PATIENT MONITOR AS A MINIMALLY INVASIVE GLUCOMETER

• US 20140275881A1
• Filed: 03/04/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cercacor Laboratories
• Inventors: Poeze, Jeroen, Dalvi, Cristiano, Vo, Hung, Lesmana, Ferdyan, Olsen, Gregory A., Merritt, Sean, Lamego, Marcelo M., Patel, Ashish
• Granted Patent: US 9,474,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters

Abstract

In an embodiment, a patient monitor, such as a pulse oximeter, functions as a spot check glucometer when in communication with a blood glucose strip reader. In an embodiment, communications between the patient monitor and the strip reader may optionally be encrypted. Embodiments also include the strip reader housed in a dongle configured to mate with a sensor port of the pulse oximeter.

Claims

1. A spot check monitoring system using a monitor configured to accept signals responsive to light attenuated by body tissue comprising:

a minimally invasive glucose reader; and

a patient monitor in communication with said minimally invasive glucose reader,

wherein, when a glucose level is read by said minimally invasive glucose reader, said glucose level is transmitted to said patient monitor,

wherein said patient monitor is configurable as an oximeter and is configurable to display said glucose level when said glucose level is transmitted to said patient monitor.

2. The spot check monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a dongle, wherein said dongle houses said minimally invasive glucose reader.

3. The spot check monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a reader board, wherein said minimally invasive glucose reader is mounted on said reader board.

4. The spot check monitoring system of claim 3, further comprising an encryption controller configured to encrypt information from said minimally invasive glucose reader.

5. The spot check monitoring system of claim 4, further comprising an encryption board, wherein said encryption controller is mounted on said encryption board.

6. The spot check monitoring system of claim 5, wherein said encryption board and said reader board are different boards.

7. The spot check monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising strips configured to be read by said minimally invasive glucose reader, wherein said strips comprise source identifying strips.

8. The spot check monitoring system of claim 1, wherein when said patient monitor is configured as said oximeter, said patient monitor communicates with an optical sensor that outputs signals responsive to light attenuated by patient tissue carrying pulsing blood, said patient monitor receiving said signals and configured to process said signals to determine physiological parameters including at least an indication of oxygen saturation of the patient tissue.

9. A method of converting a patient monitor to a spot check glucometer, comprising:

providing a minimally invasive glucose reader configured to accept strips carrying samples to be analyzed;

providing a patient monitor configured to communicate with an optical sensor to receive signals responsive to light attenuated by tissue of a patient carrying pulsing blood, to process said signals, to determine one or more measurements of physiological parameters of said patient including at least oxygen saturation;

associating said reader with said patient monitor causing said patient monitor to change to a spot check glucometer;

inserting one of said strips into said reader; and

displaying on a display of said patient monitor measurement data responsive to said sample on said inserted strip.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said associating comprises establishing electrical communication between said reader and said patient monitor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said establishing electrical communication comprises attaching a dongle housing said reader.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said establishing electrical communication comprises establishing encrypted communication with said monitor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein establishing electrical communication comprises establishing communication through an encryption board.

14. An encrypted source-identifying glucose strip reader configured to change an oximeter into a glucometer, said reader comprising:

a strip reader configured to accept samples on a strip and output a signal responsive to characteristics of said sample, said characteristics including a measure of glucose in said sample;

a controller communicating with said strip reader to determine said measure of glucose from said sample and output data indicative of at least said measure; and

an encryption controller configured to receive said data from said controller and output encrypted data to an oximeter configured to modify its operation to present display indicia to a user of the oximeter, the display indicia responsive to said measure of said glucose in said sample, the encrypted data identifying by its encryption the source of the reader.

15. The reader of claim 14, further comprising a reader board, wherein said strip reader and said controller are mounted on said reader board.

16. The reader of claim 14, further comprising an encryption board, wherein said encryption controller is mounted on said encryption board.

17. The reader of claim 16, wherein said strip reader and said controller are mounted on said encryption board.

18. The reader of claim 14, further comprising a dongle, wherein the strip reader, the controller and the encryption controller are housed within a dongle.

19. The reader of claim 18, wherein said dongle comprises a connector, said connector having a mechanical and pin layout that mechanically mates with an oximeter connector normally connected to a noninvasive optical sensor.

20. The reader of claim 18, wherein said strip reader and said controller comprises an OEM strip reader and controller.