Abstract:
Medical monitoring and treatment devices, systems, and methods. In one system embodiment, the system comprises a medical device configured to obtain a bodily measurement from a patient; an alert device comprising a receiver configured to receive a signal from the medical device, the signal indicative of the bodily measurement; and at least one user device in communication with the alert device; the alert device configured so that when the bodily measurement falls outside of a predetermined bodily measurement range, the alert device is operable to send an alert signal to the at least one user device, the alert signal indicative of the bodily measurement falling outside of the predetermined bodily measurement range.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The present application is related to, and claims the priority benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/191,771, filed Jul. 13, 2015, the contents of which are hereby incorporated into the present application in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Millions of Americans and other people around the world suffer from conditions related to blood sugar levels that are either too low or too high, and/or suffer from conditions related to blood oxygen levels being too low, such as various chronic or acute conditions. Should said conditions cause the person to become dizzy, lose consciousness, etc., the person could be at risk for worsening the condition, or even death. 
         [0003]    In view of the same, systems and methods to use the same to help monitor patients and alert caregivers, family members, and the like, would be well received in the marketplace. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the system comprises a medical device configured to obtain a bodily measurement from a patient; an alert device comprising a receiver configured to receive a signal from the medical device, the signal indicative of the bodily measurement; and at least one user device in communication with the alert device; the alert device configured so that when the bodily measurement falls outside of a predetermined bodily measurement range, the alert device is operable to send an alert signal to the at least one user device, the alert signal indicative of the bodily measurement falling outside of the predetermined bodily measurement range. 
         [0005]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the medical device is selected from the group consisting of a glucose monitoring system, a glucometer, an insulin pump, and an oxygen monitor. 
         [0006]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the medical device further comprises a location mechanism, the location mechanism configured to identify a location of the medical device. 
         [0007]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the medical device comprises a glucose monitoring system, wherein the bodily measurement is a blood glucose measurement, and wherein the predetermined bodily measurement range comprises a range of acceptable blood glucose measurements. 
         [0008]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the medical device comprises an oxygen monitor, wherein the bodily measurement is a blood oxygen measurement, and wherein the predetermined bodily measurement range comprises a range of acceptable blood oxygen measurements. 
         [0009]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the alert device is operable to send an alert signal to the at least one user device through a network. 
         [0010]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the alert device further comprises a transmitter, wherein the transmitter of the alert device is operable to send an alert signal to the at least one user device. 
         [0011]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the alert device comprises a storage medium having software stored thereon, a processor in communication with the storage medium and operable to perform instructions within the software, the software configured to compare the bodily measurement to the predetermined bodily measurement range to determine whether or not the bodily measurement falls within or outside of the predetermined bodily measurement range. 
         [0012]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the at least one user device comprises a smartphone or smartwatch and is configured to display information indicative of the alert signal. 
         [0013]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the alert signal is further indicative of an identification of the patient. 
         [0014]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the alert signal is further indicative of the bodily measurement falling outside of the predetermined bodily measurement range. 
         [0015]    In at least one embodiment of a method of the present disclosure, the method comprises the steps of operating a medical device configured to obtain a bodily measurement from a patient to obtain the bodily measurement; operating an alert device comprising a receiver configured to receive a signal from the medical device, the signal indicative of the bodily measurement; comparing the bodily measurement to a predetermined bodily measurement range using the alert device to determine whether or not the bodily measurement falls within or outside of the predetermined bodily measurement range; and operating the user device to send an alert signal to at least one user device in communication with the alert device, the alert signal indicative of the bodily measurement falling outside of the predetermined bodily measurement range. 
         [0016]    In at least one embodiment of a method of the present disclosure, the method further comprises the steps of operating a location device in communication with the medical device to determine a location of the medical device, and further operating the alert device to send a location signal to the at least one user device, the location signal indicative of the location of the medical device. 
         [0017]    In at least one embodiment of a method of the present disclosure, the medical device comprises a glucose monitoring system or a glucometer, wherein the bodily measurement is a blood glucose measurement, and wherein the predetermined bodily measurement range comprises a range of acceptable blood glucose measurements. 
         [0018]    In at least one embodiment of a method of the present disclosure, the medical device comprises an oxygen monitor, wherein the bodily measurement is a blood oxygen measurement, and wherein the predetermined bodily measurement range comprises a range of acceptable blood oxygen measurements. 
         [0019]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the system comprises a medical device configured to obtain a bodily measurement from a patient, the medical device selected from the group consisting of a glucose monitoring system, a glucometer, an insulin pump, and an oxygen monitor; a location mechanism in communication with the medical device, the location mechanism configured to identify a location of the medical device; an alert device comprising a receiver configured to receive a signal from the medical device and a transmitter configured to transmit an alert signal, the signal indicative of the bodily measurement selected from the group consisting of a blood glucose level and a blood oxygen level; and at least one user device in communication with the alert device, the at least one user device configured to receive the alert signal from the alert device; the alert device configured so that when the bodily measurement falls outside of a predetermined bodily measurement range, the alert device is operable to send the alert signal to the at least one user device, the alert signal indicative of the bodily measurement falling outside of the predetermined bodily measurement range and further indicative of the location of the medical device. 
         [0020]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the alert device is operable to send an alert signal to the at least one user device through a network. 
         [0021]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the alert signal is further indicative of an identification of the patient and a location of the patient. 
         [0022]    In at least one embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the at least one user device is configured to display information indicative of the alert signal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The disclosed embodiments and other features, advantages, and disclosures contained herein, and the matter of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a component diagram of components of a system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows a component diagram of portions of an alert device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a component diagram of portions of a user device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a component diagram of components of a system configured to communicate over a network, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0028]    An overview of the features, functions and/or configurations of the components depicted in the various figures will now be presented. It should be appreciated that not all of the features of the components of the figures are necessarily described. Some of these non-discussed features, such as various couplers, etc., as well as discussed features are inherent from the figures themselves. Other non-discussed features may be inherent in component geometry and/or configuration. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended. 
         [0030]    The present disclosure includes disclosure of various devices, systems, and methods relating to monitoring and potentially treating people having a condition relating to blood sugar levels (such as diabetes) and/or other conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 
         [0031]    An exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure is described as follows. In at least one embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , system  100  comprises a glucose (or blood sugar) monitoring system  102  (configured to be coupled to a patient  150 ) and/or a glucometer  104  (configured to test blood glucose (sugar) levels and not be coupled to patient  150 ), whereby at least one of glucose monitoring system  102  and/or glucometer  104  is in communication with a receiver  110  (which may be stand-alone or part of an alert device  130 , described in further detail herein). Receiver  110 , in various embodiments, may be configured to obtain data from glucose monitoring system  102  and/or glucometer  104 , and/or may be further configured to provide instructions to glucose monitoring system  102  and/or glucometer  104 . 
         [0032]    System  100 , in various embodiments, would be operable in view of specific instructions, such as via software  120  stored within a storage medium  122  and accessible using a processor  124  coupled thereto, whereby processor  124  directs performance of instructions/steps within software  120 . Software  120 , for example, may then include pre-set limits for high blood sugar and/or low blood sugar, so that if receiver  110  is aware that the person using system  100  (also referred to as patient  150 ) has blood sugar at or higher than the high blood sugar limit or at or lower than the low blood sugar limit, system  100  would operate to perform some sort of task, as described further herein. The high blood sugar and/or the low blood sugar limits can be set based on a particular patient  150 , be pre-set in general, etc., and/or can be changed over time as may be desired. For example, if the person using system  100  (patient  150 ) becomes somewhat disoriented with a blood sugar reading of 75, then, for example, the low blood sugar limit could be set at 85, so to address the needs of patient  150  prior to patient  150  becoming disoriented, for example. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  shows components of an exemplary system  100  of the present disclosure. As shown therein, system  100  comprises an alert device  130 , referenced in further detail in  FIG. 2 , that is in communication with one or both of a glucose monitoring system  102  and/or a glucometer  104 . Alert device  130  can communicate with one or more user devices  140 , such as smartphones/smartwatches  142 , tablets  144 , traditional cellular or landline telephones  146 , computers  148 , etc., which can be used by one or more family members, caregivers, medical personnel, emergency personnel, etc. The jagged lines in  FIG. 1  represent signals/alerts, the solid lines represent direct connections, and the dotted line represents blood sugar testing of the patient  150 &#39;s blood using glucometer  104 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  shows components of an exemplary alert device  130  of the present disclosure, having a processor  124  coupled to a storage medium  122  with software  120  stored thereon. Alert device  130  comprises receiver  110 , as referenced herein, which can receive data/information from one or more of glucose monitoring system  102 , glucometer  104 , and/or one or more user devices  140 . As referenced herein, receiver  110  may also be configured to send out (transmit) the signals to user devices  140  and/or other components of system  100  as referenced herein, but in embodiments of system whereby receiver  110  is not configured to send signals, a transmitter  126  may be used to send out said signals. 
         [0035]    If a patient  150  is using a continuous glucose monitoring system  102 , receiver  110  could, for example, receive the glucose reading every five minutes (or at other time intervals or time frames as may be desired), and once the low blood sugar limit is met, system  100  would automatically send out one or more signals to one or more user devices  140 , such as dialing a family member&#39;s smartphone/smartwatch  142 , a caregiver&#39;s phone  146 , a medical personnel&#39;s smartphone/smartwatch  142 , etc., sending a text message, sending an alert to an application on a phone, etc., so to alert one or more people that the patient  150 &#39;s blood sugar has met or surpassed the low blood sugar limit, or that patient  150  is generally in danger for having low blood sugar. Such a signal could cause, for example, smartphone/smartwatch  142  to ring, vibrate, etc., so to advise the user/wearer of smartphone/smartwatch  142  that patient  150  has low blood sugar and may require attention. Should a person be wearing a watch-like device (an exemplary smartphone/smartwatch  142 ), a vibration could, for example, wake the person when if asleep, such as if/when the person would otherwise sleep through an auditory signal. This would alert the family member, caregiver, medical personnel, etc., to attempt to contact patient  150  with the low or potentially low blood sugar so to try to help patient  150  correct the problem. Receiver  110  would continue to monitor patient  150 &#39;s blood sugar readings, and if the readings have not been corrected, or if the readings continue to go lower, system  100  would again send out one or more signals to attempt to alert someone that patient  150  using system  100  may be in need of help. System  100  could also be programmed so that should patient  150 &#39;s blood sugar not return to a normal or otherwise acceptable range, emergency personnel (such as 911) may be contacted in addition to family, caregivers, medical personnel, etc., as may be needed/desired. The same applies when a patient  150 , for example, has met or exceed his or her high blood sugar limits. Signals/alerts can be sent and/or repeated at pre-set times. The vibration or auditory signal could persist until the low sugar concern or high sugar concern is rectified, such as by increasing blood sugar levels to an acceptable level. 
         [0036]    If patient  150  is not using a glucose monitoring system  102  and is only using a glucometer  104 , receiver  110  would use the readings/signals sent by or received from glucometer  104  and send out one or more signals to family members, caregivers, medical personnel, emergency personnel, etc., as may be desired should patient  150 &#39;s blood sugar levels be at or below the low blood sugar limit or at or above the high blood sugar limit, as may be applicable. The family members, caregivers, medical personnel, emergency personnel, etc., can then attempt to contact patient  150  and help them through the low or high blood sugar level alert/situation. 
         [0037]    An application (“app”) (exemplary software  120  of the present disclosure) on a smartphone/smartwatch  142 , tablet  144 , computer  148 , etc., could be used by one or more family members, caregivers, medical personnel, etc., so that a generally continuous monitoring of patient  150  can be made, or so that, at a minimum, the family members, caregivers, medical personnel, etc., using the app would be alerted should patient  150  approach, meet, or exceed the pre-set low blood sugar limit or the high blood sugar limit. Such an app could provide information regarding the identity of patient  150 , blood sugar levels, and the like. If only glucose monitoring systems  102  were used, periodic readings, such as hourly, daily, or more or less frequent readings, could be obtained and transmitted to the one or more family members, caregivers, medical personnel, etc., via text message, such as if only a glucometer  104  were used. 
         [0038]    There are several advantages to such exemplary systems  100 . Patient  150 , as well as the various family members, caregivers, medical personnel, etc., who care about the well-being of patient  150 , would have peace of mind with respect to the general health and safety of patient  150 . Serious injury, and even death, can be prevented, or the risks of the same generally minimized, as the various family members, caregivers, medical personnel, emergency personnel, etc., can attempt to locate, contact, and/or generally assist patient  150  should patient  150  require such assistance. For example, and should patient  150 &#39;s blood sugar levels get too low, to the point where patient  150  becomes disoriented or even unconscious, for example, various family members, caregivers, medical personnel, emergency personnel, etc., will be alerted and can take steps to locate and help patient  150 . The same would go for high blood sugar levels, which can cause ketoacidosis, coma, and even death, which can be prevented, or the risks of the same generally minimized, when patient  150  uses system  100  as referenced herein. 
         [0039]    Receiver  110 , in various embodiments, would be programmable and potentially include some sort of input device, or configured for operation in connection with an input device (such as a wired or wireless keyboard or other input device known in the art), whereby the program (software  120 ) can be configured to set one or both of the low blood sugar limit and/or the high blood sugar limit. Software  120  can also be programmed to direct a signal to specific user devices  140  in a particular order, such as first sending a signal to a family member user device  140  prior to sending a signal to a medical personnel user device  140 , for example. 
         [0040]    Said systems  100 , or portions thereof, may be consider medical devices/equipment, and therefore potentially covered my private or public (governmental) medical insurance and/or other programs. 
         [0041]    Other health conditions (other than blood sugar-related conditions, such as diabetes) could benefit from using various system  100  embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, patients with COPD using at-home oxygen monitors could use portions of system  100 , whereby alerts/signals could be sent by portions of system  100  to one or more user devices  140  should the patient  150 &#39;s oxygen levels become too low. In such an event, an oxygen monitor  106  (connected to patient  150 ) would be used instead of (or along with) glucose monitoring system  104 , so that data relating to the patient  150 &#39;s oxygen levels can be received by receiver  110 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  shows components of an exemplary user device  140  of the present disclosure. As shown therein, user device  140  can also have a processor  124  coupled to a storage medium  122  with software  120  stored thereon. User device  140  can also comprise a receiver  110 , as referenced herein, which can receive data/information from one or more of glucose monitoring system  102 , glucometer  104 , alert device  130 , and/or one or more other user devices  140 . As referenced herein, receiver  110  may also be configured to send out (transmit) the signals to alert device  130  and/or other user devices  140  and/or other components of system  100  as referenced herein, but in embodiments of system whereby receiver  110  is not configured to send signals, a transmitter  126  may be used to send out said signals. User devices  140  may also comprise one or more of a display  200  configured to display information relating to signals (data/information) from one or more of glucose monitoring system  102 , glucometer  104 , alert device  130 , and/or one or more other user devices  140 , a user input mechanism  202 , such as a keyboard, touchpad, button, etc., to input information to be sent to one or more system  100  components or to a user device  140  in communication therewith, and a battery  204 , such as a rechargeable battery, configured to provide power to various components of user device  140 . 
         [0043]    Alert devices  130 , or components thereof, can be configured for home or use while traveling. As generally referenced herein, alert devices  130  of the present disclosure can communicate with one or more of a glucose monitoring system  102 , a glucometer  104 , an oxygen sensor  106 , and/or an insulin pump  108 , and provide data from said items to various user devices  140  of the present disclosure. For example, alert device  130  can provide blood sugar information, oxygen level information, insulin pump information, etc., to one or more devices  140  of the present disclosure, either directly, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or over a network  400 , such as shown in  FIG. 4 , whereby signals (data/information) from alert device  130  (or directly from one or more of glucose monitoring system  102 , glucometer  104 , oxygen monitor  106 , insulin pump  108 , and/or location mechanism  180 ) can be transmitted to one or more user devices  140  over network  140 , such as an intranet, the Internet, and the like. 
         [0044]    An insulin pump  108  (configured to administer insulin to a patient  150 ), as shown in  FIG. 1 , can also be part of system  100 , whereby insulin pump  108  is connected to patient  150  and in communication with alert device  130 . Glucose measuring system  102 , glucometer  104 , oxygen monitor  106 , and/or insulin pump  108  can be in communication with one another as well as may be desired. Should alert device  130  identify that patient  150  requires insulin, alert device  130  can send a signal to insulin pump  108  to instruct insulin pump  108  to administer insulin. Should alert device  130  identify that patient  150  is receiving too much insulin, alert device  130  can send a signal to insulin pump  108  to stop insulin pump  108  from administering insulin. Insulin pump  108  could be instructed to stop automatically administering insulin, as noted above, and may also be instructed to prevent the manual administration of insulin by patient  150  as well. This stoppage/prevention may be withdrawn once the patient  150 &#39;s blood sugar levels return to an acceptable level, for example. 
         [0045]    In various embodiments, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , portions of system  100 , such as glucose monitoring system  102 , insulin pump  108 , etc., may comprise an optional location mechanism  180 , so that a particular location of said portion of system  100  can be made. For example, location mechanism  180  may comprise a global positioning system (GPS), a non-GPS locator, etc., whereby one or more portions of system  100 , such as, for example, portions of alert device  130  and/or one or more user devices  140  can identify and/or provide the location of glucose monitoring system  102 , insulin pump  108 , etc., coupled to patient  150 . Being able to locate patient  150 , for example, can be critical in situations where patient  150  is not in a condition to be able to tell anyone where he/she may be, such as in the event of becoming disoriented or unconscious due to high or low blood sugar or oxygen levels, for example. Receiver  110 , for example, may be the part of alert device  130  that is configured to obtain location data, and transmitter  126 , for example, may be the part of alert device  130  that is configured to transmit location data to one or more user devices  140 . One or more user devices  140  may also be configured to obtain location data directly from the part of system  100  having location mechanism  180 . 
         [0046]    In various embodiments, portions of system  100 , such as alert device  130  or portions thereof, may be password protected or otherwise configured so that persons other than patient  150 , such as, for example, or more family members, caregivers, medical personnel, etc., can use portions of system  100  without interference by patient  150 . This would prevent patient  150  from in advertently configuring parts of system  100  to the patient  150 &#39;s detriment, and would also permit or more family members, caregivers, medical personnel, etc., to control the health and well-being of patient  150 , such as an elderly or mentally or physically compromised patient  150 . 
         [0047]    While various embodiments of medical monitoring and treatment devices, systems, and methods have been described in considerable detail herein, the embodiments are merely offered as non-limiting examples of the disclosure described herein. It will therefore be understood that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the content thereof. 
         [0048]    Further, in describing representative embodiments, the present disclosure may have presented a method and/or a process as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth therein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described, as other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps disclosed herein should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. In addition, disclosure directed to a method and/or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written. Such sequences may be varied and still remain within the scope of the present disclosure.