Automobile physiological monitoring system and method for using the same

• US 8,207,860 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Enegren, Bradley J., Patel, Himanshu, Madzar, Bogdan, Yoon, Richard K., Narang, Ajit S.
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US12/423,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20090267775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539.12, 340/426.11, 340/426.13, 340/438, 340/439, 340/426.19, 340/426.23, 340/426.3, 340/539.13, 180/272, 180/275, 600/300, 600/301, 600/365, 701/1, 455/556.1, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1468 using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means A61B5/1486 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence

Abstract

An automobile monitoring system to monitor user body characteristics includes at least one sensor to monitor at least one user body characteristic. The at least one sensor is operatively coupled to a body of a user to monitor the at least one user body characteristic while the user is operating an automobile. The at least one user body characteristic is at least a glucose level of the user'"'"'s body. At least one transmitter is operatively coupled to the at least one sensor to communicate sensor data obtained from the at least one sensor while the user is operating the automobile. Automobile electronics are operatively coupled to the at least one transmitter to receive sensor data from the at least one sensor while the user is operating the automobile. The automobile electronics provide the sensor data to the user while the user is operating the automobile. A global positioning system (GPS) is operatively coupled to the automobile electronics to determine a current location of the user. The automobile electronics limit the user from operating the automobile to travel beyond a distance based on the sensor data received from the at least one sensor.

Claims

1. An automobile monitoring system to monitor user body characteristics, comprising:

at least one sensor to monitor at least one user body characteristic, wherein the at least one sensor is operatively coupled to a body of a user to monitor the at least one user body characteristic while the user is operating an automobile, the at least one user body characteristic is at least a glucose level of the user'"'"'s body, and the at least one sensor is attached to the body of the user to sense the glucose level on either a continuous, near continuous, or intermittent basis while the user is operating the automobile;

at least one transmitter operatively coupled to the at least one sensor to communicate sensor data obtained from the at least one sensor while the user is operating the automobile;

automobile electronics operatively coupled to the at least one transmitter to receive sensor data from the at least one sensor while the user is operating the automobile, wherein the automobile electronics provide the sensor data to the user while the user is operating the automobile; and

a global positioning system (GPS) operatively coupled to the automobile electronics to determine a current location of the user, wherein the automobile electronics limit the user from operating the automobile to travel beyond a distance based on the sensor data received from the at least one sensor.

2. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the automobile electronics provide a recommended destination before or at the distance for the user to travel to from the current location.

3. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the sensor data further includes historical sensor data of the at least one user body characteristic.

4. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the sensor data received from the at least one sensor indicates a hypoglycemic or a hyperglycemic condition of the user.

5. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the automobile electronics permit the user to operate the automobile to travel beyond the distance to a second distance after making a stop before or at the distance.

6. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, further including:

at least one monitor operatively coupled to the at least one transmitter to receive the sensor data.

7. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one transmitter communicates with the automobile electronics using at least one wireless protocol.

8. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the automobile electronics include at least one of a GPS navigation system, a DVD entertainment system, an on-system computer, or a stereo system, and wherein the automobile electronics display sensor data to the user while the user is operating the automobile.

9. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the automobile electronics include default high blood glucose and low blood glucose thresholds for the at least one glucose level while the user is operating the automobile.

10. The automobile monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the automobile electronics further prevent ignition of the automobile when the sensor data is above the high blood glucose threshold or below the low blood glucose threshold.

11. The automobile monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the automobile electronics provide at least one warning when the sensor data is above the high blood glucose threshold or below the low blood glucose threshold while the user is operating the automobile.

12. The automobile monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the automobile electronics sound at least one alarm when the sensor data is above the high blood glucose threshold or below the low blood glucose threshold while the user is operating the automobile.

13. The automobile monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the at least one alarm provides at least one of audio, visual or tactile indications.

14. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is attached to the body of the user to sense the glucose level in bodily fluids of the user while the user is operating the automobile.

15. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is attached to the body of the user to sense the glucose level in interstitial fluid contained in the body of the user while the user is operating the automobile.

16. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is attached to the body of the user to sense the glucose level on a real-time basis while the user is operating the automobile.

17. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the automobile electronics provide a warning to the user, while the automobile is in operation, to pull over the automobile and check the sensor readings prior to continued operation of the automobile.

18. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the automobile electronics further include the ability to access a communication technology that can send sensor data to an operational center to obtain assistance for the user.

19. The automobile monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the automobile electronics provide warnings of potential hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic situations while the user is operating the automobile.