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`US 20080129486Al
`
`c19) United States
`c12) Patent Application Publication
`Jeckelmann et al.
`
`c10) Pub. No.: US 2008/0129486 Al
`Jun. 5, 2008
`(43) Pub. Date:
`
`(54) ENERGY-OPTIMISED DATA TRANSMISSION
`FOR A MEDICAL APPLIANCE
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors:
`
`Joel Jeckelmann, Villars-sur-Glane
`(CH); Michael Schoemaker,
`Mannheim (DE); Sybille
`Frankhauser, Zollikofen (CH);
`Sebastiaan La Bastide, Muri b.
`Bern (CH); Gunnar Meyer Olden,
`Burgdorf (CH); Matthias
`Essenpreis, Burgdorf (CH); Nicole
`Bernini, Ersigen (CH)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP
`INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
`SUITE 1500, 50 SOUTH SIXTH STREET
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402-1498
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`11/924,236
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 25, 2007
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. PCT/EP2006/
`003869, filed on Apr. 26, 2006.
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Apr. 26, 2005
`
`(DE) ...................... 10 2005 019 306.4
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`GOSC 17102
`A61B 51145
`A61M 51168
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. ..................... 340/539.12; 600/365; 604/131
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A medical appliance for use on and/or in the body of a user
`including a transmission unit and an activation switch con(cid:173)
`nected to the transmission unit for activating the transmission
`unit when an activation signal is received by the activation
`switch. The invention encompasses systems and processes for
`transmitting data between a medical appliance and an exter(cid:173)
`nal appliance, wherein, in some embodiments, the external
`appliance activates the medical appliance prior to data trans(cid:173)
`mission when the latter is in an idle state.
`
`12
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`1
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`-15
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`13
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`US 2008/0129486 Al
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`Jun.5,2008
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`1
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`ENERGY-OPTIMISED DATA TRANSMISSION
`FOR A MEDICAL APPLIANCE
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION(S)
`
`[0001] This application is a Continuation of International
`Patent Application PCT/EP2006/003869, filed on Apr. 26,
`2006, which claims priority to German Application No. 10
`2005 019 306.4, filed on Apr. 26, 2005, the entire contents of
`both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0002] The present invention relates to devices for inject(cid:173)
`ing, infusing, delivering, administering or dispensing sub(cid:173)
`stances, and to methods of making and using such devices.
`More particularly, it relates to a medical appliance or device,
`a system comprising a medical device or devices and data
`transmission, and a method of operating an energy-optimised
`data transmission from and/or to a medical appliance.
`[0003] When a medical appliance (the term medical device
`may be used synonymously herein) is being operated, for
`example an infusion pump or a sensor attached to the skin of
`a user, it is advantageous for a user if data for operating the
`medical appliance can be transmitted to the medical appli(cid:173)
`ance from a remote control, for example, or if sensor mea(cid:173)
`surement data can be transmitted to an external device.
`[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,551,276 discloses an external infu(cid:173)
`sion device which can be activated by a remote control. The
`infusion device has a receiver which may be in a so-called
`stand-by mode and can be automatically activated approxi(cid:173)
`mately every 2.5 seconds to ascertain whether a radio signal
`was emitted by the remote control, as a result of which the
`radio remote control is designed to emit an activation signal
`over a period of approximately 5 seconds, for example, so that
`it can be detected by the receiver.
`[0005] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,551,276 and 4,396,295 describes an
`implantable measuring appliance, which has a unit for dis(cid:173)
`pensing a dose. An external control device can be coupled
`with this appliance to vary the infusion rate, for example.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`[0006]
`It is an object of the present invention to provide a
`medical appliance, a system and a method which utilize and/
`or permit data transmission using a low amount of energy.
`[0007]
`In one embodiment, the present invention comprises
`a medical system comprising a medical device comprising a
`communication unit and an activation element connected to
`the communication unit wherein the activation element acti(cid:173)
`vates the communication unit, and a remote control compris(cid:173)
`ing a data input unit, an activation unit for activating the
`activation element of the medical appliance and a communi(cid:173)
`cation unit able to communicate with the communication unit
`of the medical appliance.
`[0008]
`In one embodiment, the present invention comprises
`a medical appliance, such as a subcutaneous sensor, a glucose
`sensor, a pump, an insulin pump, etc., which can be implanted
`and may be minimally invasive or non-invasive, or an injec(cid:173)
`tion pen for use on and/or in the body of a user. The appliance
`has at least one electric or electronic functional unit, such as
`a measuring sensor, a processor, a memory or an electric
`motor, which can be activated by the processor, and a trans(cid:173)
`mitter and/or receiver unit for transmitting, sending and/or
`receiving or communicating data. In some embodiments, the
`
`invention comprises an activation switch connected to the
`transmitter and/or receiver unit and/or to the at least one
`electronic functional unit. In some embodiments, the activa(cid:173)
`tion switch can be activated by an external activation signal to
`activate the transmitter and/or receiver unit and/or the at least
`one electronic functional unit so that a wireless communica(cid:173)
`tion link can be established to transmit data, e.g., measure(cid:173)
`ment information, from a sensor to an external device to
`control data for setting a base rate, to dispense a bolus to an
`insulin pump, or to synchronise appliances connected by the
`communication link(s).
`[0009]
`In one embodiment, the present invention comprises
`a method of using a medical system comprising the steps of
`providing a medical device comprising a communication unit
`and an activation element connected to the communication
`unit wherein the activation element activates the communi(cid:173)
`cation unit, providing a remote control comprising a data
`input unit, an activation unit for activating the activation
`element of the medical appliance and a communication unit
`able to communicate with the communication unit of the
`medical appliance, and placing the medical device and
`remote control in proximity sufficient for the communication
`units to communicate with each other. Further, in some
`embodiments, when the communication units are not in com(cid:173)
`munication, the medical device is in an idle state and may be
`activated by the remote control prior to the communication.
`[001 OJ
`In some embodiments, for the purpose of the present
`invention, the communication takes place as and when
`required only, in other words on demand. Thus, the activation
`switch needed for activating the data transmission is such that
`it ensures that a communication can be set up or established
`only when the receiver and transmitter, in other words, the
`medical appliance and an external device, such as a control
`device or its respective input/output units, are either in direct
`physical contact with one another or are disposed relative to
`one another so that there is a drop below a predefined maxi(cid:173)
`mum distance between the transmitter and receiver. In some
`embodiments, the activation switch of the medical appliance,
`which can be activated by an activation element of the exter(cid:173)
`nal device, can not issue an activation or authorisation signal
`unless the medical appliance and an external device assume a
`predefined orientation with respect to one another, in other
`words the transmitter and receiver units or transmitter and
`receiver elements are relatively adjacent and/or opposite one
`another.
`[0011] This enables the energy requirement of the medical
`appliance to be reduced because electric or electronic com(cid:173)
`ponents for transmitting data are not activated unless a co(cid:173)
`operating transmitter or receiver of an external device is
`within range. The transmitter and receiver units may be
`dimensioned or designed so that a data transmission has to be
`operated over a relatively short distance only, such as 5 cm or
`less, for example, which is sufficient for data to be transmitted
`from an external device attached to the clothing of a user, for
`example, through this clothing to the skin of a patient dis(cid:173)
`posed underneath or an implanted medical appliance, or
`received by this medical appliance. Since a data transmission
`unit in accordance with the present invention is required to
`have only a relatively low power capacity, it may be of a
`relatively small design compared with data transmission units
`designed to operate at distances in the range of a meter or so,
`and the transmitter and receiver elements, such as antenna,
`induction coils or other elements transmitting or receiving
`
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`electromagnetic waves, such as lamps, photo-diodes, loud(cid:173)
`speakers, microphones, etc., need only a short range and
`power capacity.
`[0012]
`In some embodiments, the activation switch may
`also be an element or component by which power supplied by
`the external device can be received or picked up to commu(cid:173)
`nicate with the external device or to perform an action pre(cid:173)
`defined by the external device. Thus, the medical appliance
`does not require a power supply because requisite energy is
`supplied by the external device. The activation switch may be
`provided in the form of an induction coil, for example, and an
`external device disposed in the vicinity of the induction coil
`may also have an induction coil and may transmit power to the
`medical appliance via the inductive coupling of the induction
`coils, so that the medical appliance and/or external device are
`activated and able to take and/or receive a measurement or
`control information, for example.
`[0013] Alternatively or in addition, in some embodiments,
`an activation switch in the form of a magnetic switch may also
`be provided, for example in the form of a reed contact, which
`is activated by an external magnetic field, in other words a
`permanent magnet or electro-magnet provided on the exter(cid:173)
`nal device. In this case, a link may be established with the
`electric or electronic components provided in the medical
`appliance, such as the transmitter and receiver unit, with a
`power source likewise provided in the medical appliance in
`the form of a battery or accumulator. Other sensors which are
`able to detect electromagnetic fields, sound or light, or mag(cid:173)
`netic or capacitive effects may also be used as activation
`switches, e.g., a photo-diode, a microphone, etc.
`[0014]
`In this respect, the activation switch may be
`designed so that a communication link established by an
`external device after activation is cut off again if an activation
`signal is no longer being received. In other words, if a pre(cid:173)
`defined minimum distance from the external device is
`exceeded or exceeded again. Alternatively or in addition, the
`medical appliance may be activated for only a predefined
`period needed to transmit data or for running a predefined
`action, such as dispensing a bolus and/or transmitting an
`operating signal.
`[0015]
`In some embodiments, the activation switch may be
`provided in the form of a mechanical switch, for example
`underneath a rubber-type surface element, which activates the
`power supply or a transmitter/receiver unit of the medical
`appliance when a mechanical switching operation is initiated,
`for example when a pressure is applied to the mechanical
`switch by an external device attached to the medical appli(cid:173)
`ance. This being the case, the medical appliance may have a
`surface profile which co-operates with a complementary pro(cid:173)
`file of the external device so that the external device has to be
`attached to the medical appliance by the surface profile in a
`specific orientation to activate it or to establish a data link. In
`the case of a direct contact between the medical appliance and
`the external device, a data link or alternatively a power trans(cid:173)
`mission may also take place via an electric wire when co(cid:173)
`operating contact elements of the medical appliance and
`external device are in contact with one another.
`[0016] The present invention further relates to a control
`device, such as a remote control or a blood glucose measuring
`device for activating a medical appliance of the type outlined
`above. In some embodiments, the control device has an exter(cid:173)
`nal device in the form of an activation unit, by which one or
`more activation switches of the medical appliance can be
`activated or operated. The activation unit on the external
`
`device may be a magnet, for example, e.g., a permanent
`magnet or an electromagnet, an induction coil for transmit(cid:173)
`ting power to the medical appliance, a loudspeaker, a lamp or
`a specific surface profile for operating a mechanical switch.
`The control device also has a transmitter and/or receiver unit
`which is able to establish a data link with the medical appli(cid:173)
`ance, in which case the transmitter and/or receiver unit is
`activated when the activation unit of the control device emits
`an activation signal or the control device detects that a con(cid:173)
`nection with the medical appliance has been established or
`exists, such as a mechanical contact, a radio link and/or an
`inductive coupling.
`[0017]
`In some embodiments, the external device may have
`an input unit, for example a keyboard or a touch screen, to
`enable a user to enter control signals in the control device
`which can be transmitted by it to the medical appliance to
`control the operating mode of an implanted insulin pump, for
`example, such as setting the base rate or a bolus. In some
`preferred embodiments, the control device has a display unit
`or a display, on which control data to be transmitted, com(cid:173)
`mands or parameters entered by a user or data received from
`the medical appliance, such as measurement data of a sensor,
`can be displayed.
`[0018]
`In some preferred embodiments, the control device
`has an interface for communicating with another electric
`device, such as a USB interface, an infrared interface or a
`Bluetooth interface, for example, to enable data to be
`exchanged with a computer, a mobile telephone or a PDA, for
`example, in other words to enable what might be termed a
`"long-range" communication to be run.
`[0019] The present invention further relates to a system of
`transmitting data with a medical appliance of the type
`described above which can be carried on or in the body of a
`patient and an external control device of the type described
`above, wherein the devices can be synchronised once the
`transmitter and/or receiver unit has been activated.
`[0020] By virtue of another aspect of the present invention,
`it also relates to a method of transmitting data between a
`medical appliance and an external device, wherein, when the
`medical appliance is in the idle state, it can be activated by the
`external device prior to the data transmission. This being the
`case, the medical appliance may remain in an idle state con(cid:173)
`suming only a small amount of energy or none at all if an
`external device is not provided or activated for establishing a
`data link, in which case the medical appliance consumes
`energy only for the data communication if it has been acti(cid:173)
`vated beforehand by an external or control device which is
`ready for the data transmission.
`[0021]
`In some preferred embodiments, the medical appli(cid:173)
`ance is activated without contact, for example by an electric,
`magnetic or electromagnetic field, sound and/or light. It
`would also be possible to activate the medical appliance by a
`direct physical contact with the control device. In some pre(cid:173)
`ferred embodiments, the medical appliance is only activated
`when there is a drop below a predefined distance of2 to 10 cm,
`for example, in which case an activation switch of the medical
`appliance can cut off a communication between the latter and
`an external device again if the predefined distance is exceeded
`or exceeded again. In some embodiments, the medical appli(cid:173)
`ance may also be activated on the basis of a specific time limit
`or may be terminated when the medical appliance has com(cid:173)
`pleted an action, such as transferring measurement data from
`the memory of a sensor via the transmitter and receiver units
`to the external device. Such measurement data can be deleted
`
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`from the memory of the medical appliance once it has been
`transmitted to the external device or after a confirmation
`signal has been received acknowledging that the transmitted
`data has been correctly received. In the case of such a data
`transmission, all the data compiled since the last data
`exchange, for example measurement values with associated
`detection times, can be transmitted and deleted so that the
`memory of the medical appliance is available for storing new
`data only.
`[0022]
`In some preferred embodiments, identification
`codes may be transmitted by the medical appliance and/or the
`external device to prevent data being inadvertently transmit(cid:173)
`ted between other, unrelated systems. The identification code
`may be part of a radio protocol, for example, and may be
`permanently programmed in a system component. Another
`option would be for the identification code to be freely pro(cid:173)
`grammable when the system is started up, in which case two
`components can be coupled with one another when activated
`by a user. In some embodiments, RFID tags on the medical
`appliance may also be used in conjunction with RFID tran(cid:173)
`sponders on the control device for identification purposes.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present
`invention comprising a system for activating a medical appli(cid:173)
`ance by power transmitted from a control device;
`[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the
`present invention comprising a system for activating a medi(cid:173)
`cal appliance via a permanent magnet;
`[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the present
`invention comprising a system with the capability for long(cid:173)
`range communication;
`[ 0026] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present
`invention comprising a system which permits the transmis(cid:173)
`sion of simple signals across larger distances;
`[ 0027] FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present
`invention, a system comprising a medical appliance and a
`control device which permits a data exchange between the
`appliance and the device; and
`[0028] FIG. 6 shows the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5
`during the data exchange between an exemplary medical
`appliance and an exemplary control device.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0029] With regard to fastening, mounting, attaching or
`connecting components of the present invention, unless spe(cid:173)
`cifically described as otherwise, conventional mechanical
`fasteners and methods may be used. Other appropriate fas(cid:173)
`tening or attachment methods include adhesives, welding and
`soldering, the latter particularly with regard to electrical sys(cid:173)
`tems and components of the invention. In embodiments with
`electrical features and/or components, suitable electrical
`components and circuitry, wires, wireless components, chips,
`boards, microprocessors, computers, inputs, outputs, dis(cid:173)
`plays, control components, etc. may be used. Generally,
`unless otherwise indicated, the materials for making the
`invention and/or its components may be selected from appro(cid:173)
`priate materials such as metal, metallic alloys, ceramics, plas(cid:173)
`tics, etc.
`[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a system in
`accordance with the present invention with a medical appli(cid:173)
`ance 1 which can be worn on the skin 3 by a user undergoing
`out-patient treatment, which may be attached to the skin 3 or
`
`implanted, and which may be a pump or a sensor, for
`example. The medical appliance 1 has an induction coil 6 for
`picking up power transmitted via an inductive coupling from
`a co-operating induction coil 6' of an external control device
`2, and the induction coil 6 of the medical appliance 1 acts as
`an activation switch for the transmitter/receiver unit 5 and the
`processor 7 of the appliance 1 and is supplied with power by
`the induction coil 6. The processor 7 is coupled with a
`memory 8 and is also able to activate the transmitter/receiver
`unit 5 once it has been activated, for example to transmit
`measurement or configuration data from the memory 8 via the
`unit 5 to the co-operating transmitter/receiver unit 5' of the
`external control device 2 or process data received in the
`opposite direction, for example configuration data for the
`medical appliance 1, and/or store it in the memory 8. A battery
`11 may optionally also be provided in the medical appliance
`1, which supplies the power needed for a sensor or pump
`function of the medical appliance 1, for example, thereby
`obviating the need for a power supply in the medical appli(cid:173)
`ance 1 for the data communication.
`[0031] Like the medical appliance 1, the external control
`device 2, which might be a blood glucose measuring device
`for example, also has a processor 7' and a memory 8' to enable
`data entered by a user via a touch screen 10 and/or received
`from the medical appliance 1 to be stored or for transmitting
`data to the medical appliance via the transmitter/receiver
`units 5, 5'. A battery or an accumulator 9 is also provided for
`supplying the external control device 2 with power. A com(cid:173)
`munication can therefore be established between the medical
`appliance 1 and the external control device 2 once activated
`by means of the induction coils 6, 6' due to a transfer of power,
`and once the data transmission between these devices has
`terminated, the memory of the control device 2 may be read
`by another device, of a type that will be described with ref(cid:173)
`erence to FIGS. 3 and 4, for example.
`[0032] The electronic component units 5-9 and 11 are
`mounted on a board 4 in the example illustrated.
`[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of a system
`which differs from the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1
`due to the fact that a permanent magnet 6' is provided in the
`control device 2 to activate a magnetic switch 12 in the medi(cid:173)
`cal appliance 1, such as a reed contact for example, so that the
`magnetic switch 12 serving as the activation switch is able to
`activate the transmitter/receiver unit 5 and/or the processor 7
`of the medical appliance 1 and release it for a data transmis(cid:173)
`s10n.
`[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the present
`invention comprising a system wherein a medical appliance 1
`is activated or transmits data by the external control device 2,
`for example due to an induction coil 6' or a permanent magnet
`6" which co-operates with an induction coil 6 or a magnetic
`switch 12 of the medical appliance 1. The external control
`device 2 is also designed so that a data link can be established
`with another external device 13, such as a PC, a mobile
`telephone, a PDA, or the like, for example, so that data trans(cid:173)
`mitted to it from the medical appliance 1, for example, can be
`transmitted to the external unit 13 or received from it in the
`opposite direction.
`[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present
`invention which, like the third embodiment illustrated in FIG.
`3, is also able to run a data communication across a greater
`distance between the medical appliance 1 and the control
`device 2 for specific signals, such as short status signals for
`example. To this end, the transmitter/receiver unit 5 of the
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`medical appliance 1 may be designed so that a status or
`request signal is emitted briefly across several metres using a
`higher amount of energy, for example, which may also be
`transmitted across a greater distance to the control device 2 to
`signal to a user of the control device 2 that a communication
`must be established with the medical appliance 1.
`[0036] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a fifth exemplary embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the present invention, namely a system which permits
`a data exchange between a medical appliance 1 which can be
`carried on the skin 3 of a user undergoing out-patient treat(cid:173)
`ment, such as a sensor or a pump or infusion pump or a
`so-called patch module, and an external control device 2
`which may be mobile or carried by a user, such as a blood
`sugar measuring device. The medical appliance 1, which may
`be attached to the skin 3 or implanted, has a needle 15 by
`which small samples of the user's blood can be taken. The
`medical appliance 1 may also be subcutaneous or disposed
`under the user's skin 3 or may take small quantities of the
`user's blood on a minimally invasive basis. The medical
`appliance 1 comprises a computer unit, such as a processor or
`micro-processor, a memory, a transmitter/receiver unit, a
`power source such as a battery and/or an induction coil of the
`type described above and/or a magnetic switch of the type
`described above, and a measuring unit, such as an electronic
`circuit for measuring or detecting at least one physiological
`parameter of the user, in particular the blood sugar value or
`blood glucose level from the sampled blood. The measuring
`unit may operate on an optical basis so that the blood sample
`reacts with different chemical substances causing a test field
`to change colour. This colour change may be detected by the
`measuring unit and the blood sugar value determined on the
`basis of the duration and intensity of the change. The mea(cid:173)
`suring unit may also operate on an amperometric basis, in
`which case the blood sugar value can be determined from the
`blood by measuring the curve of a current intensity.
`[0037] The external control device 2, which may be a blood
`glucose measuring device or data logger, has a display unit
`10, in particular a screen or a display or a touch screen, a
`transmitter/receiver unit, a memory, a power source such as a
`battery, and at least one computer unit, e.g., a processor or
`micro-processor. The external control device 2 may also have
`an activation switch of the type described with reference to
`FIGS. 1 to 4, e.g., an induction coil or a permanent magnet.
`The control device 2 may be designed so that it can determine
`the blood sugar value or plot the blood sugar value of the user
`from measurement data and display it on the display unit 10
`by outputting figures or showing a graph or diagram.
`[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the external control device
`2, such as the blood sugar measuring device, may be fitted in
`the vicinity or range of the medical appliance 1, such as the
`patch module, to permit a data exchange or data transmission
`between the control device 2 and the medical appliance 1. To
`this end, the activation switch of the control device 2 prefer(cid:173)
`ably activates the activation switch of the medical appliance 1
`to enable power to be transmitted from the activation switch
`of the control device 2 to the activation switch of the medical
`appliance 1, by which the medical appliance 1 can be supplied
`with current. The activation switch of the control device 2
`may also activate the power source or power supply of the
`medical appliance 1 so that when the power source is acti(cid:173)
`vated, the medical appliance 1 can be supplied with current.
`[0039] A blood value can be determined by the medical
`appliance 1 from a user's blood. This value may be transmit(cid:173)
`ted by the transmitter/receiver unit of the medical appliance 1
`
`to the transmitter/receiver unit of the control device 2 together
`with additional information, such as the time the blood
`sample was taken, for example, when the medical appliance 1
`is disposed sufficiently close to the control device 2, thereby
`permitting a data transmission. In the control device 2, the
`computer unit of the control device 2 can determine the blood
`sugar value or glucose content from this blood and store it in
`the memory together with the additional information or dis(cid:173)
`play it on the display unit 10.
`[0040] The blood sugar value or glucose level of the user
`can also be determined in the medical appliance by, the com(cid:173)
`puter unit from the user's sampled blood and transmitted
`together with the additional information in the position or
`disposition on the control device 2 illustrated in FIG. 6, for
`example. At different points in time, recorded blood sugar
`values can be stored in the memory of the medical appliance
`1 together with the time or instant of sampling and retrieved
`by the external device 2 as and when needed. Data pertaining
`to the detected blood sugar level and optionally the additional
`information may be transmitted by the transmitter/receiver
`unit of the medical appliance 1 to the transmitter/receiver unit
`of the control device 2 and stored in the memory of the control
`device 2 or shown on the display unit 10 of the control device
`2 in the form of values or as a diagram. For example, several
`blood sugar values obtained at different times can be stored in
`the control device 2 and displayed graphically as a function of
`time if necessary to produce a diagram showing the blood
`sugar level of a user. Individual values in the blood sugar level
`diagram may be selected by the user by the touch screen, for
`example, or by another input unit, which can then be output as
`values. In particular, for example, directly after receiving the
`blood sugar value from the medical appliance, the blood sugar
`value can be output on the display unit 10 of the control device
`2. The control device 2 may also be held in the activation
`range of the medical appliance 1 so that the transmitter/
`receiver unit of the control device 2 is able to send an activa(cid:173)
`tion signal to the medical appliance 1 for example, where(cid:173)
`upon the medical appliance 1 is activated and takes a blood
`sugar measurement and/or transmit a detected blood sugar
`value to the control device 2, which can then be output on the
`display unit 10 of the control device 2.
`[0041] The detected data pertaining to the user's glucose
`level or the glucose level curve may be transmitted via an
`interface provided on the control device 2, such as an infrared
`or Bluetooth or Fire Wire interface, to an external computer
`unit, such as a computer, and processed in the computer unit
`or output or displayed and/or evaluated by display or evalu(cid:173)
`ation software.
`[0042] Embodiments of the present invention, including
`preferred embodiments, have been presented for the purpose
`of illustration and description. They are not intended to be
`exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms and
`steps disclosed. The embodiments were chosen and described
`to provide the best illustration of the principles of the inven(cid:173)
`tion and the practical application thereof, and to enable one of
`ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various
`embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to
`the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and
`variations are within the scope of the invention as determined
`by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with
`the breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
`
`Page 10 of 11
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