Sensor and monitor system

Abstract

A system to monitor and transmit a plurality of signals based on a characteristic of a user is disclosed. The system comprises a sensor to produce the plurality of signals on a continuous basis, the signals being indicative of a glucose characteristic measured in the user when a portion of the sensor is placed in subcutaneous tissue. The system further includes a recorder including a recorder port to physically couple and interface with a sensor port of the sensor and a dock remotely located from the sensor and the recorder. The dock includes a dock receiver to physically couple and interface with the recorder port. The recorder can record the signals produced from the sensor when the recorder is coupled to the sensor and the recorder can transmit the stored signals to the dock when the recorder is removed from the sensor and coupled to the dock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system to monitor and transmit a plurality of signals based on a characteristic of a user, the system comprising:
 a sensor to produce the plurality of signals on a continuous basis, the signals being indicative of a glucose characteristic measured in the user when a portion of the sensor is adapted to be placed in subcutaneous tissue, the sensor having a sensor port;   a recorder including a recorder port to physically couple and interface with the sensor port to receive the produced signals from the sensor, the recorder further including a recorder processor that includes a recorder memory coupled to the recorder port to store the produced signals from the sensor;   a dock remotely located from the sensor and the recorder, the dock including a dock receiver to physically couple and interface with the recorder port to receive the stored signals from the recorder,   whereby the recorder can record the signals produced from the sensor when the recorder is coupled to the sensor and the recorder can transmit the stored signals to the dock when the recorder is removed from the sensor and coupled to the dock.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is adapted to be attached to the body of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor produces the plurality of signals on a continuous basis for a plurality of days. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , the recorder including a recorder housing and a battery contained within the recorder housing. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , the recorder including a recorder clock to assign a time to the signals received from the sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , including a data processor to analyze the stored signals received from the recorder. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , the dock including a data processor, the data processor including:
 a data processor memory to store data from the recorder,   a data processor clock, and   a program to assign the time and date of the signals from the sensor by comparing the time and date on the data processor clock with the time assigned to the signals from the sensor by the recorder clock.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a data processor having a program to convert the signals from the sensor to glucose concentration values experienced by the user. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a meter having an internal meter clock to provide reference values to the data processor, the reference values including a timestamp from the internal meter clock, and the data processor includes a program to assign time and date to the reference values by comparing the time and date on the processor clock with the timestamp of the reference values from the meter. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , such that when the recorder is coupled to the dock, the dock is programmed to charge the battery of the recorder. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , such that when the recorder is coupled to the dock, the dock is programmed to perform a diagnostic test of the recorder and provide actionable feedback based on results of the diagnostic test. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the actionable feedback is provided using at least one light emitting element integrated into the dock. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the actionable feedback is provided using at least one audible tone. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dock includes at least one light emitting element. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one light emitting element indicates that the recorder is being charged. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one light emitting element indicates that the recorder is fully charged. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one light emitting element indicates whether the recorder contains stored signals to be transmitted to the dock. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one light emitting element indicates the recorder has passed or failed a diagnostic test. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , the dock further including a mating arm configured to move between a retracted and extended position, the mating arm defined to fit within a coupling port of a second dock, wherein the mating arm of the dock in the extended position is inserted into the coupling port of the second dock, to couple the two docks into a singular unit. 
     
     
         20 . A system to monitor and transmit a plurality of signals based on a characteristic of a user, the system comprising:
 a sensor to produce the plurality of signals on a continuous basis, the signals being indicative of a glucose characteristic measured in the user when a portion of the sensor is adapted to be placed in subcutaneous tissue, the sensor having a sensor port;   a transmitter to physically couple with the sensor, the transmitter including:
 a transmitter port to interface with the sensor port to receive the signals from the sensor, 
 a power supply to supply power to the sensor when the transmitter port is coupled to the sensor port, 
 a processor having a memory to process and store the signals received from the sensor, and 
 a communications block to transmit the signals; and 
   a dock remotely located from the sensor and the transmitter, the dock including a dock receiver to wireles sly receive the signals from the transmitter.