The present invention relates in general to information storage and retrieval systems and subsystems therefor, and is particularly directed to an interface between a communication modem and a hand-held, battery-operated information collection device, such as a blood glucose meter, that enables information representative of the results of data collection (blood glucose analysis) performed by and stored in the device to be automatically coupled to a communication modem for transmission to a processing site, such as may be installed at a doctor's office, clinic or other remote monitoring medical facility to which collected patient data is reported.
Diabetic patients typically monitor their blood glucose levels at home or at other non-clinical sites by means of disposable test strips and a battery-powered, hand-held analyzer (blood glucose meter). As a non-limiting example, such a meter may comprise a Home Diagnostics Blood Glucose Meter, Model No. SIQ452, which has a configuration depicted in the front perspective view of
A side region 13 of the meter contains a data communication port 14, which is adapted to receive a communication cable connector, through which the user may couple the meter to a data terminal device, such as a computer, or to a data communication device, such as a wireline or wireless modem. This dataport connection allows the results of a blood glucose analysis performed and stored by the meter to be reported via a telecommunication link to a healthcare facility that keeps track of the patient's progress over the course of a blood glucose treatment program.
A significant shortcoming associated with the use of devices of the type described above is the fact that the user, particularly an elderly person, may not have access to a computer or an associated modem, or be familiar with how to use such equipment. Indeed, very few patients use computer capture of data, and even fewer healthcare providers have direct access to this clinically valuable information. The only recourse is for the user to attempt to call a healthcare provider's information collection site with the information displayed on the screen—a chore that is problematic at best.
In accordance with the present invention, the task of reporting the results of a blood glucose analysis, as performed by a blood glucose measurement meter of the type described above, to a remote monitoring facility, is considerably simplified, by means of a blood glucose meter/modem interface arrangement, which is configured to automatically download and transmit the results of the blood glucose analysis performed by the meter to a remote facility with minimum effort on the part of the user. All that is required of the user is to take a blood sample measurement with the blood glucose meter and then place the meter into a modem-containing, meter support and connection cradle.
To this end; the data collection meter/modem interface arrangement of the invention comprises a support cradle that is configured to receive and retain a (blood glucose) meter of the type described above. Once the meter has been placed in the cradle, a mechanical translation unit within the cradle automatically rotates a cam-driven, pivotable swing arm on which an electrical connector is mounted. The swing arm follows a spiral groove in the cam, that causes the electrical connector to be fully inserted into the data port receptacle of the meter. At the same time, an indicator on the cradle is illuminated to inform the user that the interface is in use.
The cradle also contains a data extraction unit, to which the electrical connector is coupled, and which is operative, in response to the electrical connector being inserted into the data port, to automatically download, into a modem memory, data that has been collected and stored by the meter. The modem may then send the data to a remote healthcare facility. After the data has been downloaded from the meter into the modem memory, the mechanical translation unit proceeds to cause reverse rotation of the cam, so as to translate the swing arm in a reverse direction, that is effective to remove or back the electrical connector out of the data port receptacle. The illumination of the indicator on the cradle is then extinguished to advise the user that the meter may be removed from the cradle.
Attention is now directed to
The top of the support cradle includes an inclined top portion 38 that adjoins the sidewall 32, rear wall 34 and inclined upper front wall 37, and a generally horizontal top portion 39 that adjoins the sidewall 33, rear wall 34 and the inclined upper front wall 37. The distance between the top of the horizontal top portion 39 and the bottom of the meter insertion slot 22 at a stop thereof is less than the length of the meter, so as to provide sufficient space directly above the horizontal top portion 39 for the user to grasp the meter during its insertion into and removal from the cradle 20. A recess 40 is formed in a region adjoining the lower front wall 31 and the shelf 36, and contains an indicator 41, such as a light emitting diode (LED), which is used to inform the user when the interface is in use. The reverse side (rear wall 34) of the cradle contains a pair of telecommunication receptacles 42 and 43, and a DC power supply receptacle 44. The upper portion of the meter cradle area 22 has an optic sensor 25, that “sees” the meter 1 dropped into place in the meter cradle area 22 and, in response thereto, tells the on-board electronics to start a motor that rotates a cam that drives a swing arm to insert a jack into the meter's data connector 14.
Details of the mechanical translation unit 23 are shown in
Support for the various components of the mechanical translation unit is provided by way of a generally rectangular frame member 50, which is mounted to the base 30 of the interface by means of a pair of obtuse angled feet/tabs 52 and an angle brace 53, which is attached to the frame 50 by way of a screw 55. The feet/tabs 52 are affixed to the housing base 30 by way of fasteners that pass through apertures in the feet/tabs. The frame 50 includes a circular aperture 61, which is sized and located to receive a bearing 62 which supports a gear shaft 63, upon which a gear-cam 70 is mounted on a top side of the frame 50 for rotation about a gear-cam axis 72, coincident with the center of circular aperture 61. A C-clip 64 retains gear shaft 63 in bearing 62.
As shown in the perspective view of
Swing arm 80 has a generally horizontal U-shaped cross-section and includes a first pair of coaxial pivot shaft mounting bores 81 and 83 in respective top and bottom sides 85 and 87 thereof. Pivot shaft mounting bores 81 and 83 are sized to fit upon and provide rotational support for the swing arm pivot shaft 86. A C-clip 89 is used to secure the swing arm 80 to the pivot shaft 86. The swing arm 80 further includes a second pair of coaxial bores 91 and 92 in the respective top and bottom sides 85 and 87 thereof. Bores 91 and 92 are sized to receive the cam follower pin 93, which rides in the spiral groove 74 of gear cam 70, as described above. A generally distal end 88 of an intermediate side 90 of the swing arm 80, which adjoins sides 85 and 87 thereof, contains an aperture 94, that is sized to receive an electrical connector 95 for controlled insertion into and removal from the dataport receptacle 14 of the meter 1. The electrical connector 95 is coupled via an interconnection cable to a modem installed within the support cradle 20 and connected to telecommunication receptacles 42 and 43.
As pointed out above, the gear teeth 73 of the gear-cam 70 are engaged by the pinion gear of an output shaft of drive motor 77 that is mounted to the underside of the frame 50 by means of a motor retention bracket 100. For this purpose, motor retention bracket 100 is secured to the underside of the frame 50 by way of a suitable fastener, such as a screw 101, and the like, which passes through a slot 103 in a top portion 105 of the bracket, and is screwed into threaded bore 108 of the frame proper. A drive motor 77 is supported between the top portion 105 and a bottom portion 111 of the motor bracket 100. Motor 110 has an output or drive shaft 76 that passes through an aperture 114 in the frame 50, and a pinion gear 75 is affixed to a distal end 116 of the motor's output shaft 76 for engagement with the gear teeth 73 of the gear-cam 70. An eccentric adjustment 115 provides for adjustment of the gear teeth 73 of cam 70 relative to the teeth of pinion gear 75. Optic sensor 25 is mounted to frame bracket 26 by screws 27.
Operation of the meter/modem interface of the present invention may be readily understood by reference to
From this fully retracted position of the swing arm 80, driving the motor's output pinion gear 75 in a clockwise direction as viewed in
In response to electrical connector 95 being pivoted into its fully inserted into the dataport receptacle 14, a data extraction unit within the cradle, and to which the electrical connector 95 is coupled, proceeds to download, into a modem memory, data that has been collected and stored by the meter. The modem may then send the data to a remote healthcare facility. After the data has been downloaded from the meter into the modem memory, the mechanical translation unit proceeds to cause reverse rotation of the cam 70, so as to translate the swing arm 80 in a reverse direction, that is effective to remove or back the electrical connector 95 out of data port receptacle 14.
More particularly, to remove the electrical connector 95 from its inserted position in the data port receptacle 14 to its removed position for the fully retracted position of the swing arm 80, the motor's output pinion gear 75 is driven in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in
As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the task of reporting the results of a blood glucose analysis, as performed by a blood glucose measurement meter having a side located data port receptacle, to a remote monitoring facility, is considerably simplified in accordance with the blood glucose meter/modem interface arrangement of the invention, which is configured to automatically download and transmit the results of the blood glucose analysis performed by the meter to a remote facility with minimum effort on the part of the user. All that is required of the user is to take a blood sample measurement with the blood glucose meter and then place the meter into the modem-containing, meter support and connection cradle.
While we have shown and described an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art. We therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.