Glucose meter communication method and system

• US 20070231846A1
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cardiocom LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Cardiocom LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cosentino, Louis C., Cosentino, Daniel L., Golden, Brian Alan
• Application Number:
  US11/397,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20070231846A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/006 for glucose
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/54 involving glucose or galactose
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48792 Data management, e.g. communication with processing unit for in vivo diagnostics A61B5/0002; transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems

Abstract

Methods for communicating between a glucose meter and a computing system are described. One method includes automatically initiating a communication session with a computing system over a communication link. The method also includes automatically sending data from the glucose meter to the computing system via the communication link.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data between a glucose meter and a computing system, the method comprising:

automatically initiating a communication session between the glucose meter and the computing system over a communication link;

automatically sending data from the glucose meter to the computing system via the communication link.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) physically connecting the glucose meter to a communications device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

(a) automatically initiating a communication session occurs in response to physically connecting the glucose meter to the communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) storing a predetermined communication time;

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

(a) automatically initiating the communication session occurs based upon the predetermined communication time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) receiving a response from the computing system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

(a) automatically sending data comprises sending a test result.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

(a) sending a test result comprises sending data representative of a blood glucose test result.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

(a) automatically sending data comprises sending data representative of a mode of the glucose meter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

(a) automatically initiating includes initiating a communication session with a remote system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

(a) automatically initiating includes initiating a communication session with a monitoring system.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) waking the glucose meter from a low power state.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

(a) obtaining a blood glucose test result after waking the glucose meter.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

(a) viewing data displayed by the glucose meter after waking the glucose meter.

15. A method of gathering and communicating test results with a glucose meter, the method comprising:

storing a predetermined communication time;

initiating the glucose meter to enter a low power mode;

waiting for the predetermined communication time with the glucose meter in the low power mode;

upon reaching the predetermined communication time, initiating the glucose meter to exit the low power mode;

automatically initiating a communication session with a computing system via a communication link at the predetermined communication time; and

sending data to the computing system via the communication link.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

(a) receiving a response from the computing system.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sensing a blood glucose sample in the glucose meter; and

determining a test result comprising a blood glucose test result;

wherein the data comprises the test result.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

(a) displaying the test result on a display integrated into the glucose meter.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein:

(a) determining a test result includes calculating a test result representative of a glycosylated hemoglobin level of a patient.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

(a) detecting one or more failure conditions of the glucose meter prior to automatically initiating a communication session.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein:

(a) determining a test result comprises calculating a test result representative of a blood glucose level of a patient.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein:

(a) automatically initiating a communication session is accomplished by a communication device incorporated into the glucose meter.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein:

(a) automatically initiating a communication session is accomplished by a communication device separate from the glucose meter.

24. A method of obtaining blood glucose test results from a glucose meter, the method comprising:

monitoring a communication link for a signal from the glucose meter at a given frequency;

detecting the existence of the signal from the glucose meter via the communication link;

initiating communication with the glucose meter via the communication link; and

receiving data from the glucose meter via the communication link.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

(a) sending a request to the glucose meter before listening for a signal.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

(a) waiting a predetermined time after detecting no response before sending another request.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein:

(a) the given frequency is dependent upon the predetermined time of the waiting step.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein:

(a) sending a request includes transmitting a request over a wireless network.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein:

(a) monitoring a communication link includes sensing a wireless signal.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

(a) storing a response from the glucose meter in a computing system, the response including a test result.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein:

(a) storing the response includes storing a blood glucose level.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein:

(a) storing the response includes storing a glycosylated hemoglobin level.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein:

(a) storing the response includes storing a patient identifier associated with the test result.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein:

(a) storing the response includes storing a device identifier associated with the test result.

35. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

tracking the glucose level of a patient; and

providing an alert based upon the glucose level.

36. A system for coordinating communication of blood glucose test results comprising:

(a) a glucose meter configured to obtain a test result representative of a blood glucose level of a patient;

(b) a remote system configured to communicate with the glucose meter via a network, the remote system configured to receive and store test results obtained by the glucose meter in a database containing patient data;

(c) wherein the remote system periodically receives the test results via a communication session automatically initiated by a component of the system; and

(d) wherein the remote system tracks the glucose level of the patient and generates an alert based upon the glucose level of the patient.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein:

(a) the remote system alerts a health care provider if the test result is outside the parameters so that the health care provider can contact the patient.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein:

(a) the alert comprises an exception report.

39. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

(a) a monitoring system configured to communicate with the glucose meter and configured to receive and store test results obtained by the glucose meter.

40. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

(a) a plurality of glucose meters configured to communicate with a plurality of monitoring systems, the plurality of monitoring systems configured to communicate with the remote system via the network.

41. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

(a) a workstation configured to communicate with the remote system via the network, the workstation configured to access at least a portion of the patient data stored in the database.

42. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

(a) a line-powered communications device configured to communicate with the glucose meter.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein:

(a) the component of the system is the monitoring system.

44. The system of claim 36, wherein:

(a) the component of the system is the remote system.

45. The system of claim 36, wherein:

(a) the component of the system is the glucose meter.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein:

(a) the component of the system is the line-powered communications device.

47. The system of claim 36, wherein:

(a) the test result includes data representative of a blood glucose test result.

48. The system of claim 36, wherein:

(a) the test result includes data representative of a glycosylated hemoglobin test result.

49. A glucose meter system comprising:

(a) a glucose meter configured to determine a test result representative of a patient'"'"'s blood glucose level;

(b) a line powered communication device communicatively coupled to the glucose meter, the line powered communication device configured to access data and communicate the data over a wired communication link, the data including the test result, wherein the line powered communications device is at least partially powered with power received from the wired communication link.

50. The glucose meter system of claim 49, wherein:

(a) the line powered communication device is configured to selectively place the glucose meter in a low power mode and remove the glucose meter from the low power mode.

51. The glucose meter system of claim 49, wherein:

(a) the line powered communication device resides within a housing integral with the glucose meter.

52. The glucose meter system of claim 49, wherein:

(a) the line powered communication device is a line powered modem.

53. The glucose meter system of claim 49, wherein:

(a) the line powered communication device provides a power signal to the glucose meter.

54. The glucose meter system of claim 49, further comprising:

(a) a control signal configured to allow a patient to selectively power the glucose meter system with a battery or the line powered communication device.

55. The glucose meter system of claim 49, wherein:

(a) the glucose meter is operable in a low power mode wherein the line powered communication device remains active and can access the test result in the glucose meter while the glucose meter is in the low power mode.

56. The glucose meter system of claim 49, wherein:

(a) the line powered communication device communicates the test result to a remote system via the communications link.

57. The glucose meter system of claim 49, wherein:

(a) the communication link comprises a network connection.

58. The glucose meter system of claim 49, wherein:

(a) the communication link comprises a telephone line.

59. The glucose meter system of claim 49, wherein:

(a) the line powered communication device maintains a communicative connection to a remote system via the communication link.

60. A blood glucose test result communication system comprising:

(a) a glucose meter configured to compute and store a test result representative of a patient'"'"'s blood glucose level;

(b) a line powered communication device communicatively coupled to the glucose meter and configured to automatically access the test result and communicate the test result over a wired communication link, the line powered communication device at least partially powered with power received from the wired communication link;

(c) a remote system communicatively connected to the line powered communication device via the communication link, the remote system configured to accept and store the test result in a database.

61. The blood glucose test result communication system of claim 60, wherein:

(a) the line powered communication device resides within a housing integral with the glucose meter.

62. The blood glucose test result communication system of claim 60, wherein:

(a) the line powered communication device is a line powered modem.

63. The blood glucose test result communication system of claim 60, wherein:

(a) the line powered communication device is configured to communicate the test result to the remote system at a predetermined time.

64. The blood glucose test result communication system of claim 60, wherein:

(a) the communication link is a network connection.

65. The blood glucose test result communication system of claim 60, wherein:

(a) the glucose meter includes a low power mode.

66. The blood glucose test result communication system of claim 60, wherein:

(a) the line powered communication device is configured to communicate the test result over a communication link while the glucose meter resides in the low power mode.

67. The blood glucose test result communication system of claim 60, wherein:

(a) the line powered communication device is configured to communicate directly with the remote system via the communication link.

68. The blood glucose test result communication system of claim 60, wherein:

(a) the database includes test results from a plurality of glucose meters received by the remote system.

69. The blood glucose test result communication system of claim 68, wherein:

(a) the database associates the test results with one or more patient identifiers.

70. A method of communicating between a glucose meter and a remote system, the glucose meter communicatively connected to a line powered communication device at least partially powered with power received from a wired communication link, the method comprising:

acquiring a test result representative of a blood glucose level, the test result accessible to the glucose meter and the line powered communication device;

placing the glucose meter in a low power mode; and

transferring the test result from the line powered communication device to the remote system.

71. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

(a) initiating a connection between the line powered communication device and the remote system.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein:

(a) initiating a connection between the line powered communication device and the remote system is performed by the line powered communication device.

73. The method of claim 70, wherein:

(a) the test result is based on a blood sample applied to a test strip.

74. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

powering on the glucose meter;

initializing the line powered communication device;

requesting insertion of a test strip into the glucose meter; and

requesting a blood sample be applied to the test strip.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein:

(a) powering on the glucose meter is performed by the line powered communications device.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein:

(a) powering on the glucose meter is performed by a patient using the glucose meter.

77. The method of claim 74, wherein:

(a) initializing the line powered communication device is performed before powering on the glucose meter.

78. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

(a) displaying the test result on a display integrated into the glucose meter.

79. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

(a) waiting a predetermined time and repeating one or more steps so as to transfer a second test result from the line powered communication device to the remote system.

80. The method of claim 70, wherein:

(a) transferring the test result comprises automatically transferring the test result to the remote system.

81. A method of communicating a blood glucose test result between a glucose meter and a computing system, the method comprising:

waking the glucose meter from a low power state;

obtaining a blood glucose test result;

storing a predetermined communication time;

physically connecting the glucose meter to a communications device;

placing the glucose meter in the low power state;

automatically initiating a communication session between the glucose meter and the computing system over a communication link at the predetermined communication time and in response to physically connecting the glucose meter to the communications device;

receiving a response from the computing system; and

automatically sending the blood glucose test result from the glucose meter to the computing system via the communication link.