Test meter calibration
First Claim
1. A test meter that may be calibrated using a calibration member, the calibration member having at least one conductive region of predetermined electrical resistance, the test meter comprising at least two calibration electrodes, an electrical power source, processor and dispensing mechanism, the dispensing mechanism being operable to dispense a calibration member from the test meter, the or each conductive region of the calibration member making contact with the electrodes as it is dispensed, the electrodes and processor receiving power from the electrical power source, the processor receiving a signal from the electrodes, the signal being indicative of the current passing between them as the calibration member is dispensed, the processor processing said signal and generating a calibration signal to calibrate the test meter.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a test meter (1) that may be calibrated using a calibration member (16). The calibration member (16) has at least one conductive region (38) of predetermined electrical resistance. The test meter (1) has at least two calibration electrodes (24), processor (34) and dispensing mechanism (22). The dispensing mechanism (22) can be used to dispense a calibration member (16) from the test meter (1). The conductive regions (38) of the calibration member make contact with the electrodes (24) as it is dispensed. The processor (34) receives a signal from the electrodes (24) as the calibration member (16) is dispensed. The processor (34) then processes said signal and generates a calibration signal to calibrate the test meter (1). The invention extends to a method of calibrating a test meter, a cartridge (18) for a test meter and a calibration member (16).
267 Citations
33 Claims
- 1. A test meter that may be calibrated using a calibration member, the calibration member having at least one conductive region of predetermined electrical resistance, the test meter comprising at least two calibration electrodes, an electrical power source, processor and dispensing mechanism, the dispensing mechanism being operable to dispense a calibration member from the test meter, the or each conductive region of the calibration member making contact with the electrodes as it is dispensed, the electrodes and processor receiving power from the electrical power source, the processor receiving a signal from the electrodes, the signal being indicative of the current passing between them as the calibration member is dispensed, the processor processing said signal and generating a calibration signal to calibrate the test meter.
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15. A method of producing a calibration signal in a test meter, the test meter comprising at least two calibration electrodes, an electrical power source, processor, dispensing mechanism and a calibration member, the electrical power source supplying power to the electrodes and processor, the calibration member having at least one conductive region of predetermined electrical resistance, the method including the steps of:
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a) using the dispensing mechanism to dispense said calibration member from the test meter, the or each conductive region of the calibration member making contact with the electrodes as the calibration member is dispensed;
b) using the electrodes to generate a signal indicative of the current passing between them as the calibration member is dispensed;
c) using the processor to receive the signal from the electrodes; and
d) using the processor to generate a calibration signal to calibrate the meter. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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27. A method of calibrating a test meter using a calibration strip, the test meter being suitable for measuring a characteristic of a sample placed on a test strip dispensed from the meter, the test meter comprising at least two electrodes, an electrical power source, test strip dispensing mechanism, processor, a memory unit, the memory unit including data in a lookup table, the electrical power source supplying power to the electrodes, processor and memory device, the test strip dispensing mechanism being actuable to dispense a test strip from within the test meter, said test strip making contact with the electrodes as it is dispensed, the processor being electrically connected to the at least two electrodes to receive a signal from the electrodes indicative of the current passing between the electrodes, the processor comparing said signal with the lookup table to produce a signal indicative of a characteristic of a sample on a test strip, the calibration strip comprising at least one conductive region of predetermined electrical resistance corresponding to the expected electrical resistance of a test strip including a sample having a predetermined characteristic, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
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a) inserting the calibration strip into the test meter;
b) using the dispensing mechanism to dispense said calibrating strip such that the or each conductive region makes contact with the electrodes;
c) using the processor to compare the signal received from the electrodes when in contact with a conductive region with the data in the lookup table for the predetermined characteristic; and
d) using the processor to alter the data in the lookup table in response to a difference between the signal and the data in the lookup table. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification