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 hand-held health monitoring device, comprising:
 a housing configured to be hand-held;   a processor coupled to the housing, wherein the processor is configured to process data associated with diabetes management;   a touchscreen coupled to the housing and in communication with the processor for displaying the data associated with diabetes management; and   a communication unit coupled to the housing and in communication with the processor, wherein the communication unit is configured to wirelessly receive data and/or application programs from a computer and/or network to the health monitoring device,   wherein the hand-held health monitoring device is a PDA, a mobile phone, or a combination PDA/mobile phone.   
     
     
         30 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , wherein the device comprises a measurement module for testing at least one physical parameter of a subject having diabetes. 
     
     
         31 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 30 , wherein the measurement module comprises a test strip receptacle coupled to the housing and in communication with the housing. 
     
     
         32 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 31 , wherein the test strip receptacle is configured to receive a glucose test strip. 
     
     
         33 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , wherein the data associated with diabetes management comprises data indicative of an analyte concentration in a sample from a subject having diabetes. 
     
     
         34 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 33 , wherein the analyte is glucose. 
     
     
         35 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , wherein the hand-held health monitoring device is configured to issue one or more communications to a user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         36 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more communications are selected from an audible communication, a vibratory communication, a graphical communication and a textual communication. 
     
     
         37 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more communications indicate that a planned activity is due to begin. 
     
     
         38 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 37 , wherein the planned activity is user entry of data associated with diabetes management. 
     
     
         39 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 38 , wherein the data associated with diabetes management comprises exercise data. 
     
     
         40 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 38 , wherein the data associated with diabetes management comprises dietary data. 
     
     
         41 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 40 , wherein the dietary data comprises meal-related data. 
     
     
         42 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 41 , wherein the meal-related data comprises meal time data. 
     
     
         43 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 41 , wherein the meal-related data comprises carbohydrate value. 
     
     
         44 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 34 , wherein the touchscreen is configured to display a communication activatable when the glucose concentration of the sample indicates hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, impending hyperglycemia, or impending hypoglycemia. 
     
     
         45 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , wherein the hand-held health monitoring device is configured for USB connectivity with a personal computer. 
     
     
         46 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , wherein the wireless communication is by RF and/or JR. 
     
     
         47 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , wherein the network is a computer network. 
     
     
         48 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , wherein the communication unit is configured for connection with the internet. 
     
     
         49 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , wherein the communication unit is configured for communication with a personal computer, and wherein the processor is configured to synchronize data in the hand-held health monitoring device with data in the personal computer to produce synchronized data. 
     
     
         50 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 49 , wherein the synchronized data comprises time- and/or date-tagged event data. 
     
     
         51 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , further comprising diabetes management software configured to be accessed by a health care professional. 
     
     
         52 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , further comprising a database comprising data associated with diabetes management, wherein the database is accessible by a user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         53 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 52 , wherein the data associated with diabetes management is event data. 
     
     
         54 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 52 , wherein at least a portion of the data associated with diabetes management is manually entered by the user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         55 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 52 , further comprising application software configured to merge the data associated with diabetes management with additional data specific for the user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         56 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 52 , wherein the additional data comprises data derived from another monitoring device. 
     
     
         57 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , further comprising application software configured to store and retrieve data associated with diabetes management such that the data associated with diabetes management is accessible by a user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         58 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 57 , wherein the application software is configured to receive and store user-entered data associated with diabetes management. 
     
     
         59 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 58 , wherein the application software is configured to display one or more pre-defined drop-down lists from which a user can select data associated with diabetes management for entry. 
     
     
         60 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 58 , wherein the data associated with diabetes management is carbohydrate data or comprises exercise data. 
     
     
         61 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 57 , wherein the hand-held health monitoring device comprises a food database accessible by a user of the analyte measurement system, wherein the food database comprises carbohydrate values for food items. 
     
     
         62 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 61 , wherein the food database is customizable by the user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         63 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , wherein the touchscreen is configured to display a recommended treatment to a user of the hand-held monitoring device. 
     
     
         64 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , wherein the data associated with diabetes management is indicative of a glucose concentration in a sample from a subject having diabetes, and wherein the hand-held health monitoring device further comprises application software configured to determine a dosage of insulin based at least in part on the indicated glucose concentration. 
     
     
         65 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , wherein the data associated with diabetes management is indicative of a glucose concentration in a sample, and wherein the hand-held health monitoring device further comprises application software configured to determine trending of glucose concentration based at least in part on the indicated glucose concentration. 
     
     
         66 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 65 , wherein the trending provides for a rate and/or acceleration of glucose concentration increase or decrease. 
     
     
         67 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 65 , wherein the application software is configured to communicate with the touchscreen such that visual indicators of glucose concentration trending are displayed to a user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         68 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , wherein the hand-held health monitoring device further comprises application software configured to communicate with the display unit such that a visual representation of data associated with diabetes management over time is provided to a user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         69 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 29 , wherein the data associated with diabetes management is indicative of a glucose concentration in a sample, and wherein the hand-held health monitoring device further comprises application software configured to communicate with the touchscreen such that a visual representation of glucose concentration over time is provided to a user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         70 . A hand-held health monitoring device, comprising:
 a housing configured to be hand-held;   a test strip receptacle coupled to the housing and in communication with the housing,   a processor coupled to the housing, wherein the processor is configured to determine and analyze an analyte concentration in a sample received at the test strip receptacle;   a display unit coupled to the housing and in communication with the processor for displaying data associated with the analyte concentration; and   a communication unit coupled to the housing and in communication with the processor, wherein the communication unit is configured to wirelessly receive data and/or application programs from a computer and/or computer network to the hand-held health monitoring device.   
     
     
         71 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the analyte is glucose. 
     
     
         72 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the display unit comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     
     
         73 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the display unit comprises a touchscreen. 
     
     
         74 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the hand-held health monitoring device is configured to issue one or more communications to a user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         75 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 74 , wherein the one or more communications are selected from an audible communication, a vibratory communication, a graphical communication and a textual communication. 
     
     
         76 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 74 , wherein the one or more communications indicate that a planned activity is due to begin. 
     
     
         77 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 76 , wherein the planned activity is user entry of data associated with diabetes management. 
     
     
         78 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 77 , wherein the data associated with diabetes management comprises exercise information. 
     
     
         79 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 77 , wherein the data associated with diabetes management comprises dietary information. 
     
     
         80 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 79 , wherein the dietary information comprises meal-related information. 
     
     
         81 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 80 , wherein the meal-related information comprises meal time information. 
     
     
         82 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 80 , wherein the meal-related information comprises carbohydrate value. 
     
     
         83 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 71 , wherein the display unit is configured to display a communication activatable when the glucose concentration of the sample indicates hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, impending hyperglycemia, or impending hypoglycemia. 
     
     
         84 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the hand-held health monitoring device comprises a PDA, a mobile phone, or a combination PDA/mobile phone. 
     
     
         85 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the hand-held health monitoring device is configured for USB connectivity with a personal computer. 
     
     
         86 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the wireless communication is by RF and/or IR. 
     
     
         87 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the communication unit is configured for connection with the internet. 
     
     
         88 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the communication unit is configured for communication with a personal computer, and wherein the processor is configured to synchronize data in the hand-held health monitoring device with data in the personal computer to produce synchronized data. 
     
     
         89 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 88 , wherein the synchronized data comprises time- and/or date-tagged event data. 
     
     
         90 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , further comprising diabetes management software configured to be accessed by a health care professional. 
     
     
         91 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , further comprising a database comprising data associated with diabetes management, wherein the database is accessible by a user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         92 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 91 , wherein the data associated with diabetes management is event data. 
     
     
         93 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 91 , wherein at least a portion of the data associated with diabetes management is manually entered by the user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         94 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 91 , further comprising application software configured to merge the data associated with diabetes management with additional data specific for the user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         95 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 92 , wherein the event data comprises data derived from another monitoring device. 
     
     
         96 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , further comprising a software application configured for data logging. 
     
     
         97 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 91 , further comprising application software configured to store and retrieve data associated with diabetes management such that the data associated with diabetes management is accessible by a user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         98 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 97 , wherein the application software is configured to receive and store user-entered data associated with diabetes management. 
     
     
         99 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 98 , wherein the application software is configured to display one or more pre-defined drop-down lists from which a user can select data associated with diabetes management. 
     
     
         100 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 97 , wherein the data associated with diabetes management comprises carbohydrate data. 
     
     
         101 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 97 , wherein the data associated with diabetes management comprises exercise data. 
     
     
         102 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 97 , wherein the hand-held health monitoring device comprises a food database accessible by a user of the analyte measurement system, wherein the food database comprises carbohydrate values for food items. 
     
     
         103 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 102 , wherein the food database is customizable by the user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         104 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the display unit is configured to display a recommended treatment to a user of the hand-held monitoring device. 
     
     
         105 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the analyte is glucose, and wherein the hand-held health monitoring device further comprises application software configured to determine a dosage of insulin based at least in part on the determined glucose concentration. 
     
     
         106 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the analyte is glucose, and wherein the hand-held health monitoring device further comprises application software configured to determine trending of glucose concentration based at least in part on the determined glucose concentration. 
     
     
         107 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 106 , wherein the trending provides for a rate and/or acceleration of glucose concentration increase or decrease. 
     
     
         108 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 106 , wherein the application software is configured to communicate with the display unit such that visual indicators of glucose concentration trending are displayed to a user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         109 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the hand-held health monitoring device further comprises application software configured to communicate with the display unit such that a visual representation of data associated with diabetes management over time is provided to a user of the hand-held health monitoring device. 
     
     
         110 . The hand-held health monitoring device of  claim 70 , wherein the analyte is glucose, and wherein the hand-held health monitoring device further comprises application software configured to communicate with the display unit such that a visual representation of glucose concentration over time is provided to a user of the hand-held health monitoring device.