Methods and apparatus for analyzing an analysis fluid
First Claim
1. A meter and test wand system, the system being capable of cooperatively processing an analysis fluid and communicating results to a user, comprising:
- a meter case comprising a case front, a case back, a case top, a case bottom, a first case side member, and a second case side member;
said first and second case side members connecting said case front to case back;
said first case side member having a longitudinal dimension between said case top and said case bottom and a latitudinal dimension between said case front and said case back;
said first case side member including a first case ridge;
a test wand capable of receiving an analysis fluid, said test wand comprising a cartridge including a cartridge ridge;
said cartridge ridge being sized and shaped to matingly engage with said first case ridge to connect said test wand to said meter case.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A meter and test wand system is capable of cooperatively processing an analysis fluid and communicating results to a user. The system includes a meter case including a case front, a case back, a case top, a case bottom, a first case side member, and a second case side member. The first and second case side members connect the case front to case back. The first case side member has a longitudinal dimension between said case top and said case bottom and a latitudinal dimension between said case front and said case back. The first case side member includes a first case ridge; A test wand is capable of receiving an analysis fluid, and includes a cartridge including a cartridge ridge. The cartridge ridge is sized and shaped to matingly engage with said first case ridge to connect said test wand to said meter case.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A meter and test wand system, the system being capable of cooperatively processing an analysis fluid and communicating results to a user, comprising:
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a meter case comprising a case front, a case back, a case top, a case bottom, a first case side member, and a second case side member;
said first and second case side members connecting said case front to case back;
said first case side member having a longitudinal dimension between said case top and said case bottom and a latitudinal dimension between said case front and said case back;
said first case side member including a first case ridge;
a test wand capable of receiving an analysis fluid, said test wand comprising a cartridge including a cartridge ridge;
said cartridge ridge being sized and shaped to matingly engage with said first case ridge to connect said test wand to said meter case. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A test wand for use with a meter having a test wand opening including a side wall to process an analysis fluid, said test wand comprising:
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a test strip having a proximal end and a distal end, said test strip containing a reagent and comprising a first layer having a first arm;
said test strip being capable of receiving the analysis fluid at the distal end; and
a test strip holder having a proximal end and a distal end;
said test strip holder comprising a base and a slot, such that when said test strip is inserted in said test strip holder, said arm of said first layer extends through said slot of said test strip holder;
said test strip holder being sized and shaped to be inserted in the test wand opening of the meter;
wherein, as said test wand is inserted into the test wand opening, the side wall of the test wand opening engages said first arm of said first layer, pulling said first arm and said first layer of said test strip in the proximal direction, causing said analysis fluid to flow in the proximal direction to expose a portion of said reagent on said first layer that has reacted with the analysis fluid. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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17. A method of processing an analysis fluid using a test strip contained in a test strip holder, the test strip having a proximal end and a distal end, the test strip containing a reagent and comprising a first layer having a first arm;
- the test strip holder having a proximal end and a distal end;
the test strip holder comprising a base and a slot;
the method comprising the steps of;
placing the analysis fluid on the distal end of a test strip;
extending the first arm of the first layer through the slot of the test strip holder;
allowing the reagent to react with the analysis fluid;
inserting the test wand holder into a test wand opening having side walls;
engaging the first arm against the side walls of the test wand opening;
pulling the first arm and the first layer of the test strip in the proximal direction, causing the analysis fluid to flow in the proximal direction; and
exposing a portion of the reagent on the first layer that has reacted with the analysis fluid. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
- the test strip holder having a proximal end and a distal end;
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22. A meter for analyzing an analysis fluid taken on a test wand, said meter comprising:
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an optics module comprising a light source and a light detector, said light source generating a light beam that passes through the test wand and onto said detector;
an output converter connected to the output of said detector to convert the output of said detector for further processing;
a microprocessor connected to said optics module and said output converter, for controlling said light source and processing the output of said detector;
a display connected to said microprocessor for communicating the results of the analysis;
a button connected to said microprocessor for providing input to said microprocessor; and
a serial interface connected to said microprocessor for transmitting information to and from said microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A visual backup system for a meter that analyzes an analysis fluid taken on a test wand, said visual backup system comprising:
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a test wand opening sized and shaped for insertion of the test wand;
a color wheel containing various shades of color covering the spectrum of colors of the reacted test wand, and a plurality of apertures spaced circumferentially around said color wheel;
wherein, when the test wand is placed in said test wand opening, one of said plurality of apertures on said color wheel can be placed over the test wand opening such that the test wand is visible through said one of said plurality of apertures. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for performing a visual backup for a meter that analyzes an analysis fluid taken on a test wand using a color wheel having a plurality of apertures, and containing various shades of color covering the spectrum of colors of the reacted test wand, said method comprising the steps of:
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reacting the analysis fluid with a reagent on the test wand;
inserting the test wand in a test wand opening;
placing one of the plurality of apertures on the color wheel over the test wand opening, looking through the aperture over the test wand opening;
rotating the color wheel until the aperture surrounded by the color most closely matching the color of the reacted test wand is over the test wand opening;
selecting the portion of the color wheel with the aperture surrounded by the color most closely matching the color of the reacted test wand; and
checking the characteristics the selected portion of the color wheel. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method for analyzing an analysis fluid collected on a test wand using a handheld meter, said method comprising the steps of:
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inserting the test wand in a test wand opening of the meter;
drawing the analysis fluid across a reagent film on the test wand, exposing the reagent film to the analysis fluid;
further drawing the analysis fluid from an exposed portion of the reagent film;
emitting a light beam from a light source in the handheld meter onto the exposed portion of the reagent film to a detector in the handheld meter to obtain a detector reading; and
measuring a characteristic of the exposed portion of the reagent film using the detector reading. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification