Telemetered characteristic monitor system and method of using the same

• US 7,324,012 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2005
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mann, Alfred E., Hong, Peter, Mastrototaro, John J., Purvis, Richard E., Hague, Clifford W., Causey, James D., Henke, James, Hite, Brad T., Livingston, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang; Hung Q
• APPLICATION: US 20060007017A1
• Time in patent office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/331, 600/309, 600/323, 600/322, 340/870.07, 73/10.6
• US Class Current: 340/870.07
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• 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 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6849 in combination with a needle set
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1726 the body parameters being measured at, or proximate to, the infusion site

Abstract

A telemetered characteristic monitor system includes a remotely located data receiving device, a sensor for producing signal indicative of a characteristic of a user, and a transmitter device. The transmitter device includes a housing, a sensor connector, a processor, and a transmitter. The transmitter receives the signals from the sensor and wirelessly transmits the processed signals to the remotely located data receiving device. The processor coupled to the sensor processes the signals from the sensor for transmission to the remotely located data receiving device. The data receiving device may be a characteristic monitor, a data receiver that provides data to another device, an RF programmer for a medical device, a medication delivery device (such as an infusion pump), or the like.

Claims

1. A telemetered characteristic monitor system for monitoring a characteristic of a user, the system comprising:

a remotely located data receiving device;

a sensor for producing a first signal indicative of a characteristic of a user and a second signal indicative of the oxygen saturation level of the sensor; and

a transmitter device including;

a housing;

a sensor connector coupled to the housing and that is connectable to the sensor to receive signals from the sensor;

a processor within the housing coupled to the sensor connector to process the signals from the sensor for delivery to the remotely located data receiving device; and

a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the processed signals to the remotely located data receiving device.

2. The telemetered characteristic monitor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is calibrated based on the oxygen level.

3. The telemetered characteristic monitor system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor set including the sensor and a connector coupled to the sensor, wherein the sensor connector of the transmitter device is directly connected to the connector of the sensor set without any intermediate cable between the two.

4. The telemetered characteristic monitor system of claim 1 wherein the size of the housing is not greater than 2.0 square inches by 0.35 inches thick.

5. The telemetered characteristic monitor system of claim 1 wherein the size of the housing is not greater than 1.0 square inches by 0.25 inches thick.

6. The telemetered characteristic monitor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is implantable in tissue selected from the group consisting of subcutaneous, dermal, sub-dermal, intra-peritoneal, and peritoneal tissue.

7. The telemetered characteristic monitor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a percutaneous sensor.

8. The telemetered characteristic monitor system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter device further includes a wireless receiver to receive data and instructions from the data receiving device.

9. The telemetered characteristic monitor system of claim 1, wherein the data receiving device is an insulin pump.

10. The telemetered characteristic monitor system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits the processed signals by radio frequencies.

11. The telemetered characteristic monitor system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the user is a glucose level in the body of the user.