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 . An analyte measurement system, comprising:
 a hand-held processing device having
 a housing, 
 an electrical signal input interface, 
 a data processing circuit coupled to the electrical signal input interface, and 
 a wireless transmission circuit that delivers processed data to an external computer; and 
   a detachably integrated measurement module electrically coupled to the electrical signal input interface of the hand-held processing device and mechanically coupled to the housing of the hand-held processing device, wherein the measurement module includes a test strip interface having circuitry for connecting to a received test strip and delivering an electrical signal from the received test strip to a measurement circuit.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the measurement circuit is within the measurement module. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising an isolated power module that provides power to the measurement circuit. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the isolated power module is within the measurement module. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising an isolated power module that provides power to the test strip interface. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the isolated power module is within the measurement module. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a power isolation barrier between the measurement module and the hand-held processing device. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the measurement module and the hand-held processing device are electrically coupled through a flexible cable. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the measurement module and the hand-held processing device remain electrically coupled through the flexible cable despite being mechanically detached. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the measurement module and the hand-held processing device are electrically coupled through a interface connector having switching control circuitry that delivers controlled power to the measurement module. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the measurement module extends less than two inches in length and less than one-half inch in thickness beyond the housing of the hand-held processing device. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the measurement module extends less than 1.2 inches in length beyond the housing of the hand-held processing device. 
     
     
         41 . A measurement module for use with a hand-held processing device, comprising:
 a housing having a mounting portion and an extension portion;   a strip port in the extension portion, wherein the strip port includes a test strip interface having circuitry for connecting to a received test strip and delivering an electrical signal from the received test strip to a hand-held processing device;   an electrical interface within the mounting portion, which electrically couples to the hand-held processing device and delivers the electrical signal to the hand-held processing device; and   a mechanical interface about the mounting portion, which physically and removably attaches the measurement module to the hand-held processing device so as to form a detachably integrated unit;   wherein, when the measurement module is attached to the hand-held processing device, the mounting portion is within the hand-held processing device, and the extension portion protrudes outside of the hand-held processing device.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the measurement module is electrically coupled to the hand-held processing device through a flexible cable. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the measurement module and the hand-held processing device remain electrically coupled through the flexible cable despite being mechanically detached. 
     
     
         44 . The module of  claim 41 , wherein the extension portion extends less than two inches in length and less than one-half inch in thickness beyond the hand-held processing device. 
     
     
         45 . The module of  claim 41 , wherein the extension portion extends less than 1.2 inches in length beyond the hand-held processing device. 
     
     
         46 . The module of  claim 41 , wherein the extension portion has a rounded surface. 
     
     
         47 . The module of  claim 41 , wherein the extension portion has a telescoping trapezoidal profile. 
     
     
         48 . The module of  claim 41 , wherein the module is powered by the hand-held processing device. 
     
     
         49 . The module of  claim 44 , wherein the module further includes power isolation circuitry.