Blood glucose tracking apparatus and methods

Abstract

A measurement module for glucose testing includes a glucose testing measurement module housing, a test strip receptacle formed in the housing, and a connector portion formed in the housing and shaped to permit mechanical removable attachment of the housing to a hand-held computer. Electronics determine the amount of glucose present in a sample of body fluid, when the test strip is positioned in the receptacle and the body fluid is placed on a test strip, and communicate the glucose amount to the hand-held computer via the connector portion.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of diabetes management, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a plurality of readings over time from an analyte sensor;   processing each of the readings to generate analyte data;   receiving information about external factors;   using the analyte data to estimate an amount of medication to be dispensed from a single dose medication device based on the analyte data in combination with the external factors; and   displaying an instruction to deliver the amount of medication.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the displaying step is performed by a monitor. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the monitor is coupled to the analyte sensor. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the monitor is coupled to the single dose medication device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the external factors are selected from the group consisting of meal consumption, exercise, medication intake, type of medication device used and user sensitivity. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the analyte sensor is subcutaneous. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the analyte sensor is a blood glucose sensor. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the medication is insulin. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of readings is received on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of readings is received on an automatic basis. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of readings is received in response to user request. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 29 , further including the step of using the analyte data in combination with the external factors to provide intelligent therapy to a user. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the intelligent therapy comprises a recommendation of medication dosage amount and medication dosage timing based on an analysis of user history. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the intelligent therapy comprises a recommendation of food type and food amount to consume based on an analysis of user history. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of receiving a plurality of readings over time from the analyte sensor further comprises:
 obtaining at least two readings for each of the plurality of readings; and   calculating an average of the at least two readings.   
     
     
         44 . A method of diabetes management, comprising the steps of:
 sensing continuously an analyte level of an user;   obtaining a plurality of readings over time from the sensed analyte level;   processing each of the readings to generate analyte data;   receiving information about external factors;   transmitting a first communication, including the analyte data and the external factors, to a predetermined receiver;   using the first communication to estimate an amount of medication to be dispensed from a single dose medication device based on the analyte data in combination with the external factors; and   displaying an instruction to deliver the amount of medication.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further including transmitting a second communication, including the amount of medication, to a single dose medication device to display to a user. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the external factors are selected from the group consisting of meal consumption, exercise, medication intake, type of medication device used and user sensitivity. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the analyte sensor is subcutaneous. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the analyte sensor is a blood glucose sensor. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the medication is insulin. 
     
     
         50 . A sensor device for producing data indicative of an analyte level of a user, the sensor device comprising:
 a sensor adapted to measure an analyte level of a user;   sensor electronics coupled to the sensor for receiving the measured analyte level and processing the measured analyte level to generate analyte data;   an estimator adapted to receive the analyte data from the sensor electronics to estimate an amount of medication to be dispensed from a single dose medication device based upon the analyte data in combination with external factors; and   a monitor coupled to the estimator to display a user interface, the monitor having one or more inputs adapted for use to enter and receive information about the external factors, and wherein the user interface displays the estimated amount of medication.   
     
     
         51 . The sensor device of  claim 50 , wherein the sensing device is adapted to continuously sense the analyte level of the user. 
     
     
         52 . The sensor device of  claim 50 , wherein the sensor is subcutaneous. 
     
     
         53 . The sensor device of  claim 50 , further including an indication device, providing at least one indication wherein the indication is selected from the group consisting of a visual indication, an audible indication and a tactile indication, to indicate that the amount of medication to be dispensed has been calculated. 
     
     
         54 . The sensor device of  claim 50 , wherein the single dose medication device is selected from the group consisting of an inhaler, an injector, and a syringe. 
     
     
         55 . The sensor device of  claim 50 , wherein the one or more inputs are selected from the group consisting of buttons, keys, tabs, push pads, touch screens and turn dials. 
     
     
         56 . The sensor device of  claim 50 , further including a transmitter device coupled to the estimator, the transmitter device adapted to wirelessly transmit the amount of medication to the single dose medication device. 
     
     
         57 . The sensor device of  claim 56 , further including an antenna attached to the transmitter device for increasing reception. 
     
     
         58 . The sensor device of  claim 56 , wherein the wireless transmission is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency, and infrared. 
     
     
         59 . The sensor device of  claim 56 , wherein the transmitter device is adapted to transmit a communication to data management software. 
     
     
         60 . The sensor device of  claim 50 , wherein the external factors are selected from a group consisting of meal consumption, exercise, medication intake, type of medication device used and user sensitivity. 
     
     
         61 . The sensor device of  claim 50 , wherein the analyte level being measured is blood glucose level. 
     
     
         62 . The sensor device of  claim 61 , wherein the sensor is adapted to measure the blood glucose level after the blood glucose level is stabilized. 
     
     
         63 . The sensor device of  claim 50 , wherein the medication is insulin. 
     
     
         64 . The sensor device of  claim 50 , wherein the user interface is adapted to present data in graphical depictions. 
     
     
         65 . The sensor device of  claim 64 , wherein the graphical depiction is selected from the group consisting of a graph, a chart, a extrapolation, a pie chart, and a table. 
     
     
         66 . The sensor device of  claim 64 , wherein the user interface is adapted to enter a demonstrative mode that is user interactive. 
     
     
         67 . The sensor device of  claim 50 , being adapted to prompt the user to report events when significant changes in the analyte level are sensed. 
     
     
         68 . The sensor device of  claim 67 , wherein the events are selected from the group consisting of meal consumption, exercise, medication intake and type of medication device used. 
     
     
         69 . The sensor device of  claim 67 , being adapted to calculate user sensitivity based on the reported events. 
     
     
         70 . The sensor device of  claim 69 , being adapted to factor user sensitivity into the estimation of the amount of medication. 
     
     
         71 . The sensor device of  claim 50  further including at least one alarm wherein the alarm is selected from the group consisting of a visual alarm, an audible alarm and a tactile alarm. 
     
     
         72 . The sensor device of  claim 71 , wherein the alarm is adapted to activate when the analyte level of the user meets a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         73 . The sensor device of  claim 71 , wherein the alarm is adapted to activate when a specific amount of medication is required. 
     
     
         74 . The sensor device of  claim 71 , wherein the alarm grows in intensity. 
     
     
         75 . The sensor device of  claim 71 , wherein the tactile alarm is sent through vibrations. 
     
     
         76 . The sensor device of  claim 50 , wherein the estimator includes a memory to store information. 
     
     
         77 . The sensor device of  claim 76 , wherein the memory stores one or more databases to be used in estimating the amount of medication. 
     
     
         78 . The sensor device of  claim 77 , wherein the one or more databases are selected from the group consisting of a user history, a food library, and a drug library. 
     
     
         79 . The sensor device of  claim 78 , wherein the estimator is adapted to provide therapy to the user based on the one or more databases. 
     
     
         80 . The sensor device of  claim 79 , wherein the therapy comprises a recommendation of medication dosage amount and medication dosage timing based on an analysis of the user history. 
     
     
         81 . The sensor device of  claim 79 , wherein the therapy comprises a recommendation of food type and food amount to consume based on an analysis of the user history. 
     
     
         82 . The sensor device of  claim 77 , wherein the sensor is adapted to conduct carbohydrate counting based on the one or more databases. 
     
     
         83 . The sensor device of  claim 77 , wherein the one or more databases are updated from a source selected from the group consisting of software, Internet, and manual input. 
     
     
         84 . The sensor device of  claim 83 , wherein the update takes place during nighttime hours. 
     
     
         85 . The sensor device of  claim 50 , further including a housing to contain the estimator and the monitor. 
     
     
         86 . The sensor device of  claim 85 , further including a receptacle formed in the housing and adapted to receive a fluid from a user, wherein the sensor electronics is adapted to measure the analyte level of the user from the fluid. 
     
     
         87 . The sensor device of  claim 86 , wherein the fluid is received into the receptacle on a test strip. 
     
     
         88 . A sensor device for producing data indicative of an analyte level of a user, the sensor device comprising:
 a sensor adapted to measure an analyte level of a user;   sensor electronics coupled to the sensor for receiving the measured analyte level and processing the measured analyte level to generate analyte data;   a first transmitter device coupled to the sensor electronics and adapted to wirelessly transmit a communication including the analyte data;   an estimator adapted to receive the communication from the first transmitter device to estimate a amount of medication to be dispensed from a single dose medication device based upon the analyte data in combination with external factors; and   a monitor coupled to the estimator to display a user interface, the monitor having one or more inputs adapted for use to enter and receive information about the external factors, and wherein the user interface displays the estimated amount of medication.   
     
     
         89 . The sensor device of  claim 88 , further including a second transmitter device coupled to the estimator, the second transmitter device adapted to wirelessly transmit the amount of medication to the single dose medication device.