Microprocessor based glucose monitoring system

Abstract

A self-care blood glucose monitoring module for coupling with a separately-portable microprocessor-based unit, comprising (a) a portable blood glucose monitoring module operating in conjunction with the separately-portable microprocessor-based unit for sensing a blood glucose level and producing a data signal representative of the blood glucose level, (b) signal processing circuitry for receiving the data signal and outputting a digital signal indicating a need for a change of insulin dose, and (c) a plug-in signal interface for coupling the digital signal directly to the microprocessor of the micro-processor-based unit.

1 . A self-care blood glucose monitoring module for coupling with a separately-portable microprocessor-based unit, comprising:
 (a) a portable blood glucose monitoring module operating in conjunction with the separately-portable microprocessor-based unit for sensing a blood glucose level and producing a data signal representative of the blood glucose level;   (b) signal processing circuitry for receiving the data signal and outputting a digital signal indicating a need for a change of insulin dose; and   (c) a plug-in signal interface for coupling the digital signal directly to the microprocessor of the micro-processor-based unit.   
     
     
         2 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the module is configured for being placed within a recess of the microprocessor-based unit. 
     
     
         3 . The module of  claim 2 , wherein the plug-in signal interface directly couples the digital signal to the microprocessor within the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the plug-in signal interface includes a cable connected between the microprocessor-based unit and the health monitoring module. 
     
     
         5 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the plug-in signal interface directly couples the digital signal to the microprocessor. 
     
     
         6 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the signal processing circuitry further for processing based on food intake data. 
     
     
         7 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the signal processing circuitry further for processing based on trend information of a system user. 
     
     
         8 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the signal processing circuitry further for processing based on exercise data. 
     
     
         9 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor-based unit comprises a hand-held processing unit. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a portable microprocessor-based unit for manipulating/analyzing glucose data in handling a diabetic condition, comprising signal-coupling a separately-portable glucose monitor to the portable microprocessor-based unit by plugging the glucose monitor into the microprocessor-based unit. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said plugging the glucose monitor into the microprocessor-based unit comprises connecting a data cable between the monitor and the microprocessor-based unit. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising communicating a first command to the microprocessor-based unit for initiating a transmission of glucose data from the glucose monitor to the microprocessor-based unit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising communicating a second command to the microprocessor-based unit for displaying information on a display of the microprocessor-based unit relating to the diabetic condition based on the glucose data transmitted from the glucose monitor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the information displayed comprises trend information of a system user. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising communicating a second command to the microprocessor-based unit for interactively manipulating the glucose data on a display. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising communicating a command to the microprocessor-based unit for displaying information on a display of the microprocessor-based unit relating to the diabetic condition based on the glucose data transmitted from the glucose monitor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising communicating a first command to the microprocessor-based unit for establishing a link between the microprocessor-based unit and a personal computer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising communicating a second command for initiating a transmission of data from the personal computer to the microprocessor-based device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising communicating a first command to the microprocessor-based unit for establishing a link between the microprocessor-based unit and a remote server. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising communicating a second command for initiating a transmission of data from the remote server to the microprocessor-based device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the data transmitted from the remote server to the microprocessor-based device is transmitted to the remote server from another remote processing device linked to the server. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising communicating a second command for initiating a transmission of data from the microprocessor-based device to the remote server. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising communicating a first command to the microprocessor-based unit for interactively manipulating the glucose data on a display. 
     
     
         24 . A hand-held microprocessor-based unit for analyzing glucose data in handling a diabetic condition that is configured to signal-couple with a separately-portable glucose monitor by plugging the glucose monitor into the hand-held microprocessor-based unit. 
     
     
         25 . The hand-held unit of  claim 24 , wherein the glucose monitor is plugged into the hand-held unit by connecting a data cable between the glucose monitor and the hand-held microprocessor-based unit.