APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING ELECTRICAL SHOCK IN DEVICES

• US 20100053851A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bernstein, Daniel M., Jennewine, R. Curtis, Haley, Charlene A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,946,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.10
• 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 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48792 Data management, e.g. communication with processing unit for in vivo diagnostics A61B5/0002; transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate

Abstract

A device for preventing electrical shock from a device with electrical interfaces. A shutter or other barrier associated with the device that physically prevents access or contact to one of the electrical interfaces while another electrical interface is in use.

Claims

1. A device that prevents electrical shocks related to use of ports on the device, the device comprising:

a device having a case;

an enclosure formed in the case, wherein a first port and a second port of the device are accessible through the enclosure; and

a shutter disposed within the enclosure and operably moveable within the enclosure to selectively cover at least one of the first and second ports.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a first rail extending from the case and a second rail extending from the case to retain the shutter within the enclosure, wherein an opening between the first and second rail provides access to the shutter and to the first and second ports.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the shutter comprises a handle extending out from a surface of the shutter and configured to be moved by a user to selectively cover at least one of the first and second ports.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the shutter includes a plurality of members formed on a surface of the shutter that assist a user in moving the shutter to cover at least one of the first and second ports.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the case further comprises a slot in a surface of the device and the shutter comprising at least one tab that extends up through the slot, wherein movement of the shutter is accomplished with the tab.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first port is configured to receive a test strip and the second port is configured to receive a connector that connects with a second device, the second device including at least one of a medical device, a computer, or a power source.

7. The device as recited in claim 6, wherein the connector, when inserted in the second port, acts as a stop to the shutter such that the first port remains covered while the connector is inserted in the second port.

8. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second ports are arranged in first and second surfaces of the device, and wherein the shutter comprises a flexible material to allow the shutter to bend between the first and second surfaces.

9. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a bias mechanism arranged between the shutter and a wall of the enclosure, wherein the bias mechanism maintains the shutter in a default position where the shutter covers the second port and allows access to the first port.

10. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the shutter covers both the first port and the second port at the same time.

11. A device for preventing electrical shock related to use of electrical interfaces on the device, the measurement device comprising:

a case having a form factor;

a first port disposed in the case and configured to receive a test strip, wherein an analyte on the test strip is analyzed when the test strip is inserted in the first port;

a second port disposed in the case and configured to receive a connector; and

a shutter associated with the case and configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein the first port is physically covered when the shutter is in the first position and the second port is physically covered when the shutter is in the second position.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the shutter comprises a flexible material.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a slot formed in a surface of the case, wherein a tab formed on the shutter extends through the slot.

14. The device of claim 12, further comprising an enclosure formed in an end of the case, wherein the shutter is disposed inside the enclosure.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the enclosure further comprises at least one opening, wherein the first port and the second port are accessible through the at least one opening.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the enclosure comprises first and second rails that retain the shutter within the enclosure while allowing the shutter to move between the first and second position.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the connector, when inserted into the second port, acts as a stop to keep the shutter in the first position during use and wherein a test strip, when inserted in the first port, acts as a stop to keep the shutter in the second position during use.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the first port and the second port are arranged in different surfaces.

19. The device of claim 11, further comprising a bias mechanism configured to exert a force to maintain the shuttle in a default position, wherein the default position includes either the first, second or a third position, wherein both the first port and the second port are physically covered by the shutter in the third position.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the bias mechanism is arranged between the shutter and a wall of the device to keep the shutter in the default position.

21. The device of claim 11, wherein the connector comprises a cable that provides a connection to at least one of a computer or a power source, wherein the cable communicates data relating to the analyte to the computer from the device and wherein the cable permits the power source to recharge rechargeable batteries of the device.

22. The device of claim 11, wherein the first port and the second port are configured as a unified port, wherein the unified port is configured receive both a test strip and the connector, wherein the first port only receives the test strip and the second port only receives the connector.

23. An apparatus for use with a device to prevent electrical shock related to use of the device, the apparatus comprising:

a cable configured to connect the device with a second device;

a connector on an end of the cable, the connector configured to interface with a first port of the device; and

a barrier disposed around the connector and defining a cavity, the barrier having a perimeter substantially matching a corresponding perimeter of the device, wherein an end of the device occupies the cavity when the connector is inserted into the first port and wherein the barrier prevents access to a second port of the device when the connector is inserted into the first port.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, further comprising an engagement structure disposed on a body of the barrier, wherein the engagement structure interfaces with the device to mechanically connect the apparatus to the device.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the cavity is configured to accommodate a form factor of the device and the barrier is formed of a non-conductive material.

26. A method for preventing electrical shock during use of a device, the method comprising:

providing a first port and a second port on a device;

barring access to the first port during use of the second port; and

barring access to the second port during use of the first port.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, further comprising barring access to the first port using a shutter, wherein the shutter covers both the first port and the second port when the device is not in use.

28. A device for preventing electrical shock related to use of electrical interfaces on the device, the measurement device comprising:

a case;

a first port disposed in the case and configured to receive a test strip, wherein an analyte on the test strip is analyzed when the test strip is inserted in the first port; and

a second port disposed in the case and configured to a connector, wherein the first port and the second port are arranged such that use of the first port blocks use of the second port.

29. A device as recited in claim 28, wherein the first port is angled relative to the second port.

30. A device as recited in claim 28, wherein the first port and the second port are configured such that the first port and the second port can only receive only receive a test strip or only receive a connector.

31. A medical device that prevents electrical shocks related to use of ports on the device, the device comprising:

a first port to connect the medical device to an analyte test strip; and

a second port to connect the medical device to another device,

wherein the medical device is configured so that the first and second ports can not be in use at the same time, thereby preventing electrical shock associated with the simultaneous use of the ports.