Medical Devices and Methods
Methods and devices to monitor an analyte in body fluid are provided. Embodiments include continuous or discrete acquisition of analyte related data from a transcutaneously positioned in vivo analyte sensor automatically or upon request from a user.
1 . A communication device, comprising:
a near field communication module configured for data communication using near field communication protocol;
a processor operatively coupled to the communication module;
a data storage module operatively coupled to the processor and having stored therein an executable software algorithm for data communication with sensor electronics to receive data corresponding to monitored analyte level by the near field communication module; and
a communication unit operatively coupled to the processor and configured to communicate voice and data signals over a communication network.
wherein when the processor executes the software algorithm stored in the data storage module, the processor controls the near field communication module to communicate a request signal to the sensor electronics and in response, receive one or more data packets from the sensor electronics that includes the data corresponding to monitored analyte level.
2 . The device of claim 1 , further including an output unit operatively coupled to the processor and configured to output information corresponding to the monitored analyte level based on the received one or more data packets from the sensor electronics.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the communication network includes a cellular communication network.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate the received one or more data packets over the communication network to a remote location.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate one or more signals to the sensor electronics to activate the sensor electronics from an inactive state to an active state.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the received one or more data packets from the sensor electronics includes one or more of real time monitored analyte level information, historical monitored analyte level information, analyte trend information, one or more alarm condition information, or sensor electronic status information.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor electronics is coupled to an analyte sensor in fluid contact with bodily fluid under a skin surface.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the analyte sensor includes a plurality of electrodes including a working electrode comprising an analyte-responsive enzyme bonded to a polymer disposed on the working electrode.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the analyte-responsive enzyme is chemically bonded to the polymer disposed on the working electrode.
10 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the working electrode comprises a mediator bonded to the polymer disposed on the working electrode.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the mediator is crosslinked with the polymer disposed on the working electrode.
12 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the analyte sensor includes a plurality of electrodes including a working electrode comprising a mediator bonded to a polymer disposed on the working electrode.
13 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the analyte sensor does not require user initiated calibration during the entire period of the analyte sensor usage life.
14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the entire period of the analyte sensor usage life corresponds to the time period of monitoring the analyte level in the bodily fluid, and starts when the sensor electronics is activated, and ends when the sensor electronics is deactivated.
15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the sensor electronics is deactivated when no additional signals from the analyte sensor is processed by the sensor electronics.
16 . The device of claim 1 , wherein when the processor executes the software algorithm stored in the data storage module, the processor controls the communication unit to communicate signals corresponding to monitored analyte level over the communication network.