Method and apparatus for providing data processing and control in medical communication system

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing data processing and control for use in a medical communication system are provided.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An in vivo glucose monitoring system comprising a sensor control device, the sensor control device comprising:
 a housing;   a glucose sensor, wherein the glucose sensor comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion is above the skin and configured to couple with electronics, wherein the distal portion of the glucose sensor is configured to be positioned under a skin surface and in fluid contact with a bodily fluid of a user, and wherein the glucose sensor includes a plurality of electrodes comprising at least one working electrode, the working electrode including a glucose-responsive enzyme, and wherein the working electrode and the glucose-responsive enzyme are disposed on the distal portion of the glucose sensor;   a first temperature detection unit provided in the housing and configured to detect a temperature of skin within a predetermined distance of an insertion point of the glucose sensor;   a second temperature detection unit provided in the housing and configured to detect an ambient temperature within the housing; and   a processor configured to estimate a glucose temperature related signal based on at least one of the temperature of the skin and the ambient temperature within the housing, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a glucose related signal in the bodily fluid from the glucose sensor, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine a glucose value in the bodily fluid based on the estimated glucose temperature related signal and the glucose related signal in the bodily fluid;   wherein the glucose temperature related signal is estimated based on a predetermined value associated with the detected temperature of the skin or the ambient temperature within the housing; and   wherein the second temperature detection unit is located at a predetermined distance from the first temperature detection unit.   
     
     
         20 . The in vivo glucose monitoring system of  claim 19 , wherein one or more of the first temperature detection unit or the second temperature detection unit includes one or more of a thermistor, a semiconductor temperature sensor, or a resistance temperature detector (RTD). 
     
     
         21 . The in vivo glucose monitoring system of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined value includes a ratio of thermal resistances associated with the temperature of the skin and the ambient temperature within the housing. 
     
     
         22 . The in vivo glucose monitoring system of  claim 19 , further including a data communication device configured to communicate one or more signals associated with the detected temperature of the skin, the detected ambient temperature within the housing, the glucose related signal from the glucose sensor, the glucose temperature related signal based on the temperature of the skin and the ambient temperature within the housing, or a glucose value based on the estimated glucose temperature related signal and the glucose related signal from the glucose sensor. 
     
     
         23 . The in vivo glucose monitoring system of  claim 19 , wherein the data communication device is an RF transmitter. 
     
     
         24 . The in vivo glucose monitoring system of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first temperature detection unit and the second temperature detection unit detects the temperature of skin at a predetermined time of a sampling cycle of the glucose sensor. 
     
     
         25 . The in vivo glucose monitoring system of  claim 19 , wherein the second temperature detection unit is provided in a transmitter unit within the housing. 
     
     
         26 . The in vivo glucose monitoring system of  claim 22 , wherein the data communication device is configured to communicate one or more error messages when the detected temperature of the skin or the ambient temperature within the housing is higher than a predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         27 . The in vivo glucose monitoring system of  claim 26 , wherein the predetermined temperature is 40° C. 
     
     
         28 . A system, comprising:
 a data receiver configured to receive a first temperature related signal from a first temperature sensor, the first temperature related signal corresponding to a temperature of skin within a predetermined distance of a glucose sensor, wherein the glucose sensor comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion is above the skin and configured to couple with electronics, wherein the distal portion of the glucose sensor is configured to be positioned under a skin surface and in fluid contact with a bodily fluid of a user, a second temperature related signal from a second temperature sensor, the second temperature related signal corresponding to an ambient temperature in a housing of a data communication device, wherein the data communication device is operatively coupled to the glucose sensor and wherein the second temperature sensor is located at a predetermined distance from the first temperature sensor; and   a processor operatively coupled to the data receiver, and configured to estimate an glucose temperature related signal based on at least one of the first and second detected temperature signals, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a glucose related signal in the bodily fluid from the glucose sensor, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine a glucose value in the bodily fluid based on the estimated glucose temperature related signal and the glucose related signal in the bodily fluid;   wherein the glucose temperature related signal is estimated based on a predetermined value associated with the detected temperature of the skin or the ambient temperature in the housing;   wherein the glucose sensor includes a plurality of electrodes comprising at least one working electrode, the working electrode including a glucose-responsive enzyme, and wherein the working electrode and the glucose-responsive enzyme are disposed on the distal portion of the glucose sensor.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the second temperature sensor is located within a transmitter unit housed in a sensor assembly. 
     
     
         30 . A method, comprising:
 detecting a first temperature related signal from a first temperature sensor, the first temperature related signal corresponding to a temperature of skin within a predetermined distance of a glucose sensor, wherein the glucose sensor comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion is above the skin and configured to couple with electronics, wherein the distal portion of the glucose sensor is configured to be positioned under a skin surface and in fluid contact with a bodily fluid of a user, wherein the glucose sensor includes a plurality of electrodes comprising at least one working electrode, the working electrode including a glucose-responsive enzyme, and wherein the working electrode and the glucose-responsive enzyme are disposed on the distal portion of the glucose sensor;   detecting a second temperature related signal from a second temperature sensor, the second temperature related signal corresponding to an ambient temperature in a housing of a data communication device, wherein the data communication device is operatively coupled to the glucose sensor and wherein the second temperature sensor is located at a predetermined distance from the first temperature sensor;   estimating a glucose temperature related signal based on at least one of the first and second detected temperature related signals; and   determining a glucose level in the bodily fluid based on the estimated glucose temperature related signal and a sensor signal from the glucose sensor, wherein the first temperature related signal corresponding to the temperature of skin and the second temperature related signal corresponding to the ambient temperature in the housing;   wherein the glucose temperature related signal is estimated based on a predetermined value associated with the first temperature related signal or the second temperature related signal.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the predetermined value includes a ratio of thermal resistances associated with the temperature of the skin and the ambient temperature within the housing. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein at least one of the temperature of skin and the ambient temperature in the housing are measured at a predetermined time of a sampling cycle of the glucose sensor. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the predetermined time of the sampling cycle of the glucose sensor is the end of the sampling cycle of the glucose sensor. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising determining an average temperature from a plurality of temperatures measured during the sampling cycle of the glucose sensor. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising detecting when the glucose sensor has been inserted into the user, and detecting when the glucose sensor has been removed from the user. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the second temperature sensor is located within a transmitter unit housed in a sensor assembly. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising communicating one or more error messages to a reader device when the detected temperature of the skin or the ambient temperature within the housing is higher than a predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the predetermined temperature is 40° C.