Analyte Meter Protectors and Methods

• US 20100066535A1
• Filed: 11/20/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Strasma, Paul, Gary, Kenneth, Arbogast, Frederic, Azzano, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 7,914,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4875 Details of handling test elements, e.g. dispensing or storage, not specific to a particular test method test-elements per se B01L, automatic analysers G01N35/00, in-vivo analysis on the human body for medical diagnosis A61B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/817 Enzyme or microbe electrode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/144444 Glucose

Abstract

Analyte meter protectors, meters that include the same, and methods.

Claims

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. An analyte monitoring device, comprising:

an electrochemical sensor configured to produce one or more signals indicative of an analyte concentration of a sample;

a housing comprising a port for receiving the electrochemical sensor;

a port protector comprising an opening and attached to the housing about the port to prevent contaminants from entering the interior of the housing while allowing the electrochemical sensor to be received through the opening of the port protector;

a processor housed in the housing, wherein the processor is configured to process one or more signals produced by the electrochemical sensor and thereby determine the analyte concentration, and wherein the processor is configured to determine a dosage of medication based at least in part on the determined analyte concentration; and

a display in communication with the processor, wherein the display is configured to display the determined dosage of medication.

31. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the port protector provides a substantially fluid tight seal with the housing.

32. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the port protector is removably attachable to the analyte monitoring device.

33. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the port protector is fixedly attachable to the analyte monitoring device.

34. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the port protector comprises an elastomeric material.

35. The analyte monitoring device of claim 34, wherein the port protector comprises rubber.

36. The analyte monitoring device of claim 34, wherein the port protector comprises adhesive.

37. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the opening of the port protector comprises a guide for receiving the electrochemical sensor.

38. The analyte monitoring device of claim 37, wherein the guide comprises a ledge.

39. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the analyte is glucose.

40. The analyte monitoring device of claim 39, wherein the medication is insulin.

41. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the port protector reduces the size of the port when attached to the housing.

42. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display (LCD).

43. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the display is a light-emitting diode (LED) display.

44. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the display comprises a backlight.

45. The analyte monitoring device of claim 44, wherein the backlight is activated upon insertion of the electrochemical sensor into the port.

46. The analyte monitoring device of claim 39, wherein the display comprises one or more indicators activatable when the analyte concentration indicates a state of hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, impending hyperglycemia or impending hypoglycemia.

47. The analyte monitoring device of claim 46, wherein the one or more indicators are color-coded.

48. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the display is configured to display a graph of the analyte concentration over a period of time.

49. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the display is configured to display a graph of rate of change or acceleration in the rate of change of the analyte concentration over time.

50. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the display is configured to display a message in the form of text directing a user of the analyte monitoring device to perform an action in response to the determined analyte concentration.

51. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, further comprising a transmitter in communication with the processor, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit data related to the determined analyte concentration.

52. The analyte monitoring device of claim 51, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the data wirelessly.

53. The analyte monitoring device of claim 52, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the data using a radio frequency (RF) transmission.

54. The analyte monitoring device of claim 52, wherein the computer is located in a doctor'"'"'s office.

55. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to determine if the analyte concentration, rate of change, and/or acceleration in the rate of change of the analyte concentration exceeds or meets one or more threshold values.

56. The analyte monitoring device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured to activate an alarm in the event the one or more threshold values are met or exceeded.

57. The analyte monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to evaluate trends in analyte concentration based on a series of sensor signals.

58. The analyte monitoring device of claim 57, wherein the processor is further configured to predict trends in the analyte concentration.

59. The analyte monitoring device of claim 58, wherein the trends comprise rate and/or acceleration of analyte concentration increase or decrease.

60. A glucose monitoring device, comprising:

an electrochemical sensor configured to produce one or more signals indicative of glucose concentration of a sample;

a housing comprising a port for receiving the electrochemical sensor;

a port protector comprising an opening and attached to the housing about the port to prevent contaminants from entering the interior of the housing while allowing the electrochemical sensor to be received through the opening of the port protector;

a processor housed in the housing, wherein the processor is configured to process one or more signals produced by the electrochemical sensor and thereby determine the glucose concentration, and wherein the processor is configured to determine a dosage of medication based at least in part on the determined glucose concentration; and

a display in communication with the processor, wherein the display is configured to display the determined dosage of medication.

61. The glucose monitoring device of claim 60, wherein the port protector provides a substantially fluid tight seal with the housing.

62. The glucose monitoring device of claim 60, wherein the port protector is removably attachable to the glucose monitoring device.

63. The glucose monitoring device of claim 60, wherein the port protector is fixedly attachable to the glucose monitoring device.

64. The glucose monitoring device of claim 60, wherein the port protector comprises an elastomeric material.

65. The glucose monitoring device of claim 64, wherein the port protector comprises rubber.

66. The glucose monitoring device of claim 64, wherein the port protector comprises adhesive.

67. The glucose monitoring device of claim 60, wherein the opening of the port protector comprises a guide for receiving the electrochemical sensor.

68. The glucose monitoring device of claim 67, wherein the guide comprises a ledge.

69. The glucose monitoring device of claim 60, wherein the medication is insulin.

70. The glucose monitoring device of claim 60, wherein the display comprises one or more indicators activatable when the glucose concentration indicates a state of hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, impending hyperglycemia or impending hypoglycemia.

71. The glucose monitoring device of claim 60, further comprising a transmitter in communication with the processor, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit data related to the determined glucose concentration.

72. The glucose monitoring device of claim 71, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the data wirelessly or using a radio frequency (RF) transmission.