BIOLOGICAL TESTING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system for measuring an analyte of interest in a biological fluid, comprising:
- a test strip for receiving a sample of the biological fluid and having at least one contact pad formed thereon; and
a meter having a connector for receiving the test strip as it moves in a direction of insertion, the connector having at least one contact wire for contacting a surface of a respective one of the at least one contact pads at a respective at least one contact point;
wherein the contact wire has a radius of curvature at the contact point, taken in a plane parallel to the direction of insertion and perpendicular to the surface of the at least one contact pad, of at least about 3 mm.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector for establishing electrical connection between a testing device and a test strip with a biological fluid thereon includes a contact pad on the test strip, and one or more contact wires in the testing device. When the strip is inserted into the testing device, part of the strip'"'"'s end engages a contact portion of a contact wire and deflects it in a direction normal to the direction of insertion. In certain embodiments the radius of curvature (in the direction of insertion) of the contact portion is controlled to reduce abrasion of the strip by the wire. In other embodiments the radius of curvature (perpendicular to the direction of insertion) is controlled to reduce the abrasion of the strip by the wire. Sometimes the contact portion and/or contact pad is plated with a sacrificial material to reduce the coefficient of friction. In other embodiments various numbers of contacts receive the end of the strip substantially simultaneously, or are staggered in rows to distribute the resistance presented.
173 Citations
109 Claims
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1. A system for measuring an analyte of interest in a biological fluid, comprising:
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a test strip for receiving a sample of the biological fluid and having at least one contact pad formed thereon; and
a meter having a connector for receiving the test strip as it moves in a direction of insertion, the connector having at least one contact wire for contacting a surface of a respective one of the at least one contact pads at a respective at least one contact point;
wherein the contact wire has a radius of curvature at the contact point, taken in a plane parallel to the direction of insertion and perpendicular to the surface of the at least one contact pad, of at least about 3 mm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A connector for use in a test meter adapted for use with a biological test strip to measure an analyte of interest, the test strip being received in an opening in the test meter, the test strip when received in the opening having at least one contact pad which engages the connector, the connector comprising:
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at least one contact, the contact comprising a contact wire having a contact portion that makes conductive contact with a contact pad of the test strip, wherein the contact portion of the contact wire has a radius in at least two non-parallel planes. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A test meter adapted for use with a biological test strip to measure an analyte of interest and having at least one contact pad formed thereon, the test meter comprising:
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a housing having a slot therein for receiving the test strip; and
a connector disposed at least partially within the housing, the connector comprising;
an opening for receiving at least a portion of the test strip; and
at least one contact wire disposed in the opening, the at least one contact wire having a contact portion that makes electrical contact with a respective one of the at least one contact pad of the test strip;
wherein the contact portion has a radius of curvature, in a plane parallel to a direction of insertion of the test strip and perpendicular to a surface of the at least one contact pad, of at least about 3 mm. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 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)
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104. A system for measuring an analyte of interest in a biological fluid, comprising:
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a test strip for receiving a sample of the biological fluid and having at least one contact pad formed thereon; and
a meter having a connector for receiving the test strip, the connector having at least one contact wire for contacting a respective one of the at least one contact pads at a respective at least one contact point;
wherein the at least one contact wire has a distal end, the distal end being approximately loop-shaped. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106)
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107. A connector for use in a test meter adapted for use with a biological test strip to measure an analyte of interest, the test strip being received in an opening in the test meter, the test strip when received in the opening having at least one contact pad which engages the connector, the connector comprising:
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at least one contact, the contact comprising a contact wire having a contact portion that makes conductive contact with the contact pad of the test strip, wherein the contact portion of the contact wire is approximately loop-shaped. - View Dependent Claims (108, 109)
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Specification