Ear-worn devices for communication with medical devices
Embodiments herein relate to medical device systems including ear-worn devices. In an embodiment, a medical device system includes an ear-worn device including a control circuit, a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit. The ear-worn device can be configured to received signals from a separate medical device and generate a notification using the received signals. Other embodiments are also included herein.
1 . A medical device system comprising:
an ear-worn device comprising
a control circuit;
a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit;
an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit; and
a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit;
the ear-worn device configured to receive wireless signals from a separate medical device;
wherein the ear-worn device compares data from the wireless signals from the separate medical device against predetermined or dynamically determined threshold values and generates a notification when predetermined or dynamically determined conditions are met.
2 . The medical device system of claim 1 , the separate medical device comprising a skin contact device configured for contact with the skin of the ear-worn device wearer.
3 . The medical device system of claim 1 , the separate medical device comprising a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device.
4 . The medical device system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless signals from the separate medical device include at least one of:
data regarding a remaining amount of an active agent in the separate medical device;
data regarding a remaining battery life of the separate medical device; and
data regarding a physiological state of a subject the separate medical device is associated with.
5 . The medical device system of claim 2 , the skin contact device comprising a transdermal drug delivery patch.
6 . The medical device system of claim 2 , wherein the ear-worn device generates an alert through the electroacoustic transducer thereof using data from the skin contact device.
7 . The medical device system of claim 6 , wherein the ear-worn device classifies the alert into at least two categories, wherein a first category results in generating an alert only perceptible by the ear-worn device wearer and a second category results in generating an alert perceptible by an individual other than the ear-worn device wearer.
8 . The medical device system of claim 7 , wherein the alert perceptible by the individual other than the ear-worn device wearer is conveyed through an ear-worn device accessory.
9 . The medical device system of claim 7 , the individual other than the ear-worn device wearer comprising a care provider.
10 . The medical device system of claim 7 , wherein classification is based on at least one of
an emergency status of the alert;
an age of the ear-worn device wearer;
a functional status of the ear-worn device wearer; and
a location of the ear-worn device wearer.
11 . The medical device system of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device is configured to send a request for a medical product.
12 . The medical device system of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device is configured to send a request for a consumable element to be sent.
13 . The medical device system of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device is configured to receive a command from the ear-worn device wearer and send a command to the separate medical device.
14 . The medical device system of claim 13 , the command comprising a physiological parameter measurement interval.
15 . The medical device system of claim 1 , the notification comprising a warning regarding an upcoming event that may result in a loss of an ear-worn device wearer's ability to operate a piece of equipment.
16 . The medical device system of claim 1 , the notification comprising a warning regarding a possible onset of a seizure.
17 . The medical device system of claim 1 , the notification comprising a warning regarding a planned defibrillation shock.
18 . The medical device system of claim 1 , the notification comprising a command effective to cause a piece of equipment to enter a safe operation mode.
19 . The medical device system of claim 1 , the notification comprising a command effective to cause a vehicle to come to a stop or navigate to a safe location.
20 . A method of conveying signals from a medical device comprising:
receiving a wireless signal from a medical device using an ear-worn device, the ear-worn device comprising
a control circuit;
a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit;
an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit; and
a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit;
evaluating the received wireless signal to determine an appropriate recipient and notification modality;
sending a notification to the appropriate recipient regarding the received wireless signal.