Method and System for Checking an Electromechanical Biosensor

• US 20090127135A1
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Huang, Dijia
• Granted Patent: US 8,496,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/792
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3274 Corrective measures, e.g. error detection, compensation for temperature or hematocrit, calibration coding of calibration information G01N33/48771

Abstract

A method of operating a meter for determining the concentration of an analyte in a current sample and for self-detecting electrical connection errors like short or open circuit between the electrodes of a biosensor. The method includes providing a connector with a plurality of contacts and coupling each of the plurality of contacts to one of a plurality of electrical leads on a biosensor, such that each of the plurality of connector contacts electrically contacts a corresponding one of the plurality of electrical leads. The meter obtains a first measurement between a pair of the plurality of connector contacts prior to the fluid sample being applied. The meter also obtains a second measurement between the pair of the plurality of connector contacts after the fluid sample is applied. In response to either the first or the second measurements being outside a predetermined range, a fault is indicated.

Claims

1. A method of operating a meter for determining the concentration of an analyte in a current sample, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a biosensor and a meter;

providing a connector in the meter with a plurality of contacts;

coupling each of the plurality of contacts to one of a plurality of electrical leads on the biosensor, such that each of the plurality of connector contacts electrically contacts a corresponding one of the plurality of electrical leads;

obtaining a first measurement between at least one pair of the plurality of connector contacts via the meter prior to the fluid sample being applied;

obtaining a second measurement between at least one pair of the plurality of connector contacts via the meter after the fluid sample is applied; and

in response to one of the first and second measurements being outside of a predetermined range, the meter indicates a fault.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second measurements obtained are current measurements.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein in response to the first measurement prior to the sample being applied being greater than about 20 nA, the meter indicates a fault.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein in response to the second measurement after the sample being applied being less than about 200 nA, the test device indicates a fault.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a voltage to each pair, one pair at a time, of the plurality of connector contacts via the meter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage is from about 0.2 to about 3.0 volts.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the meter obtains a measurement between each pair, one at a time, of the plurality of connector contacts.

8. A method of operating a meter for determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample, the method comprising the acts of:

positioning a biosensor in the test position, the biosensor including a plurality of leads, the plurality of leads contacting one of a plurality of connector contacts in the meter;

obtaining a first current measurement between a pair of the of the plurality of connector contacts via the meter;

introducing a fluid sample into the meter;

obtaining a second current measurement between a pair of the plurality of connector contacts via the meter after the fluid sample is applied; and

in response to at least one of the first and second current measurements being outside a predetermined range, indicating a fault.

9. A test system for determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample, the system comprising:

a meter having a connector with a plurality of contacts; and

a biosensor having a plurality of leads, each of the plurality of leads adapted to contact a respective one of the plurality of contacts;

wherein the meter is further adapted to take a first measurement between a pair of the plurality of connector contacts prior to the fluid sample being applied and a second measurement after the fluid sample is applied, and, in response to one of the first and second measurements being outside a predetermined range, the meter is adapted to indicate a fault.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the measurement obtained is the current between the pair of the plurality of connector contacts.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein in response to the measurement prior to the fluid sample being applied is greater than about 20 nA, the meter indicates a fault.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein in response to the measurement after the fluid sample is applied is less than about 200 nA, the meter indicates a fault.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the meter is adapted to apply a voltage to each pair, one pair at a time, of the plurality of connector contacts, one pair at a time.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the voltage is between about 0.2 and 3.0 volts.