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 worn on a body of the user and is concealable within clothing;   a sensor that directly contacts one or more of the user's bodily fluids and produces a signal indicative of the user's glucose level in said one or more bodily fluids; and   a transmitter device including:
 a housing; 
 a sensor connector that is coupled to the housing and is connectable to the sensor to receive signals from the sensor; 
 a processor within the housing and coupled to the sensor connector, wherein the processor receives signals from the sensor and processes the received signals for delivery to the remotely located data receiving device; 
 a transmitter coupled to the processor for wirelessly transmitting the processed signals to the remotely located data receiving device; and 
 an input device configured to turn the transmitter device on or off. 
   
     
     
         2 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of a button and a switch. 
     
     
         3 . 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. 
     
     
         4 . 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. 
     
     
         5 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor connector is connected to the sensor directly and without any intermediate cable between the two. 
     
     
         6 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor has a sensing portion that is implanted in tissue selected from the group consisting of sub-dermal, intra-peritoneal, and peritoneal tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor has a sensing portion that is implanted in the user's subcutaneous tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a percutaneous sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter device further includes a wireless receiver that receives data from the data receiving device. 
     
     
         10 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter device further includes a wireless receiver that receives 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 , further including a second input device configured to turn the sensor on or off. 
     
     
         14 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 13 , wherein the second input device is selected from the group consisting of a button and a switch. 
     
     
         15 . A telemetered characteristic monitor system for monitoring a characteristic of a user, the system comprising:
 a remotely located data receiving device that is worn on a body of the user and is concealable within clothing;   a sensor that directly contacts one or more of the user's bodily fluids and produces a signal indicative of the user's glucose level in said one or more bodily fluids;   a transmitter device including:
 a housing; 
 a sensor connector that is coupled to the housing and is connectable to the sensor to receive signals from the sensor; 
 a processor within the housing and coupled to the sensor connector, wherein the processor receives signals from the sensor and processes the received signals 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; and 
   an input device configured to turn the sensor on or off.   
     
     
         16 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 15 , wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of a button and a switch. 
     
     
         17 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 15 , 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 15 , 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 15 , wherein the sensor connector is connected to the sensor directly and without any intermediate cable between the two. 
     
     
         20 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor has a sensing portion that is implanted in tissue selected from the group consisting of sub-dermal, intra-peritoneal, and peritoneal tissue. 
     
     
         21 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor has a sensing portion that is implanted in the user's subcutaneous tissue. 
     
     
         22 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is a percutaneous sensor. 
     
     
         23 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 15 , wherein the transmitter device further includes a wireless receiver that receives data from the data receiving device. 
     
     
         24 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 15 , wherein the transmitter device further includes a wireless receiver that receives instructions from the data receiving device. 
     
     
         25 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 15 , wherein the data receiving device is an insulin pump. 
     
     
         26 . The telemetered characteristic monitor system of  claim 15 , wherein the transmitter transmits the processed signals by radio frequencies.