Sensing system with auxiliary display

• US 20060025663A1
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Shah, Rajiv, Morgan, Wayne A., Talbot, Cary D., Gottlieb, Rebecca K., Mastrototaro, John J., Purvis, Richard E., Shahmirian, Varaz, Chernoff, Edward, Mueller, John C. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,344,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/365
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 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 5/145 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: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis

Abstract

A system is provided for sensing blood glucose data of a patient. The system includes a sensor, user interface, and an optional auxiliary device. If the connection between the sensor and user interface is by a wire, the sensor remains powered when the wire is disconnected. The communication between the sensor and the user interface may be wireless. The auxiliary device can be a patient monitor or other display or signal device, which displays information about the blood glucose data collected by the sensor. The sensor is connected to sensor electronics, which include a sensor power supply, a voltage regulator, and optionally a memory and processor.

Claims

1. A system for sensing blood glucose concentration of a person, the system comprising:

a real-time sensor to sense blood glucose data in real-time;

a user interface;

a wire having a first end coupled to the sensor and a second end coupled to the user interface so as to couple the sensor to the user interface through the wire; and

wherein the user interface is adapted to communicate with the sensor over the wire, and wherein the wire is detachable from at least one of the sensor and the user interface so as to decouple the sensor from the user interface.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a patient monitor adapted to communicate with the user interface.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the user interface and the patient monitor are integrated into a single unit.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the user interface and the patient monitor each include a wireless transceiver for wireless communication between the patient monitor and the user interface.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the user interface includes at least one rechargeable battery for providing power to the sensor, and wherein the patient monitor includes a power source for providing power to the user interface for recharging the at least one rechargeable battery.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor includes a sensor power supply and wherein the sensor remains powered and operable when the user interface is decoupled from the sensor.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a patient monitor adapted to communicate with the sensor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein sensor includes a wireless transmitter and the patient monitor includes a wireless receiver for wireless communication between the sensor and the patient monitor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a power supply for supplying power to the sensor.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the power supply of the user interface includes a transformer.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising sensor electronics in electrical communication with the sensor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor includes a connector, and wherein the sensor electronics are coupled to the sensor using the connector.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor electronics include a power source for supplying power to the sensor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the power source is activated when the sensor is coupled to the sensor electronics.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the power source of the sensor electronics includes at least one rechargeable battery, wherein the user interface includes a power supply for providing power to the sensor electronics for recharging the battery of the sensor electronics when the sensor electronics are coupled to the user interface.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor electronics include a reference memory for storing reference values for the sensor.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the reference values for the sensor are factory supplied reference values.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the reference memory is nonvolatile.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the reference memory is a flash memory.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the flash memory is included in a removable flash memory card.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the reference values are values obtained from a blood glucose meter.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the blood glucose meter is coupled to the sensor electronics.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the blood glucose meter and the sensor are integrated into a single housing.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the reference values are values for calibrating the blood glucose data.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the sensor electronics retain power and retain the reference values when the sensor electronics are detached from the user interface.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the sensor electronics are adapted to communicate with a second user interface.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a subcutaneous sensor.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is a hand-held device.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes an output device and data is sent to the output device.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the output device is a display.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes an input device which is adapted to receive data.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the input device is a blood glucose meter.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the input device is a keypad.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the input device is a personal computer.

35. A system for sensing blood glucose concentration of a person, the system comprising:

a sensor to sense blood glucose data;

sensor electronics in electrical communication with the sensor;

a user interface in wireless communication with the sensor electronics; and

a patient monitor in communication with the user interface.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the communication between the patient monitor and the user interface is wireless.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the communication between the patient monitor and the user interface is wired.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the patient monitor includes the user interface.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the sensor electronics include a sensor power supply.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the sensor power supply is activated when the sensor is coupled to the sensor electronics.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein the sensor electronics include a memory having reference values stored therein.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the reference values are factory input reference values.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the memory having reference values stored therein is a flash memory.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the reference values are values from a blood glucose meter.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the blood glucose meter is coupled to the sensor electronics.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the blood glucose meter and the sensor are integrated into a single housing.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein the reference values are entered into the user interface and transmitted to the sensor electronics.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein the reference values are values for calibrating the blood glucose data.

49. The system of claim 41, wherein the memory is a nonvolatile memory.

50. The system of claim 35, wherein the sensor electronics further include a wireless transmitter and the user interface further includes a wireless receiver.

51. The system of claim 35, wherein the sensor electronics further include a wireless transmitter, the user interface further includes a wireless receiver, and the patient monitor further includes a third wireless receiver.

52. The system of claim 35, wherein the sensor is a real-time sensor to sense blood glucose data in real-time.

53. The system of claim 35, wherein the sensor electronics store an identifying code, wherein the sensor electronics are adapted to transmit the identifying code to the user interface, and wherein the user interface is adapted to identify the sensor based on the identifying code before storing data from the sensor

54. The system of claim 35, wherein the sensor is a subcutaneous sensor.

55. The system of claim 35, wherein the sensor electronics include a measurement memory for storing glucose measurement data

56. A system for sensing blood glucose concentration of a user, the system comprising:

a sensor to sense blood glucose data;

sensor electronics in electrical communication with the sensor;

a user interface in wireless communication with the sensor electronics; and

a patient monitor in communication with the sensor electronics.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the user interface includes a wireless transmitter and the patient monitor includes a wireless receiver and communication between the patient monitor and the user interface is wireless.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the patient monitor includes the user interface.

59. The system of claim 56, wherein the sensor electronics include a sensor power supply.

60. The system of claim 56, wherein the sensor electronics include a nonvolatile memory having factory input reference values stored therein.

61. The system of claim 56, wherein the sensor electronics include a nonvolatile memory for storing reference values from a blood glucose meter, and wherein the reference values are for calibrating the blood glucose data.

62. The system of claim 56, wherein the sensor electronics store an identifying code, wherein the sensor electronics are adapted to transmit the identifying code to the user interface, and wherein the user interface is adapted to identify the sensor based on the identifying code before storing data from the sensor.

63. The system of claim 56, wherein the sensor is a real-time subcutaneous sensor for sensing blood glucose data in real-time.

64. A system for sensing blood glucose data of a patient, the system comprising:

a sensor to sense blood glucose data;

sensor electronics coupled to the sensor and adapted to communicate with the sensor, the sensor electronics including a sensor power supply to supply power to the sensor, and memory to store information representative of the blood glucose data sensed by the sensor and to store reference values for calibration of the blood glucose data received from the sensor; and

a user interface adapted to communicate with the sensor electronics, the user interface including an input for inputting information into the memory of the sensor electronics.

65. The system of claim 64, further comprising a patient monitor adapted to communicate with the user interface, the patient monitor including a display to display information representative of the blood glucose data sensed by the sensor.

66. The system of claim 64, wherein the sensor electronics memory stores at least the previous four hours of sensor data.

67. The system of claim 64, wherein the sensor electronics includes a wireless transmitter and the user interface includes a wireless receiver for wireless communication between the sensor electronics and the user interface.

68. The system of claim 64, further including a removable wire connecting the sensor electronics to the user interface for wired communication between the sensor and the user interface.

69. The system of claim 64, wherein the user interface and the patient monitor each include a wireless transceiver for wireless communication between the user interface to the patient monitor.

70. The system of claim 64, wherein the sensor power supply comprises at least one battery.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the at least one battery is rechargeable, and at least one of the user interface or the patient monitor includes a power source for providing power to the sensor electronics for recharging the at least one battery.

72. The system of claim 64, wherein the sensor electronics continues to supply power to the sensor, and the sensor continues to sense blood glucose data and to store information representative of the blood glucose data sensed by the sensor, when sensor electronics is not in communication with the user interface and the patient monitor.

73. The system of claim 64, wherein the patient monitor includes a power source for providing power to the user interface.

74. The system of claim 64, wherein the sensor is a real-time sensor for sensing blood glucose data in real-time.

75. The system of claim 64, wherein the sensor electronics include a connector for wired communication and the sensor power supply is activated whenever the sensor is connected to a device by the connector.

76. The system of claim 64, wherein the sensor electronics include a processor to process the blood glucose data received from the sensor.

77. The system of claim 64, wherein the reference values are input by users of the system.

78. The system of claim 64, wherein the reference values are factory supplied reference values that are not changeable by users of the system.

79. The system of claim 64, wherein the reference values are stored in a nonvolatile memory.

80. The system of claim 79, wherein the nonvolatile memory is a flash memory.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the flash memory is included in a removable flash memory card.

82. The system of claim 64, wherein the reference values are obtained from a blood glucose meter.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein the blood glucose meter is coupled to the sensor electronics.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein the blood glucose meter and the sensor are integrated into a single housing.

85. The system of claim 64, wherein the sensor electronics include a processor to calibrate the blood glucose data and a calibration memory having calibrated blood glucose data stored therein.

86. The system of claim 64, wherein the sensor is a real-time sensor to sense blood glucose data in real-time.

87. The system of claim 64, wherein the sensor is a subcutaneous sensor.

88. An apparatus for use in sensing blood glucose concentration of a person, the apparatus comprising:

a real-time sensor to sense blood glucose data in real-time;

sensor electronics including a rechargeable power supply coupled to the sensor for providing operational power to the sensor;

wherein the sensor electronics are adapted to;

(a) be coupled to and subsequently decoupled from a user interface;

(b) supply power to the sensor when the user interface is coupled to the sensor electronics and when the sensor electronics is not coupled to the user interface; and

(c) be recharged by the user interface when the user interface is coupled to the sensor electronics.

89. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the sensor electronics are further adapted for wired communication with a user interface.

90. The apparatus of claims 88 or 89, wherein the rechargeable power supply comprises at least one rechargeable battery.

91. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the sensor electronics is adapted to communicate with a patient monitor over a wireless communication link.

92. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the sensor electronics include a connector for wired contact with the sensor and the rechargeable power supply is activated whenever the sensor is connected to the sensor electronics by the connector.

93. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the sensor electronics include a processor to process the blood glucose data received from the sensor.

94. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the sensor electronics include memory to store information representative of the blood glucose data sensed by the sensor and to store reference values for calibration of the blood glucose data received from the sensor.

95. The apparatus of claim 94, wherein the memory further stores reference values obtained from a blood glucose meter for calibration of the blood glucose data received from the sensor.

96. The apparatus of claim 94, wherein the memory is a flash memory.

97. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the flash memory is included in a removable flash memory card.

98. The apparatus of claim 94, wherein the sensor electronics include a processor to calibrate the blood glucose data.

99. The apparatus of claim 98, wherein the memory further stores calibrated blood glucose data.

100. A system comprising:

a sensor for sensing blood glucose data;

sensor electronics, coupled to the sensor, including at least one battery for supplying power to the sensor, the sensor electronics further including a memory for storing glucose information based on the blood glucose data sensed by the sensor;

a user interface, coupled to and in non-wireless communication with the sensor electronics, the user interface including an input device for inputting reference information into the memory of the sensor electronics;

wherein the user interface is detachable from the sensor electronics, and wherein the sensor electronics supplies power to the sensor, and wherein the sensor is operable when the user interface is detached from the sensor electronics.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein the sensor is a real-time sensor for sensing blood glucose data in real-time.

102. The system of claims 100 or 101, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery that is recharged when the user interface is not detached from the sensor electronics.

103. The system of claim 100, wherein the sensor electronics and the user interface each include a wireless transceiver for wireless communication between the sensor electronics and the user interface.

104. The system of claim 100, further including a patient monitor in communication with at least one of the sensor electronics and the user interface, the patient monitor including a display for displaying information based on the blood glucose data sensed by the sensor.

105. The system of claim 100, wherein the user interface and a patient monitor are integrated within a single housing.