Disposable, Refillable Glucometer with Cell Phone Interface for Transmission of Results

• US 20080299009A1
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teladoc Health, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kimon Angelides
• Inventors: Angelides, Kimon
• Granted Patent: US 7,935,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/82.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack

Abstract

A disposable glucometer is disclosed which includes a testing region for receiving a test strip and electronic components to perform blood glucose monitoring, a cell phone interface for relaying test results to a monitoring station or server (which can be through a Bluetooth radio), and a multi-strip test strip holder. The glucometer includes a mechanism to automatically load test strips, one at a time, from the multi-strip test strip holder into the testing region, and a mechanism to eject the strip from the testing region after the test is complete. The test strip holder is preferably encased in a transparent material or otherwise includes a visual indicator so that the number of strips remaining strips and available for testing can be determined. In one embodiment, the entire unit is disposable, and is discarded when all of the strips have been used. In another embodiment, the test strip holder portion of the unit is removed and replaced with a new test strip holder which is loaded with test strips.

Claims

1. A glucometer holding multiple glucose test strips which can be loaded for testing in succession, and each used test strip can be ejected following test completion, comprising:

a chamber holding multiple glucose test strips, said chamber including a platform with glucose test strips placed thereon in a stack on one side of the platform, and springs positioned on the other side of the platform so as to advance the glucose test strips in the direction of the stack;

a means for advancing the test strip in the stack which is furthest from the platform separately, in a direction transverse to the direction of the stack so that it extends through a port in the side of the glucometer, such that a sample can be applied to said strip for testing;

electronic testing components in electrical connection with the strip when it is positioned for testing;

a means for connecting the glucometer to a wireless device which can transmit test results to a monitoring station; and

said means for advancing including the ability to advance the strip such that, following testing it is ejected from the glucometer, after which, the means for advancing returns to a position where it can advance the next strip in the stack.

2. The glucometer of claim 1 wherein the test strip holder is detachable and can be replaced with a different test strip holder filled with unused test strips.

3. The glucometer of claim 1 wherein the number of test strips in the holder can be viewed.

4. The glucometer of claim 1 wherein the means for advancing includes a first stop point which prevents a strip from extending through the port past a certain point on the strip.

5. The glucometer of claim 1 wherein the means for advancing includes a second stop point which is engaged after a strip has been ejected from the port.

8. The glucometer of claim 1 wherein the wireless device is a Bluetooth radio, cellular phone or PDA.

9. The glucometer of claim 8 wherein glucometer is directly connected to a cellular phone or PDA.

10. The glucometer of claim 8 wherein test results are transmitted from the cell phone or PDA to a monitoring station or a server which stores the results.

11. A glucometer holding multiple glucose test strips which can be loaded for testing in succession, and each used test strip can be ejected following test completion, comprising:

a chamber holding multiple glucose test strips, said chamber including a platform with glucose test strips placed thereon in a stack on one side of the platform, and springs positioned on the other side of the platform so as to advance the glucose test strips in the direction of the stack;

a cam having an edge portion for engaging and advancing the test strip in the stack which is furthest from the platform separately, in a direction transverse to the direction of the stack so that it extends through a port in the side of the glucometer, such that a sample can be applied to said strip for testing;

a bore in which the cam moves both towards and away from the port, said bore having a first engagement section which engages a mating portion of the cam, and prevents it from moving forward past the point where the sample can be applied to the strip for testing;

a means for moving the first engagement portion out of mating with the cam, and advancing the cam towards the port to eject the strip from the glucometer;

a means for returning the cam to a position at the end of the bore opposite to the port, such that it can engage another test strip;

electronic testing components in electrical connection with the strip when it is positioned for testing; and

a means for connecting the glucometer to a wireless device which can transmit test results to a monitoring station.

6. The glucometer of claim 11 wherein the electronic testing components include a microcontroller which identifies when the strip is at the first stop point and initiates testing for glucose on a sample.

7. The glucometer of claim 6 wherein the electronic testing components maintain a consistent reference voltage across the strip and determine the variation in current flowing through the strip, over time, to determine the glucose in the sample.

12. The glucometer of claim 11 wherein the test strip holder is detachable and can be replaced with a different test strip holder filled with unused test strips.

13. The glucometer of claim 11 wherein the number of test strips in the holder can be viewed.

14. The glucometer of claim 11 wherein the means for advancing includes a first stop point which prevents a strip from extending through the port past a certain point on the strip.

15. The glucometer of claim 11 wherein the means for advancing includes a second stop point which is engaged after a strip has been ejected from the port.

16. The glucometer of claim 11 wherein the electronic testing components include a microcontroller which identifies when the strip is at the first stop point and initiates testing for glucose on a sample.

17. The glucometer of claim 16 wherein the electronic testing components maintain a consistent reference voltage across the strip and determine the variation in current flowing through the strip, over time, to determine the glucose in the sample.

18. The glucometer of claim 11 wherein the wireless device is a Bluetooth radio, cellular phone or PDA.

19. The glucometer of claim 18 wherein glucometer is directly connected to a cellular phone or PDA.

20. The glucometer of claim 18 wherein test results are transmitted from the cell phone or PDA to a monitoring station or a server which stores the results.