Medical apparatus for use by a patient for medical self treatment of diabetes

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for self-treatment of diabetes. The apparatus is particularly advantageous by comprising a plurality of devices each of which has its own dedicated function corresponding to a number of acts which a diabetic must perform on himself. The individual devices are mutually interconnectible, and the combination comprises at least a body fluid analyser and a dosing apparatus for administering a predetermined dose of insulin to the patient. Each of the devices may be provided in several sizes so that the user himself may combine the relevant devices of the relevant size with respect to the current need. This reduces the risk of forgetting parts of the equipment, and the confidence of using the equipment is enhanced because it is evident to the user that it is a complete apparatus consisting of unified parts.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 870,392, filed May 30, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 312,796, filed May 17, 1999, which applications are incorporated by reference herein. This application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Danish application PA 1998 00714, filed May 20, 1998, and of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 087,187, filed on May 29, 1998.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention comprises a medical apparatus for use by a patient for medical self treatment of diabetes, the treatment including a first operation and at least a second operation, the apparatus comprising a first device for performing the first operation and a second device for performing the second operation. [0003] For a number of years it has been possible to purchase various devices for the treatment of diabetes, e.g. for injecting insulin, for measuring blood sugar (such a de...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the present type for self-treatment of diseases, where, on one hand, the user is certain that he has all the devices which will be relevant for a future span of time, and on the other hand, is confident about the use of the apparatus.

[0012] The fact that the individual devices may be combined so that the apparatus covers precisely a given need, means that the apparatus takes up as little space is possible, it being simultaneously easy, even for visually handicapped users, to identify each individual device, so that they will be quite confident that the units fit together. When the devices fit together physically, the users will also be confident that the e.g. the measuring units used are the same. This improves the confidence of using the apparatus of the invention.

[0013] A blood sugar measuring device normally comprises a temperature monitoring device, and in a preferred embodiment the latter device is arranged such that it is close to the insulin carpoule when the blood fluid analyser and the insulin injecting device are coupled together according to the invention. The temperature monitoring device may hereby be used not only for adjusting the blood sugar measurement, but may also be used to warn the user if the apparatus has been in a too hot environment and the insulin has been destroyed. This is a particular technical advantage by combining precisely the BGM and the doser.

[0016] Conclusively, it is an essential feature of the invention that the stated advantages are of great importance to the user's perception of and habituation to regarding BGM measurement and insulin dosing as closely unified actions, which results in a better self-treatment.

Problems solved by technology

This is not the ideal solution either, because such multi-functional devices are normally difficult to operate.

A patient holding a gadget in his hand may not be entirely secure and convinced that he has set the apparatus to precisely the function to be performed by means of programmable computers.

The more complicated an apparatus, the greater the risk of malfunction, meaning that two such multi-functional devices should actually be at disposal.

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