HK1119406B - Energy-optimised data transmission for a medical appliance - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a medical device, a system for energy-optimised data transmission to and/or from the medical device.

During the operation of a medical device, such as an infusion pump or a sensor mounted on the user's skin, it is advantageous for a user to transmit data to the medical device, for example from a remote control, for the operation of the medical device or to transmit sensor measurement data to an external device.

An external infusion device controlled by a remote control is known from US 6.551.276 B1 where the external infusion device has a receiver which can be in a so-called standby mode and is automatically activated approximately every 2.5 seconds to determine whether a radio signal is being transmitted from the remote control, so that the radio remote control should emit an activation signal over a period of, for example, about 5 seconds to be recognised by the receiver.

US 4.395.259 describes an implantable measuring device which has a unit for delivering a dose, with an external control device which can be inductively coupled to this device to, for example, change the rate of infusion.

US 2004/204744 shows a first implant with a first acoustic transducer and a second implant with a switch and a second acoustic transducer.

US 2003/0119568 shows a transceiver of a sleeping device that is configured to be switched on by a wake-up receiver of the sleeping device if the wake-up receiver receives a wake-up signal from an active device. In one variant, the wake-up receiver receives energy from the wake-up signal. The active device may be run as a pager, mobile phone or handheld device. The sleeping device may be implanted in a body and run as a heart monitor/defibrillator, with the active device reading data such as battery status or electroconvulsive data or exchanging other signals.

The present invention is intended to propose a medical device, a system, which allows data transmission at low energy consumption.

This task is solved by the objects of the independent claim.

The dependent claims give rise to advantageous embodiments.

A medical device, such as a subcutaneous sensor, in particular a glucose sensor, a pump, in particular an insulin pump, which may be implanted, minimally invasive or non-invasive, or a pen for use on and/or in the body of a user, preferably has at least one electrical or electronic functional unit, such as a measuring sensor, a processor, a memory or an electric motor, which can be controlled by the processor and has a transmitting and/or receiving unit, i.e. one for transmitting and/or receiving data, with an activation switch, as appropriate, connected to the S/R unit and at least one electronic functional unit,Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 683 (char 682)where the receiver and transmitter, i.e. the medical device and an external device, such as a control device or its respective input/output units, are either in direct physical contact with each other or are so relative to each other that a specified maximum distance between the transmitter and the receiver is not reached. Furthermore, for example, the activation switch of the medical device, which is activated by an activation element of the external device, may only give an on/off signal if the medical device and an external device have an opposite orientation to each other, i.e. for example S and receiving units or S and some other element.Since electrical or electronic components for transmitting data are only activated when a corresponding transmitter or receiver is within range of an external device, and the transmitting and receiving units can be sized or designed to ensure that a data transmission is only possible over a relatively short distance, such as 5 cm or less, which is sufficient, for example, to transmit data from an external device placed on a user's clothing through that clothing to a medical device placed or implanted on the patient's skin below it or to receive from that medical device, the data transmission unit must, according to the invention, have a relatively low power output,These can be designed to be relatively small compared with, for example, data transmission units designed for distances in the metre range, whereby transmitting and receiving elements such as antennas, induction coils, or other electromagnetic wave transmitting or receiving elements such as lamp or photodiode or loudspeakers and microphones need only a small range and performance.

For example, the activation switch may also be an element or component which can be used to receive or absorb energy supplied by, for example, the external device, for example, to communicate with the external device or to perform an action specified by, for example, the external device, so that the medical device does not need to have its own power supply, since the energy required is supplied by the external device. For example, an induction switch may be intended as an activation switch, whereby an external head near the induction device may also have an induction coil to transmit energy to the medical device via the induction coil induction planning, which can be activated and measured, for example.

Alternatively or in addition, an activation switch may also be designed as a magnetic switch, e.g. a reed contact, which is activated by an external magnetic field, i.e. for example a permanent magnet or electromagnet provided on the external device and which, for example, makes a connection of the electrical or electronic components present in the medical device, such as the transmitting/receiving unit, with an energy source also present in the medical device, e.g. in the form of a battery or an accumulator.

The activation switch may be designed to interrupt a communication link established by an external device after activation if no activation signal is received, for example if a specified minimum distance to the external device is exceeded. Alternatively or additionally, the activation of the medical device may be limited to a specified period of time, for example, to transmit data or perform a specified action, such as delivering a bolus and/or sending a confirmation signal.

Similarly, a mechanical switch may be provided as an activation switch, for example, under a rubber surface element which, for example, activates the power supply or a transmitting/receiving unit of the medical device after a mechanical switch operation, i.e. for example a pressure on the mechanical switch, has been triggered by an external device placed on the medical device. The medical device may, for example, have a surface profile corresponding to a counter-profile of the external device, so that the external device must, for example, be placed on the medical device in an orientation determined by the surface profile in order to activate this data or to establish a direct connection. In one case, a corresponding electrical or electrical connection may also be established between the medical device and the external elements, for example, if an electrical or electronic connection is established between the medical device and the external data transmitter.

The invention further relates to a control device, such as a remote control or a blood glucose meter, for controlling a medical device as described above, where the control device has as an external device an activation unit which can activate or activate one or more of the medical device's activation switches. The activation unit may consist of, on the external device, for example, a magnet, in particular a permanent magnet or an electromagnet, an induction link for the transmission of energy to the medical device, after a speaker, a sound lamp or a specific surface profile has been provided for the operation of a mechanical switch. The activation unit may also be a control/receiver unit, such as a control/receiver, which has been activated and may be connected to the medical device, for example, by a control/detection unit, or a control/receiver unit, which may be used to make a mechanical connection, such as a control/detection unit, and which may be used to make a connection to the medical device, such as a control/detection unit.

The external device may have an input unit, such as a keyboard or touch screen, to allow a user to input control signals into the control device which can be transmitted by the user to the medical device, for example to control the operation of an implanted insulin pump, such as basal rate or bolus adjustment.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 383 (char 382)

The invention also relates to a system for transmitting data with a medical device, preferably on or in the patient's body, as described above, and an external control device, as described above, which can also be synchronized after activation of the transmitting and/or receiving unit.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method of data transmission between a medical device and an external device, whereby the medical device in the resting state is activated by the external device before the data transmission, so that the medical device can, for example, remain in a low or no energy-consuming resting state when no external device is present or activated to establish a data connection, so that the medical device only consumes energy for data communication if it has been previously activated by an external or control device that is ready for data transmission.

Preferably, the medical device is activated contactless, for example by an electric, magnetic or electromagnetic field, sound and/or light. It is also possible to activate the medical device by direct physical contact with the control unit. Preferably, the activation of the medical device only occurs when a predetermined distance of, for example, 2 to 10 cm, i.e. 5 cm, has been exceeded, whereby it is possible, for example, that an activation switch of the medical device will interrupt communication between it and an external device again if a predetermined distance is again exceeded.For example, after transferring measurement data from the memory of a sensor via the transmitting and receiving units to the external control unit, whereby these measurement data can be erased after being sent to the external device or after receiving a confirmation signal that the data transmitted have been correctly received in the memory of the medical device.

Preferably, identification codes can be sent from the medical device and/or the external control unit to prevent data from being accidentally exchanged between different unaffiliated systems. The identification code can be part of a radio protocol, for example, and be firmly programmed into a system component. It is also possible that the identification code is freely programmable, for example, at system start-up and two components can be paired together, for example, after activation by a user.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 533 (char 532)

Figure 1 shows an initial embodiment of a system of the invention with an outpatient on the skin 3 of a user, a portable medical device 1 which may be mounted or implanted on the skin 3 and is, for example, a pump or a sensor. The medical device 1 has an induction coil 6 to absorb energy transmitted by an induction coil 6' of a corresponding external control device 2 by inductive coupling, the induction coil 6 of the medical device 1 serving as the activation switch for the transmitting/receiving unit 5 and the processor 7 of the device 1 being powered by the induction coil 6 by electricity. The processor 7 is equipped with an activation coil 8 and can also be used to activate the transmitting/receiving unit 5 after the device 5 has been activated.For example, to transmit measurement or configuration data from memory 8 via unit 5 to the corresponding transmitter/receiver unit 5' of the external control unit 2 or to process and/or store data received in the opposite direction, such as configuration data for medical device 1, in memory 8. Furthermore, the medical device 1 may optionally include a battery 11 which provides, for example, only the energy required for a sensor or pump function of the medical device 1, so that, for example, no power supply is required for data communication in medical device 1.

The external control unit 2 such as a blood glucose meter, like the medical device 1, has a 7' processor and an 8' memory, for example to store data entered by a user via a touch screen 10 and/or received from the medical device 1 or to transmit data via the transmitting/receiving units 5, 5' to the medical device. Furthermore, a battery or accumulator 9 is provided to power the external control unit 2. Thus, communication between the medical device 1 and the external control unit 2 can be described after activation via an energy transfer via the induction coils 6, 6' whereby data can be transmitted between these transmitters 5, 5' and the medical device 4 by means of a further reference to the device 2, for example, Figure 3.

The electronic units 5 to 9 and 11 are arranged on a plate 4 in the example shown.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a system according to the invention, wherein, unlike the first embodiment shown in Figure 1, a permanent magnet 6' is provided in the control unit 2 to activate a magnetic switch 12, such as a reed contact, of the medical device 1, so that the magnetic switch 12 acting as the activation switch can activate and release for data transmission, for example, the transmitting/receiving unit 5 and/or the processor 7 of the medical device 1.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 297 (char 296)

Figure 4 shows a fourth embodiment of a system according to the invention, whereby, in addition to the third embodiment shown in Figure 3, data communication is also possible over a greater distance between medical device 1 and controller 2 for certain signals, such as short status signals.

Figures 5 and 6 show a fifth embodiment of a system according to the invention which allows data exchange between an outpatient on the skin 3 of a user, a portable medical device 1, such as a sensor or pump or infusion pump or so-called patch module, and an external, in particular a user-portable or mobile control device 2, such as a blood glucose meter. The medical device 1, which may be mounted or implanted on the skin 3, for example, has a needle 15 which can be used to remove small amounts of the user's blood. The medical device 1 may also be placed under the skin or skin 3 of the user or minimally invasive to remove germs from the blood.The medical device 1 shall comprise a computing unit such as a processor or microprocessor, a memory, a transmitting/receiving unit, an energy source such as a battery and/or an induction coil as described above and/or a magnetic switch as described above, and a measuring unit such as an electronic circuit, to measure or determine at least one physiological parameter of the user, in particular the blood glucose or blood glucose level, from the amount of blood taken. The measuring unit may operate optically so that the blood taken reacts with various chemicals, resulting in a colour change of a test field. This colour change may be detected by the measuring unit and the change in the intensity and the blood pressure can be determined.The unit can also operate ampere-metrically, so that blood sugar can be determined by measuring the flow of current through the blood.

The external control unit 2 such as a blood glucose meter or data logger shall have an indicator device 10 in particular a screen or display or touch screen, a transmitting/receiving unit, a memory, a power source such as a battery and at least a computing unit, in particular a processor or microprocessor. Furthermore, the external control unit 2 may have an activation unit as described in relation to Figures 1 to 4, in particular an induction coil or a permanent magnet. The control unit 2 may be designed to transmit the user's blood glucose reading or blood glucose reading from data which may be displayed, for example, by displaying numbers or a graphic display or a diagram of the output of the device 10.

As shown in Figure 6, the external controller 2, such as the blood glucose meter, may be placed near or within range of the medical device 1, such as the patch module, to allow data exchange or data transmission between the controller 2 and the medical device 1, where the controller 2 activation unit preferably activates the medical device 1 activation switch so that energy can be transferred from the controller 2 activation unit to the medical device 1 activation switch, which can supply the medical device 1 with a power source. For example, the controller 2 activation unit or the medical device 1 activation power supply may also be activated so that the medical device 1 can be powered by a power source.

The medical device 1 can be used to determine a blood value from a user's blood. This value can be sent, for example, with side information such as the time of blood draw, from the transmitting/receiving unit of the medical device 1 to the transmitting/receiving unit of the controller 2 if the controller 2 is located close enough to the medical device 1 to allow data transmission.

The control device 2 shall be capable of determining the user's blood glucose or glucose levels, for example by means of the page information stored in the memory or displayed on the display device 10.

The medical device 1 can also use the calculating unit to determine the user's blood glucose or glucose level from the user's blood taken and transmit it, for example, to the control unit 2 in the position or position shown in Figure 6 with the side information. Blood glucose values taken at different times can also be stored in the memory of the medical device 1 at the time or time of the take and retrieved by the external control unit 2 if necessary. Data on the detected blood glucose level and, where appropriate, the side information can be transmitted from the sending/receiving unit of the medical device 1 to the S/R unit of the control unit 2 and can be displayed as a 10 or 2 chart in the direction of the control unit and stored as the control unit's input values.For example, the controller 2 can store several blood glucose readings at different times and, if necessary, for example, be graphically displayed over time to obtain a user's blood glucose chart. For example, individual values in the blood glucose chart can be selected by the user using the touch screen or other input unit, which can then be output as numerical values. In particular, immediately after receipt of the blood glucose readings from the medical device, the blood glucose readings on the display device 10 of the controller 2 can also be output. The controller 2 can also be held in the activation row of the medical device 1 so that the S/receiver unit of the controller 2 can send an activation signal to the medical device 1 for example,wherein the medical device 1 is activated and, for example, takes a blood glucose measurement and/or transmits a blood glucose reading to the control device 2, which can be output on the display device 10 of the control device 2.

The data obtained on the glucose level or glucose pathway of the user may be transmitted via an interface such as an infrared, Bluetooth or FireWire interface located on the control unit 2 to an external computing unit such as a computer and further processed or output in the computing unit or displayed and/or evaluated by display or evaluation software.

Claims (10)

1. Medical system comprising:

   a medical device (1) for use on and/or in the body of a user with a transmitter unit and/or receiver unit (5) and an activation switch (6) and

   an external control device (2) with a data entry unit, via which the user can enter control signals, an activation unit (6', 6") for activating the activation switch (6) of the medical device (1) and a transmission and/or receiving unit (5') which can exchange data with the transmission unit and/or receiving unit (5) of the medical device (1); wherein the activation switch (6) is in connection with the transmission unit and/or receiving unit (5) in order to activate the transmission unit and/or receiving unit (5) when an activation signal of the external control (2) has been received by the activation switch (6), characterised in that

   the activation switch (6) is configured so that after a predetermined period of time required to transmit data or to implement a predetermined action, a communication connection produced after activation through the external control (2) device is interrupted again.
2. Medical system according to claim 1 wherein the medical device (1) is a sensor, a glucose sensor, an infusion system, a pump, an insulin pump or a pen.
3. Medical system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the external control device (2) is a remote control or a glucose measuring device.
4. Medical system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the activation switch (6) is an induction coil, a magnetic switch (12), a reed contact, a microphone or light-sensitive switch, a photodiode, a sensor which uses capacitive effects, or a mechanical switch.
5. Medical system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the activation unit (6', 6") is an induction coil (6') and/or a permanent magnet (6").
6. Medical system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the external control device (2) comprises a data output unit (10).
7. Medical system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the external control device (2) comprises an interface for communication with an electronic device, a PC, mobile telephone or PDA.
8. Medical system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein after the period of time required to implement the action of administering a bolus, the produced communication connection is interrupted again.
9. Medical system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein after the period of time required to transmit measuring data from a memory (8) of the medical device (1) via the transmission and receiving units (5, 5') to the external control device (2), the communication connection is interrupted again.
10. Medical system according to claim 9 wherein after the transmission or after the receipt of a signal confirming correct receipt in the memory (8) of the medical device (1) the measuring data are deleted.