System for in-vivo measurement of an analyte concentration

Abstract

The analyte concentration, such as glucose, in a human or animal body is measured with an implantable sensor that generates measurement signals. The measurement signals are compressed through statistical techniques to produced compressed measurement data that can is easier to process and communicate. A base station carries the implantable sensor along with a signal processor, memory, and a transmitter. A display device is also disclosed that can receive the compressed measurement data from the base station for further processing and display.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system for in-vivo measurement of an analyte concentration in a human or animal body, comprising:
 at least one implantable sensor configured to generate measuring signals correlated to the analyte concentration to be measured;   a base station operably coupled to the at least one implantable sensor and including a potentiostat configured to supply voltage to the at least one implantable sensor, the base station comprising:
 a signal processor configured to execute instructions for processing the measuring signals to produce measurement data; and 
 a transmitter configured for wireless transmission, wherein the base station is adapted such that the transmission of data is initiated by receiving a control signal wirelessly transmitted from the transmitter; and 
   a receiver operably coupled to the base station and configured to receive data from the base station.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the control signal includes a characteristic identifier used by the receiver to identify the control signal with respect to the base station. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the base station is configured to transmit a characteristic identifier signal indicative of the base station. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the control signal initiating transmission of the measuring data is transmitted by a display device as part of the receiver. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one implantable sensor is part of a replaceable sensor carrier unit that comprises a sealed housing in which the at least one implantable sensor is disposed, and the sealed housing of the sensor carrier unit is configured to couple with the base station such that the at least one implantable sensor is coupled to the base station. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor carrier unit is configured to wirelessly communicate with the base station. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless communication between the sensor carrier unit and the base station occurs inductively. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless communication between the sensor carrier unit and the base station occurs by way of RFID. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor carrier unit contains a data carrier having calibration data of the sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the sealed housing of the sensor carrier unit includes the data carrier, and the data carrier is configured such that the calibration data is written through the sealed housing of the sensor carrier unit by way of at least one of an electronic memory configured to be read and RFID. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one implantable sensor is activated by coupling with the base station such that the at least one implantable sensor commences to supply measuring signals, and wherein a command is generated by the processor upon connecting the sensor carrier unit to the base station. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the base station contains a memory in which the measurement data is stored, and wherein the stored measurement data stored includes a check code configured to allow the measurement data to be checked for data corruption and erroneous measurement data is configured to be recognized. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the base station includes status information comprised of at least one of a charge status of a battery and a result of an internal functional test, and the status information is configured to be stored in the memory with the measurement data, and wherein the status information is stored as a status code. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the base station further comprises a memory, an analytical unit, and a communication unit, and the communication unit includes the transmitter and the receiver, and the signal processor is configured to condense the measurement data, and the condensed measuring data is stored in the memory, and both the analytical unit and the communication unit are configured to access the memory, and wherein the analytical unit and the communication unit are connected to the memory by a changeover switch, and the changeover switch is configured to connect together the memory and one of the analytical unit the communication unit in response to a status of the switch. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a display device including a measuring unit for determining values of the analyte concentration of a body fluid sample and an analytical unit, wherein the analytical unit is connected to the measuring unit, and the analyte concentration values are used for calibration during the analysis of the measurement data transmitted to the base station. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the base station comprises a test circuit that is connected to the potentiostat and supplies at least one response signal to the analytical unit of the base station during a system test, and wherein the at least one response signal is analyzed by the analytical unit, and wherein the analytical unit is configured to compare a value of the at least one response signal to an expected value and generate an error signal if the value of the at least one response signal deviates from the expected value by more than a predetermined tolerance value, and wherein the error signal is transmitted to a display device, and the display device is configured to provide the error signal to a user. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the test circuit is configured to simulate a sensor connected to the potentiostat such that the analytical unit is configured to use the test circuit to determine a function of the potentiostat and a charging status of a battery.