration device that is remote from the computer.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising using an emergency control that is part of the administration device to control the administration of the medical fluid from the administration device when the computer is not able to wirelessly control the administration device.

58. A method of administering a medical fluid to a body and monitoring a substance level in a bodily fluid, the method comprising:

providing a first computing device including a sensor, a first processor and a first communication device;

reading the substance level with the sensor;

using the first processor to generate data pertaining to a read substance level;

providing a second computing device remote from the first computing device and including a second processor and a second communication device;

communicating the data from the first computing device to the second computing device via the first and second communication devices;

providing an administration device remote from both computing devices and including a reservoir adapted to contain the medical fluid and a motor and drive mechanism adapted to displace the medical fluid from the reservoir into the body;

using at least one of the computing devices to cause the administration device to deliver the medical fluid to the body.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the first and second communication devices physically mate in order to communicate.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the first communication device is a standard interface card.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the first communication device is a PCMCIA card.

64. The system of claim 59, wherein the first communication device is a standard interface card.

65. The system of claim 59, wherein the first communication device is a PCMCIA card.

62. A system for administering a medical fluid to a body and monitoring a substance level in a bodily fluid, the system comprising:

a first computing device including a sensor adapted to sense the substance level in the bodily fluid, a processor adapted to process data pertaining to a sensed substance level, and a first communication device adapted to communicate said data;

a second computing device including a processor and a second communication device adapted to receive said data from the first communication device; and

an administration device remote from both of the computing devices and including a reservoir adapted to contain the medical fluid and a motor and drive mechanism adapted to displace the medical fluid from the reservoir into the body,

wherein the administration device is wirelessly controlled by at least one of the computing devices.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the first and second communication devices physically mate in order to communicate.