Electrodynamic field strength triggering system

Abstract

Systems and methods for automatically triggering wireless power and data exchange between an external reader and an implanted sensor. The implanted sensor may measure the strength of an electrodynamic field received wirelessly from the reader and convey field strength data based on the measured strength of the received electrodynamic field to the reader. If the field strength data indicates that the strength of an electrodynamic field received by the sensor is sufficient for the implanted sensor to perform an analyte measurement, the reader may convey an analyte measurement command to the sensor, which may execute the analyte measurement command and convey measurement information back to the reader. The systems and methods may trigger the analyte measurement as the reader transiently passes within sufficient range/proximity to the implant (or vice versa).

We claim: 
     
         1 . A reader comprising:
 a transceiver including a first inductive element configured to couple with a second inductive element within an electrodynamic field, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive analyte measurement information from the second inductive element by detecting modulations in the electrodynamic field;   circuitry configured to receive the analyte measurement information from the transceiver and decode the analyte measurement information; and   a user interface configured to generate a notification indicating that the analyte measurement information was successfully received from the second inductive element if the analyte measurement information was successfully received.   
     
     
         2 . The reader of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to calculate an analyte concentration using at least the decoded analyte measurement information. 
     
     
         3 . The reader of  claim 1 , wherein the analyte measurement information includes a calculated analyte concentration. 
     
     
         4 . The reader of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 determine whether the analyte measurement information was successfully received from the second inductive element; and   if the analyte measurement information was successfully received, cause the user interface to generate the notification indicating that the analyte measurement information was successfully received from the second inductive element.   
     
     
         5 . The reader of  claim 1 , wherein the second inductive element is an inductive element of a sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The reader of  claim 5 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 generate field strength data indicative of the strength of coupling of the first and second inductive elements within the electrodynamic field;   determine, based on the field strength data, whether the strength of the coupling of the first and second inductive elements is sufficient for the sensor to perform an analyte measurement and convey the results of the analyte measurement to the reader;   if the strength of the coupling of the first and second inductive elements is determined to be insufficient, repeat the generating and determining steps; and   if the strength of the coupling of the first and second inductive elements is determined to be sufficient, trigger an analyte measurement by the sensor and conveyance of the results of the analyte measurement to the reader, wherein the triggering comprises conveying an analyte measurement command to the sensor via the first inductive element.   
     
     
         7 . The reader of  claim 1 , wherein the first inductive element is a coil. 
     
     
         8 . The reader of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is a processor. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 coupling a first inductive element of a transceiver with a second inductive element within an electrodynamic field;   using the transceiver to receive analyte measurement information from the second inductive element by detecting modulations in the electrodynamic field;   using circuitry to receive the analyte measurement information from the transceiver;   using the circuitry to decode the analyte measurement information; and   using a user interface to generate a notification indicating that the analyte measurement information was successfully received from the second inductive element if the analyte measurement information was successfully received.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising using the circuitry to calculate an analyte concentration using at least the decoded analyte measurement information. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the analyte measurement information includes a calculated analyte concentration. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 using the circuitry to determine that the analyte measurement information was successfully received from the second inductive element; and   using the circuitry to cause the user interface to generate the notification indicating that the analyte measurement information was successfully received from the second inductive element.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second inductive element is an inductive element of a sensor, and the method further comprises using the circuitry to:
 generate field strength data indicative of the strength of coupling of the first and second inductive elements within the electrodynamic field;   determine, based on the field strength data, whether the strength of the coupling of the first and second inductive elements is sufficient for the sensor to perform an analyte measurement and convey the results of the analyte measurement to the reader.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining that the strength of the coupling of the first and second inductive elements is insufficient; and   using the circuitry to repeat the generating step and the determining whether the strength of the coupling of the first and second inductive elements is sufficient step.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining that the strength of the coupling of the first and second inductive elements is sufficient; and   using the circuitry to trigger an analyte measurement by the sensor and conveyance of the results of the analyte measurement to the reader, wherein the triggering comprises conveying an analyte measurement command to the sensor via the first inductive element.   
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a sensor including a first inductive element; and   a reader including:
 a transceiver including a second inductive element configured to couple with the first inductive element of the sensor within an electrodynamic field, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive analyte measurement information from the first inductive element by detecting modulations in the electrodynamic field; 
 circuitry configured to receive the analyte measurement information from the transceiver and decode the analyte measurement information; and 
 a user interface configured to generate a notification indicating that the analyte measurement information was successfully received from the sensor if the analyte measurement information was successfully received. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor further comprises a light source, indicator molecules, and a photodetector. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the circuitry of the reader is further configured to calculate an analyte concentration using at least the decoded analyte measurement information. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the analyte measurement information includes a calculated analyte concentration. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the circuitry of the reader is further configured to:
 determine whether the analyte measurement information was successfully received from the first inductive element of the sensor; and   if the analyte measurement information was successfully received, cause the user interface to generate the notification indicating that the analyte measurement information was successfully received from the sensor.