Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-07
2004-08-24
Jeffery, John A. (Department: 3742)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C600S365000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06780156
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the priority of international application number PCT/CH99/00416, filed Sep. 7, 1999, which in turn claims the priority of German patent application number 198 40 965.6, filed Sep. 8, 1998, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
The invention relates to a module for a computer interface, the module being used to monitor the state of health of a person. More particularly, the present invention provides an apparatus for and a method of health monitoring and control wherein a module for a computer interface including a transducer wherein the transducer receives a measurement value and makes this measurement value available for monitoring an individual's health by means of the computer interface, for example, for monitoring an individual's blood glucose level, wherein the measurement value is obtained by means of a sensor.
Monitoring the state of health of persons has become increasingly important. This particularly applies to the execution of therapies requiring a dosed administration of one or more active substances depending on the state of health of the person concerned. Such a therapy may be, for example, diabetes therapy, where insulin is administered in synchronization with the glucose concentration measured or detected by measurement in and/or of a body fluid of the person.
The monitoring methods in the context of therapies require special devices just for the purpose of making measurement data available either to care-givers such as doctors, nurses, etc. or to the person to be treated. Such monitoring devices are complex and expensive or only allow monitoring activities to a very restricted extent. In diabetes therapy, where the glucose concentration in a body fluid, particularly the blood-sugar content, is decisive, the known devices for monitoring the glucose concentration just indicate the currently measured concentration. Evaluating and monitoring features are at least very limited. A user who administers himself with insulin, or with the corresponding active substance in another therapy, would be able to adapt this administration to his personal requirements more precisely if, for example, “historical” data were also available to him. He could coordinate his physical activities, eating habits and the doses of active substances to be administered more precisely.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, it is the object of the invention to enable a comfortable, inexpensive, and yet extensive, monitoring of the state of health of a person.
This object is solved by the invention in that a transducer, which receives or takes a measurement value and makes it available for monitoring the state of health of a person, has been designed as a module for an interface of a conventional computer. The measurement value is a value obtained by means of a sensor on or in the person to detect his/her state of health. The module can be integrated and connected to a defined interface of the computer. Accordingly, not only can it be supplied by computer manufacturers, but also by independent manufacturers at a later time.
In one embodiment, the module according to the invention is used to monitor the glucose concentration in a body fluid of the person, in particular to monitor the blood-sugar content.
An advantage of the present invention is that monitoring can be done by conventional computers that generally offer a higher performance, in particular with regard to the computing performance and display features, than so far possible with special devices used for monitoring purposes. Another advantage is that, especially in types of therapy requiring a person to administer himself with the corresponding active substance, this person can make use of a computer generally already available, which he already uses for other purposes and is already familiar with. It is also possible to transmit data concerning health from the module in accordance with the invention to other, widely used computer programs. The module in accordance with the invention or its computer software is compatible with the usual programs, such as, for instance, graphic, text and/or spread sheet programs. In one embodiment, the module in accordance with the invention is a plug-in module that may be advantageously inserted into a standard slot of a computer, such as, for example, in the form of the standard plug-in board or cards usual today for an external port of a computer. It can also be a plug-in module subsequently integrated into one of the slots available in the housing of a personal computer. In any case, the computer's capacity is used. In particular, processor and monitor capacities, but also possibilities already available to connect peripheral devices can be exploited by the invention. Accordingly, to monitor his state of health, the user can make use of the computer surroundings he is already familiar with, which increases the readiness to accept such monitoring. Preferably, such a plug-in module is delivered together with the corresponding installation and application software required for monitoring, as is common with add-on plug-in modules.
The invention may be used with a computer of a device used for self-administration of a fluid product or with a computer used in combination therewith. The device comprises a fluid guiding means, a means for conveying a dose of fluid product to be administered, a wireless communication interface, a control for the conveying means, and a communications terminal. The fluid guiding means, conveying means and said interface are components of an administering device. The communications terminal is not physically connected to said device, i.e., these two devices are not mechanically connected to each other, at least when using the device. Any connection while stored or during transportation should, however, not be ruled out. The communications terminal is provided with another interface for wireless communication and with a visual display. Wireless communication occurs between the administration device and the communications terminal via these two interfaces. The administration device and the communications terminal remain with the user, who administers the fluid product to himself personally.
The fluid guiding means includes a reservoir for the fluid product and for the parts of the administration device connected therewith, and fluid passes through the guiding means during administration until a fluid outlet is reached. In the event that the administration device is fixed either to the body or to clothing, the fluid outlet is formed by a insertion needle.
In another embodiment, the conveying means, an emergency control therefor, an energy source and the wireless communication interface are implanted, and the reservoir is fixed either to the body or to the clothing, the fluid guiding means naturally also being partially implanted downstream of the reservoir; the conveying means, preferably a micro pump, is itself thus preferably part of said fluid guiding system. This is generally also possible for the other alternative embodiments with regard to the design of the administration device. Dividing the administration device into a body-external reservoir and a body-internal conveying means has the advantage that the external part can be diminished or the reservoir can be enlarged, and that the place of discharge of the fluid product can be selected particularly conveniently for therapy. At the same time, the health risks associated with an implanted reservoir are avoided.
The fluid product may be a liquid active solution as administered in the context or framework of a therapy, in particular insulin.
The wireless communication may be radio communication; however, ultrasonic or infrared communication is also conceivable.
The communications terminal monitor displays at least one operating parameter of the administration device. Thus, a person administering himself with the fluid product can monitor the operation of the administration device, and thus the administration, directly and comfortably by means of the communic
Haueter Ulrich
Imhof Erich
Disetronic Licensing AG
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Jeffery John A.
LandOfFree
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