Innovation in Medical Devices – Embedded Blood Glucose Meter in Smartphones

Embedded Blood Gl ucose Meterin Smartphones

Innovation in Medical Devices

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Abstract

Abbreviations

Market Trends and Challenges

Solution

Best Practices

Common Issues

Author InfoAuthor Info

3

4

4

5

7

8

99

Table of Contents


The increasing rate of diabetes among people across the world today and the multifarious risks posed by this disease creates a huge demand for an effective glucose monitoring system. Diabetes patients are often advised for consistent self-monitoring of their glucose levels to keep it under control. Blood Glucose Monitoring (BGM) is an effective way to determine the concentration of glucose in the blood and usually involves a test-strip for measurement.

This whitepaper discusses about a glucose meter embedded in smartphones for monitoring the blood glucose This whitepaper discusses about a glucose meter embedded in smartphones for monitoring the blood glucose level of the user, where it acts as a user-friendly device for the patient. The user takes a glucose test through the smartphone using test strips and the result of the glucose measurement is displayed with the corresponding data. The user can dynamically send the glucose measurement results to the registered physician or doctor through the smartphone via a message. Once the message is sent successfully, the user gets an acknowledgement.

By viewing the patient’s test results through the message on his phone, the doctor or physician can prescribe or advise the patient through the smartphone, via a message. Once the patient receives the prescribe or advise the patient through the smartphone, via a message. Once the patient receives the feedback from the doctor and the doctor gets an acknowledgement of the receipt, it will be registered as Message Log 1 in the Smartphone. Likewise, Message Log 2, Message Log 3...and more, would be registered corresponding to the communication process.

The Government of India has recommended that people in the age group of 30 and above need to have regular blood glucose monitoring due to the rising number of cases in the hospitals.

Women who suffer from Type 1 diabetes (the body produces no insulin) are more likely to die as a result of their condition than men, according to experts in India.

Statistics on the diabetic population in India is tabulated below:

A repeat survey after five years found an even higher prevalence of the disease in urban areas, at 11.6%.

The new innovative device could help the society for a better standard of healthy living.The new innovative device could help the society for a better standard of healthy living.

Year

1970

1992

2.30%

8.20%

1.50%

2.40%

Rural PopulationUrban Population

Abstract

Diabetes Warning

Innovation in Medical Devices - Embedded Blood Glucose Meter in Smartphones | 3


S.No

1

2

SEGD (4)

BGM (5)

Smartphone Embedded Glucose Device

Blood Glucose Measurement

Full FormAcronyms (Page No.)

Abbreviations

Market Trends And ChallengesThe SEGD device (Smartphone Embedded Glucose Device) represents the patient’s real-time glucose monitoring system. Nowadays, smartphones with blood glucose algorithms are developed for only measuring blood glucose levels. Whereas, new innovative devices have the ability to measure blood glucose levels and dynamically send the details to the doctor.


A proper way of encoding and decoding messages should be defined to ensure on-time delivery.

Communication process between the patient and the doctor should be possible across the globe.

Communication Process Challenges

Only patients registered to the doctor should be able to send BGM records and get prescriptions

Multiple patients of the same group* should be mapped to the individual doctors. (* = Type 1 or Type 2 or Gestational diabetes)

Design and Implementation Challenges


Figure 1. Process of SEGD Device

Acknowledgement 1# - Patient receives the acknowledgement after sending the successful message.

Acknowledgement 2# - Doctor receives the acknowledgement after sending the successful message.

Solution

A patient with the SEGD device should register with the visiting hospital that has the facility of a Patient Real-Time Monitoring System. Once the patient is registered he/she can use the SEGD device.

The glucose level in the blood can be measured by applying a blood sample on the test strip. The generated BGM in the SEGD device shall, dynamically, or after viewing the complete history of the result taken, be sent to the doctor’s phone. Once the message is delivered successfully, the patient will get an acknowledgement regarding the successful delivery of the message.

Once the message is delivered to the doctor, he/she then reviews the complete history of that particular BGM test, such as time and date, glucose level, before meal or after meal, etc. Then, the doctor will send the prescriptions (such as change of insulin levels, number of injections per day, diet, follow-ups, etc.). After sending the diagnosis to the patient, the doctor receives an acknowledgement for the successful delivery of the message.


BGM Test and Acknowledgement 1

The Patient’s SEGD

Diagnosing Diabetes through Media and Acknowledgement 2


Figure 2. Message Logs

Figure 3. Graphical illustration of the acknowledgement process

Message Logs are created when there is a flow of communication between the patient and the doctor. Acknowledgement #1 and Acknowledgement #2 means that the communication happened between both and then message logs were stored. The next chain of message logs (Message Log 2, Message Log 3, Message Log 4….) are also stored as two way communications. The message logs are the evidence for both the patient and the doctor for future reference.

The way of acknowledgement and storing of the logs are critical when compared to simple messages through a phone. In this process, message logs are created for a double-sided flow of communication. The checkpoint here is to ensure that the quality of life is more important than technology. The new innovative techniques will practically eliminate the physical cost of communications. More than billions will benefit by using this device.


Patient

ACK1

ACK3

ACK4

ACK5

ACK2

Doctor

Message Log 1

Message Logs of Patient 1

Message Logs of Patient 2

Message Log 2

Message Log 3

Process of Acknowledgements and Message Logs

Message Logs


Figure 4. Many-to-one relationship between patients and doctors

Pat 1

Pat 2

Pat 3

Pat 4

Pat 5

Pat 6

Doc A

Doc B

Doc C

Doc A: Type 1 Expert

Doc B: Type 2 Expert

Doc C: Gestational Diabetes Expert

Patients Doctors

In the real word scenario, the SEGD device is technologically feasible and quite user-friendly for everyone across the globe. Even uneducated people can use this device with ease, if they know the basic operations of the device. Control solutions will help the patient to calibrate the SEGD device to know whether it is working properly or not.

Cellular Network or Cloud Computing are apt technologies for a SEGD device.

Cellular Network: The communication is from the device to the cellular tower and then to the receiver through the base station. The advantages are low cost and easy maintenance. The main disadvantage of this technology is that it is time consuming when the source and destination are far apart.

Cloud Computing: Cloud Computing: Communication needs internet connection for accessing cloud storage (virtual space). The advantages are that more data can be stored and the patient can view his/her history anywhere, anytime. The main disadvantages are that this requires more cost and maintenance.

The illustration in Figure 4 explains about the relationships between patients and doctors. Let’s take an example of Pat 1 and Pat 3. Both may belong to different parts of the world, but suffering from the same disease – hypoglycemia (Type 1 Diabetes) and are advised by the same doctor, Doc A, who is an expert in Type 1 Diabetes. Likewise, Pat 2 and Pat 4 are advised by Doc B and Pat 5 and Pat 6 are advised by Doc C. This relationship also lays the base for the design of the communication system involved.

Inserting a valid test strip and applying blood

Sending the results to the receiver (doctor) after successful BGM

Take the medicines/ advice/ guidance after getting the prescription from the doctor


Best Practices

Basic Operations in a SEGD Device

Optimized Technology for a SEGD Device

Many–to- One Relationship


The common issues for implementing a SEGD device may be categorized as

Diabetes patients across the world are advised by their doctors to follow a certain regime for monitoring their

glucose levels, to keep their conditions in check. Visiting the doctors every time to get their blood glucose

checked and to get their prescriptions revised according to the current condition is very difficult to manage in

today’s times. This creates a need for a real-time glucose meter, which can also communicate with the doctors

to get the reports reviewed and prescriptions revised, without the need of travelling to meet the doctor. SEGD

devices are the most user-friendly way of achieving a healthy lifestyle for the patient, as they require

minimum learnability of the technology, since most of the people are already familiar with smartphones. minimum learnability of the technology, since most of the people are already familiar with smartphones.

SEGD devices also facilitate two-way communications with doctors in a very effective manner. Data can be

effectively logged in more accurately using these devices and used for managing patient history and future

recommendations. Such innovative devices can go a long way in improving glycemic control among patients

and also reduce the number of visits to hospitals by delaying further medical complications.

Network setup in the SEGD device

Media Channel Communication through Optic Fiber Cable

Hardware and design setup for the SEGD device

Reliability of the device and the network

Cellular network traffic

Server setup for communication through cloud storage


Common Issues

Conclusion


This whitepaper is published by HCL Engineering and R&D Services.

The views and opinions in this article are for informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional business advice. The use herein of any trademarks is not an assertion of ownership of such trademarks by HCL nor intended to imply any association between HCL and lawful owners of such trademarks.

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Reference

Author InfoArun Kumar ManivannanHCL Engineering and R&D Services

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_glucose_monitoring

2. Theories of Blood Glucose Levels, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2528930/

3. Theory to real practice, http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/709187

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Innovation in Medical Devices – Embedded Blood Glucose Meter in Smartphones