WO2003041425A2

WO2003041425A2 - A method for collecting blood sugar level measured values and a device for carrying out this method

Info

Publication number: WO2003041425A2
Application number: PCT/IB2002/004639
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giacomo Vespasiani
Original assignee: Giacomo Vespasiani
Priority date: 2001-11-09
Filing date: 2002-11-06
Publication date: 2003-05-15
Also published as: ITBO20010679A1; WO2003041425A3; AU2002363547A1

Abstract

A method for collecting blood sugar level measured values taken by patient by means of a self-test blood sugar level meter (1) includes transmission of the blood sugar level measured values from the blood sugar level meter (1) to an SMS interface device (10). The device (10) is equipped with an input interface (11) toward the blood sugar level meter (1), and an output interface (15) toward an origin GSM cellular telephone (16). The device (10) creates an SMS, which contains the measured data and a patient's identification code. Then, the SMS is transmitted, to the origin GSM cellular telephone (16), and the latter is activated to transmit the SMS to a destination GSM telephone (51). The destination GMS telephone (51) is equipped with an interface for communication with a computer (52), belonging to a collection center (50). A managing program loaded to the electronic processor (52) reviews periodically the destination GSM telephone (51) and extracts therefrom the SMS containing the measured data, in order to organize them according to predetermined criterion.

Description

A METHOD FOR COLLECTING BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL MEASURED VALUES AND A DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THIS METHOD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatuses for periodical measurement of the blood sugar level and to apparatuses and procedures for collecting the values obtained by the measurements to be presented to the medical staff responsible for their assessment. In particular, the invention relates to a new method for collecting data concerning the blood sugar values obtained by measurements from an indefinite number of patients, in one or more collection centers.

Moreover, the invention relates also to a device which carries out the characteristic steps of the above mentioned method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

It is known in the medical field that patients suffering from some types of pathologies, such as different forms of diabetes, must be subjected periodically, even every day or every few days, to a measurement of the blood sugar value in different physical activities or metabolic situations. This is indispensable for the doctor to define, and possibly change, a precise therapy program for each patient.

The above mentioned measurement is rendered easier by portable devices, available on the marketplace for a long time, which can be carried by the patient and used autonomously. These devices are able to analyze a small sample of blood, taken by the patient by a suitable instrument, and to define the sugar value at the moment of sampling.

Moreover, the devices are equipped with digital memories, which can store a predetermined number of measured values, sometimes together with other information, such as the exact time of the measurement and the patient's physical-metabolic conditions in that moment.

The information concerning different measurements can be read directly on a display or downloaded, by a suitable interface, onto a computer equipped with a complementary interface .

Therefore, the patient must go to his doctor periodically, so as to allow him to read the stored information and change the insulin therapy accordingly.

Travels of the patient can be sometimes hard, due to distance, measured values report frequency or difficulties to reach the place where the measured values are analyzed, as well as to patient's physical conditions, which sometimes makes it difficult for him or her to move .

Moreover, due to the above reasons, analysis of the measured values often cannot be performed at short time intervals and this does not allow best modification of the therapy in relation to the patient's actual needs.

On the other hand, it is statistically known that continuous updates of the insulin therapy for a diabetic patient, in relation to the real blood sugar level, can drastically reduce, even by 50-70% pathology complications . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the main object of the present invention to propose a method for collecting, from the proper apparatuses, the measured values of blood sugar and for transmitting said measured values to a collection center, which method allows the measurement to be performed directly and wholly automatically, in any moment, by using instruments which are easily available and without transferring the patient . Another object of the present invention is to propose a device which carries out the characteristic steps of the method .

The above mentioned objects are obtained, in accordance with the contents of the claims, method for collecting blood sugar level measured values deriving from measurements performed by a patient by means of a self- test blood sugar level meter, said blood sugar level meter being also equipped with memory areas for storing a predetermined number of said measured values and with at least one interface operating in accordance with a selected communication protocol for transmitting coded data related to said measured values, characterized in that it includes the following operation steps: transmission of said blood sugar level measured values from said blood sugar level meter to an SMS interface device, said SMS interface device being equipped with an input interface disposed toward said blood sugar level meter, means for temporary storing said measured values, means for permanent or semi -permanent storing of at least one destination telephone number, corresponding to a destination GSM telephone of a collection center, and an output interface disposed toward an origin GSM cellular telephone; creation, by the device, of at least one SMS, which contains said measured values and at least one patient's identification code and which is sent to said collection center; transmission of said SMS, through said output interface, to said origin GSM cellular telephone, and activation of the latter for transmitting said SMS to said destination GSM telephone; receiving, by said destination GSM telephone, of said SMS containing said measured values, said destination GSM telephone being equipped with an interface for communication with a computer; - periodical review, by a managing program loaded onto said computer, of said destination GSM telephone through said communication interface, and extracting therefrom said SMS containing the measured values .

The above mentioned method is carried out by an SMS interface device for collecting blood sugar level measured values derived from measurements performed by a patient by means of a self-test blood sugar level meter, said blood sugar level meter being also equipped with memory areas for storing a pre-selected number of said measured values and with at least one interface operating in accordance with a selected communication protocol for transmitting coded information related to said measured values, said SMS interface device being characterized in that it includes : - a control unit aimed at acquiring a preselected number of said measured values and at creating at least one SMS containing said measured values, and at sending the above SMS to a origin GSM cellular telephone;

- at least one input interface for connecting said control unit with said interface of the blood sugar level meter;

- at least one output interface for connecting said control unit with said origin GSM cellular telephone; - a first memory unit for temporary storing said measured data;

- a second memory unit for semi-permanent or permanent storing of at least one telephone number corresponding to a destination GSM telephone;

- user's interface means for receiving commands from the user of said SMS interface device and for signaling operation states of said device to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristic features of the present invention will be pointed out in the following description of a preferred, but not unique embodiment, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a structure for collecting data concerning the measured values of blood sugar, obtained according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of an SMS interface device;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the SMS interface device of Figure 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the above mentioned figures, reference numeral 1 indicates a self-test sugar blood meter of known type, which analyzes samples of blood taken by a patient in order to measure the blood sugar level.

Different models of the sugar blood level meters 1 available in commerce, as well as their operation ways, are known and will not be analyzed in the following.

In any case, the above meters are usually able to store, besides the blood sugar level value, also additional information, e.g. the time of measurement or patient's physical -metabolic situation in that moment.

According to the present invention, after the patient has completed a cycle of measurements, the data related thereto are transmitted to a collection center 50, situated e.g. in a hospital or in the doctor's in charge office, by one or more SMSs sent by GSM cellular telephones .

For this purpose, the present invention includes also an SMS interface device 10, which is to be connected to the above mentioned blood sugar level meter 1 and to a GSM cellular telephone, in order to receive, from the blood sugar value meter 1, data related to one or more measured values and to transmit these data to the above mentioned collection center in a way, which will be described in detail in the following. With particular reference to Figures 2 and 3, the SMS interface device 10 includes a control unit 20, obtained according to known microprocessor or micro-controller employing design techniques. The control unit 20 is aimed at storing and performing a suitable program envisaging acquisition of a pre-selected number of measured values of the blood sugar value and, possibly, additional information other than the above measured values . The control unit 20 is also aimed at generating, starting from the above measured values and additional information, one or more data structures in SMS format, of the type used by the GSM mobile radio net and by the corresponding cellular telephone apparatuses. An input interface 11 is connected to the control unit 20 to connect electronically the control unit 20 with the blood sugar value meter 1, designed according to the compatibility characteristics of the latter.

The input interface 11 is equipped with a suitable cable 11a for connecting with the above mentioned blood sugar value meter 1.

Two digital memory units, first 13 and second 14, respectively, are also connected to the control unit 20.

The first memory unit 13 is aimed at temporary storing information related to the measured values received from the blood sugar value meter 1.

The second memory unit 14 is aimed at semi-permanent or permanent storing of one or more numbers corresponding to GSM cellular telephones 51, belonging or anyway, connectable to the above mentioned collection center 50. The SMS interface device 10 includes also an output interface 15, connected electronically to the control unit 20 and aimed at connecting the control unit 20 with an origin GSM cellular telephone 16. In particular, the output interface 15 is advantageously obtained by following the standard connection specification using infrared radiation of corresponding devices present in a large number of GSM cellular telephones, using the communication protocol known commonly with the acronym IRDA (Infra Red Data Association) .

The SMS interface includes also a user interface means 30, aimed at receiving commands from the same user and at signaling some operational states. According to the embodiment of Figure 3, the user interface means 30 include an activation button 31, aimed at sending a command to the control unit to begin the procedure of receiving of the measured data coming from the blood sugar value meter 1, of preparation the corresponding SMS and sending thereof to the origin GSM telephone 16, together with the destination cellular telephone 51 number, and of specific commands for sending the message to the receiver.

The user interface means 30 include also a pair of light- emitting diodes (LED) , first 32a and second 32b, respectively.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device 10, the first diode 32a is aimed at signaling a communication in course with the blood sugar value meter 1 to receive the measured values, and the second diode 32b is aimed at signaling a communication in course with the origin GSM telephone 16. Moreover, an acoustic alarm 33 signals, together with the diodes 32a, 32b or independently therefrom, further operation states of the device 10, depending on the programming of the control unit 20. According to the method for collecting blood sugar level measured values, which advantageously uses the above described device 10, after having completed the cycle of measurements, the patient connects his blood sugar value meter 1 with the SMS interface 10 by the connecting cable 11a, and then places the origin GSM cellular telephone 16, suitably prepared to receive IRDA, near a port 15a of the infrared output, made in the device 10^'.

Afterwards, the patient activates the operation by pushing the activation button 31. Due to the above activation, the program registered in the control unit 20, first of all sends to blood sugar value meter 1 a request for receiving data related to the measurements being performed, possibly together with additional information contained therein. In the meantime, the control unit 20 activates the first diode to signal that the above operations are in course.

After the reception of the above data has been completed, the program creates a short message SMS, according to known characteristics required for this type of message, containing all the data received from the blood sugar value meter 1, and the additional information concerning the patient's identification.

Afterwards, the SMS is transmitted, by the output interface 15, to the origin GSM telephone 16, together with the number of the corresponding destination GSM telephone 51 and known commands for sending the message. Then, the message SMS is received by the destination GSM telephone 51 in a way defined by the GSM net.

When the person responsible for receiving the messages, usually the patient's doctor or an operator of a hospital center, notices that a message has arrived, or, otherwise, periodically at predetermined intervals, he/she performs certain preparatory actions at the collection center.

Besides the destination GSM telephone 51 (or a plurality thereof) , the collection center includes also one or more computers 52, suitably equipped with an interface for communication with the above mentioned destination GSM 51.

Advantageously, this interface can by of infrared type operating with IRDA protocol.

The computer 52 is suitably equipped with an appropriate program for organizing and displaying the above mentioned SMSs, for all patients who belong to the collection center. This program includes also a procedure for connecting to and communicating with the destination GSM cellular telephone 51 wholly similar to the one stored in the SMS interface 10.

The activation of this program allows to receive the SMS containing the blood sugar level measured values of a given patient and to organize and display all the data contained therein, according to pre-selected schemes.

At this point, the doctor can easily evaluate the course of the blood sugar level of that patient, and possibly change the insulin doses and communicate it to the patient by means of another SMS or a normal telephone call.

The advantages resulting from the present invention lie, first of all, in the complete automatic process and immediacy of the measurements performed by the blood sugar value meter 1.

All this is performed with a considerable respect for privacy, because the SMSs can be received only by authorized staff and in a coded form. Another advantage derives from the fact that the patient does not have to move in order to transmit the data contained in the blood sugar level meter.

Since the obtained advantages are significant, it would be convenient to buy a cellular telephone even for this purpose only, in case the patient does not have any.

It is understood that what above, has been described as a pure, not limitative example, therefore, possible variants of the invention remain within the protective scope of the present technical solution, as described above and claimed hereinafter.

Claims

1. A method for collecting blood sugar level measured values deriving from measurements performed by a patient by means of a self-test blood sugar level meter (1) , said blood sugar level meter (1) being also equipped with memory areas for storing a predetermined number of said measured values and with at least one interface operating in accordance with a selected communication protocol for transmitting coded data related to said measured values, characterized in that it includes the following operation steps : transmission of said blood sugar level measured values from said blood sugar level meter (1) to an SMS interface device (10) , said SMS interface device (10) being equipped with an input interface (11) disposed toward said blood sugar level meter (1) , means (13) for temporary storing said measured values, means (14) for permanent or semi-permanent storing of at least one destination telephone number, corresponding to a destination GSM telephone (51) of a collection center (50) , and an output interface (15) disposed toward an origin GSM cellular telephone (16) ; - creation, by the device (10) , of at least one SMS, which contains said measured values and at least one patient's identification code and which is sent to said collection center (50) ; transmission of said SMS, through said output interface (15) , to said origin GSM cellular telephone (16) , and activation of the latter for transmitting said SMS to said destination GSM telephone (51) ; receiving, by said destination GSM telephone (51) , of said SMS containing said measured values, said destination GSM telephone (51) being equipped with an interface for communication with a computer (52) ; periodical review, by a managing program loaded onto said computer (52), of said destination GSM telephone (51) through said communication interface, and extracting therefrom said SMS containing the measured values .

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said step of transmitting said SMS from said SMS interface device to said origin GSM telephone (16) is performed by an infrared interface operating in accordance with a communication IRDA protocol .

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said step of extraction of said SMS from said destination GSM telephone (51) in said collection center (50) is performed by an infrared interface operating in accordance with a communication IRDA protocol .

4. A method according to claim 1 or 3 , characterized in that said step of extraction of said SMS containing measured values of the blood sugar level in said collection center (50) is performed by an electronic processor (52) belonging to said collection center (50) and using a program for organizing and displaying said blood sugar level measured value .

5. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that during said step of transmitting said blood sugar level measured values obtained by said blood sugar level meter (1) to said SMS interface device (10) , also additional information are transmitted relating to each measurement, at least concerning the time collocation of the sampling or measurement and to the patient's physical -metabolic situation in the moment of sampling.

6. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes at least one initial programming step for said SMS interface device, according to which one or more GSM telephone numbers, corresponding to destination GSM telephones (51) , are input into said permanent or semipermanent memory (14) of the SMS interface device.

7. An SMS interface device for collecting blood sugar level measured values derived from measurements performed by a patient by means of a self-test blood sugar level meter (1) , said blood sugar level meter (1) being also equipped with memory areas for storing a pre-selected number of said measured values and with at least one interface operating in accordance with a selected communication protocol for transmitting coded information related to said measured values, said SMS interface device (10) being characterized in that it includes:

— a control unit (20) aimed at acquiring a preselected number of said measured values and at creating at least one SMS containing said measured values, and at sending the above SMS to a origin GSM cellular telephone (16) ; - at least one input interface (11) for connecting said control unit (20) with said interface of the blood sugar level meter (1) ;

- at least one output interface (15) for connecting said control unit with said origin GSM cellular telephone (16) ;

- a first memory unit (13) for temporary storing said measured data;

- a second memory unit (14) for semi -permanent or permanent storing of at least one telephone number corresponding to a destination GSM telephone (51) ;

- user's interface means (30) for receiving commands from the user of said SMS interface device (10) and for signaling operation states of said device to the user.

8. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that said output interface (15) includes an infrared interface operating according to the IRDA protocol.

9. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that said user interface means (30) include at least one button (31) for activating said device (10) and at least a pair of light-emitting diodes, first (32a) and second (32b) .

10. A device according to claim 10, characterized in that said first light-emitting diode (32a) is aimed at signaling a communication taking place with said blood sugar level meter (1) and said second light-emitting diode (32b) is aimed at signaling a communication taking place with said origin GSM telephone (16) .

11. A device according to claim 9, characterized in that said user interface means (30) include also an acoustic alarm (33) .