Medical device with automatic time and date correction

• US 20100165795A1
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Welsh, Raymond, Shadforth, Ian, Elder, David
• Application Number:
  US12/319,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20100165795A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/10
• 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: G04R 20/22 Tuning or receiving; Circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

Various exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses are described and illustrated in which time and date of are provided to a medical device via wireless signals to ensure accurate time keeping by the medical device.

Claims

1. A method for setting a date and time in a medical device to a time zone in which the medical device is located, the medical device having a microcontroller responsive to blood glucose values and connected to a wireless receiver, the method comprising:

scanning a predetermined range of frequency values with the wireless receiver, in which at least one frequency value has a wireless signal, the wireless signal having a current date and time information encoded therein;

determining a frequency value having a signal strength greater than as compared to any other frequency values in the predetermined range;

setting the wireless receiver to the determined frequency value; and

synchronizing a clock in the medical device to the current date and time encoded at the determined frequency value.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the scanning on occurs upon a pre-programmed event, which is selected from the group consisting of

(i) an installation of a new battery into the medical device,

(ii) an activation of the medical device,

(iii) a predetermined time of a day, and

(iv) a determination of a glucose concentration.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising turning off the wireless receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the scanning occurs upon physically transforming glucose on a test strip to an enzymatic by-product where the test strip is coupled to a strip port connector of the medical device.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the wireless receiver is turned on for a duration of less than about 10 seconds before being turned off.

6. The method of claim 2, in which the step of turning on the wireless receiver is adjusted to occur at a time interval of about one minute.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the frequency value having a signal strength greater than as compared to any other frequency values in the predetermined range in a memory of the medical device; and

setting the wireless receiver to the stored frequency value without performing the scanning step when the FM receiver is turned on again.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the wireless signal includes a FM signal and the wireless receiver includes a FM receiver.

9. The method of claim 8, in which the predetermined range of frequency values ranges from about 80 MHz to about 108 MHz.

10. The method of claim 9, in which the FM signal comprises a subcarrier frequency of about 57 kHz to carry the current date and time information encoded therein at about 1187.5 bits per second.

11. The method of claim 10, in which the FM signal comprises a third harmonic of a pilot tone for FM stereo.

12. The method of claim 1, in which the medical device includes a glucose meter.

13. The method of claim 1, in which the medical device includes an insulin pump.

14. A method for wirelessly setting a date and time in a medical device including a microcontroller coupled to a wireless receiver, the method comprising:

determining that a new battery has been installed into the medical device;

automatically turning on a wireless receiver in the medical device when there is a determination that the new battery has been installed;

receiving a wireless signal with the wireless receiver, the wireless signal comprising a current date and time information encoded therein;

synchronizing a clock in the medical device to the wireless signal; and

turning off the wireless receiver.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

scanning a predetermined range of frequency values with the wireless receiver;

determining a frequency value having a signal strength greater than a predetermined threshold; and

setting the wireless receiver to the frequency value having a signal strength greater than the predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

scanning a predetermined range of frequency values with the wireless receiver;

determining a frequency value having a maximum signal strength; and

setting the wireless receiver to the frequency value having the maximum signal strength.

17. The method of claim 14, in which the wireless signal includes a FM signal and the wireless receiver includes a FM receiver, the FM receiver being turned on for a duration of less than about 10 seconds before being turned off.

18. The method of claim 17, in which the step of turning on the FM receiver is adjusted to occur at a time interval of about one minute.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

storing the frequency value having a signal strength greater than the predetermined threshold in a memory of the medical device; and

setting the wireless receiver to the stored frequency value without performing the scanning step when the FM receiver is turned on again.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

storing the frequency value having a signal strength greater than as compared to any other frequency values in the predetermined range in a memory of the medical device; and

setting the wireless receiver to the stored the frequency value without performing the scanning step when the FM receiver is turned on again.

21. The method of claim 17, in which the wireless signal includes a FM signal and the wireless receiver includes a FM receiver, and the predetermined range of frequency values ranges from about 80 MHz to about 108 MHz.

22. The method of claim 21, in which the FM signal comprises a subcarrier frequency of about 57 kHz to carry the current date and time information encoded therein at about 1187.5 bits per second.

23. The method of claim 22, in which the FM signal comprises a third harmonic of a pilot tone for FM stereo.

24. The method of claim 14, in which the medical device includes a glucose meter.

25. The method of claim 14, in which the medical device includes an insulin pump.

26. A method for wirelessly setting a date and time in a medical device including a microcontroller responsive to blood glucose values and connected to a wireless receiver, the method comprising:

determining that a glucose measurement was performed with the medical device;

automatically turning on a wireless receiver in the medical device when there is a determination that the glucose measurement was performed;

receiving a wireless signal with the wireless receiver, the wireless signal comprising a current date and time information encoded therein;

synchronizing a clock in the medical device to the wireless signal; and

turning off the wireless receiver.

27. The method of claim 26, in which the determined glucose measurement includes physically transforming glucose to an enzymatic by-product.

28. A glucose test meter comprising:

a circuit configured to measure a glucose concentration;

a wireless receiver configured to select a wireless signal with a signal strength greater than as compared to any other frequency values in a predetermined frequency range, the wireless signal having encoded information on a current date and time;

a clock;

a microprocessor configured to turn on the wireless receiver when a glucose measurement is performed with the circuit, and synchronize the clock with the current date and time information encoded by the wireless signal with the strongest signal strength; and

a display configured to illustrate a current date and time therein of a time zone in which the meter is located in with a measured glucose concentration thereon, the display being connected to the microprocessor.

29. A glucose test meter comprising:

a circuit configured to measure a glucose concentration;

a wireless receiver configured to select a wireless signal with a signal strength greater than as compared to any other frequency values in a predetermined frequency range, the wireless signal having encoded information on a current date and time;

a clock;

a microprocessor configured to turn on the wireless receiver when a new battery is installed into the glucose test meter, control the circuit, and synchronize the clock with the current date and time information encoded in the wireless signal; and

a display configured to illustrate a current date and time therein of a time zone in which the glucose meter is located in with a measured glucose concentration thereon, the display being connected to the microprocessor.