Method and apparatus for providing dynamic multi-stage amplification in a medical device

• US 8,427,298 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fennell, Martin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/437,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20120190954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 340/511, 422/68.1, 330/85, 204/401, 205/792
• US Class Current: 340/511
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0252 using ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• 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 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing multi-stage signal amplification in a medical telemetry system are provided.

Claims

1. A method of processing signals from a glucose sensor, comprising:

coupling a first amplifier that includes an output terminal that provides a first output signal, to a signal source;

coupling a second amplifier that includes an output terminal that provides a second output signal, to the output terminal of the first amplifier, wherein the first output signal is a predetermined ratio of the second output signal, and the first output signal and the second output signal are associated with an in vivo monitored glucose level;

operatively coupling an analog to digital (ND) converter to the output terminal of the second amplifier;

comparing signals at the second amplifier output terminal to a predetermined threshold value; and

processing a signal associated with the signals at the second amplifier output terminal when another signal at the second amplifier output terminal exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first amplifier includes a transimpedance amplifier.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first amplifier includes an inverting input terminal.

4. The method of claim 3 further including coupling a reference signal source to a noninverting input terminal of the first amplifier.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second amplifier includes a gain of two.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first output signal is associated with a signal level from the signal source.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the resolution of the analog to digital (ND) converter includes 12 bits.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined threshold value is greater than or equal to 4,000 bits.

9. The method of claim 1 further including configuring the signal source to receive a glucose sensor signal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the glucose sensor signal corresponds to an in vivo monitored glucose level.

11. The method of claim 1 further including operatively coupling the signal source to an in vivo glucose sensor.

12. The method of claim 1 further including operatively coupling a data communication unit to the processor to communicate data associated with one or more signals at the signal source.

13. The method of claim 12 further including enabling the data communication unit to wirelessly communicate the data.

14. The method of claim 12 further including enabling the data communication unit to communicate data using a radio frequency communication protocol.

15. The method of claim 12 further including enabling the data communication unit to communicate data to a remote location.

16. The method of claim 15 further including displaying the data communicated to the remote location.

17. An apparatus for processing signals from a glucose sensor, comprising:

a first amplifier that includes an output terminal that provides a first output signal coupled to a signal source;

a second amplifier that includes an output terminal that provides a second output signal coupled to the output terminal of the first amplifier, wherein the first output signal is a predetermined ratio of the second output signal, and the first output signal and the second output signal are associated with an in vivo monitored glucose level;

an analog to digital (A/D) converter operatively coupled to the output terminal of the second amplifier; and

a processing unit operatively coupled to one or more of the first amplifier, the second amplifier and the analog to digital converter to compare signals at the second amplifier output terminal to a predetermined threshold value, and to process a signal associated with the signals at the second amplifier output terminal when another signal at the second amplifier output terminal exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first amplifier includes a transimpedance amplifier.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first amplifier includes an inverting input terminal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further including a reference signal source coupled to a noninverting input terminal of the first amplifier.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the second amplifier includes a gain of two.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first output signal is associated with a signal level from the signal source.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the resolution of the analog to digital (ND) converter includes 12 bits.

24. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the predetermined threshold value is greater than or equal to 4,000 bits.

25. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the signal source is configured to receive a glucose sensor signal.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the analyte sensor signal corresponds to an in vivo monitored glucose level.

27. The apparatus of claim 17 further including an in vivo glucose sensor operatively coupled to the signal source.

28. The apparatus of claim 17 further including a data communication unit operatively coupled to the processing unit to communicate data associated with one or more signals at the signal source.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the data communication unit wirelessly communicates the data.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the data communication unit communicates data using a radio frequency communication protocol.

31. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the data communication unit communicates data to a remote location.