Medical system and a method of controlling the system for use by a patient for medical self treatment

Abstract

This invention relates to an system for self treatment. The system consists of several portable modules where one of the modules is designated as a master module. The master module controls, supervises and monitors all the mutual information and data exchange between itself and the rest of the modules. The modules can e.g. consist of a BGM, a doser and a storage container. The modules may be able to generate and store data which is transmitted to the master module if it is within range. If the master module is not within range, the data is kept locally in the module until the master module is available. The master module can send the data to an external unit like a computer or database for further processing. A physician or an expert care-team can access the data in the database and give guidance to the patient on the basis of these processed data. This processing could also be done automatically by utilization of an expert system.

1 . A method of controlling data information between a plurality of portable apparatuses for use by a patient for medical self treatment, the treatment including a first operation and at least a second operation, said portable apparatuses comprising a first apparatus for performing the first operation, and at least a second apparatus for performing the second operation, characterized in 
 that each apparatus belonging to the medical self treatment has means for one or more of the following: storing, transmitting, receiving and displaying information, and    that an attempted data communication between said apparatuses is initiated on request.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that program information having the highest priority with respect to control and monitoring of mutual data communication between said apparatuses is stored in one of said apparatuses.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said data communication is performed as data polling.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2  or  3 , characterized in that said program information of highest priority is stored in the apparatus which the patient most often carries.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to claims  1 - 4 , characterized in that said means are preadjusted to handle a common set of predetermined measuring and information representations.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , characterized in that one or more of said representations from said common set of measuring and information representations are stored in said apparatuses and communicated to said apparatus comprising program information of highest priority when said apparatus comprising program information is within range and ready for communication.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5  or  6 , characterized in that said common set of measuring and information representations is stored as one or more of the following representations: 
 amount of medication  
 type of medication  
 body fluid concentration  
 time stamp  
 amount of food  
 measurement of physical activity  
 notification  
 inventory logistics  
 body characteristics (e.g. weight, blood pressure).  
 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , characterized in that said common set of measuring and information representations relates to one or more of the following medications 
 insulin    growth hormones    OHA (Oral Hyperglychemical Agent)    HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy).    
     
     
         9 . A method according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said program information of highest priority controls storing, transmitting, receiving and/or displaying information from/to an external unit.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , characterized in that said external unit is a computer.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9 , characterized in that said external unit is a database.  
     
     
         12 . A medical system for use by a patient for medical self treatment, the treatment including a first operation and at least a second operation, the system comprising a first apparatus for performing the first operation and a second apparatus for performing the second operation, characterized in that each apparatus comprises means for storing and/or displaying information, and comprising means for transmitting and receiving of information so that each apparatus is able to exchange data with any of the other apparatuses belonging to the self treatment.  
     
     
         13 . A medical system according to  claim 12 , characterized in that one of said apparatuses comprises program information having the highest priority with respect to control and monitoring of mutual data communication between said apparatuses.  
     
     
         14 . A medical system according to  claim 12 , characterized in that said apparatus comprising program information of highest priority comprises means for storing, transmitting, receiving and/or displaying transmitted information from the other apparatuses.  
     
     
         15 . A medical system according to claims  12 - 14 , characterized in that said means are preadjusted to handle a common set of measuring and information representations.  
     
     
         16 . A medical system according to  claim 15 , characterized in that said apparatuses comprise storing means for storing one or more representations from said common set of measuring and information representations when said apparatus comprising program information of highest priority is out of range for communication.  
     
     
         17 . A medical system according to  claim 16 , characterized in that said common set of measuring and information representations comprises one or more of the following representations: 
 amount of medication    type of medication    body fluid concentration    time stamp    amount of food    measurement of physical activity    notification    inventory logistics    body characteristics.    
     
     
         18 . A medical system according to  claim 17 , characterized in that said common set of measuring and information representations relates to one or more of the following medication: 
 insulin    growth hormones    OHA (Oral Hyperglychemical Agent)    HRT (Hormone Replacement therapy).    
     
     
         19 . A medical system according to  claim 13  or  14 , characterized in that said apparatus comprising program information of highest priority comprises means for storing, transmitting, receiving and/or displaying information from/to an external unit.  
     
     
         20 . A medical system according to  claim 19 , characterized in that said external unit is a computer.  
     
     
         21 . A medical system according to  claim 20 , characterized in that said external unit is a database.  
     
     
         22 . A medical system according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said first and second apparatuses are selected from the group of 
 a lancet device    a body fluid analyser    a drug administration system for administering, a predetermined dose of medication to the patient    a sensor for obtaining body characteristics.    
     
     
         23 . A medical system according to  claim 17  or  22 , characterized in that said body fluid concentration is the blood glucose concentration.  
     
     
         24 . A medical system according to  claim 22  or  23 , characterized in that said body fluid analyser is a blood glucose monitor.  
     
     
         25 . A medical system according to  claim 22 , characterized in that said body fluid analyser is a lipid monitor.  
     
     
         26 . A medical system according to  claim 22 , characterized in that said body characteristics is one or more of body weight and blood pressure.  
     
     
         27 . A medical system according to  claim 22 , characterized in that said drug administration system is an insulin injecting device.  
     
     
         28 . A medical system according to any one of claims  23 - 27 , characterized in that said apparatus has one or more storage containers for storing a supply of one of more of the following: 
 a supply of lancets for the body fluid analyser or blood glucose monitor    a supply of test strips for the body fluid analyser or blood glucose monitor    an extra supply (carpoule) of insulin    a supply of needles.    
     
     
         29 . A medical system according to  claim 24 , characterized in that said blood glucose monitor comprises storing, transmitting and/or displaying means for blood glucose level and/or time stamp.  
     
     
         30 . A medical system according to  claim 27 , characterized in that said insulin injecting device comprises storing, transmitting, receiving and/or displaying means for a number of units of medication, type of medication and/or time stamp.  
     
     
         31 . A medical system according to  claim 28 , characterized in that said one or more storage containers comprise storing, transmitting, receiving and/or displaying means for inventory logistics.  
     
     
         32 . A medical system according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said system comprises means for presentation of choices to the patient for a given situation, said presentation being dependent on said patient's previous choices.