Patents by Inventor Blaine Edward Ramey

Blaine Edward Ramey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9486138
    Abstract: A portable handheld medical diagnostic device capable of communicating with an external device and a method thereof are disclosed. The device has a protective enclosure, a main circuit board provided in the protective enclosure and having a wireless connectivity component and a controller facilitating a physiologic measurement and communications of results of the physiological measurement to the external device. Also provided in the protective enclosure is a mezzanine circuit board having at least one of a plurality of additional feature modules and a universal connection interface programmed to both facilitate operation of the additional feature module and operate under the control of the controller as a control interface between the controller and the additional feature module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Simpson, James D. Tenbarge, Ricky L. Collins, Blaine Edward Ramey, Matthew Carlyle Sauers
  • Patent number: 8849459
    Abstract: A system for managing power consumption of a handheld diabetes management device and limiting effects of temperature on operations performed by the handheld diabetes management device comprises a blood glucose measuring module, a temperature sensing module, and a power management module. The blood glucose measuring module selectively measures blood glucose in a blood sample and generates a status signal indicating a status of operation of the blood glucose measuring module. The temperature sensing module senses an internal temperature of the handheld diabetes management device and estimates an ambient temperature external to the handheld diabetes management device. The power management module deactivates one or more components of the handheld diabetes management device based on the status of operation of the blood glucose measuring module when the internal temperature of the handheld diabetes management device exceeds a threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey, Michael C. McKee, Michael G. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 8792221
    Abstract: An electrical protection circuitry for a docking station base of a hand held meter and method thereof are disclosed. In the event of a short circuit at a meter interface connector, the protection circuitry removes power at the meter interface connector. Similarly, in the event of an applied voltage outside a specified operating range of the base, the protection circuitry removes power to the meter interface connector. These conditions of the electrical system of the base are monitored regardless whether the meter or the meter's battery is electrically connected to the base. The protection circuitry also provides a visual indication in the event of either the over current and under/over voltage conditions. Additionally, the base is designed to prevent liquid from pooling inside a pocket used to cradle and hold the meter in the base through the use of a drain located at the lowest point in the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignees: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., Roche Operations, Ltd.
    Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey, Clint Alan Ecoff, Scott Allen Edwards, Matthew Carlyle Sauers, James R. Kurtock, James Joseph Hartmann
  • Patent number: 8770482
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods thereof to administer and manage a base unit for a handheld medical device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a base unit of the invention is in communication with a handheld medical device. The base unit is configured to provide an electrical connection to a power source to charge a battery of the handheld medical device. The base unit is also configured to perform an update to the operation of the base unit, wherein the update is initiated by the base unit upon receiving from the handheld medical device a data stream with information indicating that an update is contained in the data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Friedrich Ackermann, Blaine Edward Ramey, Robert P. Sabo, Manfred Augstein
  • Patent number: 8636661
    Abstract: An embeddable module for measuring a blood glucose level may be embedded in an external host and may comprise a host interface, a microcontroller, an ASIC, a temperature measuring element, and a measurement strip port. The host interface may permit electrical communication between the host and the microcontroller. The microcontroller and ASIC may communicate with each other and may work together to measure the blood glucose level of a blood sample. The measurement strip port may receive a removable measurement strip having the blood sample. The ASIC may communicate with the measurement strip port such that the ASIC may receive signals from the measurement strip port related to the blood glucose level of the blood sample. The temperature measuring element may be in electrical communication with the microcontroller and may measure the temperature of the module and transmit signals to the microcontroller related to the temperature of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Carol Batman, Blaine Edward Ramey, Timothy Peter Engelhardt, Michel A. Cadio, Steven Kent Moore, Ricky Lee Collins, Michael L. Brown
  • Patent number: 8588687
    Abstract: A handheld diabetes management device having a plurality of communication modules for communicating with a plurality of medical devices via a shared antenna or multiple antennas, where the handheld diabetes management device includes a first communication module, a second communication module, and an arbitration module. The first communication module selectively communicates in a first frequency band with an insulin infusion pump external to the handheld diabetes management device via a first antenna using a first wireless communication protocol. The second communication module selectively communicates in the first frequency band with a continuous glucose monitor external to the handheld diabetes management device via a second antenna or the first antenna using a second wireless communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey, Mark Nierzwick, Thomas D. Gurley
  • Publication number: 20130265682
    Abstract: An electrical protection circuitry for a docking station base of a hand held meter and method thereof are disclosed. In the event of a short circuit at a meter interface connector, the protection circuitry removes power at the meter interface connector. Similarly, in the event of an applied voltage outside a specified operating range of the base, the protection circuitry removes power to the meter interface connector. These conditions of the electrical system of the base are monitored regardless whether the meter or the meter's battery is electrically connected to the base. The protection circuitry also provides a visual indication in the event of either the over current and under/over voltage conditions. Additionally, the base is designed to prevent liquid from pooling inside a pocket used to cradle and hold the meter in the base through the use of a drain located at the lowest point in the pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey, Clint Alan Ecoff, Scott Allen Edwards, Matthew Carlyle Sauers, James R. Kurtock, James Joseph Hartmann
  • Patent number: 8491566
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for adjusting the delivery times of an insulin delivery profile of an insulin pump, wherein the insulin pump is operable to automatically deliver insulin to a person having diabetes based on an operating time of the internal clock and a delivery time of an insulin delivery profile. The method may comprise receiving a local time zone time from an external local clock, determining whether the operating time of the internal clock differs from the local time zone time by at least a first predetermined amount of time, requesting the person provide a time adjustment value when the operating time of the internal clock differs from the local time zone time by at least the first predetermined amount of time, receiving the time adjustment value from the person, and adjusting the delivery times of the insulin delivery profile based on the time adjustment value when received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey, Ricky Lee Collins, James L. Pauley, Jr., Robert David Timmerman
  • Patent number: 8454554
    Abstract: A handheld diabetes managing device that provides a secure and efficient communication link between an insulin pump and an external computing device. The handheld diabetes managing device can include a blood glucose meter, a processor and first and second communication modules. The handheld diabetes managing device can be configured to deliver data between an insulin pump and an external computing device over a secure communication path without a direct communication link between the insulin pump and the external computing device. The secure communication path can include a first secure bidirectional communication link between the handheld diabetes managing device and the insulin pump and a second secure bidirectional communication link between the handheld diabetes managing device and the external computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eugene Reinke, Mark Nierzwick, Blaine Edward Ramey
  • Patent number: 8431408
    Abstract: A handheld diabetes management device for providing enhanced illumination includes a housing with an access port and a light aperture. The housing further includes a coupling member on an inner surface thereof. Furthermore, the device includes a measurement engine housed within the housing and communicating with the access port for analyzing body fluid disposed on a dosing area of a diabetes test element. Also, the device includes a circuit board communicating with the measurement engine. The device further includes a light source mounted to the circuit board and a light pipe coupled to the housing via the coupling member. The light pipe is disposed adjacent the light source to receive light from the light source travelling in a first direction. The light pipe redirects the light along a second direction to be emitted out of the housing through the light aperture toward the dosing area of the diabetes test element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph B. Lewis, Michael F DeRossi, Blaine Edward Ramey
  • Publication number: 20120095393
    Abstract: A handheld diabetes managing device that provides a secure and efficient communication link between an insulin pump and an external computing device. The handheld diabetes managing device can include a blood glucose meter, a processor and first and second communication modules. The handheld diabetes managing device can be configured to deliver data between an insulin pump and an external computing device over a secure communication path without a direct communication link between the insulin pump and the external computing device. The secure communication path can include a first secure bidirectional communication link between the handheld diabetes managing device and the insulin pump and a second secure bidirectional communication link between the handheld diabetes managing device and the external computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Eugene Reinke, Mark Nierzwick, Blaine Edward Ramey
  • Publication number: 20120095316
    Abstract: A handheld diabetes management device for providing enhanced illumination includes a housing with an access port and a light aperture. The housing further includes a coupling member on an inner surface thereof. Furthermore, the device includes a measurement engine housed within the housing and communicating with the access port for analyzing body fluid disposed on a dosing area of a diabetes test element. Also, the device includes a circuit board communicating with the measurement engine. The device further includes a light source mounted to the circuit board and a light pipe coupled to the housing via the coupling member. The light pipe is disposed adjacent the light source to receive light from the light source travelling in a first direction. The light pipe redirects the light along a second direction to be emitted out of the housing through the light aperture toward the dosing area of the diabetes test element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Roche Diagnostic Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph B. Lewis, Michael F. DeRossi, Blaine Edward Ramey
  • Publication number: 20120095311
    Abstract: A handheld diabetes management device having a plurality of communication modules for communicating with a plurality of medical devices via a shared antenna or multiple antennas, where the handheld diabetes management device includes a first communication module, a second communication module, and an arbitration module. The first communication module selectively communicates in a first frequency band with an insulin infusion pump external to the handheld diabetes management device via a first antenna using a first wireless communication protocol. The second communication module selectively communicates in the first frequency band with a continuous glucose monitor external to the handheld diabetes management device via a second antenna or the first antenna using a second wireless communication protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey, Mark Nierzwick, Thomas D. Gurley
  • Publication number: 20120095312
    Abstract: A system for managing power consumption of a handheld diabetes management device and limiting effects of temperature on operations performed by the handheld diabetes management device comprises a blood glucose measuring module, a temperature sensing module, and a power management module. The blood glucose measuring module selectively measures blood glucose in a blood sample and generates a status signal indicating a status of operation of the blood glucose measuring module. The temperature sensing module senses an internal temperature of the handheld diabetes management device and estimates an ambient temperature external to the handheld diabetes management device. The power management module deactivates one or more components of the handheld diabetes management device based on the status of operation of the blood glucose measuring module when the internal temperature of the handheld diabetes management device exceeds a threshold temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey, Michael C. McKee, Michael G. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20120078221
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for adjusting the delivery times of an insulin delivery profile of an insulin pump, wherein the insulin pump is operable to automatically deliver insulin to a person having diabetes based on an operating time of the internal clock and a delivery time of an insulin delivery profile. The method may comprise receiving a local time zone time from an external local clock, determining whether the operating time of the internal clock differs from the local time zone time by at least a first predetermined amount of time, requesting the person provide a time adjustment value when the operating time of the internal clock differs from the local time zone time by at least the first predetermined amount of time, receiving the time adjustment value from the person, and adjusting the delivery times of the insulin delivery profile based on the time adjustment value when received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey, Ricky Collins, James L. Pauley, JR., Robert David Timmerman
  • Patent number: 8140294
    Abstract: Methods of estimating the temperature of a reaction site on a measurement strip in a blood glucose measuring devices are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes determining an activation initiation time, an activation duration time, a thermal magnitude and a temperature elevation for heat generating components within a device. The temperature elevation for each of the heat generating components is determined at least in part by an impulse response matrix [Xi], the activation initiation time, the activation duration time and the thermal magnitude for each of the heat generating components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey, Michael L. Brown, James L. Pauley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8092428
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for adjusting the delivery times of an insulin delivery profile of an insulin pump, wherein the insulin pump is operable to automatically deliver insulin to a person having diabetes based on an operating time of the internal clock and a delivery time of an insulin delivery profile. The method may comprise receiving a local time zone time from an external local clock, determining whether the operating time of the internal clock differs from the local time zone time by at least a first predetermined amount of time, requesting the person provide a time adjustment value when the operating time of the internal clock differs from the local time zone time by at least the first predetermined amount of time, receiving the time adjustment value from the person, and adjusting the delivery times of the insulin delivery profile based on the time adjustment value when received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey, Rick Collins, James Pauley, Robert David Timmerman
  • Publication number: 20110152769
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for adjusting the delivery times of an insulin delivery profile of an insulin pump, wherein the insulin pump is operable to automatically deliver insulin to a person having diabetes based on an operating time of the internal clock and a delivery time of an insulin delivery profile. The method may comprise receiving a local time zone time from an external local clock, determining whether the operating time of the internal clock differs from the local time zone time by at least a first predetermined amount of time, requesting the person provide a time adjustment value when the operating time of the internal clock differs from the local time zone time by at least the first predetermined amount of time, receiving the time adjustment value from the person, and adjusting the delivery times of the insulin delivery profile based on the time adjustment value when received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey, Rick Collins, James L. Paulie, JR., Robert David Timmerman
  • Patent number: 7883015
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods providing data such as, for example, calibration and reagent information (30) over a network (6) to a measurement apparatus (4) which makes use of a consumable reagent (18) in a measuring process are disclosed. The present invention permits a measurement apparatus (4) to download the necessary code assignment (24) and calibration data (32) of the consumable reagent (18) by means of an electronic communication protocol from a host (33). The host (33) can be a software application running on a host computer (34), another measurement apparatus (50, 58) with or without a code-key slot used to read a memory device providing the above mentioned information (30), a dedicated connectivity device, such as a docking station (44), a portable memory reader (48), a remote computer (54), and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Firedrich Karl Ackermann, Manfred Augstein, Timothy L. Beck, Markus Stephan Fuerst, Robert Lawrence Meek, Phillip Edgar Pash, Blaine Edward Ramey, Robert Paul Sabo, Matthew Carlyle Sauers, Joerg Schreiber, Wolfgang Walter, Seth Faulkner Williams, Frederick Leland Wittekind, III
  • Patent number: RE44345
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods providing data such as, for example, calibration and reagent information (30) over a network (6) to a measurement apparatus (4) which makes use of a consumable reagent (18) in a measuring process are disclosed. The present invention permits a measurement apparatus (4) to download the necessary code assignment (24) and calibration data (32) of the consumable reagent (18) by means of an electronic communication protocol from a host (33). The host (33) can be a software application running on a host computer (34), another measurement apparatus (50, 58) with or without a code-key slot used to read a memory device providing the above mentioned information (30), a dedicated connectivity device, such as a docking station (44), a portable memory reader (48), a remote computer (54), and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignees: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., Roche Operations Ltd.
    Inventors: Friedrich Karl Ackermann, Manfred Augstein, Timothy L. Beck, Markus Stephan Fuerst, Robert Lawrence Meek, Philip Edgar Pash, Blaine Edward Ramey, Robert Paul Sabo, Matthew Carlyle Sauers, Joerg Schreiber, Wolfgang Walter, Seth Faulkner Williams, Frederick Leland Wittekind, III