Patent Application
20090082693
The present invention relates to data detection and monitoring systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to method and apparatus providing skin temperature sensor module in the transmitter unit of data communication systems such as in continuous glucose monitoring systems.
Continuous glucose monitoring systems generally include a sensor such as a subcutaneous analyte sensor for detecting analyte levels such as blood glucose levels, a transmitter (such as an RF transmitter) in communication with the sensor and configured to receive the sensor signals and to transmit them to a corresponding receiver unit by for example, using RF data transmission protocol. The receiver may be operatively coupled to a blood glucose monitor that performs blood glucose related calculations and data analysis.
Typically, the blood glucose data measured by the sensor is effected by the skin temperature in such a way that the accurate skin temperature measurement contemporaneous to the blood glucose measurement is necessary to compensate for the potential temperature related deviation in the blood glucose reading.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to have method and apparatus for skin temperature measurement in a transmitter unit of a data communication system such as continuous glucose monitoring systems. More specifically, it would be desirable to have method and apparatus for skin temperature detection for blood glucose measurement compensation.
In view of the foregoing, there is provided a temperature sensor module in the transmitter unit of a continuous glucose monitoring system. More specifically, the transmitter housing is provided with a temperature sensor module mounted thereto on the lower side so as to be in physical contact with the skin. The temperature sensor module may include a temperature probe substantially surrounded by thermally conductive material such as epoxy that are configured to accurately and timely detect the skin temperature of a patient.
In accordance with the various embodiments of the present invention, the temperature sensor module may be press fitted, insert molded, heat stacked or attached by adhesive into the bottom portion of the transmitter housing so as to be in substantial physical contact with the patient's skin. Moreover, the temperature sensor module may include any substantially conductive material such as aluminum, stainless steel, gold, silver, and beryllium copper. The press fitted temperature sensor may be substantially filled with thermally conductive epoxy with a temperature probe provided therein. The temperature probe may be connected by a thermally conductive wire to one or more contact points on the printed circuit board of the transmitter unit. In this manner, the transmitter unit may be configured to determine the temperature of the skin with each blood glucose reading received from the sensor.
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In this manner, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, with the temperature sensor module 160 substantially constantly in physical contact with the skin of the patient on which the transmitter unit 100 is mounted, the temperature sensor module 160 is configured to thermally translate the skin temperature by its inherent thermally conductive characteristics. More specifically, when the skin temperature rises, for example, that rise in temperature is thermally translated by the temperature sensor module 160 which, in turn, translates the rise in temperature to the thermally conductive epoxy 170 within the sensor module 160. Within the scope of the present invention, the shape of the temperature sensor module 160 may a cylindrical barrel shape, a tubular shape, a spherical shape or any other equivalent shape which may substantially retain the thermal characteristics as described herein, and for substantially containing the thermally conducive epoxy 170 (or any other type of thermally conductive material) therein.
Accordingly, the temperature probe 190 placed within the thermally conductive epoxy 170 then detects the change in temperature, and translates that thermal deviation over the conductive wire 180 to the printed circuit board 140 which includes circuitry configured to determine the necessary temperature compensation based on the measured skin temperature corresponding to the detected blood glucose level received from the sensor (not shown).
In the manner described above, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the transmitter unit 100 may be provided with a temperature sensor module 160 to detect skin temperature so as to compensate for the deviation in measured blood glucose levels received from the sensor. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the temperature sensor module 160 is press fitted into the bottom housing 120 of the transmitter unit 100 such that there is provided a substantially water tight seal to retain the water proof characteristics of the transmitter unit 100. Alternatively, the temperature sensor module 160 may be insert molded, heat stacked or attached by adhesive to the bottom housing 120 of the transmitter unit 100.
Indeed, an apparatus including a temperature sensor module includes a housing, a conductive material provided substantially within the housing, and a temperature probe substantially completely disposed within the conductive material in the housing, where a change in temperature of the housing is substantially and contemporaneously translated to the temperature probe.
The housing may include a thermally conductive material including one of stainless steel, aluminum, beryllium copper, gold, silver and plastic, while the conductive material provided substantially within the housing may include conductive epoxy. Also, the temperature probe may include a thermistor.
In a further embodiment, the apparatus may also include a conductive wire having a first end and a second end, the first end of the conductive wire connected to the temperature probe, and the second end of the conductive wire configured to connect to one or more contacts on a circuit board, where the conductive wire may include one of a copper wire and thermocouple connection.
Moreover, the housing may be configured to press fit into a transmitter housing such that a substantially water tight seal is formed. Additionally, the housing may be alternatively configured to be insert molded, heat stacked or attached by adhesive to the transmitter housing to obtain the substantially water tight seal.
An apparatus including a temperature sensor module in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, a thermally conductive epoxy provided substantially within the housing, a temperature probe substantially completely disposed within the thermally conductive epoxy in the housing, and a conductive wire having a first end and a second end, the first end of the conductive wire connected to the temperature probe, and the second end of the conductive wire configured to connect to one or more contacts on a circuit board, where a change in temperature of the housing is substantially and contemporaneously translated to the one or more contacts on the circuit board via the conductive wire.
A method of providing a temperature sensor module may include the steps of providing a conductive material substantially within a housing, and substantially disposing a temperature probe substantially within the conductive material in the housing, where a change in temperature of the housing is substantially and contemporaneously translated to the temperature probe.
In the manner described above, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, temperature sensor module 160 in the transmitter unit 100 of a data communication system such as a continuous glucose monitoring system is configured to be in physical contact with the patient's skin. The temperature sensor module 140 may include a temperature probe 190 substantially surrounded by thermally conductive material 170 such as epoxy that are configured to accurately and timely detect the skin temperature of a patient.
As discussed above, in one aspect of the present invention, the temperature sensor module 140 may be press fitted into the bottom housing 120 of the transmitter housing so as to be in substantial physical contact with the patient's skin. The temperature sensor module 140 may include any substantially conductive material so long as the desired thermal conductivity may be achieved. The press fitted temperature sensor module 140 may be substantially filled with thermally conductive epoxy 170 with a temperature probe 190 provided therein. The temperature probe 190 may be thermally connected by a conductive wire, for example 180, extended from the thermally conductive epoxy 190 within the temperature sensor module 140 to one or more contact points on the printed circuit board 140 of the transmitter unit 100. In this manner, the transmitter unit 100 may be configured to determine the temperature of the skin corresponding to each blood glucose reading received from the sensor.
Various other modifications and alterations in the structure and method of operation of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the present invention and that structures and methods within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.
