Diabetic insulin alarm system

• US 4,178,916 A
• Filed: 09/26/1977
• Issued: 12/18/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Elger W. Mcnamara
• Original Assignee: Elger W. Mcnamara
• Inventors: McNamara, Elger W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US05/836,250
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.1 A, 128/2.05 R, 128/2 R, 128/ 2 H, 128/2.1 Z
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound

Abstract

The disclosed Diabetic Insulin Alarm System is designed to monitor certain physiological conditions of the wearer associated with insulin shock. The system includes means to sense such physiological conditions of the wearer and to produce an electrical output. This output actuates a pulse generator which in turn energizes an oscillator producing oscillations that are applied both to an enclosed speaker and to a tuned circuit. The tuned circuit, in turn, energizes an antenna which radiates electromagnetic energy at a frequency to which an electromagnetic receiver may be tuned. Thus, by tuning an electromagnetic receiver, such as a radio, to the frequency radiated by the antenna, a wearer can employ the receiver to alert him to the onset of insulin shock, the audible tone produced by the speaker even waking him when asleep.

Claims

1. A diabetic shock alarm system designed to be worn on a person'"'"'s wrist and to monitor the wearer'"'"'s body temperature and skin resistance, signalling to the wearer the onset of diabetic shock, the system including:

Means to sense the body temperature of the wearer and to produce an electrical output,

Means to sense the skin resistance of the wearer and to produce an electrical output,

Pulse generator means actuated by an abnormal output of both the body temperature sensor means and the skin resistance sensor means to generate pulses only in response to an abnormal output of said sensor means,

Oscillator means actuated by pulses of a given polarity produced by the pulse generator,

A tuned circuit directly connected to both the pulse generator means and the oscillator means to be energized by both the pulses produced by the pulse generator and oscillations produced by the oscillator means, and

Antenna means connected to the tuned circuit to radiate electromagnetic energy at a frequency of an electromagnetic receiver, whereby the wearer may tune the electromagnetic receiver to the frequency of the tuned circuit, the system then alerting the wearer of the onset of diabetic shock through the electromagnetic receiver.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 including switch means to manually energize the pulse generator means, permitting the wearer to tune the electromagnetic receiver to the frequency of the electromagnetic radiation broadcast by the antenna means.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1 including a visual signal generator responsive to the output of the sensor means to visually alert the wearer to an abnormal physiological condition.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 including an audible signal generator responsive to the output of the sensor means to audibly alert the wearer to an abnormal physiological condition.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1 including means to adjust the frequency of the electromagnetic energy radiated by the antenna means.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1 including means to electromagnetically load the antenna means.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1 including switch means to manually energize the pulse generator, permitting the wearer to tune the electromagnetic receiver to the frequency of the electromagnetic energy broadcast by the antenna, the system further including signal generator means responsive to the output of the sensor means to alert the wearer to an abnormal physicological condition independent of the electromagnetic receiver, and means to adjust the frequency of the electromagnetic signals radiated by the antenna.

8. A system, as set forth in claim 7, in which at least one of the sensor means is adjustable.

9. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which at least one of said sensor means is adjustable.