Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system – Time duration or rate
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-31
2001-04-10
Shah, Kamini (Department: 2857)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system
Time duration or rate
C702S178000, C702S187000, C702S177000, C702S176000, C705S418000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216096
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an analysis system having an analyzer with a time counter and a data processing unit (DPU) that contains a time standard. Test results from the analyzer, together with the time values from the time counter, are transferred to the DPU. The DPU then compares the time values from the time counter with the time values from the time standard to determine absolute time values.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A number of portable analyzers are known in the prior art to carry out measurements. For example, analyzers that measure blood sugar levels by analyzing a blood sample that is applied to a testing element have become especially widespread. As a rule, such analyzers have a memory wherein test results and information such as the time of analysis are stored. For example, such an analyzer is described in the German patent document 4 328 630. The prior art further includes analysis systems that transmit test results from a test instrument to an evaluating unit. Such implements are becoming increasingly important in the care and education of diabetics. Based on individual tests, the diabetic can only determine whether to inject insulin. However, by recording blood sugar measurements over the day or for several days or weeks, the diabetic may gain information on how food intake, sports or other time dependent factors affect his blood sugar level. Moreover, by monitoring the time-function of the blood sugar level, the diabetic gains important information concerning how his particular body responds to the administration of insulin. The diabetic's data management system Camit® made by Boehringer Mannheim GmbH is already on the market. In this system, the data secured using a commercial blood sugar test instrument is transferred to a PC that shows the blood sugar level as a function of time and makes it possible to give the patient information concerning the effect of the above influences. Systems that record the blood sugar level over time are designed in such manner that the user initially carries out a number of measurements and then later transfers the test results to an evaluation unit. Such a design entails storing the times of testing together with the test results. Since such systems are required to operate reliably for months or years, the analyzer must include a highly accurate clock or allow the clock to be adjusted. Unfortunately, clocks that remain highly accurate at varying ambient temperatures are still comparatively expensive. Likewise, clock adjustment is an inconvenience for the user and requires additional operational elements which must be integrated into the analyzer. These additional elements make the analyzer more expensive. It is also undesireable in a lot of cases for the user to be able to change the time and manipulate the record. For example, recording the times at which a diabetic checked their blood sugar levels allows a physician to ascertain whether or not the diabetic is observing the physician's prescribed regimen. Another factor that may limit the effectiveness of such an analysis system is the time change that occurs between summer and winter and different time zones. For example, if the clock is adjusted to the local time when a user changes times zones, it may be unclear later exactly when the test data was entered. In such cases, it may be advantageous to block the option to adjust the analyzer's or time-counter's clock. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an analytical system that assigns times to the test results as accurately as possible without the use of expensive precision clocks or clock adjusting operational elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above discussed objectives of the invention are attained using an analytical system as discussed below. The analyzer is provided with means to carry out testing to generate test results. An integrated time counter generates relative time values. A memory stores data records of the test results and their relative time values. A transmitting device transfers the stored data records to a DPU. A receiving device in the DPU receives the data records and the DPU processes the data records. The DPU contains a time standard. A calculating unit converts the relative time values into absolute time values by comparing the analyzer time values with the DPU's time standard time values.
The present invention uses an analyzer having a time counter that only needs to meet modest accuracy requirements. The analyzer is designed to store data records, test results and time values. The analyzer communicates with a DPU having a time-standard. By comparing the relative time values of the time counter with the time values from the time standard, the time counter time values can be converted into absolute time values. Thus, absolute time values can be assigned to the test results. In this manner, economical time counters may be used in the analyzer while still permitting relatively accurate absolute times to be assigned to the test results. Thus, errors caused by adjusting the time counter, as well the additional cost of unnecessary operational elements of the analyzer, are eliminated.
In accordance with the present invention, conventional quartz clocks or electronic shift registers may be used as the time counter in the analyzer. It is immaterial in the present invention whether the time counter delivers actual clock time or merely the count status of a shift register. However, it is important that the time counter be free of unduly large inaccuracies. Therefore, the time counter's rate should be as constant as possible, and known beforehand, to allow differences from various counts to be accurately converted into time differences or absolute times. Such calculations can be made using the following formula:
t
A
=t
D
−(
n
D
−n
A
)/
v
where t
A
is the absolute time at which a test A was carried out;
t
D
is the time of data transfer, that is a time at which the time value of the time counter can be compared with the clock time of the time standard,
n
D
is the count of the time counter at time t
D
,
n
A
is the count of the time counter that was stored at the time of testing, and
v is the time counter's rate, for instance in minutes per counter unit.
Preferably, the rate v is known beforehand and the DPU is programmed to take the rate into account. Alternatively, the rate v may be transferred from the analyzer to the DPU. In yet another embodiment, the rate can be ascertained by the DPU by performing two or more data transfers at separate points in time and calculating v as follows:
v=
(
n
2
−n
1
)/(
t
2
−t
1
).
The difference between two time counter values, n
2
−n
1
, is divided by the associated difference between the time standard's times. As used herein, “associated” denotes that t
1
and n
1
as well as t
2
and n
2
are ascertained at the same real time. The more time between the times t
1
and t
2,
the more accurate the determination of the rate v. In addition, rate determinations can be carried out by storing the (t,n) values of one or more previous data transfers and determining v whenever a new data transfer is performed, taking into account the stored values as well as the current value of the set (t,n). The present invention provides independence from offset, that is independence from adjustment of the time counter when absolute times are ascertained for tests. Preferably, the time counter starts when applying an operational power source. An embodiment is envisioned wherein the user may set the time counter. However, the user is preferably precluded from affecting the time counter's time values. A preferred embodiment is described in relation to FIG.
2
.
In the sense of the present invention, analyzers are not only blood sugar testers, but testers in general that are suitable to record a number of test results in order to ascertain from them a time function of an analyte. Therefore, the present invention also applies to measuring coag
Arent Fox Kintner & Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC
Roche Diagnostics GmbH
Shah Kamini
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