ANALYSIS OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION LINKS BETWEEN MEDICAL DEVICES

• US 20170086248A1
• Filed: 07/14/2016
• Published: 03/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sloan, Mark K.
• Granted Patent: US 10,149,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/70 with testing or calibration facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 Connection re-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method of processing information regarding medical devices in wireless communication with each other is provided in which a controller device has a first wireless communication link with a first medical device, such as an analyte sensor, and a second wireless communication link with a second medical device, such as a delivery device. A processor in the controller device monitors the status of the first and second wireless links and upon noting a degradation of either one, compares the first wireless link status with the second wireless link status and provides guidance for resolving a communication problem based on the comparison. The latency of the communicating medical devices is considered.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A base unit for use with a plurality of medical devices in wireless communication with each other, the base unit comprising:

a processor;

a power supply coupled to the processor;

a first transceiver coupled to the processor, the first transceiver configured to establish a first wireless communication link with a first medical device;

a second transceiver coupled to the processor, the second transceiver configured to establish a second wireless communication link with a second medical device; and

a memory for storing a program which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to monitor the statuses of the first wireless communication link and the second wireless communication link, determine when the base unit is out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device, and, if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device, to monitor the status of only one of the first wireless communication link and the second wireless communication link.

23. The base unit of claim 22, wherein the program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to operate only one of the first transceiver or the second transceiver in an idle mode if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.

24. The base unit of claim 22, wherein the program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to monitor the statuses of both the first wireless communication link and the second wireless communication link if the base unit is determined to be returned within range of the first medical device or the second medical device.

25. The base unit of claim 22, wherein the program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to output a visual alert to a display coupled to the processor if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.

26. The base unit of claim 22, wherein the program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to output an audible alarm if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.

27. The base unit of claim 22, wherein the program, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to cease outputting vibratory alerts if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.

28. The base unit of claim 23, wherein the program, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to periodically check at a predetermined time interval the status of the wireless communication link associated with the one of the first transceiver or the second transceiver operating in the idle mode.

29. The base unit of claim 28, wherein the predetermined time interval is ten minutes.

30. The base unit of claim 22, wherein the program, when executed by the processor, causes power reduction to a sleep mode if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.

31. The base unit of claim 22, wherein the program, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to reduce the retry rate for the transceiver of the one of the first wireless communication link or the second wireless communication link being monitored.

32. The base unit of claim 22, wherein the first medical device is a medical sensor device and the second medical device is a medical delivery device having a pump.

33. A method of analyzing communication links used by a plurality of medical devices in wireless communication with each other, the method comprising:

establishing, by a first transceiver of a base unit, a first wireless communication link between the base unit and a first medical device;

establishing, by a second transceiver of the base unit, a second wireless communication link between the base unit and a second medical device;

monitoring the statuses of the first wireless communication link and the second wireless communication link;

determining if the base unit is out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device; and

if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device, then monitoring the status of only one of the first wireless communication link or the second wireless communication link.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising operating only one of the first transceiver or the second transceiver in an idle mode if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising monitoring the statuses of the first wireless communication link and the second wireless communication link if the base unit is determined to be returned within range of the first medical device or the second medical device.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising outputting a visual alert to a display coupled to the processor if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising outputting an audible alarm if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.

38. The method of claim 33, further comprising ceasing to output vibratory alerts if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.

39. The method of claim 34, further comprising periodically checking at a predetermined time interval the status of the wireless communication link associated with the one of the first transceiver or the second transceiver operating in the idle mode.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the predetermined time interval is ten minutes.

41. The method of claim 33, further comprising reducing power to a sleep mode if the base unit is determined to be out of range with the first medical device and the second medical device.

42. The method of claim 33, further comprising reducing the retry rate for the transceiver of the one of the first wireless communication link or the second wireless communication link being monitored.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein the first medical device is a medical sensor device and the second medical device is a medical delivery device having a pump.