FR2691249A1 - A method of monitoring a physical quantity, a system suitable for carrying out this method, and compact housing forming part of this system. - Google Patents

Abstract

The system comprises a pocket electronic device (4) for recording values taken successively by the physical quantity and a data processing unit to produce a visualization of the evolution of the physical quantity, in the form of a box compact (22) intended to be assigned to a first level user but comprising means (45) for reserving access to at least one operation to a second level user. According to the method, examination phases are provided in which the two users meet. The invention applies in particular to the monitoring of a physiological quantity of the human body.

Description

The invention relates to the monitoring of a physical quantity, for example

a physiological size of the

human body.

  A method for monitoring the blood sugar level (glycemia) for the use of insulin-dependent diabetic patients is already known. This process comprises: phases of blood glucose

  each of which the patient uses to measure and record

  store blood glucose, a hand-held electronic device marketed as GLUCOMETER M +; phases of operation of a succession of blood glucose values recorded in the handheld device, performed in the office of the diabetologist physician through a desktop computer that produces a visualization of

  the evolution of the value of the blood sugar.

  The invention aims to improve such monitoring

throws a physical size.

  It proposes for this purpose a monitoring procedure

  throwing a physical quantity, comprising: steps of reading a value of this physical quantity, in each of which a first-level user uses a pocket electronic device to measure and record a said value; operating phases of a succession of stored values where a data processing set is used to produce a visualization of the evolution of the value of the physical quantity; characterized by operation phases performed by the first-level user through a set of data processing in the form of a compact package assigned to it, and by examination phases or the user of first level meets a second-level user by bringing him his compact housing, in which access to at least one operation is

  reserved for the second-level user.

  This makes it possible to perform the operating phases more frequently since they are performed directly by the first-level user, for example the diabetic patient who monitors his blood sugar, while preserving the control rale of the user of the second level, both by maintaining meetings between users during the examination phases and by access to at least one operation reserved for the second-level user. This avoids the disadvantages of the previous method o the operating phases, given the fact that they had to be performed with a desktop computer held by a doctor (second-level user), were too spaced (usually three months ) so that the patient (first-level user) can get a real lesson on how to balance their diabetes, while preserving the benefits of a meeting

  between the patient and his doctor.

  According to preferred features of the method according to the invention, the operating phases are carried out regularly after survey periods of a predetermined duration; a compact housing is used with an electronic memory of a capacity several times greater than that of the pocket apparatus; the contents of the electronic memory of the compact housing are transformed to include the succession of values stored in the memory of the handheld during the survey period which has just ended, at least after the succession of values stored in the memory of the handheld device during the previous survey period; and producing said visualization of the evolution of the value of the physical quantity on the basis of the contents of the memory

  electronic compact housing, so that visualization

  may be produced over a period of analysis involving more than one survey period, including where the

  analysis period represents a number of stored values

  several times the number of values

  able to record the handheld device.

  By allowing the analysis carried out during the exploitation phases to be able to

  much longer than that which is capable of

  the handheld device, for example, it is possible to visualize, during an examination phase, the evolution of

  the physical value during a corresponding analysis period.

  the period since the last phase

examinations (eg three months).

  In a second aspect, the invention relates to a system for monitoring a physical quantity, suitable for carrying out the method just described. The system according to the invention comprises: an electronic pocket device for lifting values successively taken by the physical quantity, comprising means for measuring this physical quantity and an electronic memory for recording a succession of values of this physical quantity, measured by said measuring means; a set of data processing for producing a visualization of the evolution of the value of the physical quantity, comprising connection means for auditing

  handheld device, means for reading the recorded data.

  stored in the electronic memory of the handheld device, data analysis means for determining the evolution of the physical quantity, and means for visualizing the evolution of the physical quantity thus determined; characterized in that said data processing assembly is in the form of a compact housing for assignment to a first-level user who uses the handheld device, and having means for reserving to a user of the second level access to at least one operation. According to preferred features of the system according to the invention, the means for reserving to a user

  second level access to at least one operation,

  tent a housing in which is disposed at least a control button, and a cover to close this housing when the compact housing is used by the user first

level.

  These means are particularly simple, convenient and safe because the hood avoids any unexpected access

  to the command button by the first-level user.

  According to other preferred features, the compact housing is provided so that an operation whose access is reserved for the second-level user is a programming operation of at least one threshold used by

  said data analysis means which determines the evolution of

  the value of the physical quantity.

  Thus, in the case where the physical quantity monitored is the level of glucose in the blood, the physician can adjust a high threshold and / or a low threshold corresponding to the limits that he considers normal for his patient, these thresholds being used by the patients. means of analysis to produce visualization drawing attention to overruns

compared to these.

  It will be noted that the method according to the invention is more particularly adapted to the monitoring of a physiological size of the human body, the mobility of the person on whom the measurements are to be made requiring that the apparatus

  measuring and recording has a pocket size.

  The method and system according to the invention are particularly suitable for monitoring the blood glucose level in the case of a diabetic patient, for monitoring the blood pressure in the case of a hypertensive patient, or for monitoring alcohol level

  in the breath in the case of an alcoholic patient.

  Finally, in a third aspect, the invention relates to the compact housing forming part of the system set forth above. The presentation of the invention will now be continued

  by the description of an exemplary embodiment, given below

  by way of nonlimiting illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In these: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation,

  along a time scale, survey phases, ex-

  operation and examination implemented in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 schematically illustrates the electronic components of the handheld device and compact housing forming part of a system according to the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of this handheld device; Figure 4 is a perspective view of this compact housing; Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the handheld device being placed in the compact housing to achieve an operating phase; and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the compact housing with partial cutaway, showing a housing where there are control buttons, normally closed by a hood.

  The illustrated example was designed for monitoring

  throws blood sugar in an insulin-dependent diabetic patient. FIG. 1 shows a time scale 1 o indicated by a point in the phases 2 of reading a value of the blood glucose, and by a line of the phases

  3 A, 3 B, 3 C, 3 D and 3 E, the corresponding phase 3 E

  also in an examination phase.

  The blood glucose measurement phases 2 are each carried out by a diabetic patient who uses the electronic pocket device 4 (marketed under the name GLUCOMETER M +) to measure and record the value of the blood glucose.

blood glucose (see Figures 2 and 3).

  To carry out this measurement, he pricks his finger on one side so as to obtain a large drop of blood that he deposits on the reactive area of a strip such as GLUCOFILM (registered trademark), after forty seconds he wipes with a handkerchief the reactive zone, he inserts the strip into the window of the reading chamber 5 which he had previously slid to the right, when the strip is placed there he pushes the reading chamber to the left, and to the end of the count of sixty seconds that he had launched by pressing the key 6 of the keyboard 7 immediately after placing the drop of blood on the test strip, the display 8 of the handheld device

  indicates the value of the blood glucose, and this is automatically

  registered in the electronic memory 9 of

  the pocket device (see Figure 2).

  The memory 9 is part of an integrated circuit 10 which furthermore comprises a microprocessor part 11 with its working memory 12, and a program memory 13, a stack 14 being provided for saving the contents of the memory 9 The integrated circuit 10 is connected by a bus 15 to the display 8, to the keyboard 7, to a sensor 16 for detecting the blood glucose from the reactive zone of the strip, and to a serial interface 17 of the RS 232 C type, which is itself connected

to a female plug 18.

  The program stored in the memory 13 is provided so that the countdown of 60 seconds above appears on the display 8, so that the end of the count is determined the value of the blood glucose from the indications provided by the sensor 16, and for this value to be stored in the memory 9 with the day and time provided by a clock provided in the circuit

integrated 10.

  This program, and more generally the device 4, also allows, thanks to the keyboard 7 and the display 8, that are recorded in the memory 9 of the data entered by the patient, and in particular the insulin dose that he is injected as well as the nature of it (fast, slow, intermediate, or mixture), the meals (normal, light, or hearty), the practice of sports (normal, less important,

  or more important than usual), a hypoglycemic sensation

  or any other particular event

  to influence the value of blood glucose.

  Each of the data thus entered is recorded

  the day and time indicated by the clock so that it is possible to assign to each measurement phase data supplementing the measurement of the blood glucose, and for example that in the first phase of the reading of the day 20 (see Figure 1), blood glucose was measured before breakfast, which was normal, with ten units of fast insulin

  and 15 units of slow insulin injected.

  When a reading period 21 of a predetermined duration (for example a week) has elapsed, the patient carries out an exploitation phase, for example 3 D, where he produces a visualization of the evolution of the value of blood glucose through the compact housing 22 (see Figures 2 and 4 to 6).

  The housing 22 comprises a receiving housing 23

  4 with a male plug 24 protruding from

  the location corresponding to the female plug 18 of the

  4, so that to connect the device 4 to the housing 22, simply slide the device 4 to the bottom

  of the housing 23, as shown in FIG. 5.

  On the electronic plane, the housing 22 comprises an integrated circuit 25, of the type 80 C 31, with a microprocessor part 26 associated with a working memory 27, a program memory 28, and a data memory 29, a stack 30 being The integrated circuit 25 is connected by a bus 31 to 5 of the display means 50 having LEDs 32, 33

  electroluminescent diodes and a

  44 (see FIGS. 4 and 6), to a keyboard 51 comprising keys 34 to 38 and 43, to a printer 39 and to a serial interface 40 of the RS 232 C type, itself connected to the

male plug 24.

  The electronic memory 29 of the housing 22 has a capacity several times greater than the electronic memory 9 of the apparatus 4. The program contained in the memory 28 allows the apparatus 22 to read the data stored in the memory 9 and to transform the contents of the memory 29 so that it comprises the succession of values stored in the memory 9 since the last connection of the device 4 to the housing 22, following the succession of values stored in the memory 9 between its last and its penultimate connection to the compact housing Thus, if one is in the operating phase 3 D, the contents of the memory 29 will include the succession of values stored in the memory 9 between operating phases 3 C and 3 D, following the succession of values stored in the memory 9 between the phases 3 B and 3 C, and so on

  until you reach the capacity limit of the memory 29.

  In the example shown, this one is such that

  the memory 29 may contain the succession of value

  stored in memory 9 for four months while the

  memory 9 may contain a succession of stored values

for fifteen days.

  The program contained in the memory 28 further allows the apparatus 22 to perform a data analysis to determine the evolution of the blood glucose value, based on the contents of the memory 29, so that can visualize with the printer 39 the evolution of the value of blood glucose over a period of analysis that can go up to

four months.

  The program contained in the memory 28 makes it possible to select the number of survey periods 21 which will compose the analysis period, for example four periods in the case of the period of an analysis 41 carried out in the exploitation phase 3 E , thanks to the button 36 and the lights 33 arranged horizontally: each indicator corresponds to a number of analysis periods, which are chosen by performing

  successive presses on the button 36.

  The program contained in the memory 28 is also designed so that the evolution of the value of the blood glucose can be determined according to several types of analysis, ranging for example from the simple list to a synthetic graph To select the type of analysis to be carried out, using the button 35 and the indicators 32: each indicator corresponds to a type of analysis, which is chosen

  by pressing the button 35 in succession.

  Button 37 is used to start printing and

  button 38 to advance the paper.

  Button 34 is used to launch a test program

  the good functioning of the housing 22.

  The blood glucose monitoring system according to the invention is provided so that the patient carries out each week an operating phase with the housing 22 which is assigned to it, and for every three months there is an examination phase where the patient meets his doctor

  diabetologist bringing him the case 22.

  In the illustrated example, the operating phase 3 E, where a one-month analysis period has been chosen, is carried out by the patient in the company of his doctor, during

an examination phase.

  The housing 22 is also provided so that the access of certain operations is reserved for the physician, and in particular a programming operation of a high threshold and

  of a low threshold used in the determination of the

the value of blood glucose.

  The means for reserving access to these operations for the physician comprises (see FIG. 6) a housing 42 in which three buttons 43 and a display 44 are arranged, a cover 45 being provided for closing the housing 42 when the

  Case 22 is used by the patient (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

  In a non-illustrated variant of the invention, the sensor 16 is replaced by a sensor adapted to the measurement of physiological quantities of the human body, other than the blood sugar level, for example the blood pressure

or the alcohol content in the breath.

  It is recalled that the invention is not limited to

examples described.

1 1

Claims (15)

  1 method for monitoring a physical quantity, comprising: phases (2) for reading a value of this physical quantity, in each of which a first-level user uses an electronic pocket device (4) to measure and record a said value; phases of operation of a succession of recorded values o a set of data processing is used to produce a visualization of the evolution of the value of the physical quantity; characterized by operation phases (3 A, 3 E) performed by the first-level user by means of a data processing unit in the form of a compact housing (22) assigned to it, and by examination phases or the first-level user meets a second-level user by providing him with his compact housing, in which access to at least one operation   is reserved for the second-level user.   2 Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating phases (3 A-3 E) are performed regularly after survey periods (21) of a predetermined duration; in that there is used a compact housing (22) having an electronic memory (29) of a capacity several times greater than that (9) of the pocket apparatus (4); in that the content of the electronic memory (29) of the compact housing is converted to include the succession of values stored in the memory (9) of the handheld device during the reading period which has just taken place. complete, at least after the succession of values stored in the memory (9) of the handheld device during the previous survey period; and in that said visualization of the evolution of the value of the physical quantity is produced on the basis of the contents of the electronic memory (29) of the compact housing, so that the visualization can be produced over a period of analysis (41) with more than one reporting period (21), including where the analysis period represents a number of values recorded several times greater than the number of   values that can record the handheld device.   3 Process according to claim 2, characterized in that said examination phases are carried out after   examination periods with multiple reporting periods.   4 System for monitoring a physical quantity, suitable for carrying out the process according to   any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising:   an electronic pocket apparatus (4) for recording values taken successively by this physical quantity, comprising means (10, 16, 5) for measuring this physical quantity and an electronic memory (9) for recording a succession of values of this physical quantity, measured by said measuring means; a data processing unit for producing a visualization of the evolution of the value of the physical quantity, comprising connection means (24) to said pocket apparatus, means (25) for reading the data stored in the electronic memory ( 9) of the pocket apparatus, data analysis means (25) for determining the evolution of the physical quantity, and means (39) for visualizing the evolution of the physical quantity thus determined;   characterized in that said set of processors   data storage is in the form of a compact housing (22) to be assigned to a first-level user who uses the pocket apparatus (4), and having means (42, 45) for reserving to a user   second level access to at least one operation.   System according to claim 4, characterized in that the compact housing (22) comprises an electronic memory (29) with a capacity several times greater than that (9) of the pocket apparatus (4), and means (25) ) to transform the contents of this electronic memory (29) so that it comprises the succession of values recorded in the memory (9) of the handheld device since its last connection to the compact housing, following at least the success of the values stored in the memory (9) of the handheld device between its last and penultimate connections to the compact housing; and in that said data analysis means (25) determines the evolution of the value of the physical quantity on the basis of the contents of the electronic memory (29) of the compact housing, so that the visualization of the evolution the value of greatness   physical condition can relate to a succession of values   recorded during several survey periods (21) each located between two successive connections of the pocket apparatus to the compact housing, also in the case where the total analysis period represents a number of values recorded several times greater than the number of values that is capable   to store the memory (9) of the handheld device.   6 System according to any one of the   4 or 5, characterized in that the means for reserving access to at least one operation to a second-level user comprises a housing (42) in which at least one control button (43) is disposed, and a hood (45) to close this housing when compact housing (22)   is used by the first-level user.   System according to Claim 6, characterized   in that a display (41) is disposed in said housing.   8 System according to any one of   Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the housing   compact is provided for an operation whose access is reserved for the second-level user is a programming operation of at least one threshold used by said data analysis means (25) which determine the evolution   of the value of the physical quantity.   9 System according to any one of the   4 to 8, characterized in that the compact housing has means (25, 36, 33) for selecting a number of measurement periods (21) which make up the analysis period. (41).   System according to any one of the   Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the data analysis means (25) included in the compact housing (22) for determining the change in the value of the physical quantity enables several types of analysis, and in that the compact housing comprises means (25, 35, 32) for   select a type of analysis to perform.   System according to any of the   Claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the housing   compact (22) comprises a housing (23) for receiving the pocket apparatus (4) with a plug (24) protruding at the location corresponding to a female plug (18) of the pocket device.   12 System according to any one of the   4 to 11, characterized in that the means for visualizing the evolution of the physical quantity provided in the   compact housing, include a printer (39).   13 System according to any one of the   4 to 12, characterized in that the pocket apparatus (4) comprises means (10) for automatically recording in its electronic memory (9) each value of the magnitude. measured physics.   14 System according to any one of   Claims 4 to 13, characterized in that the apparatus for   pocket (4) comprises means (7, 8, 10) for recording in its electronic memory data entered by the user.   System according to any one of the   4 to 14, characterized in that the handheld device   includes a clock (10) and means for each   in its electronic memory (9) contains the day   and the time then indicated by the clock.   Process according to any one of the   1 to 3, or system according to any one of the   4 to 15, characterized in that the physical quantity   monitored is a physiological greatness of the human body.   Method or system according to the characterized in that the physical quantity of glucose in the blood. 18 Method or system according to the characterized in that the physical quantity blood pressure.   19 Method or system according to the characterized in that the physical magnitude alcohol content in the breath.   claim 16, monitored is claim 16, monitored is claim 16, monitored is a compact housing (22) forming part of   system according to any one of claims 4 to 19.