Analyte detection system with software download capabilities

1. An analyte concentration monitoring system, comprising:

a non-implantable analyte detection system comprising:

a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation along an optical path;

a detector located in said optical path;

a sample element situated in said optical path, said sample element configured to be filled with a sample and to transmit at least a portion of said beam;

a processor that calculates an analyte concentration in said sample in accordance with software executable by said processor, and

a network interface that is configured to provide a substantially continuous, mobile, remote connection to a computer and support bi-directional communication between said computer and said analyte detection system;

wherein said computer is configured to send an update to said software to said analyte detection system without intervention from a user, said update being configured to alter the calculation of said analyte concentration by said processor.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said software comprises an algorithm.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said software comprises data.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said software comprises instructions.

5. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said software comprises a program.

6. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said computer is configured to check an update status of said analyte detection system and select said update based on said update status.

7. The monitoring system of claim 6 , wherein said computer automatically checks said update status upon connection of said computer to said analyte detection system via said interface.

8. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said software comprises at least one warning and instructions for communication of said at least one warning to a user of said analyte detection system.

9. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said computer is at a remote location and said network interface connects to said computer via an Internet connection.

10. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said network interface comprises a wireless interface.

11. The monitoring system of claim 10 , wherein said wireless connection comprises a Bluetooth interface.

12. The monitoring system of claim 10 , wherein said wireless connection comprises an IEEE 802.11(b) interface.

13. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein said computer is configured to encrypt said update.

14. The monitoring system of claim 13 , wherein said analyte detection system is configured to decrypt said update.

15. A method comprising:

providing a non-implantable analyte detection system;

in said analyte detection system, emitting a beam of radiation along an optical path, through a sample located within a sample element which is situated in said optical path;

in said analyte detection system, executing software to calculate an analyte concentration in said sample;

establishing a substantially continuous, mobile, remote connection between said analyte detection system and a computer, to support bi-directional communication between said computer and said analyte detection system;

in said computer, sending an update to said software to said analyte detection system without intervention from a user;

with said update, altering the calculation of said analyte concentration by said processor.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising sending analyte concentration measurements from said analyte detection system to said computer.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said software update includes at least one warning and instructions for communication of said at least one warning to a user of said analyte detection system.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein said software comprises an algorithm.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein said software comprises data.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein said software comprises instructions.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein said software comprises a program.

22. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

in said computer, checking an update status of said analyte detection system and selecting said update based on said update status.