Measuring device and methods for use therewith
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A test instrument for use with a human user and for use with an elongated test strip having at a first end an electrical connection point and at a second end an electrochemical cell, the test instrument comprising:
- a housing;
an electrical connector at the housing, the connector disposed to form an electrical connection with the electrical connection point of an elongated test strip when inserted therein;
a light source at the housing, the light source aimed to cast light upon the electrochemical cell of the elongated test strip, the light source illuminated in response to an input from a human user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure
The ability to switch at will between amperometric measurements and potentiometric measurements provides great flexibility in performing analyses of unknowns. Apparatus and methods can provide such switching to collect data from an electrochemical cell. The cell may contain a reagent disposed to measure glucose in human blood.
163 Citations
160 Claims
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1. A test instrument for use with a human user and for use with an elongated test strip having at a first end an electrical connection point and at a second end an electrochemical cell, the test instrument comprising:
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a housing; an electrical connector at the housing, the connector disposed to form an electrical connection with the electrical connection point of an elongated test strip when inserted therein; a light source at the housing, the light source aimed to cast light upon the electrochemical cell of the elongated test strip, the light source illuminated in response to an input from a human user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A test instrument for use with a human user and for use with an elongated test strip having at a first end an electrical connection point and at a second end an electrochemical cell, the test instrument comprising:
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a housing; an electrical connector at the housing, the connector disposed to form an electrical connection with the electrical connection point of an elongated test strip when inserted therein; a light source at the housing, the light source aimed to cast light upon the electrical connector, the light source illuminated in response to an input from a human user prior to insertion of the electrical connection point of the elongated test strip into the electrical connector. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for use with a test instrument for use with a human user and for use with an elongated test strip having at a first end an electrical connection point and at a second end an electrochemical cell, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting the electrical connection point of an elongated test strip into an electrical connector at the test instrument, the connector forming an electrical connection with the electrical connection point of the elongated test strip; providing a first input from a human user to the test instrument; and in response to the first input, casting light from a light source at the test instrument upon the electrochemical cell of the elongated test strip. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
providing a second input from a human user to the test instrument; and in response to the second input, casting light from the light source upon the electrical connector.
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13. The method of claim 11 wherein the casting step comprises illuminating a light-emitting diode.
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14. The method of claim 11 wherein the casting step comprises casting non-red light.
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15. The method of claim 14 wherein the casting step comprises casting blue light.
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16. The method of claim 12 wherein the casting steps comprise illuminating a light-emitting diode.
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17. The method of claim 12 wherein the casting steps comprise casting non-red light.
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18. The method of claim 17 wherein the casting steps comprise casting blue light.
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19. A method for use with a test instrument for use with a human user and for use with an elongated test strip having at a first end an electrical connection point and at a second end an electrochemical cell, the test instrument comprising an electrical connector disposed to form an electrical connection with the electrical connection point of the elongated test strip, the test instrument further comprising a light source, the method comprising the steps, both performed before any insertion of the electrical connection point of an elongated test strip into the electrical connector, of:
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providing a first input from a human user to the test instrument; and in response to the first input, casting light from the light source upon the electrical connector. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
inserting the electrical connection point of an elongated test strip into an electrical connector at the test instrument, the connector forming an electrical connection with the electrical connection point of the elongated test strip; providing a second input from a human user to the test instrument; and in response to the second input, casting light from the light source at the test instrument upon the electrochemical cell of the elongated test strip.
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21. The method of claim 19 wherein the casting step comprises illuminating a light-emitting diode.
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22. The method of claim 19 wherein the casting step comprises casting non-red light.
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23. The method of claim 22 wherein the casting step comprises casting blue light.
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24. The method of claim 20 wherein the casting steps comprise illuminating a light-emitting diode.
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25. The method of claim 20 wherein the casting steps comprise casting non-red light.
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26. The method of claim 25 wherein the casting steps comprise casting blue light.
- 27. An elongated test strip having at a first end an electrical connection point and at a second end an electrochemical cell, the test strip further comprising an optical waveguide extending from the first end to the second end, whereby light cast into the waveguide at the first end is emitted from the waveguide at the second end.
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37. A method for use with an elongated test strip having at a first end an electrical connection point and at a second end an electrochemical cell, the test strip further comprising an optical waveguide extending from the first end to the second end, whereby light cast into the waveguide at the first end is emitted from the waveguide at the second end, the method comprising the steps of:
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casting light into the waveguide at the first end; and emitting light from the waveguide at the second end. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
illuminating a drop of blood by means of the emitted light; and guiding the electrochemical cell to the drop of blood.
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39. The method of claim 37 wherein the casting of light comprises illuminating a light-emitting diode.
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40. The method of claim 38 wherein the casting of light comprises casting non-red light.
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41. The method of claim 40 wherein the casting of light comprises casting blue light.
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42. The method of claim 37 wherein the casting of light is in response to a step, performed by a user, of providing a user input. further comprising an input means responsive to a user input for causing the light source to cast the light.
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43. The method of claim 37 wherein the elongated test strip has a length, and wherein the emitting step further comprises emitting light from the waveguide along its length.
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44. A method for use with a test instrument for use with a human user, the test instrument having a display comprising a rectangular array of low-resolution areas, the array comprising first and second axes, the method comprising the steps of:
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performing at least one electrochemical test with respect to a bodily fluid of a human user; illustrating first information of interest to the human user by means of the the rectangular array, the information illustrated by means of a first bar graph, the first bar graph having horizontal bars, each horizontal bar within a row of the rectangular array; and illustrating second information of interest to the human user by means of the the rectangular array, the information illustrated by means of a second bar graph, the second bar graph having vertical bars, each vertical bar within a column of the rectangular array. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. A test instrument for use with a human user, the test instrument having a display comprising a rectangular array of low-resolution areas, the array comprising first and second axes, the test instrument comprising:
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means performing at least one electrochemical test with respect to a bodily fluid of a human user; means illustrating first information of interest to the human user by means of the the rectangular array, the information illustrated by means of a first bar graph, the first bar graph having horizontal bars, each horizontal bar within a row of the rectangular array; and means illustrating second information of interest to the human user by means of the the rectangular array, the information illustrated by means of a second bar graph, the second bar graph having vertical bars, each vertical bar within a column of the rectangular array. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49. A method for use in a handheld test equipment apparatus having an electrochemical cell disposed to receive a bodily fluid of a human user, the apparatus comprising electronic circuitry, the method comprising the steps of:
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under automatic control of the electronic circuitry, allowing electrical current to flow through the cell by means of a current source or source of potential external to the cell and measuring said current; thereafter, under automatic control of the electronic circuitry, ceasing the flow of electrical current from the current source or source of potential external to the cell; thereafter, under automatic control of the electronic circuitry, measuring an electrical potential at the cell; and evaluating a function of the measured current and the measured electrical potential, whereby a measure of characteristic of the bodily fluid is evaluated. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 155, 160)
inserting the test strip into a connector at the housing, and applying the bodily fluid to the electrochemical cell.
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60. The method of claim 59 further comprising the step, performed after the step of measuring an electrical potential at the cell, of:
removing the test strip from the housing.
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61. The method of claim 49 wherein the electrochemical cell comprises at least first and second electrodes, and wherein the step of ceasing the passage of electrical current from the current source or source of potential external to the cell further comprises:
opening a first switch whereby at least the first electrode of the electrochemical cell is isolated from the current source or source of potential external to the cell.
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62. The method of claim 61 wherein the step of ceasing the passage of electrical current from the current source or source of potential external to the cell further comprises:
opening a second switch whereby at least the second electrode of the electrochemical cell is isolated from the current source or source of potential external to the cell.
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63. The method of claim 61 wherein the first electrode comprises a working electrode.
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64. The method of claim 63 wherein the second electrode comprises a reference electrode.
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65. The method of claim 63 wherein the second electrode comprises a counter electrode.
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66. The method of claim 61 wherein the first electrode comprises a reference electrode.
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67. The method of claim 66 wherein the second electrode comprises a working electrode.
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68. The method of claim 66 wherein the second electrode comprises a counter electrode.
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69. The method of claim 61 wherein the first electrode comprises a counter electrode.
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70. The method of claim 69 wherein the second electrode comprises a reference electrode.
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71. The method of claim 69 wherein the second electrode comprises a working electrode.
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72. The method of claim 63 wherein the step of measuring an electrical potential at the cell comprises measuring a potential between the working electrode and a reference electrode.
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73. The method of claim 63 wherein the step of measuring an electrical potential at the cell comprises measuring a potential between the working electrode and a counter electrode.
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74. The method of claim 66 wherein the step of measuring an electrical potential at the cell comprises measuring a potential between the reference electrode and a working electrode.
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75. The method of claim 66 wherein the step of measuring an electrical potential at the cell comprises measuring a potential between the reference electrode and a counter electrode.
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76. The method of claim 69 wherein the step of measuring an electrical potential at the cell comprises measuring a potential between the counter electrode and a reference electrode.
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77. The method of claim 69 wherein the step of measuring an electrical potential at the cell comprises measuring a potential between the counter electrode and a working electrode.
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155. The method of claim 49 wherein the allowing electrical current to flow through the cell comprises applying a constant voltage to the cell.
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160. The method of claim 49 wherein the allowing of electrical current to flow through the cell comprises applying a constant potential to the cell.
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55. (canceled).
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78. A handheld test equipment comprising:
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an electrochemical cell comprising a reagent reactive with a constituent of a human bodily fluid; a current source or source of potential external to the electrochemical cell; a potentiometric circuitry external to the electrochemical cell; electronic control means; the electronic control means coupled with the current source or source of potential to controllably apply the current source or source of potential to the electrochemical cell, thereby allowing current to flow through the cell; amperometric means external to the electrochemical cell for measuring the flow of current through the electrochemical cell; the electronic control means coupled with the potentiometric circuitry to automatically cease flow of the current through the electrochemical cell, and then to measure a potential at the electrochemical cell in the absence of the applied current or potential. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107)
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108. A handheld test equipment comprising:
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a housing; a connector at the housing having at least first and second contacts; a current source or source of potential; a potentiometric circuitry within the housing; electronic control means within the housing; the electronic control means coupled with the current source or source of potential to controllably apply the current source or source of potential to the at least first and second contacts; amperometric means within the housing for measuring the current flowing through the at least first and second contacts; the electronic control means coupled with the potentiometric circuitry to automatically cease application of the current or potential to the at least first and second contacts, and then to measure a potential at the at least first and second contacts in the absence of the applied current or potential. - View Dependent Claims (109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 156, 157, 158, 159)
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138. An apparatus for use with a reaction cell having a first electrode and a second electrode, the apparatus comprising:
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a voltage or current source providing a controllable voltage or current to the first electrode; a voltage sensor sensing voltage provided at the first electrode; an amplifier; switch means switchable between first and second positions, said switch means in said first position disposing the amplifier to measure current through the second electrode, thereby measuring current through the reaction cell, said switch means in said second position disposing the amplifier to measure voltage present at the second electrode.
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140. A method for use in a test equipment apparatus having an electrochemical cell disposed to receive a bodily fluid of a human user, the apparatus comprising electronic circuitry, the method comprising the steps of:
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under automatic control of the electronic circuitry, allowing electrical current to flow through the cell by means of a current source or source of potential external to the cell and measuring said current; thereafter, under automatic control of the electronic circuitry, ceasing the flow of electrical current from the current source or source of potential external to the cell; thereafter, under automatic control of the electronic circuitry, measuring an electrical potential at the cell; and evaluating a function of the measured current and the measured electrical potential, whereby a measure of characteristic of the bodily fluid is evaluated. - View Dependent Claims (141, 142, 143, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153)
inserting the test strip into a connector at the housing, and applying the bodily fluid to the electrochemical cell.
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151. The method of claim 150 further comprising the step, performed after the step of measuring an electrical potential at the cell, of:
removing the test strip from the housing.
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152. The method of claim 140 wherein the electrochemical cell comprises at least first and second electrodes, and wherein the step of ceasing the allowing of electrical current to flow from the current source or source of potential external to the cell further comprises:
opening a first switch whereby at least the first electrode of the electrochemical cell is isolated from the current source or source of potential external to the cell.
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153. The method of claim 152 wherein the step of ceasing the allowing of electrical current to flow from the current source or source of potential external to the cell further comprises:
opening a second switch whereby at least the second electrode of the electrochemical cell is isolated from the current source or source of potential external to the cell.
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154. A test equipment comprising:
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an electrochemical cell comprising a reagent reactive with a constituent of a human bodily fluid; a current source or source of potential external to the electrochemical cell; a potentiometric circuitry external to the electrochemical cell; electronic control means; the electronic control means coupled with the current source or source of potential to controllably apply the current source or source of potential to the electrochemical cell, thereby allowing current to flow through the cell; amperometric means external to the electrochemical cell for measuring the current passed through the electrochemical cell; the electronic control means coupled with the potentiometric circuitry to automatically cease allowing the current to pass through the electrochemical cell, and then to measure a potential at the electrochemical cell in the absence of the current.
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Specification