Handheld personal data assistant (PDA) with a medical device and method of using the same

• US 6,641,533 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minimed, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Henke, James L., Purvis, Richard E., Causey, James D. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASTORINO, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US09/935,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300-301, 600/316, 600/347, 600/365, 128/903-904, 128/920, 702/104, 379/106--10, 705/2-4, 340/573.1, 604/66
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3351 Controlling upstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 : by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 : electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 : using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 : Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 : Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 : Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 : Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A medical device module for use in a system with a remote programmer and/or a personal data assistant (PDA) with at least one medical device includes a housing, at least one medical device and a processor. The housing is adapted to couple with the PDA. The at least one medical device interface is coupled to the housing for interfacing with the at least one medical device. The processor is coupled to the at least one medical device interface to process data from the at least one medical device. The processor is also capable of interfacing with the PDA.

Claims

1. A remote programmer for interfacing with at least one medical device, the remote programmer comprising:

at least one medical device module operatively coupled with the remote programmer and including at least one medical device interface including a sensor receiver for interfacing with and receiving sensor data signals at a predetermined rate from a characteristic sensor, wherein the sensor data signals monitor a characteristic of a user over a period of time, wherein the sensor data signals are received by the sensor receiver near continuously;

at least one processor to interface with the remote programmer and coupled to the at least one medical device interface to process the sensor data signals;

a housing adapted to contain the medical device module and the at least one processor;

a characteristic meter within the housing for receiving and testing a discrete sample of an analyte to determine the quantity of the analyte independently of the characteristic sensor, wherein the processor is coupled to the sensor receiver and the characteristic meter to process the determined quantity of the analyte from the characteristic meter and the sensor data signals from the characteristic sensor;

at least one input/output port for communicating with the characteristic sensor;

at least one display including at least one touch screen element to interface with at least one of the at least one processor and the characteristic sensor;

at least one button to interface with at least one of the at least one processor and the characteristic sensor;

at least one audio indication device coupled to the at least one processor to provide an audio indication; and

at least one portable power supply contained within the housing of the remote programmer to provide power to at least one of the at least one processor.

2. The remote programmer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one medical device module has a separate housing that is adapted to couple with the housing of the remote programmer.

3. The remote programmer according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic sensor is remotely located from the at least one medical device module, and wherein the sensor receiver receives the sensor data signals as wireless signals from the remotely located characteristic sensor.

4. The remote programmer according to claim 1, further including a transmitter coupled to the at least one processor and the at least one input/output port for transmitting the processed sensor data signals to another data receiving device.

5. The remote programmer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one medical device module uses the display of the remote programmer to show the determined quantity of the analyte from the characteristic meter and the processed sensor data signals from the characteristic sensor.

6. The remote programmer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor monitors the sensor data signals from the sensor receiver to determine when the characteristic meter is to be used to perform calibration of the sensor data signals.

7. The remote programmer according to claim 1, further including at least one memory to store the determined quantity of the analyte from the characteristic meter and the processed sensor data signals from the characteristic sensor.

8. The remote programmer according to claim 1, wherein the sensor data signals are received by the sensor receiver continuously.

9. The remote programmer according to claim 1, wherein the remote programmer is personal data assistant (PDA).

10. A medical device module for use in a system with at least one medical device and the remote programmer according to claim 1, the medical device module comprising:

a module housing adapted to couple with the housing of the remote programmer;

the at least one medical device interface is coupled to the module housing including a sensor receiver for interfacing with and receiving sensor data signals at a predetermined rate from a characteristic sensor, wherein the sensor data signals monitor a characteristic of a user over a period of time, wherein the sensor data signals are received by the sensor receiver near continuously; and

at least one module processor coupled to the at least one medical device interface to process the sensor data signals wherein the at least one module processor is capable of interfacing with the at least one processor of the remote programmer; and

a characteristic meter within the housing for receiving and testing a discrete sample of an analyte to determine the quantity of the analyte independently of the characteristic sensor, wherein the processor is coupled to the sensor receiver and the characteristic meter to process the determined quantity of the analyte from the characteristic meter and the sensor data signals from the characteristic sensor.

11. A medical device module for use in a system with at least one medical device and the remote programmer according to claim 1, the medical device module comprising:

a housing adapted to couple with the remote programmer;

an interface coupled to the housing for remotely interfacing with an infusion device and including a sensor receiver for interfacing with and receiving sensor data signals at a predetermined rate from a characteristic sensor, wherein the sensor data signals monitor a characteristic of a user over a period of time; and

a processor coupled to the interface to process the sensor data signals or instructions for or received data from the infusion device, and wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with the remote programmer.

12. The remote programmer according to claim 11, wherein the processed instructions updates delivery parameters of the infusion device.

13. The remote programmer according to claim 11, further comprising:

a characteristic meter within the housing for receiving and testing a discrete sample of an analyte to determine the quantity of the analyte, wherein the processor is coupled to the characteristic meter to process the determined quantity of the analyte from the characteristic meter.

14. The remote programmer according to claim 1, further including a transmitter coupled to the at least one processor and the at least one input/output port, wherein the at least one processor further includes the ability to program other medical devices, and wherein the transmitter transmits a program to the other medical devices.

15. The remote programmer according to claim 14, wherein the transmitter transmits through a relay device between the transmitter and a remotely located processing device.

16. The remote programmer according to claim 15, wherein the relay device increases a maximum distance by amplifying the processed sensor data signals from the transmitter to be received by the remotely located processing device.

17. The remote programmer according to claim 15, wherein the relay device enables the remotely located processing device to be located in a different room than the transmitter.

18. The remote programmer according to claim 13, wherein the relay device includes a telecommunications device, and wherein when the transmitter generates an alarm the telecommunications device transmits the alarm to a remotely located receiving station.

19. The remote programmer according to claim 1, further including a data receiver, and wherein the data receiver receives program instructions from other processing devices.

20. A remote programmer for interfacing with at least one medical device, the remote programmer comprising:

a housing adapted to couple with the remote programmer;

an interface coupled to the housing for remotely interfacing with an infusion device and including a sensor receiver for interfacing with and receiving sensor data signals at a predetermined rate from a characteristic sensor, wherein the sensor data signals monitor a characteristic of a user over a period of time; and

a processor coupled to the interface to process the sensor data signals or instructions for or received data from the infusion device, and wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with the remote programmer.

21. The remote programmer according to claim 20, wherein the processed instructions updates delivery parameters of the infusion device.

22. The remote programmer according to claim 20, further comprising:

a characteristic meter within the housing for receiving and testing a discrete sample of an analyte to determine the quantity of the analyte, wherein the processor is coupled to the characteristic meter to process the determined quantity of the analyte from the characteristic meter.