Medical Software Download to Mobile Phone

• US 20090099864A1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Van Vincente, Alberto, Andreau, Fernando, Cronrath, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 9,811,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method for monitoring medical data is disclosed, the method being applicable to a system comprising a portable medical device, a mobile communications device, and, optionally, a medical care server. The portable medical device and the mobile communications device each comprise at least one interface for data transfer. The method comprises a step of establishing a download link between the mobile communications device and a download server. The method comprises a step of selecting an appropriate communication software package from a plurality of communication software packages for controlling data transfer between the mobile communications device and the portable medical device from the download server. Further, the method comprises a download step for downloading communication software packages from the download server to the mobile communications device and a step of installation of the communication software package on the mobile communications device.

Claims

1-31. -31. (canceled)

32. A method for monitoring medical data using a portable medical device and a mobile communications device, the portable medical device and the mobile communications device each comprising at least one interface for data transfer, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a download link between the mobile communications device and a download server;

selecting a communication software package from a plurality of communication software packages for controlling a data transfer between a mobile communications device and a portable medical device stored on the download server;

downloading the communication software package from the download server to the mobile communications device; and

installing the communication software package on the mobile communications device.

33. The method as set forth in claim 32 wherein the type of software package selected depends upon the type of mobile communications device and the type of portable medical device.

34. The method as set forth in claim 32, further including the step of exchanging a set of medical information between the portable medical device and the mobile communications device occurs through the transfer of data.

35. The method as set forth in claim 34, wherein the set of medical information comprises diagnostic information.

36. The method as set forth in claim 34, wherein the set of medical information is selected from a group consisting of:

glucose level information;

blood pressure information;

cholesterol level information;

coagulation information;

measuring time; and

dose information for an insulin medication.

37. The method as set forth in claim 34, further including the step of storing the set of medical information in a database on the mobile communications device.

38. The method as set forth in claim 34, further including the step of applying at least one evaluation algorithm to the set of medical information.

39. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein the download link comprises a wireless connection.

40. The method as set forth in claim 33, wherein the data transfer between the mobile communications device and the portable medical device comprises a wireless data transfer.

41. The method as set forth in claim 40, wherein the wireless data transfer is selected from a group consisting of:

an infra-red data transfer;

a radio frequency data transfer; and

near field communication data transfer.

42. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein the download server detects the type of mobile communications device.

43. The method as set forth in claim 42, further including the steps of:

offering the user a selection from the plurality of communication software packages; and

selecting by the user a suitable communication software package for the type of mobile communications device.

44. The method as set forth in claim 32, further comprising the following steps:

establishing an upload link between the mobile communications device and a medical care server; and

exchanging a second set of medical information between the mobile communications device and the medical care server.

45. The method as set forth in claim 32, further including the step of transmitting an electronic message to the mobile communications device comprising a download address defining a download location on the download server.

46. The method as set forth in claim 45, wherein the electronic message comprises a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Push Message.

47. The method as set forth in claim 45, wherein the download address is selected from a group consisting of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

48. The method as set forth in claim 32, further including the step of graphically presenting a set of medical user information to a patient through the mobile communications device.

49. A method for monitoring medical data using a portable medical device and a mobile communications device, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a download link between the mobile communications device and a download server;

selecting a communication software package from a plurality of communication software packages for uploading at least one set of medical information from the mobile communications device to a medical care server, wherein the selected package depends upon the type of mobile communications device being utilized;

downloading the upload communication software package to the mobile communications device; and

installing the upload communication software package on the mobile communications device.

50. The method as set forth in claim 49, further including the step of uploading the at least one set of medical information to the medical care server.

51. The method as set forth in claim 50, further including the step of transmitting at least one Short Message Service (SMS) message from the mobile communications device to the medical care server.

52. The method as set forth in claim 49, wherein the at least one set of medical information is selected from a group consisting of:

glucose level information;

blood pressure information;

cholesterol level information;

coagulation information;

measuring time; and

dose information for an insulin medication.

53. A system for monitoring medical data comprising:

a portable medical device including at least one interface for data transfer;

a mobile communications device including at least one interface for data transfer and means for establishing a download link; and

a download server including a plurality of software packages for controlling data transfer between the mobile communications device and the portable medical device and means for establishing a download link,

wherein the mobile communications device and the download server comprise means for exchanging information detailing at least one of the type of mobile communications device and the type of portable medical device being used and means for choosing an appropriate communication software package from the plurality of communication software packages based upon at least one of the type of mobile communications device and the type of portable medical device.

54. The system as set forth in claim 53, wherein the mobile communications device is selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone;

a personal digital assistant (PDA); and

a handheld computer.

55. The system as set forth in claim 53, wherein the portable medical device is selected from a group consisting of a glucose meter;

a blood glucose meter;

a cholesterol meter;

a blood pressure meter;

a coagulation meter; and

an insulin pump.

56. The system as set forth in claim 53, wherein the at least one interface for data transfer is selected from a group consisting of an infra-red data transfer interface;

a radio frequency data transfer interface; and

a near field communication (NFC) interface.