Systems and methods for wireless processing and adapter-based communication with a medical device

Abstract

A system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a processor, an adapter that includes a medical device transceiver, a data relay transceiver, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions that are executed by the processor to wirelessly receive data from a medical device using the medical device transceiver and transmit the data to an intermediary device using the data relay transceiver. This system can be implemented in a small, portable unit that is easy for a patient to transport. For example, the unit could be the size of a cell phone or contained within a cell phone, or could be a small accessory device that is maintained in proximity to the medical device, such as in a container in which the medical device is also situated. The adapter can be removably coupled to the system to allow different adapters configured to communicate with different medical devices to be used with a single system.

1 . A medical data translator comprising:
 a processor;   an adapter comprising a medical device transceiver;   a data relay transceiver; and   a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 receive data from a medical device wirelessly using the medical device transceiver; and 
 transmit the data to an intermediary device using the data relay transceiver. 
   
     
     
         2 . The medical data translator of  claim 1 , wherein the data relay transceiver includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting the data wirelessly to the intermediary device. 
     
     
         3 . The medical data translator of  claim 1 , further comprising a wired connector in communication with the data relay transceiver for transmitting the data to the intermediary device. 
     
     
         4 . The medical data translator of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device transmits the data in a frequency range selected from the group consisting of the medical implant communications service (MICS) frequency band, the frequency range of 402 MHz to 405 MHz, the Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) frequency band, the frequency range of 608 MHz to 614 MHz, the frequency range of 1395 MHz to 1400 MHz, the frequency range of 1427 MHz to 1432 MHz, the frequency range 32 KHz to 175 KHz, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The medical data translator of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device transceiver is configured to receive data from a plurality of different medical devices. 
     
     
         6 . The medical data translator of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of different medical devices include at least one of a blood glucose meter, a pacemaker, a blood pressure monitor, an insulin pump, a pulse oximeter, a holter monitor, an electrocardiograph, an electroencephalograph, a blood alcohol monitor, an alcohol breathalyzer, an alcohol ignition interlock, a respiration monitor, an accelerometer, a skin galvanometer, a thermometer, a patient geolocation device, a scale, an intravenous flow regulator, patient height measuring device, a biochip assay device, a sphygmomanometer, a hazardous chemical agent monitor; an ionizing radiation sensor; a monitor for biological agents, a loop recorder, a spirometer, an event monitor, a prothrombin time (PT) meter, an international normalized ratio (INR) meter, a tremor sensor, and a defibrillator. 
     
     
         7 . The medical data translator of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter comprises a plurality of medical device transceivers. 
     
     
         8 . The medical data translator of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of medical device transceivers are configured to communicate with a respective one of a plurality of medical devices. 
     
     
         9 . The medical data translator of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of medical device transceivers are configured to communicate with a plurality of medical devices. 
     
     
         10 . The medical data translator of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device transceiver is configured to receive data from the medical device on a plurality of frequencies. 
     
     
         11 . The medical data translator of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter is nonremovably coupled to the medical data translator. 
     
     
         12 . The medical data translator of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter is removably coupled to the medical data translator. 
     
     
         13 . The medical data translator of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter includes a connector for attaching the adapter to the medical data translator. 
     
     
         14 . The medical data translator of  claim 13 , wherein the connector is removably attached to the adapter. 
     
     
         15 . A medical data translator comprising:
 a processor;   an adapter comprising a medical device transceiver;   a data relay transceiver; and   a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 receive data wirelessly from a medical device through the medical device transceiver; 
 encrypt the data; and 
 transmit the data to an intermediary device using the data relay transceiver. 
   
     
     
         16 . The medical data translator of  claim 15 , wherein the medical device transmits the data in a frequency range selected from the group consisting of the medical implant communications service (MICS) frequency band, the frequency range of 402 MHz to 405 MHz, the Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) frequency band, the frequency range of 608 MHz to 614 MHz, the frequency range of 1395 MHz to 1400 MHz, the frequency range of 1427 MHz to 1432 MHz, the frequency range 32 KHz to 175 KHz, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The medical data translator of  claim 15 , wherein the data is encrypted using at least one encryption key, the encryption key selected from the group comprising:
 a private encryption key associated with the patient;   a private encryption key of a health care provider associated with the patient;   a public encryption key associated with at least one of:
 an intended recipient, and 
 a medical data server; and 
   combinations thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The medical data translator of  claim 15 , wherein the adapter comprises a plurality of medical device transceivers. 
     
     
         19 . The medical data translator of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of medical device transceivers are configured to communicate with a respective one of a plurality of medical devices. 
     
     
         20 . The medical data translator of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of medical device transceivers are configured to communicate with a plurality of medical devices. 
     
     
         21 . The medical data translator of  claim 15 , wherein the medical device transceiver is configured to receive data from the medical device on a plurality of frequencies. 
     
     
         22 . The medical data translator of  claim 15 , wherein the adapter is nonremovably coupled to the medical data translator. 
     
     
         23 . The medical data translator of  claim 15 , wherein the adapter is removably coupled to the medical data translator. 
     
     
         24 . The medical data translator of  claim 15 , wherein the adapter includes a connector for attaching the adapter to the medical data translator. 
     
     
         25 . The medical data translator of  claim 24 , wherein the connector is removably attached to the adapter.