(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
`
`( 43) International Publication Date
`29 May 2008 (29.05.2008)
`
`PCT
`
`(51) International Patent Classification:
`A61B 5/00 (2006.01)
`GOIN 33/487 (2006.01)
`G06F 19100 (2006.01)
`(21) International Application Number:
`PCT/EP2006/0l 1263
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`23 November 2006 (23.11.2006)
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`English
`(26) Publication Language:
`English
`(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): LIFES(cid:173)
`CAN SCOTLAND LIMITED [GB/GB]; Beechwood
`Park North, Inverness, Scotland IV2 3ED (GB).
`(72) Inventors; and
`(75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): FRIMAN, Aff
`[SE/SE]; Akervagen 21, 35249 Vaxjo (SE). TRESOLDI,
`Enrico [IT/IT]; Via Della Cappeletta, 24, I-20061 Caru(cid:173)
`gate (IT). KRAFT, Ulrich [DE/DE]; Goldgrabenstrasse
`14, 65719 Hofueim (DE). EBNER, Manfred [DE/DE] ;
`Kohlerweg 7, 61440 Oberursel (DE). ENGSTROM,
`
`-iiiiiiii
`
`iiiiiiii
`
`1111111111111111 IIIIII IIIII 11111111111111111111111111111111111 lllll lllll 11111111111111111111111
`
`(10) International Publication Number
`WO 2008/061552 Al
`Magnus [SE/SE]; Glanshammergatan 47 6er, S-124 71
`Bandhagen (SE). GRJEHS, Frederik [SE/SE]; Lagardgen
`26, S-128 43 Begarmessen (SE).
`(74) Agents: LANDRY, Felix et al.; Uexklill & Stolberg, Be(cid:173)
`selerstrasse 4, 22607 Hamburg (DE).
`(81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,
`AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB , BG, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CN,
`CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI,
`GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS,
`JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS,
`LT, LU, LV, LY, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY,
`MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS,
`RU, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, SV, SY, TJ, 1M, TN,
`TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW.
`(84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH,
`GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM,
`ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM),
`European (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI,
`
`[Continued on next page]
`
`!!!!!!!! (54) Title: BLOOD GLUCOSE METER CAPABLE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
`
`iiiiiiii -iiiiiiii ---iiiiiiii --
`---
`iiiiiiii ----
`~ <
`
`!!!!!!!!
`iiiiiiii
`
`(57) Abstract: The present invention relates to a blood glucose meter (200)
`comprising a blood glucose measuring module (234) for performing a blood
`glucose measuring function and a wireless communication module (236)
`adapted for establishing a wireless communication link with an external de(cid:173)
`vice and exchanging information with the external device via the wireless
`communication link according to a predetermined frequency format and pro(cid:173)
`tocol. The blood glucose measuring module (234) and the wireless commu(cid:173)
`nication module (236) are physically- separate units electrically connected
`in order to allow for an exchange of electrical signals corresponding to in(cid:173)
`formation to be transmitted by the wireless communication module and/or
`information received by the wireless communication module (236). Ac(cid:173)
`cording to the invention, the blood glucose measuring module (234) and
`the wireless communication module (236) both comprise a connector com(cid:173)
`ponent (238, 240), wherein the two connector components (238, 240) are
`adapted to releasably establish the electrical connection between the blood
`glucose measuring module (234) and the wireless communication module
`(236).
`
`,,---..... 234
`
`202
`
`216
`
`,,---..... 236
`
`248
`
`246
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`WO 2008/06155 2 A 1
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`I IIIII IIIIIIII II 1111111111111111111111111111111 IIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIII IIIIIII IIII 11111111
`
`FR, GB, GR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, NL, PL, PT, Published:
`RO, SE, SI, SK, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM , GA,
`-
`with international search repo rt
`GN, GQ, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
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`B1ood g1ucose meter capab1e of wire1ess communication
`
`The present invention relates to a blood glucose meter com(cid:173)
`prising a blood glucose measuring module for performing a
`blood glucose measuring function and a wireless communication
`module adapted for wireless communication with an external de(cid:173)
`vice, and to a method of constructing such a blood glucose me(cid:173)
`ter.
`
`Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder caused by an
`inability of the pancreas to produce sufficient amounts of the
`hormone insulin so that the metabolism is unable to provide
`for the proper absorption of sugar and starch. This failure
`leads
`to hyperglycemia,
`i.e.
`the presence of an excessive
`amount of glucose within the blood plasma. Persistent hyper(cid:173)
`glycemia causes a variety of serious symptoms and life threat(cid:173)
`ening long term complications such as dehydration, ketoacido(cid:173)
`sis, diabetic coma, cardiovascular diseases, chronic renal
`failure, retinal damage and nerve damages with the risk of am(cid:173)
`putation of extremities. Because healing is not yet possible,
`a permanent therapy is necessary which provides constant gly(cid:173)
`cemic control in order to always maintain the level of blood
`glucose within normal
`limits.
`Such glycemic control
`is
`achieved by regularly supplying external insulin to the body
`of the patient to thereby reduce the elevated levels of blood
`glucose.
`
`External insulin was commonly administered by means of typi(cid:173)
`cally one or two injections of a mixture of rapid and interme(cid:173)
`diate acting insulin per day via a hypodermic syringe. While
`this treatment does not require
`the frequent estimation of
`blood glucose, it has been found that the degree of glycemic
`control achievable in this way is suboptimal because the de(cid:173)
`li very is unlike physiological insulin production, according
`to which insulin enters the bloodstream at a
`lower rate and
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`over a more extended period of time. Improved glycemic control
`may be achieved by
`the so-called intensive
`insulinotherapy
`which is based on multiple daily injections, including one or
`two injections per day of long acting insulin for providing
`basal insulin and additional injections of rapidly acting in(cid:173)
`sulin before each meal in an amount proportional to the size
`of
`the meal. Although
`traditional syringes have at
`least
`partly been replaced by insulin pens, the frequent injections
`are nevertheless very inconvenient for the patient.
`
`been
`have
`therapy
`in diabetes
`improvements
`Substantial
`achieved by the development of blood glucose systems relieving
`the patient of the daily use of syringes or insulin pens. Such
`blood glucose
`systems usually comprise
`a battery-operated
`blood glucose meter and one or more separate further devices,
`such as a battery-operated insulin pump. Further, such blood
`glucose systems usually comprise a control unit which is often
`provided as an integral part of the blood glucose meter, but
`may also be provided as a separate device communicating with
`the blood glucose meter and the remaining devices.
`
`In such systems, the blood glucose meter is used to determine
`the blood glucose concentration, e.g. by receiving blood sam(cid:173)
`ples via enzyme-based test strips and calculating the blood
`glucose value based on the· enzymatic reaction. Advantageously,
`the blood glucose system is configured such that the measured
`value is automatically delivered to the control unit. The in(cid:173)
`sulin pump allows
`for
`the delivery of
`insulin in a more
`physiological manner and can be controlled to follow standard
`or individually modified protocols to give the patient a bet(cid:173)
`ter glycemic control over the course of a day. It can be con(cid:173)
`structed as an implantable device for subcutaneous arrangement
`or can be constructed as an external device that is carried on
`the body of the patient.
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`The operation of the insulin pump and of other devices can be
`controlled and modified by means of the control unit. For ex(cid:173)
`ample, delivery of suitable amounts of insulin by the insulin
`pump requires that the patient frequently determines his or
`her blood glucose level and inputs this value into the control
`unit, which then calculates a suitable modification to the de(cid:173)
`i.e. dos(cid:173)
`fault or currently in use insulin delivery protocol 1
`age and timing, and subsequently communicates with the insulin
`pump to adjust its operation accordingly. In this regard, it
`may be necessary to use the control unit each time the patient
`eats to instruct the pump to administer a specified amount of
`insulin to cover that meal. Recently, a more or less closed(cid:173)
`loop control has been realized in which the control unit modi(cid:173)
`fies the insulin delivery protocol automatically.
`
`In view of the permanence of the therapy, it is desirable to
`provide the diabetic patient with flexibility, convenience and
`ease of use in order to increase the quality of his or her
`life. In this regard, it is evident that cable connections be(cid:173)
`tween the indi victual devices of a blood glucose system are
`disadvantageous. Thus, it is known to provide a blood glucose
`meter with wireless communication capabilities.
`
`In some of such meters, care has been taken to separate the
`part
`that
`is
`responsible · for
`the measuring
`functionality
`yielding a metered value corresponding to blood glucose level
`from the part that is responsible for establishing a wireless
`communication link and receiving and/or transmitting informa(cid:173)
`tion via this link. This arrangement has the advantage that in
`case changes to the wireless communication part are made upon
`further development of the blood glucose meter, such changes
`do not have an influence on the blood glucose measuring func(cid:173)
`tionality.
`In this way,
`it is ensured that a modi£ ication
`which only relates to the wireless communication part does not
`have an impact on the critical medical functionality so that a
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`new testing and validation of the blood glucose measuring part
`is avoided. In blood glucose meters, this issue is of great
`importance, because uncertainties with regard to the correct
`measurement of blood glucose level cannot be accepted.
`
`One exemplary blood glucose meter constructed in this way is
`described in US 2003/0065536 Al. This reference discloses a
`blood glucose meter capable of communicating medically rele(cid:173)
`vant data information to another device such as e.g. a central
`server or a mobile terminal. The blood glucose meter includes
`a blood glucose measuring part for executing a blood glucose
`measuring function and a communication part responsible for
`wireless communication according to e.g. radio frequency com(cid:173)
`munication,
`infrared communication,
`the Bluetooth protocol
`and/or the TCP/IP protocol. Both parts are connected in such a
`manner that they can exchange data information according to a
`predetermined protocol under the control of the blood glucose
`measuring part. Otherwise,
`the functionalities of both parts
`are separated in order to obtain two physically and function(cid:173)
`ally separated parts for the above reasons. While this blood
`glucose meter may facilitate advancement to the next product
`cycle to some degree, it lacks desired flexibility for the me(cid:173)
`ter to be easily adapted to operation in different environ(cid:173)
`ments. The communication device part has predetermined func(cid:173)
`tions, and in case a particular application requires a deviat(cid:173)
`ing wireless approach,
`a
`complex modification procedure is
`necessary.
`
`In a different field of medical devices, US 6,731,962 dis(cid:173)
`closes a
`finger oximeter with remote telecommunication capa(cid:173)
`bilities enabling the oximeter to transmit measurement data
`from a patient to a remote device. The oximetry circuitry and
`the transmission circuitry may be provided on a single or on
`two separate printed circuit boards. This device has the same
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`disadvantages mentioned above for the known blood glucose me(cid:173)
`ter.
`
`It is the object of the present invention to provide a blood
`glucose meter providing a high degree of flexibility with re(cid:173)
`gard to adapting it to operation in different wireless commu(cid:173)
`nication environments and
`that
`remedies
`the disadvantages
`found in the prior art, and to provide a blood glucose system
`_including such a blood glucose meter as well as a method of
`constructing such a blood glucose meter.
`
`This object is achieved by a blood glucose meter with the fea-
`tures of claim 1, by a blood glucose system with the features
`of claim 23, and by a method with the features of claim 25.
`Further preferred embodiments of the invention are the sub-
`ject-matter of the respective dependent claims.
`
`of the present invention comprises a
`The blood glucose meter
`module for performing a blood glucose
`blood glucose measuring
`the module includes a means for per(cid:173)
`measuring function, i.e.
`such as e.g. a means that is able to
`forming such function,
`analyze blood samples on enzyme-based test strips, that can be
`inserted into a test strip receiving slot of the meter in or-
`der to determine the blood glucose level based on the enzy-
`matic- reaction. This blood glucose measuring module may be
`adapted to perform all steps necessary to measure, calculate
`and provide a value of blood glucose level. For some applica(cid:173)
`tions, however, it may be advantageous if the blood glucose
`measuring module is adapted to perform only a part of these
`steps, while one or more additional devices, connected to the
`blood glucose meter by means of e.g. a wireless or cable con(cid:173)
`nection, are provided to perform the remaining steps. For ex(cid:173)
`ample, an external sensor may be provided for transmitting a
`signal characteristic of blood glucose level to the blood glu-
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`from which signal the blood glucose meter calcu(cid:173)
`case meter,
`lates and displays the blood glucose level.
`
`The blood glucose meter further comprises a wireless communi(cid:173)
`cation module adapted for establishing a wireless communica(cid:173)
`tion link with an external device and exchanging information
`with the external device via the wireless communication link
`according to a predetermined frequency format and protocol. In
`the context of the present invention, the term frequency for(cid:173)
`mat refers to
`the physical characteristics of
`the wireless
`signals such as frequency or modulation. Although the wireless
`communication link will usually be bidirectional, for simple
`applications the link can also be unidirectional,
`i.e. the
`wireless communication module may be configured to only trans(cid:173)
`mit or to only receive messages to or from the external de(cid:173)
`vice.
`
`The blood glucose measuring module and the wireless communica(cid:173)
`tion module are physically separate units. In the context of
`the present invention, this means that the two modules as a
`whole are distinct structural parts which may be completely
`spatially separated from each other. However, they are releas(cid:173)
`ably electrically connected in order to allow for an exchange
`of electrical signals corresponding
`to
`information
`to be
`transmitted by the wireless communication module and/or infor(cid:173)
`mation received by the wireless communication module, i.e. in
`accordance with
`the considerations mentioned above
`the ex(cid:173)
`change of signals may be bidirectional or unidirectional.
`
`It is to be noted that in addition to a means for performing a
`blood glucose measuring function,
`the blood glucose measuring
`module may also include other means for performing other func(cid:173)
`tions relevant to the operation of the blood glucose meter.
`Only means relating to the wireless communication are neces(cid:173)
`sarily disposed separate from this module and are located in
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`In case the blood glucose
`the wireless communication module.
`measuring module includes a substantial part of the functional
`means or substantially all functional means of the blood glu(cid:173)
`cose meter,
`the blood glucose measuring module could also be
`referred to as the main module of the meter~
`
`According to the present invention, the blood glucose measur(cid:173)
`ing module and the wireless communication module both comprise
`a connector component adapted
`to releasably establish
`the
`electrical connection between the blood glucose measuring mod(cid:173)
`ule and the wireless communication module. Thus, the connector
`component of the blood glucose measuring module and the con(cid:173)
`nector component of the wireless communication module can co(cid:173)
`operate to effect the electrical connection between the
`two
`modules. This electrical connection is releasable, i.e. it can
`be selectively and repeatedly disconnected and re-established.
`
`This construction provides the advantage that any connection
`and functional cooperation between the two physically separate
`modules can be easily and readily broken in case it is desired
`to replace one of the modules with another similar module pro(cid:173)
`viding
`a different
`functionality. Thus, while
`the above(cid:173)
`referenced advantages due to separation of the blood glucose
`measuring functionality and the wireless communication func-
`. tionali ty into two distinct uni ts, i.e. the functional inde(cid:173)
`pendence of this units, found in prior art blood glucose me(cid:173)
`ters are retained, it is very simple to quickly replace a
`first wireless communication module, which is e.g. adapted for
`communication according to the Bluetooth standard, with a sec(cid:173)
`ond wireless communication module, which is e.g. adapted for
`communication according to the ZigBee or ISM standard, thereby
`adapting the blood glucose meter to a different wireless com(cid:173)
`munication environment. This advantageous flexibility can be
`utilized at the manufacturing stage or even later-on by the
`user. Thus, advantageously the blood glucose meter is con-
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`structed such that the frequency format and/or protocol ac(cid:173)
`cording to which the blood glucose meter can communicate with
`an external device can be changed by replacing the wireless
`communication module with another wireless communication mod(cid:173)
`ule which can be connected to the connector component of the
`blood glucose measuring module by means of its own connector
`component and which is adapted to communicate according to a
`different frequency format and/or protocol.
`
`Moreover, the construction according to the invention provides
`further advantages during the quality control procedure. Be(cid:173)
`cause
`the electrical connection between
`the blood glucose
`measuring module and the wireless communication module is re(cid:173)
`leasable and the blood glucose measuring functionality and the
`wireless communication functionality are compartmentalized in
`different modules, separate quality control tests can be per(cid:173)
`formed on the modules after spatially separating the modules.
`This avoids problems and a complicated procedure due to the
`two modules being electrically connected and in close proxim(cid:173)
`ity to each other. Otherwise, problems could arise e.g. due to
`the wireless signal generated by the wireless communication
`module
`interfering with the quality control testing of the
`blood glucose measuring module. Thus,
`the likelihood of en(cid:173)
`countering interferences during quality control testing can be
`reduced by performing the two quality control tests entirely
`separately in such a manner that the blood glucose measuring
`module and the wireless communication module are not electri(cid:173)
`cally connected and not in close proximity to each other.
`
`In an advantageous version of the invention, the blood glucose
`meter is constructed such that the frequency format and/or
`protocol according to which the blood glucose meter can commu(cid:173)
`nicate with an external device can be changed solely by re(cid:173)
`placing the wireless communication module with another wire(cid:173)
`less communication module which is adapted to communicate ac-
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`cording to a different frequency format and/or protocol. Thus,
`in order to adapt the meter to a different wireless communica(cid:173)
`tion environment, no other steps but disconnecting the present
`wireless communication module from the blood glucose measuring
`module,
`removing
`the wireless communication module and con(cid:173)
`necting a different wireless communication module having the
`desired wireless communication capabilities to the blood glu(cid:173)
`cose measuring module are necessary for
`the adaptation.
`In
`particular, no changes whatsoever have to be made to the blood
`glucose measuring module. For this purpose,
`the electrical
`signals provided and expected by the blood glucose measuring
`module at its connector component are predetermined, and the
`new wireless communication module has to operate in accordance
`with the standard constituted by the corresponding set of pre(cid:173)
`determined signals.
`
`the
`In a preferred embodiment of the blood glucose meter,
`blood glucose measuring module comprises a control means oper(cid:173)
`able to control the electrical signals provided by the blood
`glucose measuring module at its connector component.
`
`It is further preferred if the wireless communication module
`comprises a memory chip connector for electrically connecting
`the wireless communication module with a non-volatile semi(cid:173)
`conductor memory card or a so-called smart card, wherein the
`control means of the blood glucose measuring module is adapted
`to operate in accordance with information stored in a non(cid:173)
`volatile semiconductor memory card or smart card connected to
`the memory chip connector of the wireless communication mod(cid:173)
`ule. In this regard, it is also possible that the memory card
`or smart card includes circuitry which is connected via the
`memory chip connector and the connector components of the two
`modules to the control means of the blood glucose measuring
`device anq then farms part of the control means
`to thereby
`change or adapt the operation of the control means to the par-
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`ticular wireless communication module. In any case, the provi(cid:173)
`sion of a memory chip connector results in increased flexibil(cid:173)
`ity because the signals provided and expected by the blood
`glucose measuring module at its connector may be modified to
`thereby improve the capabilities of the wireless communication
`module and the meter as a whole.
`
`In the alternative, it is preferred if the control means can
`be reprogrammed in order to change the electrical signals pro(cid:173)
`vided and/or expected during operation by the blood glucose
`measuring module at its connector component, i.e. the electri(cid:173)
`cal signals can be reprogrammed in their functions. In a pre(cid:173)
`ferred embodiment such reprogramming can be effected by the
`wireless communication module. For this purpose, the wireless
`communication module may comprise a memory chip connector for
`electrically connecting the wireless communication module with
`a non-volatile semi-conductor memory card or
`smart card,
`wherein the control means of .the blood glucose measuring mod(cid:173)
`ule can be reprogrammed in accordance with information stored
`in a non-~olatile semiconductor memory card or smart card con(cid:173)
`nected to the memory chip connector of the wireless communica(cid:173)
`tion module. For example,
`the meter may be constructed such
`that this reprogramming is effected automatically upon estab(cid:173)
`lishing the releasable electrical connection between the blood
`glucose measuring module and the wireless communication module
`or by inserting a memory card or smart card into the memory
`chip connector. This design provides additional flexibility
`because the memory card or smart card does not always have to
`be present in the wireless communication module. In any case,
`the frequency format and/or protocol according to which the
`blood glucose meter can communicate with an external device
`can advantageously be changed by replacing the wireless commu(cid:173)
`nication module with another wireless communication module
`which is adapted to communicate according to a different fre-
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`quency format and/or protocol and suitably reprogramming the
`control means of the blood glucose measuring module.
`
`be noted that each
`It should
`chip connectors
`of the memory
`in the wireless
`provided not
`above could also be
`mentioned
`communication module, but at a different location in the blood
`glucose meter of
`the present
`invention. For example,
`they
`could be provided in the blood glucose measuring module.
`In
`any case,
`in the assembled state of the blood glucose meter
`the memory chip connectors have to be connected to the control
`means of the blood glucose measuring module. However, in most
`cases, disposing the memory chip connector in the wireless
`communication module provides
`the advantages of particular
`flexibility and space economy within the blood glucose measur(cid:173)
`ing module.
`
`It is preferred that the wireless communication module com(cid:173)
`prises a memory chip connector for electrically connecting the
`wireless
`communication module with
`a
`non-volatile
`semi(cid:173)
`conductor memory card. This memory chip connector can be one
`of the memory chip connectors mentioned above or an additional
`memory chip connector.
`In this way a variety of different
`functions of
`the wireless communication module and/or
`the
`blood glucose measuring module may be modified and adapted in
`a particularly simple manner. Further, a memory card or· smart
`card can also serve as a storage means for storing various in(cid:173)
`formation relating to the measurement results obtained by the
`meter. In addition or in the alternative, one or more memory
`chip connectors for connecting a non-volatile semiconductor
`memory card with the blood glucose meter and fulfilling one or
`more of the above or one or more other functions could also be
`provided at other locations in the blood glucose meter of the
`present invention, e.g. in the blood glucose measuring module.
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`For any memory chip connector present in the wireless communi(cid:173)
`cation module (or at a different location), it is advantageous
`if the memory chip connector is orientated such that a set of
`contacts on a memory card connected to the memory chip connec(cid:173)
`tor face downwards allowing a user to more easily observe up(cid:173)
`ward facing artwork on the memory card as it is inserted into
`said blood glucose meter.
`In this way,
`the identity of the
`card can be easily verified without a need to remove the card
`from the memory chip connector.
`
`the
`invention,
`the
`to a preferred embodiment of
`According
`wireless communication module does not comprise an own power
`supply. Rather, a corresponding power supply for operating the
`wireless communication module is disposed in the blood glucose
`measuring module. This power supply can be the power supply of
`the blood glucose measuring module or a separate, dedicated
`power supply.
`In any case,
`the electrical signals provided
`during operation by the blood glucose measuring module at its
`connector component include signals for supplying power to the
`wireless communication module. This construction provides the
`advantage of the possibility of a particularly simple and low(cid:173)
`cost design of the wireless communication module, which is
`highly advantageous in view of the wireless communication mod(cid:173)
`ules being envisaged for interchangeability.
`
`It is preferred that the wireless communication module com(cid:173)
`prises a
`transceiver, an antenna
`impedance matching network
`and an antenna, and possibly also an electrostatic discharge
`(ESD) protection circuit. In this manner,
`the wireless commu-
`nication module is a self-contained unit. Arrangement of the
`antenna in close proximity to the remaining components of the
`wireless communication module is highly advantageous.
`
`It is further preferred that the blood glucose meter comprises
`a housing in which the blood glucose measuring module and the
`
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`wireless communication module are enclosed to provide a meter
`which is compact and easily manageable for the user.
`
`In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the blood glucose
`measuring module comprises or consists of a first printed cir(cid:173)
`cuit board on which blood glucose measuring circuitry
`and
`possibly further circuitry if the first printed circuit board
`is the main board of the meter -
`is mounted or provided, and
`the wireless communication module comprises or consists of a
`second printed circuit board, different from the first printed
`circuit board, on which wireless communication circuitry is
`mounted or provided. In this case, it is advantageous if the
`wireless communication module comprises a
`transceiver, an an(cid:173)
`tenna
`impedance matching network and an antenna as well as
`possibly an ESD protection circuit, and if all these elements
`of the wireless communication module are mounted or provided
`on the second printed circuit board. Further, a particularly
`simple and efficient design can be realized if the first
`printed circuit board is a motherboard and the second printed
`circuit board is a daughterboard. Further, it is preferred if
`the second printed circuit board is disposed on
`the first
`printed circuit board. In any case, it is an advantage of this
`construction that the second printed circuit board or daughter
`board helps to economize space on the first printed circuit
`board or mother board.
`
`the
`It is preferred if one of the connector components of
`blood glucose measuring module and the wireless communication
`module is the plug component of a plug and socket connector
`and the other connector component is the socket component of
`the plug and socket connection. Such a plug and socket connec(cid:173)
`tion is particularly easy to operate and simple in construc(cid:173)
`tion. The releasable electrical connection may be established
`by directly connecting the plug and the socket, i.e. by in(cid:173)
`serting the plug on the wireless communication module or the
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`blood glucose measuring module into the socket on the blood
`glucose measuring module or wireless communication module, re(cid:173)
`spectively, or by connecting them via an adapter or a cable.
`
`The connector components of the blood glucose measuring module
`and the wireless communication module may also be adapted to
`be connected by a cable having suitable connector components
`at its ends. Such a construction provides flexibility with re(cid:173)
`gard to the physical arrangement of the two modules within the
`meter.
`
`advantageously be
`communication module may
`The wireless
`adapted to communicate according to the ISM, Bluetooth, ZigBee
`or WLAN standard or even according to two or more of these
`standards.
`
`The blood glucose meter of the invention described above may
`advantageously be part of a blood glucose meter system further
`comprising at least one further wireless communication module
`similar to the wireless communication module but adapted for
`establishing a wireless communication link with an external
`device and exchanging information with the external device via
`the wireless communication link according to a predetermined
`frequency
`format and protocol different
`from
`the frequency
`format and/or protocol of · the wireless communication module.
`As is evident from the above description, with such a system
`the frequency format and