Ranking and switching of wireless channels in a body area network of medical devices

摘要

Operating techniques and methodologies for a body area network of medical devices are provided. One technique relates to an intelligent channel hopping scheme that detects loss of wireless synchronization on an initial wireless channel, thereafter obtains a measure of quality for the initial wireless channel, and then selects a new wireless channel when the obtained measure of quality fails to satisfy a threshold criteria. Another operating technique dynamically adapts an ordered list of available wireless channels in accordance with a quality measure of the available wireless channels. Thus, when quality degradation associated with a first wireless channel is detected, the ordered list can be updated to indicate a lower preference for the first wireless channel and to indicate a higher preference for a second wireless channel that does not suffer from quality degradation. Another channel hopping or switching technique selects wireless channels in a manner that is influenced by the current geographic position of the medical device.

主权项

1. A method of operating a wireless coordinator device in a wireless local insulin infusion system comprising a body area network of wireless medical devices, the method comprising:
detecting loss of wireless synchronization, for a current wireless data communication channel, between the wireless coordinator device and a wireless glucose sensor transmitter device of the wireless local insulin infusion system, wherein detecting loss of wireless synchronization comprises determining that the wireless coordinator device missed at least a threshold number of expected wireless pings in sequence from the wireless end node device, wherein wireless pings are sent from the wireless glucose sensor transmitter device using the current wireless data communication channel, wherein the wireless pings are sent from the wireless glucose sensor transmitter device according to a transmit schedule of which both the wireless glucose sensor transmitter device and the wireless coordinator device are aware, and wherein each wireless ping is a glucose data packet that conveys glucose data when glucose sensor data is available, or a dummy packet that conveys no data when glucose sensor data is unavailable; in response to detecting loss of wireless synchronization, obtaining a measure of quality for the current wireless data communication channel; when the obtained measure of quality fails to satisfy a threshold criteria, selecting a new wireless data communication channel for the wireless coordinator device; and thereafter, transmitting wireless beacons with the wireless coordinator device, using the new wireless data communication channel.