Method and system for wireless device communication

A medical data receiver configured to wirelessly receive medical data via a signal and having an externally perceptible indicator of signal reception.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for managing health data. More particularly, the disclosure relates a method and system for interfacing with a medical device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many fields of medical treatment and healthcare require monitoring of certain body functions, physical states and conditions, and patient behaviors. Thus, e.g., for patients suffering from diabetes, a regular check of the blood glucose level forms an essential part of the daily routine. The blood glucose level has to be determined quickly and reliably, often several times per day. Medical devices are used to facilitate the collection of medical information without unduly disturbing the lifestyle of the patient. A large number of medical devices for monitoring various body functions are commercially available. Also, medical treatment and healthcare may require monitoring of exercise, diet, meal times, stress, work schedules and other activities and behaviors.

To reduce the frequency of necessary visits to doctors, the idea of home care gained popularity over the recent years. Technological advancements in medicine led to the increased use of medical devices. Many of these medical devices, such as meters and medicine delivery devices, are able to collect and store measurements and other data for long periods of time. Other devices, such as computers, portable digital assistants (PDAs), and cell phones, have been adapted to medical uses by the development of software directed to the collection of healthcare data. These advancements led to the development of health management systems that enable collection and use of large numbers of variables and large amounts of healthcare data. While systems were traditionally developed for use in healthcare facilities and health management organizations including insurance companies and govermnental agencies (HCP systems), increased technological sophistication by the populous at large led to the increased use of health management systems by patients, care givers, and others (patient systems) in addition to increased use by HCP systems. U.S. Pat. No. 7,103,578 and U.S. Published Application No. 2004/0172284 disclose two such methods and systems. Many of these systems are able to transfer data between them. Patient healthcare data is often transferred from a patient system to an HCP system. HCP systems may transfer remarks and other data to patient systems or other HCP systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates to a method and system for interfacing between a healthcare management system and medical devices. One embodiment of the system includes a medical data transmission system. The system includes a dongle configured to wirelessly receive medical data via a signal and including an externally perceptible indicator of the strength of signal reception, and a medical device configured to generate data indicative of a health condition and being capable of generating the signal.

In another embodiment, a computer readable medium is provided. The computer readable medium including operating instructions thereon such that when interpreted by a processor cause the processor to perform the step of automatically loading interface instructions upon startup of the processor. The interface instructions, when interpreted by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of: automatically wirelessly downloading medical information from a medical data device; and storing the medical information in a database.

In yet another embodiment, a medical data transmission system is provided including: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive medical data from a medical device via a data signal; the transceiver emitting a beacon signal detectable by the medical device.

In still another embodiment, a medical data transmission system is provided including a medical data device configured to wirelessly communicate medical data to a receiver via a data signal in an active state; the medical device having a listening mode in which the device monitors for a beacon signal emitted by the receiver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which are described below. The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. It will be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The disclosure includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the disclosure which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates.

The terms “network,” “local area network,” “LAN,” “wide area network,” or “WAN” mean two or more computers which are connected in such a manner that messages may be transmitted between the computers. In such computer networks, typically one or more computers operate as a “server”, a computer with large storage devices such as hard disk drives and communication hardware to operate peripheral devices such as printers or modems. Other computers, termed “workstations”, provide a user interface so that users of computer networks can access the network resources, such as shared data files, common peripheral devices, and inter-workstation communication. The computers have at least one processor for executing machine instructions, and memory for storing instructions and other information. Many combinations of processing circuitry and information storing equipment are known by those of ordinary skill in these arts. A processor may be a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (“DSP”), a central processing unit (“CPU”), or other circuit or equivalent capable of interpreting instructions or performing logical actions on information. Memory includes both volatile and non-volatile memory, including temporary and cache, in electronic, magnetic, optical, printed, or other format used to store information. Users activate computer programs or network resources to create “processes” which include both the general operation of the computer program along with specific operating characteristics determined by input variables and its environment.

Concepts described below may be further explained in one of more of the co-filed patent applications entitled HELP UTILITY FUNCTIONALITY AND ARCHITECTURE Ser. No. 11/999,906, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GRAPHICALLY INDICATING MULTIPLE DATA VALUES Ser. No. 11/999,853, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATABASE INTEGRITY CHECKING Ser. No. 11/999,856, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DATA SOURCE AND MODIFICATION TRACKING Ser. No. 11/999,888, PATIENT-CENTRIC HEALTHCARE INFORMATION MAINTENANCE Ser. No. 11/999,874, EXPORT FILE FORMAT WITH MANIFEST FOR ENHANCED DATA TRANSFER Ser. No. 11/999,867, GRAPHIC ZOOM FUNCTIONALITY FOR A CUSTOM REPORT Ser. No. 11/999,932, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELECTIVE MERGING OF PATIENT DATA Ser. No. 11/999,859, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERSONAL MEDICAL DATA DATABASE MERGING Ser. No. 11/999,772, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SETTING TIME BLOCKS Ser. No. 11/999,968, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENHANCED DATA TRANSFER Ser. No. 11/999,911, COMMON EXTENSIBLE DATA EXCHANGE FORMAT Ser. No. 11/999,871, METHOD OF CLONING SERVER INSTALLATION TO A NETWORK CLIENT Ser. No. 11/999,876, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUERYING A DATABASE Ser. No. 11/999,912, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EVENT BASED DATA COMPARISON Ser. No. 11/999,921, DYNAMIC COMMUNICATION STACK Ser. No. 11/999,934, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REPORTING MEDICAL INFORMATION Ser. No. 11/999,878, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MERGING EXTENSIBLE DATA INTO A DATABASE USING GLOBALLY UNIQUE IDENTIFIERS Ser. No. 11/999,947, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ACTIVATING FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS OF A CONSOLIDATED SOFTWARE APPLICATION Ser. No. 11/999,880, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONFIGURING A CONSOLIDATED SOFTWARE APPLICATION Ser. No. 11/999,894, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DATA SELECTION AND DISPLAY Ser. No. 11/999,896, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSOCIATING DATABASE CONTENT FOR SECURITY ENHANCEMENT Ser. No. 11/999,951, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING REPORTS Ser. No. 11/999,851, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING USER-DEFINED OUTPUTS Ser. No. 11/999,905, DATA DRIVEN COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL GRAMMAR Ser. No. 11/999,770, HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM HAVING IMPROVED PRINTING OF DISPLAY SCREEN INFORMATION Ser. No. 11/999,855, and METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MULTI-DEVICE COMMUNICATION Ser. No. 11/999,866, the entire disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. It should be understood that the concepts described below may relate to diabetes management software systems for tracking and analyzing health data, such as, for example, the Accu-Chek® 360° product provided by Roche Diagnostics. However, the concepts described herein may also have applicability to apparatuses, methods, systems, and software in fields that are unrelated to healthcare. Furthermore, it should be understood that references in this patent application to devices, meters, monitors, pumps, or related terms are intended to encompass any currently existing or later developed apparatus that includes some or all of the features attributed to the referred to apparatus, including but not limited to the Accu-Chek® Active, Accu-Chek® Aviva, Accu-Chek® Compact, Accu-Chek® Compact Plus, Accu-Chek® Integra, Accu-Chek® Go, Accu-Chek® Performa, Accu-Chek® Spirit, Accu-Chek® D-Tron Plus, and Accu-Chek® Voicemate Plus, all provided by Roche Diagnostics or divisions thereof.

Turning now to the figures,FIG. 1depicts an exemplary embodiment of a homecare system100and healthcare system200connected via a WAN150for monitoring data. Systems100,200each comprise a computing device, shown here in the form of computers102,202having processing units, system memory, display devices114,214, and input devices112,212,110,210,106. Healthcare computer202may be, but is not necessarily, acting as a server. Furthermore, while only two computers102,202are shown, many more computers may be part of the overall system.

While standard input devices such as mice110,210and keyboards112,212are shown, systems100,200may comprise any user input device. By example, infrared (IR) dongle106is coupled to each of computers102,202. IR dongle106is configured to send and receive IR transmissions from health management device104. Computers102,202include software applications configured to receive data from health management device104via IR dongle106or otherwise. While the use of IR and IR dongles is disclosed herein for the transmission of data between health management device104and computers102,202, any other method of wireless transmission is also envisioned, including but not limited to RF. While communications are discussed that make use of dongle106, the present disclosure is intended to cover internal device hardware having the functionality attributed to dongle106. Systems100,200include health management software (not shown) configured to receive medical information from one or more of input devices112,212,110,210,106. Health management devices104are described herein as meters, but could also be a PDA, therapeutic pump, combinations thereof, or other devices that store medical data thereon. Medical information may include blood glucose values, A1c values, Albumin values, Albumin excretion values, body mass index values, blood pressure values, carbohydrate values, cholesterol values (total, HDL, LDL, ratio) creatinine values, fructosamine values, HbAl values, height values, insulin dose values, insulin rate values, total daily insulin values, ketone values, microalbumin values, proteinuria values, heart rate values, temperature values, triglyceride values, weight values, and any other medical information that is desired to be known.

IR dongle106, shown inFIG. 2, includes housing300, IR transmission window302, and interface cable304. Housing300is sized and shaped to contain IR producing and receiving circuitry therein. IR transmission window302is disposed on one side of housing300and allows the transmission of IR signals therethrough. Interface cable304, shown as a USB cable, allows IR dongle106to functionally couple to computers102,202. Housing300also includes reception indicator306and communication indicator308thereon. Reception indicator306provides an indication of reception and the strength of the signal being received from any health management device104within range. Reception indicator306further allows a user to adjust the positioning of health management device104and receive feedback, such as, for example, the display of more or fewer reception “bars,” to effect suitable positioning for data transfer. Communication indicator308provides an indication of when data is being transmitted between IR dongle106and health management device104.

Health management device104may include a housing310having an IR window312, an “IR detected” LED314, and a “good link” LED316. IR window312is similar to IR transmission window302and permits transmission of IR signals therethrough. “IR detected” LED314is similar to reception indicator306and provides an indication of whether a compatible dongle106is detected within range. “Good link” LED316is similar to communication indicator308and indicates that the IR signal from dongle106is suitable for sustaining or is transacting data transfer. While indicators316,314,306,308are described as being present on both dongle106and health management device104, embodiments are envisioned wherein indicators would only be present on one of dongle106and health management device104.

In use, dongle106, when not transmitting data, emits a beacon. The beacon is a repetitive link command that is sent out until either a successful IR link is established with health management device104or the software running on computer102,202is shut down. Although the software is described herein for operation on a computer (e.g., desktop, laptop or tablet), it should be understood that the principles of the invention may be embodied in software for operation on various devices, including but not limited to personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), infusion pumps, blood glucose meters, cellular phones, or integrated devices including a glucose measurement engine and a PDA or cellular device. Furthermore, dongle106may have an instance of the software running on itself.

Whenever health management device104is turned on and not transmitting with dongle106, the IR communication portion of health management device104is in a listening mode. Health management device104is listening for the beacon from dongle106. Listening mode is a mode of reduced power draw relative to a data transmission mode to prolong battery life while still being able to detect dongle106. Listening involves periodic scanning for or otherwise attempting to sense the presence of the beacon. Upon “hearing” the beacon, health management device104recognizes the beacon and wakes up to an active state. Transition from listening mode to the active state in one present embodiment of the invention takes less than five seconds. Health management device104then emits data necessary for a handshaking protocol in which health management device104and dongle106exchange data to ensure that a proper device104,106is on the receiving end of their respective transmissions, to ensure that the other device is prepared to communicate, and to coordinate the start of data transfer.

Once handshaking indicates that proper devices are present, health management device104commences sharing any information that is desired to be shared with dongle106. When the data exchange is being effected, communication indicator308and “good link” LED316are illuminated to indicate that a proper link has been established. Accordingly, a user is provided with visual feedback that health management device104is suitably positioned and that data transfer is occurring. When a user sees communication indicator308and/or “good link” LED316turn off, the user knows that communication has completed and that health management device104can be moved away from dongle106without fear that such moving will negatively impact data transmission. Embodiments are envisioned where communication indicator308and “good link” LED316flash as data is exchanged.

During all times that the beacon is received by health management device104, “IR detected” LED314is illuminated. During all times that dongle106detects health management device104, reception indicator306is illuminated. Reception indicator306includes the illumination of one or more “bars” or other intensity indicators to indicate the strength of the received signal. A greater number of illuminated bars indicates a stronger signal. Similarly, “IR detected” LED314can illuminate in more than one color. Red illumination of “IR detected” LED314indicates a poor signal. Yellow illumination of LED314indicates a medium strength signal. Green illumination of LED314indicates a high strength signal. Alternatively, LED314may be binary such that there is only one illumination color. In such embodiments, illumination indicates a satisfactory signal and a lack of illumination indicates a lack of a satisfactory signal. Suitable location of health management device104in the present embodiment includes line of sight positioning such that IR signals can travel between health management device104and dongle106via IR transmission window302and IR window312. Embodiments are also envisioned where instead of, or along with, visual indices308,316,306,314, audio indices are provided. Such audio indices could be, for example, a first beep to indicate the start of data transmission, multiple beeps to indicate completion of data transmission, and multiple beeps that change in frequency to indicate the strength of signal being received. Such audio indices provide the functionality of visual indices308,316,306,314to visually impaired users. Similarly, other sensory indicators (e.g., vibration) are envisioned.

Software400runs on computers102,202and waits for detection of health management device104via dongle106. Software400, represented by icon405,FIG. 4, in the system tray of computers102,202, is loaded automatically on startup and runs in the background to operate dongle106and receive indications of the presence of health management device104. Upon detection of health management device104, software400invokes a related piece of software410,FIG. 5, that is suitable for receiving and displaying data therefrom. Software410either automatically accepts and downloads data from health management device104, optionally storing the data in a database in association with the patient, or it prompts a user to ask if data from health management device104should be downloaded. In embodiments where the data is automatically downloaded, it should be appreciated that such downloading occurs without any user interaction with computers102,202. In this automatic embodiment, software400is loaded automatically on startup of computers102,202and downloading occurs upon detection of health management device104. Thus, downloading from health management device104is effected with zero manipulation of and zero input to (e.g., zero “clicks” of a mouse) computers102,202, provided they are running. In another embodiment, software400may be configured to request user authorization/verification of the pending download of data (e.g., via a single “click” of a mouse). Software410can also be configured such that reports of the newly downloaded data are presented automatically. Accordingly, computers102,202are able to produce reports with zero clicks and zero interaction with input devices110,112,210,212. In addition to zero-click downloads to computers102,202, downloads may be similarly performed to produce output reports via other devices such as printers, faxes, or e-mail messages. Output devices such as printers and faxes may be configured to automatically produce a hardcopy or report of the downloaded data. Further description of this reporting function for use with the concepts of the present invention is disclosed in the co-filed patent application entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REPORTING MEDICAL INFORMATION (Roche-P0045) which was previously incorporated herein.

Automatic downloading from health management device104is also accomplished in that a device identifier is transmitted with medical data from health management device104to dongle106. The device identifier allows software410to determine the individual with whom the incoming data is to be associated. The data may then automatically be downloaded and stored in an appropriate database in association with the corresponding patient. Accordingly, software410does not need to be told with which patient to associate the data in systems100,200that service multiple users. The association of a patient to a particular health management device104and device identifier is performed the first time that the device interfaces with the installation instance of software410. It should be appreciated that a particular health management device104may not have interfaced with a particular computer102,202and yet the health management device104may be recognized thereby. If health management device104has previously interfaced with a computer102,202that is networked and/or shares database information with the computer102,202now being used, the information sharing over the network allows recognizing of health management device104. The device identifier can also identify the type of device that is to be sending the data. Accordingly, differences in device data structures can be known, detected, and compensated for.