Test strip container with integrated meter

• US 20060094986A1
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trividia Health, Inc. (Sinocare, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Home Diagnostics Incorporated
• Inventors: Modzelewski, Brent E., Neel, Gary T., Rounds, George R., Casterline, Cameron Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,394,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/583
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150183 Depth adjustment mechanism using end caps mounted at the distal end of the sampling device, i.e. the end-caps are adjustably positioned relative to the piercing device housing for example by rotating or screwing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150259 Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150305 Packages specially adapted for piercing devices or blood sampling devices kits for diabetes A61M5/003; packaging in general B65D
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150824 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15087 short range, e.g. between console and disposable using implanted devices A61B5/150877
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1519 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for propelling the piercing unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48771 Coding of information, e.g. calibration data, lot number
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/521 Single-layer analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 : Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers

Abstract

A system for diagnostic testing may include a meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to a test media and a container configured to contain test media compatible with the meter. The meter may include a closure portion for selectively closing the opening of the container. The system may further provide a sampling device, such as a lancet, operable connected to the container such that that a user may use the sampling device to obtain a sample without disconnecting the sampling device from the container. The system may also provide mechanisms for removing a meter from a test container and reattaching it to a new one using one of several coding methods that recalibrate the meter for the new container of test strips. In addition, the system may further provide mechanisms to reconfigure the meter to perform a new function when it has been determined that the triggering event has occurred.

Claims

1. A system for diagnostic testing, the system comprising:

a meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to test media, the meter having a housing;

a container configured to contain test media compatible with the meter, the container having an opening; and

a light source, wherein the light source is positioned to illuminate an interior of the container.

2. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the light source is located on the container.

3. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the light source is located on the meter housing.

4. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the light source is positioned additionally to illuminate an exterior of the container.

5. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

6. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the light source automatically illuminates the interior of the container when the opening of the container is opened.

7. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the light source selectively illuminates the interior of the container when the opening of the container is opened.

8. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a display configured to display results of the diagnostic test.

9. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 8, wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of:

a liquid crystal display, a vacuum fluorescent display, an electroluminescent display, a light emitting diode display, and a plasma display.

10. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 8, wherein the display includes a back-light to light an insertion point of the test media.

11. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 10, wherein the container comprises a transparent portion that is optically coupled to the back-light of the display.

12. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 11, wherein the transparent portion is a molded ring.

13. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 11, wherein the transparent portion is colored.

14. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the meter further comprises a controller configured to determine when the light source has been illuminated.

15. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 14, wherein the controller starts a timer upon determining that the light source has been illuminated.

16. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 15, wherein the timer is configured to track an elapsed time since the container was opened for a first time by a user.

17. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 15, wherein the timer is configured to signal the controller to extinguish the light source after a predetermined time period.

18. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 15, wherein the timer is configured to signal the controller to alert a user after a predetermined time period.

19. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 18, wherein the alert is selected from the group consisting of:

a visual, an audio, a kinetic, or a combination alarm.

20. A diagnostic meter body selectably removable from a container and for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to a test media, the meter comprising:

an interface for accepting test media in order to perform the diagnostic test;

a controller configured to perform the diagnostic test;

an indicator for indicating a result of the diagnostic test;

a strip ejector mechanism to dispose of the test media; and

a data connector capable of establishing data communication with a computer.

21. The diagnostic meter body of claim 20, wherein the data connector is a USB connector.

22. The diagnostic meter body of claim 20, wherein the meter comprises a data storage device.

23. The diagnostic meter body of claim 20, wherein the meter is configured to attach to a side portion of a container configured to contain test media compatible with the meter.

24. The diagnostic meter body of claim 20, wherein the meter is integrated with a sampling device, forming a composite diagnostic testing device.

25. The diagnostic meter body of claim 24, wherein the sampling device is a lancet.

26. The diagnostic meter body of claim 24, wherein the meter and the sampling device are separate devices usable together.

27. The diagnostic meter body of claim 26, wherein the meter and the sampling device are separate devices contained together by means of a clip.

28. The diagnostic meter body of claim 26, wherein the meter and the sampling device are separate devices contained together by means of an attachment with a plurality of holes.

29. A system for diagnostic testing, the system comprising:

a meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to test media, the meter having a housing and a backlit display; and

a container configured to contain test media compatible with the meter, the container having an opening;

wherein the meter housing is configured to close the opening.

30. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 29, further comprising a light source, wherein the light source is positioned to illuminate an interior of the container.

31. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 30, wherein the light source automatically illuminates the interior of the container when the opening of the container is opened.

32. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 30, wherein the light source selectively illuminates the interior of the container when the opening of the container is opened.

33. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 29, wherein the backlit display is selected from the group consisting of:

a liquid crystal display, a vacuum fluorescent display, an electroluminescent display, a light emitting diode display, and a plasma display.

34. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 29, wherein the container comprises a transparent portion that is optically coupled to the backlit display.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the transparent portion is a molded ring.

36. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 34, wherein the transparent portion is colored.

37. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 29, wherein the meter further comprises a controller configured to determine when the light source has been illuminated.

38. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 37, wherein the controller starts a timer upon determining that the light source has been illuminated.

39. A system for diagnostic testing, the system comprising:

a meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to test media, the meter having a housing;

a container configured to contain test media compatible with the meter, the container having an opening; and

a detector for determining when the container is open.

40. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 39, further comprising a light source, wherein the light source is positioned to illuminate an interior of the container.

41. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 40, wherein the light source automatically illuminates the interior of the container when the opening of the container is opened.

42. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 40, wherein the light source selectively illuminates the interior of the container when the opening of the container is opened.

43. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 39, wherein the container further comprises a display configured to display results of the diagnostic test.

44. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 43, wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of:

a liquid crystal display, a vacuum fluorescent display, an electroluminescent display, a light emitting diode display, and a plasma display.

45. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 43, wherein the display includes a back-light to light an insertion point of the test media.

46. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 45, wherein the container comprises a transparent portion that is optically coupled to the back-light of the display.

47. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 39, wherein the meter further comprises a controller configured to determine when the light source has been illuminated.

48. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 47, wherein the detector is configured to signal the controller to alert a user when the container is open.

49. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 48, wherein the alert is selected from the group consisting of:

a visual, an audio, a kinetic, or a combination alarm.

50. A system for diagnostic testing, the system comprising:

a meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to test media, the meter having a housing; and

a container configured to contain test media compatible with the meter, the container having an opening;

wherein the housing comprises a holder configured to receive one or more containers, and

wherein the opening is accessible to a user of the meter.

51. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 50, further comprising a light source, wherein the light source is positioned to illuminate an interior of the container.

52. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 50, wherein the container further comprises a display configured to display results of the diagnostic test.

53. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 52, wherein the display includes a back-light to light an insertion point of the test media.

54. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 50, wherein the container comprises a transparent portion that is optically coupled to the back-light of the display.

55. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 51, wherein the meter further comprises a controller configured to determine when the light source has been illuminated.

56. A system for diagnostic testing, the system comprising:

a meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to test media, the meter having a housing; and

a container configured to contain test media compatible with the meter, the container having an opening;

wherein the container comprises a holder configured to receive one or more devices used for diagnostic testing, and

wherein the opening is accessible to a user of the system.

57. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 56, wherein the holder engages the meter.

58. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 56, wherein the holder engages a lancet.

59. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 58, wherein the meter housing is configured to close the opening of the container.