Protocol translation device

• US 9,992,818 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2015
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Holmes, Alexander E., Yap, Darren Y. K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Justus, Ralph H
• Application Number:
  US14/876,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20170099698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 455 74
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/06 Transport layer protocols, e.g. TCP [Transport Control Protocol] over wireless transmission control protocol/Internet protocol [TCP/IP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A protocol translation device for use with a first apparatus having a battery compartment and communicating over a first wireless protocol, and for use with a second apparatus communicating over a second wireless protocol. The protocol translation device can include a battery casing sized to fit within the battery compartment, the battery casing defining an interior volume; a translator having a first antenna operable to communicate with the first apparatus, a second antenna operable to communicate with the second apparatus, and a translator circuit operably connected between the first antenna and the second antenna; and a battery operably connected to power the translator. The translator circuit is operable to translate between the first wireless protocol and the second wireless protocol. The translator and the battery are disposed within the interior volume.

Claims

1. A protocol translation device for use with a first apparatus comprising an insulin pump having a battery compartment and communicating over a first wireless protocol, and for use with a second apparatus communicating over a second wireless protocol, the protocol translation device comprising:

a battery casing sized to fit within the battery compartment, the battery casing defining an interior volume;

a translator comprising;

a first antenna operable to communicate with the first apparatus;

a second antenna operable to communicate with the second apparatus; and

a translator circuit operably connected between the first antenna and the second antenna, the translator circuit being operable to translate between the first wireless protocol and the second wireless protocol, being operable to communicate with the first antenna on the first wireless protocol, and being operable to communicate with the second antenna on the second wireless protocol; and

a battery operably connected to power the first apparatus in addition to the translator of the protocol translation device;

wherein the translator, which comprises the translator circuit operably connected between the first antenna and the second antenna, and the battery, are all disposed within the interior volume.

2. The protocol translation device of claim 1 wherein the battery is operably connected to power the first apparatus, wherein the battery comprises a stack of button-cell batteries or half AAA soft cells.

3. The protocol translation device of claim 1 wherein the battery is rechargeable.

4. The protocol translation device of claim 1 wherein the battery casing is the same size as a battery selected from the group consisting of a AA battery and a AAA battery.

5. The protocol translation device of claim 1 wherein the first wireless protocol is a 916.5 MHz OOK protocol and the second wireless protocol is a Bluetooth protocol.

6. The protocol translation device of claim 1 wherein the first wireless protocol has a modulation scheme selected from the group consisting of OOK, 2-FSK, ASK, GFSK, and MSK operating on a broadcast band selected from the group consisting of 916.5 MHz, ISM, SRD, and MICS.

7. The protocol translation device of claim 1 wherein the second wireless protocol is selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, Zigbee, 802.11, and HiperLAN.

8. A protocol translation device for use with a first apparatus comprising an insulin pump having a battery compartment and communicating over a first wireless protocol, and for use with a second apparatus communicating over a second wireless protocol, the protocol translation device comprising:

a battery casing sized to fit within the battery compartment, the battery casing defining an interior volume;

a translator comprising;

a first antenna operable to receive a first-in signal from the first apparatus, the first-in signal conforming to the first wireless protocol;

a translator circuit operable to receive the first-in signal from the first antenna and operable to translate the first-in signal to a second-out signal conforming to the second wireless protocol; and

a second antenna operable to receive the second-out signal from the translator circuit and operable to transmit the second-out signal to the second apparatus; and

a battery operably connected to power the first apparatus in addition to the translator of the protocol translation device;

wherein the translator, which comprises the translator circuit operably connected between the first antenna and the second antenna, and the battery, are all disposed within the interior volume.

9. The protocol translation device of claim 8 wherein:

the second antenna is further operable to receive a second-in signal from the second apparatus, the second-in signal conforming to the second wireless protocol;

the translator circuit is further operable to receive the second-in signal from the second antenna and operable to translate the second-in signal to a first-out signal conforming to the first wireless protocol; and

the first antenna is further operable to receive the first-out signal from the translator circuit and operable to transmit the first-out signal to the first apparatus.

10. The protocol translation device of claim 8 wherein the battery is operably connected to power the first apparatus, and wherein the battery comprises a stack of button-cell batteries or half AAA soft cells.

11. The protocol translation device of claim 8 wherein the battery is rechargeable.

12. The protocol translation device of claim 8 wherein the battery casing is the same size as a battery selected from the group consisting of a AA battery and a AAA battery.

13. The protocol translation device of claim 8 wherein the first wireless protocol is a 916.5 MHz OOK protocol and the second wireless protocol is a Bluetooth protocol.

14. The protocol translation device of claim 8 wherein the first wireless protocol has a modulation scheme selected from the group consisting of OOK, 2-FSK, ASK, GFSK, and MSK operating on a broadcast band selected from the group consisting of 916.5 MHz, ISM, SRD, and MICS.

15. The protocol translation device of claim 8 wherein the second wireless protocol is selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, Zigbee, 802.11, and HiperLAN.

16. A protocol translation device for use with an insulin pump having a battery compartment sized to fit a AAA battery and communicating over a 916.5 MHz OOK protocol, and for use with a smart phone communicating over a Bluetooth protocol, the protocol translation device comprising:

a battery casing sized to a AAA battery form factor, the battery casing defining an interior volume;

a translator comprising;

a first antenna operable to communicate with the insulin pump;

a second antenna operable to communicate with the smart phone; and

a translator circuit operably connected between the first antenna and the second antenna, the translator circuit being operable to translate between the 916.5 MHz OOK protocol and the Bluetooth protocol, being operable to communicate with the first antenna on the 916.5 MHz OOK protocol, and being operable to communicate with the second antenna on the Bluetooth protocol; and

a rechargeable battery operably connected to power the translator of the protocol translation device and the insulin pump;

wherein the translator, which comprises the translator circuit operably connected between the first antenna and the second antenna, and the rechargeable battery, are all disposed within the interior volume.