System and method for monitoring communication

• US 7,650,146 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Disetronic Licensing Ag
• Inventors: Eberhart, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TUAN
• Application Number:
  US11/316,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20060160491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 455/421, 455/423, 455/424, 455/425, 455/67.11, 455/67.7, 455/404.1, 455/420, 455/456.1, 455/556.1, 455/156.1, 455/226.4, 600/309, 600345-366, 604 65- 67, 604/31, 604/522, 604/503, 604/504
• US Class Current: 455/421
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/73 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensing coils

Abstract

A system including at least two distally separated devices that are in wireless communication with each other, wherein at least one of the two devices is provided with a warning mechanism configured to indicate an existing or imminent interruption or disturbance of communication. The inventive system may include a base unit and at least one mobile medical or pharmaceutical device in unidirectional communication or bidirectional communication with the base unit. A method for monitoring wireless communication between at least two devices is encompassed, wherein at least one of the two devices indicates an existing or imminent interruption or disturbance of the wireless communication by changing a type of the communication signal transmission.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a base device comprising a transmitting and receiving unit;

at least one device remote from the base device that is in wireless communication with the base device, wherein one of the at least one device comprises a medical or pharmaceutical device, and wherein the base device registers and controls the function of the medical or pharmaceutical device related to the administration of a medicinal fluid from the medical or pharmaceutical device in response to signals received from one or more of the at least one device; and

a warning device provided in at least one of the base device and medical or pharmaceutical device, wherein the warning device comprises an optical or acoustic alarm, and wherein the warning device indicates an existing or imminent interruption or disturbance of the wireless communication between the base device and one or more of the at least one device by activation of the optical or acoustic alarm.

2. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base device comprises a transmitting unit and the at least one device comprises a receiving unit, and wherein the base device is in wireless communication with the at least one device through a communication signal emitted by the transmitting unit and received by the receiving unit.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wireless communication between the base device and the at least one device is unidirectional.

4. The communication system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the at least one device comprises a transmitting and receiving unit.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wireless communication between the base device and the at least one device is bidirectional.

6. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base device receives a defined response signal, wherein the defined response signal is responsive to receipt of the communication signal.

7. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the communication signal is formed by periodically emitted signal sequences.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the signal sequences are emitted at a predetermined interval.

9. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the communication signal includes encrypted information.

10. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the communication signal is an inductive signal.

11. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the communication signal is a radio-frequency signal.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medical or pharmaceutical device is an infusion device, an injection device, or an inhalation device.

20. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein another of the at least one device comprises a measuring device, and wherein the base device receives signals from a the measuring device and transmits control signals to the medical or pharmaceutical device in response to the received measuring device signals.

21. The system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the warning device indicates the existing or imminent interruption or disturbance of the wireless communication upon detecting a maximum permissible distance between two or more of the base device, medical or pharmaceutical device and measuring device.

22. The system as claimed in claim 21, wherein a maximum permissible distance between the base device and the medical or pharmaceutical device is different from a maximum permissible distance between the medical or pharmaceutical device and the measuring device.

13. A method for monitoring wireless communication over a predetermined distance between a base device comprising a transmitting and receiving unit and at least one device, wherein one of the at least one device comprises a medical or pharmaceutical device, wherein the base device is in wireless communication with the medical or pharmaceutical device through a communication signal, wherein the base device controls a function of the medical device related to the administration of a medicinal fluid from the medical or pharmaceutical device in response to signals received from one or more of the at least one device, and wherein the medical or pharmaceutical device indicates an existing or imminent interruption or disturbance of the wireless communication by activating an optical or acoustic alarm in the medical or pharmaceutical device.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the interruption or disturbance is indicated if the predetermined distance between the base device and the at least one device is exceeded.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the interruption or disturbance is indicated if the base device or the at least one device registers a change, attenuation, interruption, or disturbance of the communication signal.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the communication signal is formed by periodically emitted signal sequences.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the signal sequences are emitted at a predetermined interval.

18. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the medical or pharmaceutical device is an infusion device, an injection device, or an inhalation device.

19. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein another of the at least one device comprises a medical or pharmaceutical device in wireless communication connection with the other medical or pharmaceutical device through a second communication signal.

23. A communication system comprising:

a base device;

a medical device remote from the base device that is in wireless communication with the base device;

a measuring device remote from the base device and the medical device that is in wireless communication with the base device and the medical device; and

a warning device provided in each of the medical device and the measuring device, wherein the warning device indicates an existing or imminent interruption or disturbance of the wireless communication between the base device and the medical device or the measuring device, wherein the warning device comprises an optical or acoustic alarm;

wherein the base device registers and controls the function of the medical device related to the administration of a medicinal fluid from the medical or pharmaceutical device in response to signals received from the measuring device.