Systems and methods for communicating sensor data between communication devices

Abstract

System and method for communicating glucose concentration information between devices of a continuous glucose monitoring system is provided. The continuous glucose monitoring system can include a sensor module generates a glucose concentration measurement data and transmits the data to one or more further devices of the continuous glucose monitoring system. The further devices can include a receiver unit and one or more secondary display devices. The receiver unit can be configured to be a stand-alone device of or physically connect to a secondary display device. A user interface can also be provided that provides enhanced functionality for using the continuous glucose monitoring system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for validating a reference data value, comprising:
 (a) receiving a reference value inputted into a first computing device using a user interface of the first computing device;   (b) storing the inputted reference data value in memory of the first computing device;   (c) transmitting, using the first computing device, a first data packet indicating the reference data value;   (d) receiving, using a second computing device, the first data packet;   (e) processing, using the second computing device, the first data packet to determine the reference data value;   (f) transmitting, using the second computing device, a second data packet indicating the reference data value;   (g) receiving, using the first computing device, the second data packet;   (h) processing, using the first computing device, the second data packet to determine the reference data value;   (i) validating the reference data value, wherein validating comprises determining whether the reference data value determined from processing the second data packet matches the reference data value stored in memory of the first computing device; and   (j) calibrating sensor data using the reference data value if the reference data value is valid.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying the reference data value determined during step (e) on a display of the second communication device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (i) further comprises comparing, using the first computing device, the data value determined from processing the second data packet with the reference data value stored in memory of the first computing device and wherein the reference data value is validated if the compared data values match. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (i) further comprises displaying the data value determined from processing the second data packet on a display of the first computing device, prompting a user using the user interface for confirmation that the data value displayed on the display of the first computing device is valid, and receiving input responsive to the prompting. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the received input responsive to the prompting comprises an indication that the reference data value is valid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the received input responsive to the prompting comprises an indication that the reference data value is invalid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, using the first computing device, a third data packet to a third computing device indicative of the reference value being valid, wherein the third computing device performs step (j). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first computing device is a mobile telephone, the second computing device is a receiver unit and the third device is a sensor electronics module. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a housing of the first computing device is releasably coupled to a housing of the second computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein steps (c), (d), (f), and (g) are performed via a wired communication interface that electronically couples the first computing device with the second computing device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (c), (d), (f), and (g) are performed wirelessly. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising releasably coupling the first computing device to the second computing device, wherein electrical communication between the first computing device and the second computing device occurs upon the coupling. 
     
     
         13 . A glucose monitoring system comprising a receiver unit configured to receive sensor data indicative of a glucose concentration of a host measured by a substantially continuous glucose sensor, the receiver unit comprising:
 (i) a user interface configured to interact with a user;   (ii) computer memory;   (iii) a wireless receiver configured to receive sensor data transmitted from a substantially continuous glucose sensor electronics module, the electronics module operatively coupled to a continuous glucose sensor;   (iv) a battery configured to provide power to the receiver unit;   (v) a housing enclosing the computer memory, the wireless receiver and the battery, wherein the user interface is at least partially disposed on the housing;   (vi) a first communication port in the housing configured to permit mechanical removable attachment of the housing to a secondary display device, the first communication port also configured to provide electrical communication between the receiver unit and the secondary display device;   (vii) a first processor coupled to the user interface, the memory, the wireless receiver, the first communication port and the battery; and   (viii) a software program stored in the computer memory, the software program including instructions configured to perform:
 receiving sensor data from the substantially continuous glucose sensor, 
 processing the received sensor data, the processing including generating displayable sensor data, 
 displaying an indication of the displayable sensor data on the display, and 
 transmitting the displayable sensor data to a secondary device via the first communication port. 
   
     
     
         14 . The glucose monitoring system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a substantially continuous glucose sensor configured to measure in vivo glucose concentrations and to generate a signal indicative of the measured in vivo glucose concentrations; and   substantially continuous glucose sensor electronics in electrical communication with the substantially continuous glucose sensor, the substantially continuous glucose sensor electronics comprising a second processor configured to generate the sensor data based on the signal generated by the substantially continuous glucose sensor and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the sensor data to the wireless receiver of the receiver unit.   
     
     
         15 . The glucose monitoring system of  claim 14 , further comprising a reference glucose meter configured to measure a glucose concentration of an ex vivo sample of a host, wherein the glucose meter is operatively coupled to the first processor, and wherein the software program further comprises instructions for calibrating the sensor data using data generated by the reference glucose meter. 
     
     
         16 . The glucose monitoring system of  claim 15 , wherein the reference glucose meter is integral with the receiver unit. 
     
     
         17 . The glucose monitoring system of  claim 13 , further comprising the secondary display device, wherein the secondary display device is a handheld display device coupled to the first communication port and comprises software stored in a memory of the handheld display device, the software comprising instructions to display displayable data transmitted from the receiver unit via the first communication port on a display of the handheld display device. 
     
     
         18 . The glucose monitoring system of  claim 17 , wherein the housing of the receiver unit is configured to receive at least a portion of the handheld display device so as to physically couple the receiver unit to the handheld display device. 
     
     
         19 . The glucose monitoring system of  claim 17 , wherein the hand-held display device is a mobile telephone. 
     
     
         20 . The glucose monitoring system of  claim 18 , wherein the receiver unit is shaped to define a recess configured to accept an end of the handheld device.