Analysis of wireless communication links between medical devices
A system and method of processing information regarding medical devices in wireless communication with each other is provided in which a controller device has a first wireless communication link with a first medical device, such as an analyte sensor, and a second wireless communication link with a second medical device, such as a delivery device. A processor in the controller device monitors the status of the first and second wireless links and upon noting a degradation of either one, compares the first wireless link status with the second wireless link status and provides guidance for resolving a communication problem based on the comparison. The latency of the communicating medical devices is considered.
1. A base unit for use with a plurality of medical devices in wireless communication with each other, the base unit comprising:
a processor;
a power supply coupled to the processor;
a first transceiver coupled to the processor, the first transceiver configured to establish a first wireless communication link with a first medical device;
a second transceiver coupled to the processor, the second transceiver configured to establish a second wireless communication link with a second medical device; and
a memory for storing a program which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to monitor the statuses of the first wireless communication link and the second wireless communication link, determine when the base unit is out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device, and, if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device, to monitor the status of only one of the first wireless communication link and the second wireless communication link.
2. The base unit of claim 1 , wherein the program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to operate only one of the first transceiver or the second transceiver in an idle mode if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.
3. The base unit of claim 2 , wherein the program, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to periodically check at a predetermined time interval the status of the wireless communication link associated with the one of the first transceiver or the second transceiver operating in the idle mode.
4. The base unit of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined time interval is ten minutes.
5. The base unit of claim 1 , wherein the program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to monitor the statuses of both the first wireless communication link and the second wireless communication link if the base unit is determined to be returned within range of the first medical device or the second medical device.
6. The base unit of claim 1 , wherein the program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to output a visual alert to a display coupled to the processor if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.
7. The base unit of claim 1 , wherein the program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to output an audible alarm if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.
8. The base unit of claim 1 , wherein the program, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to cease outputting vibratory alerts if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.
9. The base unit of claim 1 , wherein the program, when executed by the processor, causes power reduction to a sleep mode if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.
10. The base unit of claim 1 , wherein the program, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to reduce the retry rate for the transceiver of the one of the first wireless communication link or the second wireless communication link being monitored.
11. The base unit of claim 1 , wherein the first medical device is a medical sensor device and the second medical device is a medical delivery device having a pump.
12. A method of analyzing communication links used by a plurality of medical devices in wireless communication with each other, the method comprising:
establishing, by a first transceiver of a base unit, a first wireless communication link between the base unit and a first medical device;
establishing, by a second transceiver of the base unit, a second wireless communication link between the base unit and a second medical device;
monitoring the statuses of the first wireless communication link and the second wireless communication link;
determining if the base unit is out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device; and
if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device, then monitoring the status of only one of the first wireless communication link or the second wireless communication link.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising operating only one of the first transceiver or the second transceiver in an idle mode if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising periodically checking at a predetermined time interval the status of the wireless communication link associated with the one of the first transceiver or the second transceiver operating in the idle mode.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined time interval is ten minutes.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising monitoring the statuses of the first wireless communication link and the second wireless communication link if the base unit is determined to be returned within range of the first medical device or the second medical device.
17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising outputting a visual alert to a display coupled to the processor if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.
18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising outputting an audible alarm if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.
19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising ceasing to output vibratory alerts if the base unit is determined to be out of range of both the first medical device and the second medical device.
20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising reducing power to a sleep mode if the base unit is determined to be out of range with the first medical device and the second medical device.
21. The method of claim 12 , further comprising reducing the retry rate for the transceiver of the one of the first wireless communication link or the second wireless communication link being monitored.
22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first medical device is a medical sensor device and the second medical device is a medical delivery device having a pump.