Ketone measurement system capable of detecting and notifying a user of proper insertion of detachable components

Abstract

Systems and related methods are provided for measuring a ketone in the fluid of a patient or other user. The systems include a portable measurement device for analyzing a plurality of fluid samples and for generating a corresponding plurality of ketone measurement results. The systems also include an electronic or communications device, for example, such as a cell phone or smartphone, configured to communicate with the measurement device. The system further includes a software application. The systems and related methods according to one aspect provide reminders, preferably interactive reminders that facilitate user compliance with a weight management or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) monitoring or prevention program. The systems and related methods according to another aspect incorporate ketone tags and/or trigger points to improve accuracy of results and to advance user compliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A breath analysis system, comprising:
 a portable breath analysis device comprising:
 a first presence sensor that senses when a breath bag is coupled to the portable breath analysis device; 
 a second presence sensor that senses when a cartridge for analyzing contents of the breath bag is coupled to the portable breath analysis device; 
 a wireless transceiver; and 
 a processor coupled to the first and second presence sensors and the wireless transceiver; and 
   a mobile application configured to run on a mobile device of a user, the mobile application comprising executable instructions that direct the mobile device to at least:
 establish a wireless connection between the mobile device and the breath analysis device, and 
 guide the user through a process of running at least a portion of a test in which the breath analysis device analyzes contents of the breath bag using the cartridge, 
 wherein the processor of the breath analysis device is programmed to notify the mobile application, via the wireless connection, of states of the first and second presence sensors, and the mobile application is configured to display on the mobile device a user interface that indicates to the user, based on the communicated states of the first and second presence sensors, whether a breath bag is coupled to the breath analysis device and whether a cartridge is coupled to the breath analysis device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The breath analysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions further direct the mobile device to at least:
 monitor an order in which the breath bag and the cartridge are inserted relative to each other; and   display an error message in response to a determination that the order is incorrect.   
     
     
         3 . The breath analysis system of  claim 2 , wherein the executable instructions further direct the mobile device to at least prevent the user, via the user interface, from selecting an option to run the test in response to the determination that the order is incorrect. 
     
     
         4 . The breath analysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions further direct the mobile device to at least provide the user, via the user interface, with an option to initiate the test in response to a determination that the breath bag is coupled to the breath analysis device and the cartridge is coupled to the breath analysis device. 
     
     
         5 . The breath analysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions further direct the mobile device to at least display, via the user interface, an indication of a sequence of steps to be performed before the test can be performed, together with an indication of which steps have been successfully completed, the sequence of steps including:
 establishing a wireless connection between the mobile device and the breath analysis device;   coupling a cartridge to the breath analysis device; and   coupling a breath bag to the breath analysis device.   
     
     
         6 . The breath analysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the first presence sensor senses when a mechanical placement of the breath bag causes a protrusion into a valve of the breath bag. 
     
     
         7 . The breath analysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the second presence sensor senses when a mechanical placement of the cartridge causes a switch to be depressed. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a mobile application comprising executable program instructions that direct a mobile device of a user to at least:
 establish a network connection with a portable bodily fluid measurement device;   monitor, via the network connection, respective statuses of at least first and second presence sensors of the portable bodily fluid measurement device, wherein the first presence sensor detects a presence of a first detachable component and the second presence sensor detects a presence of a second detachable component;   display, based on the monitored statuses of the first and second presence sensors, an indication of whether the first and second detachable components are present;   provide, via a user interface, an option for a user to initiate a ketone measurement, wherein the option is displayed only when the first and second presence sensors detect the presence of the first and second detachable components; and   in response to user selection of the option, send a command via the network connection instructing the portable bodily fluid measurement device to initiate an ketone measurement process.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the executable program instructions further instruct the mobile device to determine, based on the monitored statuses of the first and second presence sensors, whether the first and second detachable components were inserted in a proper order. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the executable program instructions further instruct the mobile device to receive a ketone measurement resulting from the ketone measurement process, and to automatically transmit the ketone measurement to a server without further user interaction. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the first presence sensor detects the presence of a detachable cartridge used to analyze a sample. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the second presence sensor senses whether a breath bag is coupled to the portable bodily fluid measurement device. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the portable bodily fluid measurement device measures acetone in a breath sample. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the portable bodily fluid measurement device measures ketone in at least one of a blood sample or a urine sample. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the first presence sensor senses when a mechanical placement of the first detachable component causes a change in a mechanical state of the first presence sensor. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a mobile application configured to run on a mobile device of a user, the mobile application comprising executable program code that directs the mobile device to implement a process, the process comprising:
 establishing a wireless connection with a portable breath analysis device, wherein the breath analysis device comprises a first presence sensor;   monitoring, via the wireless connection, a state of the first presence sensor, wherein the first presence sensor senses insertion of a first detachable component into the breath analysis device;   displaying on the mobile device a user interface that indicates the monitored state of the first presence sensor; and   providing an option, via the user interface, for the user to initiate a test in which the breath analysis device analyzes contents of the first detachable component.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the process further comprises:
 determining a first time that the first detachable component is inserted; and   disabling the option for the user to initiate the test in response to a determination that a threshold period of time after the first time has passed.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the process further comprises displaying an error message in response to a determination that the first detachable component is improperly inserted into the breath analysis device. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the first presence sensor senses whether the first detachable component is fluidically coupled to the breath analysis device. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the process further comprises receiving an acetone measurement resulting from the test, and automatically transmitting the acetone measurement to a server without further user interaction.