Device for enabling patient self testing and treatment self- administration and system using the device for managing the patient's health care

A blood glucose testing unit comprising:

• a housing of a size suitable for transport in a handbag or clothing pocket;
• a sampling module in the housing operable to take a biological sample from a patient and determine the patient's blood glucose level from the biological sample;
• a microprocessor in the housing for operating the sampling module;
• an insulin administration unit in the housing, the administration unit including (i) a container for insulin and (ii) an administration device operable to administer the insulin internally of the patient from the container under the control of the microprocessor, wherein a start signal is generated when operation of the administration device is enabled;
• a proximity sensor for generating a sensing signal when the unit is oriented relative to the patient for operation of the administration device;
• a user interface in the housing under the control of the microprocessor, the user interface including (i) at least one of a display and a speaker for communicating information to a user of the unit, and (ii) an input device for accepting an input from the user;
• a wireless communication device in the housing and under the control of the microprocessor;
• and
• circuitry in the housing for detecting the location of the unit, wherein:
• the microprocessor includes a treatment protocol memory for an individual patient that stores parameters for determining when the patient's blood glucose level indicates a hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic condition of potential danger to the patient and a healthcare facility index with geographical locations and contact information for a plurality of healthcare facilities,
• the microprocessor is operable to cause the user interface to notify the user that the patient's hypoglycemic condition presents a potential danger,
• the unit includes timer circuitry for measuring a time elapsed after the notification that the patient's hypoglycemic condition presents a potential danger, for measuring the time elapsed from the determination by the microprocessor that the patient's hyperglycemic condition presents a potential danger, and for measuring a time elapsed from generation of the start signal,
• the microprocessor is operable to determine from the location of the unit and the healthcare facility index a location a healthcare facility that can treat the patient,
• the wireless communication device automatically notifies a healthcare facility of the existence of a patient with a potentially dangerous level of hypoglycemia and the location of the unit in the absence of an input via the user interface acknowledging the notification before the elapse of a first predetermined time,
• the microprocessor automatically operates the administration device to introduce the insulin internally of the patient when the sensing signal is generated prior to the elapse of a second predetermined time after generation of the start signal, and
• the wireless communication device automatically notifies a healthcare facility of the existence of a patient with a potentially dangerous level of hyperglycemia and the location of the unit in the absence of a start signal before the elapse of a third predetermined time.