Method and apparatus for providing data communication in data monitoring and management systems

• US 20090068954A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Etter, Brad B., Reggiardo, Christopher V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,583,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/66.100
• 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 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement

Abstract

Method and apparatus for communicating with a sealed electronic device via the electronic device'"'"'s existing data ports for programming, testing configuration or diagnosis of the electronic device such as a transmitter unit for use in a data monitoring and management system such as analyte monitoring and management system is provided.

Claims

1. A data monitoring system, comprising:

a transmitter unit including a data port; and

an interface unit operatively coupled to the transmitter unit, the interface unit configured to establish a unidirectional data communication with the transmitter unit via the data port.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter unit includes a housing.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing is substantially water tight.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter unit is configured to transmit data over a wireless data network.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter unit includes an RF transmitter.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter unit data port includes one or more electrical contacts configured for receiving one or more signals corresponding to an analyte level.

7. The system of claim 1 further including a sensor unit configured to couple the data port of the transmitter unit.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the sensor unit includes an analyte sensor.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the analyte sensor includes a glucose sensor.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the sensor unit is configured to detect an analyte level of a patient.

11. A data monitoring system, comprising:

a transmitter unit including an input port and an output port;

an interface unit operatively coupled to the transmitter unit input port, the interface unit configured to transmit signals to the transmitter unit via the input port; and

a receiver unit operatively coupled to the transmitter unit output port, the receiver unit configured to receive data from the transmitter unit over a data network.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the output port of the transmitter unit includes a wireless data port.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the wireless data port includes an RF transmission data port.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the interface unit is configured to perform one or more of a transmitter unit diagnosis procedure, programming procedure, fault detection procedure, or a configuration procedure.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the interface unit includes an RS-232 interface circuit.

16. A method, comprising:

operatively coupling an interface unit to a data port of a transmitter unit; and

transmitting signals to the transmitter unit via the data port in a uni-directional path.

17. The method of claim 16 further including the step of wirelessly transmitting data from the transmitter unit to a receiver unit.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the wirelessly transmitting step includes the step of transmitting data over an RF data transmission path.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of transmitting signals to the transmitter unit includes the step of performing a predetermined procedure on the transmitter unit.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the predetermined procedure includes one or more of a transmitter unit diagnosis procedure, a transmitter unit programming procedure, a transmitter unit fault detection procedure, or a transmitter unit configuration procedure.