PERSONAL PORTABLE BLOOD GLUCOSE METER WITH REPLACEABLE CARTRIDGE OF TEST STRIPS

• US 20070189928A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Sabol, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,638,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/82.30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48764 Test tape taken off a spool

Abstract

A test meter system includes a cartridge that houses a test strip tape, which includes a plurality of test elements, and the cartridge defines a meter opening. The cartridge further incorporates an indexing mechanism for indexing the test strip tape. A meter is configured to analyze body fluid via the test strip tape, and the meter includes a display for displaying test results as well as other information. At least a portion of the meter is received in the meter opening of the cartridge to provide a compact configuration. In one form, the test strip system has a generally cylindrical outer shape to provide a pleasing handheld shape.

Claims

1. A portable meter system, comprising:

a cartridge housing a test strip tape that includes a plurality of test elements, the cartridge defining a meter opening; and

a meter configured to analyze a body fluid via the test strip tape, at least a portion of the meter being received in the meter opening of the cartridge.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge has a cylindrical outer shape.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the cartridge has a sampling portion where the test elements are configured to receive the body fluid;

the test elements include electrochemical test strips with one or more contacts;

the meter includes one or more contacts coupled to the portion of the meter received inside the meter opening; and

the contacts of the meter are configured to contact the contacts of the electrochemical test strips when at the sampling portion of the cartridge.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the electrochemical test strips each include:

a first substrate;

a second substrate;

a reagent disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;

electrodes contacting the reagent between the first substrate and the second substrate; and

wherein the first substrate defines one or more contact openings along the electrodes that define the contacts of the electrochemical test strips.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the electrochemical test strips each include a cover layer; and

the second substrate defines a sample chamber for receiving the body fluid.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the reagent includes a mesh for drawing the body fluid via capillary action.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the meter includes an alignment key member to which the contacts of the meter are coupled; and

the cartridge includes an alignment key opening in which the alignment key member is received for aligning the contacts of the meter with the contacts of an electrochemical test strips when positioned within the sampling portion.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the meter includes a projection received in the meter opening and a stop flange extending from one end of the projection.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a display disposed on at least a portion of the projection.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the cartridge includes a coupling flange configured to engage the stop flange of the meter.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the meter is substantially disposed inside the meter opening of the cartridge.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge includes an indexing mechanism configured to index the test strip tape.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the test strip tape has at least one indexing notch, the indexing mechanism being configured to engage the test strip tape at the indexing notch.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the test strip tape has break lines between the test elements for breaking off individual test elements from the test strip tape; and

the indexing notch is disposed between the test elements adjacent the break lines.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the indexing member includes a grip member configured to engage indexing notch;

the cartridge defines a groove for guiding the grip member during indexing; and

the cam groove is configured to guide the grip member in a direction that is transverse to the test strip tape for engaging the grip member with the indexing notch.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the indexing member includes a grip member configured to engage indexing notch; and

the cartridge has a cam member configured to deflect the grip member into engagement with the indexing notch.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the indexing mechanism includes a pusher member configured to frictionally engage the test strip tape to index the test strip tape.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge includes:

a sampling portion where the test elements are configured to receive the body fluid; and

a relief indentation at the sampling portion that is concavely shaped to receive a body part.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein each test element includes a relief notch that is concavely shaped similarly to the sampling portion to receive the body part.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge includes at least one identifier configured to provide information for calibrating the meter.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one identifier includes non-evident coding for calibrating the meter.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the cartridge includes means for housing the test strip tape; and

the meter includes electronic means for analyzing the body fluid using electrochemical or optical analysis.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge includes:

an advancement slot;

an advancement button slidably disposed along the advancement slot for advancing the test strip tape; and

one or more seals disposed along the advancement slot, the seals being configured to seal against the advancement button.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge includes one or more seals sealing against the test strip tape to prevent contaminants from entering the cartridge.

25. A test strip cartridge, comprising:

a housing defining a meter opening configured to receive at least a portion of a meter, the housing being ring shaped to provide a pleasing handheld shape;

a test strip tape wrapped around the meter opening of the housing, the test strip tape including a plurality of test strip elements configured to analyze body fluid;

wherein the housing defines a sampling portion where the test elements collect the body fluid; and

an indexing mechanism coupled to the housing, the indexing mechanism being configured to index the test elements to the sampling portion.

26. The cartridge of claim 25, wherein:

the test elements include contacts; and

the housing defines a key structure configured to align contacts of the meter with the contacts of the test elements when in the sampling portion.

27. A meter, comprising:

a projection configured to extend through a meter opening in a cartridge;

an alignment key member extending from the projection, the alignment key member including one or more contacts, the alignment key member being configured to align the contacts in the cartridge; and

a stop flange extending from one end of the projection.

28. The meter of claim 27, further comprising a display disposed on the projection at the end opposite the stop flange.