Disease simulation system and method

Abstract

A system and method for predicting the effect of patient self-care actions on a disease control parameter. A future disease control parameter value X(t j ) at time t j is determined from a prior disease control parameter value X(t i ) at time t i based on an optimal control parameter value R(t j ) at time t j , the difference between the prior disease control parameter value X(t i ) and an optimal control parameter value R(t i ) at time t i , and a set of differentials between patient self-care parameters having patient self-care values S M (t i ) at time t i and optimal self-care parameters having optimal self-care values O M (t i ) at time t i . The differentials are multiplied by corresponding scaling factors K M . The system includes an input device for entering the patient self-care values S M (t i ). A memory stores the optimal control parameter values R(t i ) and R(t j ), the prior disease control parameter value X(t i ), the optimal self-care values O M (t i ), and the scaling factors K M . A processor in communication with the input device and memory calculates the future disease control parameter value X(t j ). A display is connected to the processor to display the future disease control parameter value X(t j ) to a patient.

1 . A method of diabetes management, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a plurality of readings over time from an analyte sensor;   processing each of the readings to generate analyte data;   receiving information about external factors;   using the analyte data to estimate an amount of medication to be dispensed from a single dose medication device based on the analyte data in combination with the external factors; and   displaying an instruction to deliver the amount of medication.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displaying step is performed by a monitor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the monitor is coupled to the analyte sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the monitor is coupled to the single dose medication device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the external factors are selected from the group consisting of meal consumption, exercise, medication intake type of medication device used and user sensitivity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the analyte sensor is a blood glucose sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the medication is insulin. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of readings is received on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of readings is received on an automatic basis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of readings is received in response to user request. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of using the analyte data in combination with the external factors to provide therapy to a user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the therapy comprises a recommendation of medication dosage amount and medication dosage timing based on an analysis of user history. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the therapy comprises a recommendation of food type and food amount to consume based on an analysis of user history. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving a plurality of readings over time from the analyte sensor further comprises:
 obtaining at least two readings for each of the plurality of readings; and   calculating an average of the at least two readings.   
     
     
         15 . A method of diabetes management, comprising the steps of:
 sensing continuously an analyte level of an user;   obtaining a plurality of readings over time from the sensed analyte level;   processing each of the readings to generate analyte data; receiving information about external factors;   transmitting a first communication, including the analyte data and the external factors, to a predetermined receiver;   using the first communication to estimate an amount of medication to be dispensed from a single dose medication device based on the analyte data in combination with the external factors; and   displaying an instruction to deliver the amount of medication.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including transmitting a second communication, including the amount of medication, to a single dose medication device to display to a user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the external factors are selected from the group consisting of meal consumption, exercise, medication intake, type of medication device used and user sensitivity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the analyte sensor is a blood glucose sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the medication is insulin. 
     
     
         20 . A sensor device for producing data indicative of an analyte level of a user, the sensor device comprising:
 a sensor adapted to measure an analyte level of a user;   sensor electronics coupled to the sensor for receiving the measured analyte level and processing the measured analyte level to generate analyte data;   an estimator adapted to receive the analyte data from the sensor electronics to estimate an amount of medication to be dispensed from a single dose medication device based upon the analyte data in combination with external factors; and   a monitor coupled to the estimator to display a user interface, the monitor having one or more inputs adapted for use to enter and receive information about the external factors, and wherein the user interface displays the estimated amount of medication.   
     
     
         21 . The sensor device of  claim 20 , further including an indication device, providing at least one indication wherein the indication is selected from the group consisting of a visual indication, an audible indication and a tactile indication, to indicate that the amount of medication to be dispensed has been calculated. 
     
     
         22 . The sensor device of  claim 20 , wherein the single dose medication device is a syringe. 
     
     
         23 . The sensor device of  claim 20 , wherein the single dose medication device is disposable. 
     
     
         24 . The sensor device of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more inputs are selected from the group consisting of buttons, keys, tabs, push pads, touch screens and turn dials. 
     
     
         25 . The sensor device of  claim 20 , wherein the external factors are selected from a group consisting of meal consumption, exercise, medication intake, type of medication device used and user sensitivity. 
     
     
         26 . The sensor device of  claim 20 , wherein the analyte level being measured is blood glucose level. 
     
     
         27 . The sensor device of  claim 26 , wherein the sensor is adapted to measure the blood glucose level after the blood glucose level is stabilized. 
     
     
         28 . The sensor device of  claim 20 , wherein the medication is insulin. 
     
     
         29 . The sensor device of  claim 20 , wherein the user interface is adapted to present data in graphical depictions. 
     
     
         30 . The sensor device of  claim 29 , wherein the graphical depiction is selected from the group consisting of a graph, a chart, a extrapolation, a pie chart, and a table. 
     
     
         31 . The sensor device of  claim 29 , wherein the user interface is adapted to enter a demonstrative mode that is user interactive. 
     
     
         32 . The sensor device of  claim 20 , being adapted to prompt the user to report events when significant changes in the analyte level are sensed. 
     
     
         33 . The sensor device of  claim 32 , wherein the events are selected from the group consisting of meal consumption, exercise, medication intake and type of medication device used. 
     
     
         34 . The sensor device of  claim 32 , being adapted to calculate user sensitivity based on the reported events. 
     
     
         35 . The sensor device of  claim 34  being adapted to factor user sensitivity into the estimation of the amount of medication. 
     
     
         36 . The sensor device of  claim 20  further including at least one alarm wherein the alarm is selected from the group consisting of a visual alarm, an audible alarm and a tactile alarm. 
     
     
         37 . The sensor device of  claim 36 , wherein the alarm is adapted to activate when the analyte level of the user meets a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         38 . The sensor device of  claim 36 , wherein the alarm is adapted to activate when a specific amount of medication is required. 
     
     
         39 . The sensor device of  claim 36 , wherein the alarm grows in intensity. 
     
     
         40 . The sensor device of  claim 36 , wherein the tactile alarm is sent through vibrations. 
     
     
         41 . The sensor device of  claim 20 , wherein the estimator includes a memory to store information. 
     
     
         42 . The sensor device of  claim 41 , wherein the memory stores one or more databases to be used in estimating the amount of medication. 
     
     
         43 . The sensor device of  claim 42 , wherein the one or more databases are selected from the group consisting of a user history, a food library, and a drug library. 
     
     
         44 . The sensor device of  claim 43 , wherein the estimator is adapted to provide therapy to the user based on the one or more databases. 
     
     
         45 . The sensor device of  claim 44 , wherein the therapy comprises a recommendation of medication dosage amount and medication dosage timing based on an analysis of the user history. 
     
     
         46 . The sensor device of  claim 44 , wherein the therapy comprises a recommendation of food type and food amount to consume based on an analysis of the user history. 
     
     
         47 . The sensor device of  claim 42 , wherein the sensor is adapted to conduct carbohydrate counting based on the one or more databases. 
     
     
         48 . The sensor device of  claim 42 , wherein the one or more databases are updated from a source selected from the group consisting of software, Internet, and manual input. 
     
     
         49 . The sensor device of  claim 48 , wherein the update takes place during nighttime hours. 
     
     
         50 . The sensor device of  claim 20  further including a housing to contain the bolus estimator and the monitor. 
     
     
         51 . The sensor device of  claim 50  further including a receptacle formed in the housing and adapted to receive a fluid from a user, wherein the sensor electronics is adapted to measure the analyte level of the user from the fluid. 
     
     
         52 . The sensor device of  claim 51 , wherein the fluid is received into the receptacle on a test strip. 
     
     
         53 . A sensor device for producing data indicative of an analyte level of a user, the sensor device comprising:
 a sensor adapted to measure an analyte level of a user;   sensor electronics coupled to the sensor for receiving the measured analyte level and processing the measured analyte level to generate analyte data;   a first transmitter device coupled to the sensor electronics and adapted to wirelessly transmit a communication including the analyte data;   an estimator adapted to receive the communication from the first transmitter device to estimate an amount of medication to be dispensed from a single dose medication device based upon the analyte data in combination with external factors; and   a monitor coupled to the estimator to display a user interface, the monitor having one or more inputs adapted for use to enter and receive information about the external factors, and wherein the user interface displays the estimated amount of medication.   
     
     
         54 . The sensor device of  claim 53  further including a second transmitter device coupled to the estimator, the second transmitter device adapted to wirelessly transmit the amount of medication to the single dose medication device.