Telemetered characteristic monitor system and method of using the same

Abstract

A telemetered characteristic monitor system includes a remotely located data receiving device, a sensor for producing signal indicative of a characteristic of a user, and a transmitter device. The transmitter device includes a housing, a sensor connector, a processor, and a transmitter. The transmitter receives the signals from the sensor and wirelessly transmits the processed signals to the remotely located data receiving device. The processor coupled to the sensor processes the signals from the sensor for transmission to the remotely located data receiving device. The data receiving device may be a characteristic monitor, a data receiver that provides data to another device, an RF programmer for a medical device, a medication delivery device (such as an infusion pump), or the like.

1 . A telemetered characteristic monitor system for monitoring a characteristic of a user, the system comprising: 
 a remotely located data receiving device that is configured to be worn on a body of the user and is concealable within clothing;    a first sensor for producing a signal indicative of a first characteristic of the user;    a second sensor for producing a second signal indicative of a second characteristic of the user; and    a transmitter device including: 
 a housing;  
 a processor within the housing adapted to receive signals from the first sensor and to process the signals from the first sensor for delivery to the remotely located data receiving device; and  
 a transmitter coupled to the processor for wirelessly transmitting the processed signals to the remotely located data receiving device.  
   
     
     
         2 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further adapted to receive signals from the second sensor and to process the signals from the second sensor for delivery to the remotely located data receiving device.  
     
     
         3 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic are the same characteristic of the user.  
     
     
         4 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the size of the housing is not greater than 2.0 square inches by 0.35 inch thick.  
     
     
         5 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the size of the housing is not greater than 1.0 square inch by 0.25 inch thick.  
     
     
         6 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor set including the first and second sensors and a connector coupled to at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the transmitter device further comprises a sensor connector that is directly connected to the connector of the sensor set without any intermediate cable between the two.  
     
     
         7 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first sensor and the second sensor has a sensing portion, and the sensing portion of at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor is implanted in tissue selected from the group consisting of subcutaneous, sub-dermal, intra-peritoneal, and peritoneal tissue.  
     
     
         8 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first sensor and the second sensor has a sensing portion that is implanted in the user's subcutaneous tissue.  
     
     
         9 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor is a percutaneous sensor.  
     
     
         10 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter device further includes a wireless receiver to receive data and instructions from the data receiving device.  
     
     
         11 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the data receiving device is an insulin pump.  
     
     
         12 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter transmits the processed signals by radio frequencies.  
     
     
         13 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the first characteristic of the user is a glucose level in the body of the user.  
     
     
         14 . A telemetered characteristic monitor system for monitoring a characteristic of a user, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of sensors, each of which is for producing a signal indicative of a characteristic of the user; and    a transmitter device including a housing, a processor within the housing coupled to the plurality of sensors to process the signals from the plurality of sensors, and a transmitter coupled to the processor for wirelessly transmitting the processed signals to a remotely located data receiving device that is configured to be worn on a body of the user and is concealable within the user's clothing.    
     
     
         15 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 14 , wherein a first sensor produces a signal indicative of a first characteristic of the user, and a second sensor also produces a signal indicative of the first characteristic of the user.  
     
     
         16 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 14 , wherein a first sensor produces a signal indicative of a first characteristic of the user, and a second sensor produces a signal indicative of a second characteristic of the user, said second characteristic being different from the first characteristic.  
     
     
         17 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 14 , wherein the size of the housing is not greater than 2.0 square inches by 0.35 inch thick.  
     
     
         18 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 14 , wherein the size of the housing is not greater than 1.0 square inch by 0.25 inch thick.  
     
     
         19 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 14 , further comprising a sensor set including the plurality of sensors and a connector coupled to at least one of the plurality of sensors, wherein the transmitter device further comprises a sensor connector that is directly connected to the connector of the sensor set without any intermediate cable between the two.  
     
     
         20 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 14 , wherein the transmitter device further includes a wireless receiver to receive data and instructions from the data receiving device.  
     
     
         21 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 14 , wherein the transmitter transmits the processed signals by radio frequencies.  
     
     
         22 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of sensors has a sensing portion, and the sensing portion of at least one of the plurality of sensors is implanted in tissue selected from the group consisting of subcutaneous, sub-dermal, intra-peritoneal, and peritoneal tissue.  
     
     
         23 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of sensors has a sensing portion that is implanted in the user's subcutaneous tissue.  
     
     
         24 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said plurality of sensors is a percutaneous sensor.