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 communication link analysis system for use with a plurality of medical devices in wireless communication with each other, the system comprising:
a medical sensor device having a sensor device wireless communication unit;
a medical delivery device having a pump device wireless communication unit;
a display device configured to visually display information to a user; and
a controller device having a processor, a first wireless communication unit, and a second wireless communication unit, wherein the processor is programmed to establish a first communication link between the first wireless communication unit and the sensor device wireless communication unit, and the processor is programmed to establish a second communication link between the second wireless communication unit and the delivery device wireless communication unit;
wherein the processor is further programmed to monitor each of the first and second communication links for status and for the existence of degradation, and if degradation is detected in a wireless communication link, the processor is further programmed to compare the first wireless link status with the second wireless link status to determine the cause of the detected degradation; and
wherein the processor is further programmed to control the display to visually provide a user with guidance on how to resolve the degradation.
2. The communication link analysis system of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the sensor device and the delivery device comprises a latency in its wireless communications over its respective wireless communication link; and
the processor is further programmed with the amount of the latency and is further programmed to factor the latency into monitoring the respective communication link with that device and in comparing the status of the links.
3. The communication link analysis system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further programmed to factor latency into comparing by extending its comparison of the status of the links beyond the latency.
4. The communication link analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to establish the first communication link with the sensor device before establishing the second communication link with the delivery device.
5. The communication link analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to control the controller device to cease monitoring a link based on the comparison, whereby power of the controller device is conserved.
6. The communication link analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor device wireless communication unit is integrated into the sensor device.
7. The communication link analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery device wireless communication unit is integrated into the delivery device.
8. The communication link analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed to determine signal strength of each of the communication links and compare the signal strengths to one another when making the comparison of links.
9. The communication link analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor device comprises a temperature sensor configured to provide temperature signals, wherein those temperature signals are communicated to the controller over the communication link of the sensor device.
10. The communication link analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor device comprises an analyte sensor device and the delivery device comprises a pump.
11. The communication link analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to monitor the communication links to identify an existence of an intermittent communication link, and to consider the intermittent link in the comparison so that the intermittent communication will not be assigned the status of degradation.
12. The communication link analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to control the controller device to cease monitoring a communication link based on the comparison, whereby power of the controller device is conserved.
13. The communication link analysis system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine a status of at least one of the sensor device and pump device based on the communication links comparison.
14. A method of analyzing communication links used by medical devices in wireless communication with each other, the method comprising:
establishing a first wireless communication link between a medical sensor device and a controller device;
establishing a second wireless communication link between a medical delivery device and the controller device;
monitoring each of the first and second communication links for status and for the existence of degradation;
if degradation is detected in a wireless communication link, comparing the first wireless link status with the second wireless link status to determine the cause of the detected degradation; and
visually displaying guidance to a user on how to resolve the degradation.
15. The method of analyzing communication links of claim 14 :
wherein at least one of the first and second wireless communication links comprises a latency in the device communicating over the link; and
the method further comprising factoring the latency into the steps of monitoring the respective communication link and comparing the status of the links.
16. The method of analyzing communication links of claim 15 wherein the step of comparing communication links, one of which has a latency, comprises extending the comparison of the status of the links beyond the latency.
17. The method of analyzing communication links of claim 14 , wherein the step of establishing a first wireless communication link between a medical sensor device and a controller device is performed prior to the step of establishing a second wireless communication link between a medical delivery device and the controller device.
18. The method of analyzing communication links of claim 14 , further comprising ceasing the monitoring of a link based on the comparing step, thereby conserving power of the controller device.
19. The method of analyzing communication links of claim 14 , wherein the step of comparing the links further comprises comparing signal strengths of the links.
20. The method of analyzing communication links of claim 14 , further comprising the step of:
sensing temperature at the sensor device and providing sensed temperature signals; and
communicating the sensed temperature signals over the first communication link to the controller.
21. The method of analyzing communication links of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
monitoring the communication links to identify the existence of an intermittent communication link; and
considering the intermittent communication link in the comparing step so that the intermittent communication will not be assigned the status of degradation.
22. The method of analyzing communication links of claim 14 , further comprising the step of controlling the controller device to cease monitoring a link based on the comparing step, whereby power of the controller device is conserved.
23. The method of analyzing communication links of claim 14 , further comprising the step of determining a status of at least one of the sensor device and delivery device based on the comparing step.