Battery status detection and storage method and system in medical monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9728818-B2
Application number	US-201314388316-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2013
Priority date	Mar 30, 2012
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods to determine when a new or fresh battery has been replaced in a medical monitoring device and store a record of such battery replacement so that the battery records of the medical monitoring device can be reliably kept over the life of the monitoring device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of monitoring power in a portable physiological measurement device that has at least a battery coupled to a microprocessor and memory, the method comprising the steps of:
turning on the device;
measuring the power level of the battery with the microprocessor;
determining if the measured power level of the battery is greater than a first threshold;
if the measured power level is less than or equal to the first threshold then setting an internal flag in the microprocessor for low battery as true, and if the measured power level is greater than the first threshold, then performing a start up checking process of the device;
after the performing of the startup checking process, evaluating the battery with the microprocessor to determine if both the power level of the battery is greater than a second threshold and the low battery flag is set as true;
if the evaluating step indicates that both the power level of the battery is greater than the second threshold and the internal low battery flag is set as true, then recording the time and date of the evaluating step to memory as one battery status notice of a plurality of battery status notices without deleting another battery status notice of the plurality of battery status notices, setting the internal flag for low battery as false, and annunciating a status of the battery in the device;
if the evaluating step indicates that either the power level of the battery is not greater than the second threshold or the internal flag for low battery is set as false, then conducting an analyte measurement;
measuring the power level of the battery with the microprocessor against the first threshold;
if the measuring indicates that the power level of the battery is greater than the first threshold, then annunciating a result of the physiological measurement, otherwise ending the measuring step; and
evaluating the plurality of battery status notices to determine a number of battery change events in the life of the measurement device.

2. The method of claim 1 , in which the conducting of the physiological measurement comprises measuring an amount of analyte in a biosensor unit.

3. The method of claim 1 , in which the battery includes two Alkaline AA-sized batteries and the first threshold comprises 2.5 volts for the battery.

4. The method of claim 1 , in which the first threshold comprises 82% of the rated voltage or amperage of the battery.

5. The method of claim 1 , in which the second threshold comprises 96% of the rated voltage or amperage of the battery.

6. The method of claim 3 , in which the second threshold comprises 2.9 volts for the battery.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing of the startup checking process further comprises providing a tutorial for operation of the device.

8. The method of claim 1 , in which the annunciating step comprises displaying the time and date of the evaluating step to indicate that the battery has been recharged or changed.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising terminating operation of the method whenever the power level of the battery is below the first threshold.

10. A physiological measurement system comprising:
a biosensor unit that provides physiological data of a user; and
a portable disease management unit comprising:
a microprocessor in communication with the biosensor unit to receive a plurality of physiological measurements reflective of a health condition of the user, the microprocessor being coupled to a memory and a battery; the microprocessor being configured to:
set an internal low battery flag as true when a power level of the battery is lower than a first threshold;
evaluate whether both a power level of the battery is greater than a second threshold and the internal low battery flag is true;
store in the memory one battery status notice of a plurality of battery status notices without deleting another battery status notice of the plurality of battery status notices, the one battery status notice comprising a time and date as well as the measured power level; and
store in the memory a battery status change only when an evaluation indicates that both the power level of the battery is greater than a second threshold and the low battery flag is true;
set the internal low battery flag as false when battery status change is stored in memory;
annunciate to the user that a status of the battery has changed at the time and date stored in memory; and
evaluate the plurality of battery status notices to determine a number of battery change events in the life of the management unit.

11. The system of claim 10 , in which the microprocessor is configured, upon being turned on, to:
measure a power level of the battery;
determine if the measured power level of the battery is greater than the first threshold;
if the power level is determined to be greater than the first threshold then perform a start up process of the device;
measure analyte with the biosensor unit;
check the power level of the battery against the first threshold; and
annunciate a result of the physiological measurement if the power level is greater than the first threshold and otherwise terminate operation.

12. The system of claim 11 , in which the physiological measurement includes measurement of an amount of analyte from a physiological fluid in the biosensor unit in the form of a test strip.

13. The system of claim 11 , in which the battery includes two Alkaline AA-sized batteries and the first threshold comprises 2.5 volts for the battery.

14. The system of claim 11 , in which the first threshold comprises 82% of the rated voltage or amperage of the battery.

15. The system of claim 11 , in which the second threshold comprises 96% of the rated voltage or amperage of the battery.

16. The system of claim 11 , in which the second threshold comprises 2.9 volts for the battery.

17. The system of claim 11 , in which the annunciation comprises display of the time and date of the evaluation to indicate that the battery has been recharged or changed.

18. A method of monitoring battery power in a portable electronic medical device that has at least a battery coupled to a processor and memory, the method comprising the steps of:
measuring a power level of the battery using a microprocessor of the device;
determining if the measured power level of the battery is greater than a first threshold;
if the measured power level is less than or equal to the first threshold, then setting an internal flag of the microprocessor for low battery as true, otherwise performing at least one other process step for the device;
after the performing of the at least one other process step, evaluating the battery using the microprocessor to determine if both the power level of the battery is greater than a second threshold and the internal low battery flag is set as true;
if the evaluating step indicates that both the power level of the battery is greater than the second threshold and the internal low battery flag is set as true then recording the time and date of the evaluating step to memory as well as the measured power level as one battery status notice of a plurality of battery status notices without deleting another battery status notice of the plurality of battery status notices, and storing a battery status change and setting the internal flag for low battery as false;
annunciating a change in status of the battery in the device; and
evaluating the plurality of battery status notices to determine a number of battery change events in the life of the medica

Assignees

• Lifescan Scotland Ltd

Inventors

• Guthrie Brian
• Macrae Allan

Classifications

• H01M10/48

  Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569) · CPC title

• A61B2560/0209

  adapted for power saving · CPC title

• A61B2560/0214

  of power generation or supply · CPC title

• H01M6/5083

  Testing apparatus · CPC title

• H01M2220/30

  Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop · CPC title