Method for operating measuring meter and measuring meter

• US 20070272564A1
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bionime Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bionime Corporation
• Inventors: Huang, Chun-Mu
• Granted Patent: US 8,236,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/792
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3273 Devices therefor, e.g. test element readers, circuitry details not specific to biochemical electrodes G01N33/4875

Abstract

A method for operating a measuring meter for an electrochemical test strip is provided. The method comprises steps of applying a voltage to electrodes of the test strip at least during one of a sample presence detection period and an incubation period; and repeatedly increasing and decreasing the voltage during at least one of the sample presence detection period and the incubation period.

Claims

1. A method for operating a measuring meter for an electrochemical test strip, comprising steps of:

applying a voltage to electrodes of the test strip at least during one of a sample presence detection period and an incubation period; and

repeatedly increasing and decreasing the voltage during at least one of the sample presence detection period and the incubation period.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the voltage is applied in a regular pattern with one of a predetermined and a predeterminable frequencies and with a maximum value which is constant during at least one of the periods.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the voltage is applied as a series of pulses.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein a minimum value of the voltage between two successive pulses is 0 Volt.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein a minimum value of the voltage between two successive pulses is larger than 0 Volt, but less than 0.1 Volt.

6. A method according to claim 3, wherein a duration between two successive pulses is operated by an open circuit.

7. A method according to claim 3, wherein a duration of pulses during the sample presence detection period is from 10 μ

s to 300 μ

s, and a duration between successive pulses is from 10 ms to 50 ms.

8. A method according to claim 3, wherein a duration of pulses during the sample presence detection period is 100 μ

s, and a duration between successive pulses is 20 ms.

9. A method according to claim 3, wherein a duration of pulses during the incubation period is from 10 μ

s to 1 ms, and a duration between successive pulses is from 10 ms to 300 ms.

10. A method according to claim 3, wherein a duration of pulses during the incubation period is 100 μ

s, and a duration between successive pulses is 200 ms.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein a maximum value of the voltage applied during the incubation period is sufficiently high to oxidize a reduced form of a mediator M_(RED) in a reagent of the test strip into its oxidised form M_(OX), and sufficiently low so as to avoid an oxidation of an H₂O₂ in the reagent.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein a maximum value of the voltage applied during the sample presence detection period is sufficient for creating a measurable current between the electrodes when a sample is present.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of limiting a flowing current between the electrodes during the incubation period.

14. A measuring meter for an electrochemical test strip, comprising a voltage providing device applying a voltage to electrodes of the test strip, wherein the voltage is repeatedly increased and decreased during at least one of a sample presence detection period and an incubation period.

15. A measuring meter according to claim 14, wherein the voltage providing device applies the voltage in a regular pattern with one of a predetermined and a predeterminable frequencies.

16. A measuring meter according to claim 14, wherein the voltage providing device applies the voltage in a series of pulses.

17. A measuring meter according to claim 16, wherein the voltage providing device applies the voltage being 0 Volt between two successive pulses.

18. A measuring meter according to claim 16, wherein the voltage providing device applies the voltage being larger than 0 Volt but less than 0.1 Volt between two successive pulses.

19. A measuring meter according to claim 16, wherein the voltage providing device applies the voltage consisting of pulses with a duration thereof being 10 μ

s to 300 μ

s, and a duration between the successive pulses is 10 ms to 50 ms during the sample presence detection period.

20. A measuring meter according to claim 16, wherein the voltage providing device applies the voltage consisting of pulses with a duration thereof being 100 μ

s, and a duration between the successive pulses is 20 ms during the sample presence detection period.

21. A measuring meter according to claim 16, wherein the voltage providing device applies the voltage consisting of pulses with a duration thereof being 10 μ

s to 1 ms, and a duration between the successive pulses is 10 ms to 300 ms during the incubation period.

22. A measuring meter according to claim 16, wherein the voltage providing device applies the voltage consisting of pulses with a duration thereof being 100 μ

s, and a duration between the successive pulses is 200 ms during the incubation period.

23. A measuring meter according to claim 14, wherein the voltage applied by the voltage providing device is sufficiently high to oxidise a reduced form of a mediator M_RED in a reagent of the test strip into its oxidised form M_OX during the incubation period, but is sufficiently low so as to avoid an oxidation of an H₂O₂ in the reagent.

24. A measuring meter according to claim 14, wherein the voltage applied by the voltage providing device during the sample presence detection period is sufficient for creating a measurable current between the electrodes when a sample is present.

25. A measuring meter according to claim 14 further comprising a limiting device limiting a current flow between the electrodes during the incubation period.

26. A measuring meter according to claim 25, wherein the limiting device is formed by at least two resistors which are selectively connected to an entry of an operational amplifier of a current to voltage converter.