Patent Application
20120142084
The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for presenting information to a user of a diagnostic system. More specifically, the methods and systems according to aspects of the present invention provide a graphical user interface for a diagnostic system. Additionally, the graphical user interface provides information for operating the diagnostic system.
The quantitative determination of analytes in body fluids is of great importance in the diagnoses and maintenance of certain physiological abnormalities. For example, lactate, cholesterol and bilirubin are monitored in certain individuals. In particular, it is important that individuals with diabetes frequently check the glucose level in their body fluids to regulate the glucose intake in their diets. The results of such tests can be used to determine what, if any, insulin or other medication needs to be administered.
Diagnostic systems, such as blood-glucose systems, may employ a meter or instrument to calculate the concentration of an analyte in a sample of body fluid. In some types of diagnostic systems, test sensors are used to test a sample of blood. A test sensor contains biosensing or reagent material that reacts with the analyte, e.g., blood glucose, in the sample. For example, the testing end of the sensor may be placed into contact with the fluid being tested (e.g., blood) that has accumulated on a person's finger after the finger has been pricked. A sufficient amount of fluid to be tested may be drawn from the testing end by capillary action to the reagent material in the sensor. The meter receives the test sensor and applies optical or electrochemical testing methods to by measure an output, such as current or color, from the reaction between the analyte and the reagent in the test sensor. Diagnostic systems typically employ a graphical user interface to display the results of the testing to the user. The graphical user interface may also be employed to display instructions to the user.
Diagnostic systems require the user to complete several steps during the testing procedure. The accuracy of such testing methods, however, depend on the manner in which the user completes the steps.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to have systems and methods that provide a diagnostic system with a graphical user interface that provides users with clear and easy-to-follow instructions for conducting the testing procedure of diagnostic systems to produce accurate results. Moreover, it would be desirable to have a graphical user interface that provides users with instructions on how to operate the diagnostic systems when an error or exceptional condition arises.
Accordingly, diagnostic systems according to aspects of the present invention include a meter that is configured to receive a test sensor during a testing procedure. The diagnostic systems also include a computing device coupled to the meter. The test sensor receives a fluid sample during the testing procedure. The meter includes a measurement system that determines a measurement of a concentration of an analyte in the fluid sample. The computing device receives and processes the measurement from the meter. In particular, the computing device has enhanced processing and presentation capabilities that provide visual and/or audio instructions on how to operate the diagnostic systems, especially when an error or exceptional condition arises.
Diagnostic systems according to aspects of the present invention employ a graphical user interface (GUI), or display, that provides clear and easy-to-follow instructions for conducting the testing procedure. For example, a processing device in a diagnostic system executes software that is stored on computer-readable media to present illustrative graphics, textual information, and/or audio on a corresponding user interface for each step during the testing procedure. As such, the user receives clear step-by-step instructions to minimize the chance of user error during the testing procedure. In some embodiments, the software may enhance the presentation of instructions by employing animation.
In some embodiments, the GUI also presents illustrative graphics, textual information, and/or audio that guide the user through appropriate steps when an error or exceptional condition occurs during the testing procedure. For example, because the result of the chemical reaction between the analyte and a reagent on the test sensor may vary at different temperatures, the accuracy of the testing procedure may be affected by the temperature of the test sensor. Although the actual measurement may be corrected based on the actual test sensor temperature taken right before the reaction begins, in some cases, the accuracy of the testing procedure is improved by replacing the test sensor with one that has a temperature within a preferred range. Thus, in some embodiments, the GUI presents illustrative graphics, textual information, and/or audio that instruct the user to replace the test sensor when the diagnostic system senses that the test sensor temperature is outside a preferred range.
Although the meter may include the processing device, the software, and the GUI for presenting the illustrative graphics, textual information, and/or audio, it is understood that diagnostic systems according to the aspects of the present invention employ a variety of architectures. For example, a diagnostic system employs a meter in combination with an external device, such as a conventional personal computer, a personal data assistant (PDA), or smart phone. As such, the software is loaded on the external device to allow a processor of the external device to execute the software and to present illustrative graphics, textual information, and/or audio on a user interface of the external device. Indeed, in some embodiments, the software is a part of an data management system that is executed on the external device to manage, analyze, and present test results that have been stored by the meter. Is such embodiments, the data management system takes advantage of greater processing and display capabilities to provide enhanced functionality, which may not be otherwise possible with the processor and user interface on a meter.
While it may be advantageous to show the illustrative graphics, textual information, and/or audio during the actual testing procedure, it is understood that the illustrative graphics and/or textual information may be shown separately as a tutorial.
Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, by illustrating a number of exemplary embodiments and implementations, including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention. The present invention is also capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details can be modified in various respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. The invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
As illustrated in
The meter 110 includes a reaction-detection system for measuring the glucose concentration of the blood sample collected by the test sensor 130. For example, the reaction-detection system may include contacts for the electrodes to detect the electrochemical reaction for an electrochemical test sensor. Alternatively, the reaction-detection system may include an optical detector to detect the chromatic reaction for an optical test sensor. To calculate the actual concentration of analyte from the electrochemical or chromatic reaction measured by the reaction-detection system and to generally control the procedure for testing the sample, the meter 110 employs at least one processor 112, which executes programmed instructions according to a measurement algorithm. Data processed by the processor 112 is stored in a memory 113. Furthermore, the meter 110 includes a user interface 115 that includes a display that shows information regarding the test results.
The computing device 120 may be selected from a variety of processing devices, such as desktop or laptop personal computers (PCs), handheld or pocket personal computers (HPCs), compatible personal digital assistants (PDAs), and smart phones. The processing devices may employ a variety of operating systems and configurations. For example, if the computing device 120 is a desktop or laptop personal computer, the operating system may be a version of Microsoft® Windows® or Apple® Mac® OS. Alternatively, if the computing device 120 is a smart phone, the operating system may correspond with Blackberry® devices from Research in Motion Limited or iPhone® from Apple®.
The computing device 120 includes a processor 122 that is capable of receiving and executing any number of programmed instructions provided on computer-readable media. In addition, the computing device 120 includes a user interface 125 for displaying graphics, text, and/or other audiovisual content. The user interface 125 may be incorporated into the housing of the computing device 120, but it is understood that the user interface 125 may be a separate component, such as a display monitor, that is coupled to the computing device 120.
Although the meter 110 stores test results and provides a user interface 115 to display test results, the test results collected by the meter 110 are communicated to the computing device 120 for additional processing by the data management software 126 and display by the user interface 125. The software 126 on the computing device 120 provides more advanced functionality for managing, processing, and displaying test results and related information. In addition, the computing device 120 provides an enhanced user interface 125 that provides advanced visual and/or audio presentation capabilities. In addition to providing high resolution graphics, the computing device 120 may also allow information to be communicated to the user via audio signals. Moreover, the computing device 120, through network connectivity, may provide the diagnostic system 10 with access to other functionality and data sources.
In general, the computing device 120 may provide processing and presentation capabilities that are not available with the meter 110. It is noted, however, that the meter 110 can fully operate to measure and display an analyte concentration when it is not connected to the computing device 120.
As shown in
As shown further in
As such, some embodiments employing power line connections between the meter 110 and the computer device 120 protect the user against the danger of electric shock from the power source of the computing device 120. These embodiments provide such protection particularly when the user conducts a test while the meter 110 remains physically connected to the computing device 120. As shown in
In some embodiments, the meter 110 is electrically isolated from power of the computing device 120 through switches and other standard isolation techniques, such as an isolated DC-DC converter. Isolated DC-DC converters normally use a small transformer, called a flyback transformer. Advantageously, isolated DC-DC converters allow the user to conduct testing with the meter 110 while it remains mechanically connected to the computing device 120.
Referring to
Referring still to
Compared to other isolation/protection techniques, such as an isolated DC-DC converter, the embodiment of
Referring to
In sum, aspects of the present invention automatically electrically isolate the meter 110 from the power source of a coupled computing device 120 when the user begins to conduct a test with the meter 110, e.g., when the user inserts the test strip 130 into the meter 110. This feature protects the user from failure of the primary isolation/protection for the computing device 120.
As described previously, the computing device 120 may be selected from a variety of processing devices, including portable computing devices.
As shown in
As further illustrated in
Generally, the computing device 120 executes data management software 126 and presents data and information relating to the meter 110 on the user interface 125 of the computing device 110. Moreover, the computing device 120 can present the data and information while the meter 110 remains coupled to the computing device during testing. In particular, the user interface 125 presents clear and easy-to-follow instructions for conducting the testing procedure on the meter 110. For example, the computing device 120 executes software 126 that is stored on computer-readable media to present illustrative graphics, textual information, and/or audio for each step during the testing procedure. As such, the user receives clear step-by-step instructions to minimize the chance of user error during the testing procedure. In some embodiments, the software 126 may enhance the presentation of instructions by employing animation. For example, the user interface 125 may show an animated person or character (e.g., a cartoon depiction of a health care provider, diabetes care educator, the user, or a person of the user's choice) to guide the user through the steps in a more engaging and personable manner.
In some embodiments, the user interface 125 also shows illustrative graphics, textual information, and/or audio that guide or assist the user through appropriate steps when an error or exceptional condition occurs during the testing procedure. For example, the temperature of the reagent on the test sensor 130 may affect the accuracy of the concentration of analyte calculated by the meter, as the level of reaction between the analyte and the reagent may be dependent on the temperature of the reagent. As such, some embodiments of the present invention determine a temperature for the reagent and use this calculated temperature to produce a more accurate measurement of the analyte concentration. In particular, the meter 110 has a temperature-measuring system which provides a calculated temperature as a variable input for a measurement algorithm. Although the actual measurement is corrected based on the actual test sensor temperature, in some cases, however, the accuracy of the testing procedure is improved by replacing the test sensor 130 with one that has a temperature within a preferred range, e.g., closer to the ambient temperature. Thus, when the temperature-measuring system determines that the temperature of the test sensor 130 is not in an acceptable range, the user interface may present illustrative graphics and textual information (as well as audio) that instruct the user to replace the test sensor when the diagnostic system senses that the test sensor temperature is outside a preferred range. Examples of such illustrative graphics and textual information are shown in
The illustrative graphics and textual information on the screen 300A shown in
The user may step through the sequence of screens 300A-E corresponding to
While it may be advantageous to present the illustrative graphics, textual information, and/or audio during the actual testing procedure or operation of the meter 110, it is understood that the illustrative graphics, textual information, and/or audio may be shown separately as a tutorial. Furthermore, it is understood that the user interface 125 may provide any information that may guide or assist the user in the operation of the meter and is not limited to presenting the types of information shown in screens 300A-E. For example, the user interface 125 may present screens that guide a user through a migration from one type of meter to another; such a feature would promote loyalty to a particular brand or line of meters.
As described previously, the computing device 120 includes data management software 126. The software 126 on the computing device 120 includes a collection of programs or computer code that receives and processes data measured by the meter 110. The software 126 processes and/or displays this input in a manner that is desired by the user. This information may be used by, for example, a user, home care provider (HCP), and/or a physician. Advantageously, the software 126 can provide the advanced displays and data processing that may be required by a user who tests multiple times a day (e.g., about six to about ten times a day). For example, the software 126 may include a product similar to WINGLUCOFACTS® Diabetes Management Software available from Bayer HealthCare LLC (Tarrytown, N.Y.). As such, the software 126 may provide a complete tool kit that receives and stores test results from a blood-glucose measurement system, receives and stores other testing information such as test times and meal markers, tracks test results in an electronic logbook, calculates averages and provides statistical analysis of outlier test results, summarizes and provides feedback on the test results, provides a customizable graphical user interface (GUI), displays user-friendly charts and graphs of the test results, tracks test results against user-specific target ranges, provides predictive analysis, and/or sends data to healthcare professionals via fax, email, etc.
Diagnostic systems according to the aspects of the present invention employ a variety of architectures and configurations. As described previously with reference to
In another alternative embodiment,
In yet another embodiment,
It is understood that the meter 110, rather than the computing device 120, may be employed to execute its own software and present information, such as that shown in screens 300A-E of
Furthermore, it is also understood that aspects of the present invention are not limited to blood-glucose measurement systems and are applicable to broader diagnostic systems. Analytes that may be analyzed include glucose, lipid profiles (e.g., cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL), microalbumin, hemoglobin A1c fructose, lactate, or bilirubin. It is contemplated that other analyte information may be determined (e.g., analyte concentrations). The analytes may be in, for example, a whole blood sample, a blood serum sample, a blood plasma sample, other body fluids like ISF (interstitial fluid) and urine, and non-body fluids.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments and methods thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but, to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/233,113, filed Aug. 11, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated entirely herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US10/45175 | 8/11/2010 | WO | 00 | 2/9/2012 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61233113 | Aug 2009 | US |
