Auto-Calibration Circuit For Analyte Measurement

• US 20110011151A1
• Filed: 07/15/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Cheal, Stephen P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,101,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48771 Coding of information, e.g. calibration data, lot number
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00693 Calibration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/10 Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing

Abstract

Embodiments provide expanded ability to communicate calibration information to diagnostic systems for determining a characteristic of a test sample. An example system for determining a characteristic of a test sample includes: a test sensor for receiving a test sample; a sensor meter responsive to the test sensor, the sensor meter determining a characteristic of the test sample received on the test sensor; and a calibration element including electrical contacts readable by the sensor meter. The electrical contacts are configurable in one of a plurality of patterns that communicates, to the sensor meter, information relating to the determination of the characteristic of the test sample. The plurality of patterns include two or more of the electrical contacts that are electrically isolated from any other electrical contacts. The sensor meter determines at least partially the information from the electrical contacts by determining a combination of values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts.

Claims

1. A system for determining a characteristic of a test sample, comprising:

a test sensor for receiving a test sample;

a sensor meter responsive to the test sensor, the sensor meter determining a characteristic of the test sample received on the test sensor; and

a calibration element including electrical contacts readable by the sensor meter, the electrical contacts being configurable in one of a plurality of patterns that communicates, to the sensor meter, information relating to the determination of the characteristic of the test sample, the plurality of patterns including two or more of the electrical contacts being electrically isolated from any other electrical contacts, wherein the sensor meter determines at least partially the information from the electrical contacts by determining a combination of values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the test sensor includes a reagent that reacts with the test sample, the sensor meter determines the characteristic of the test sample by measuring the reaction between the reagent and the test sample, and the measurement by the sensor meter is calibrated by the information from the calibration element.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the information from the calibration element relates to a source for the reagent on the test sensor, and the information calibrates the sensor meter to account for the source.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of patterns for the electrical contacts represents binary values, and the sensor meter determines at least partially the information from the electrical contacts by determining a combination of binary values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the values associated with the isolated electrical contacts are unique.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of patterns are organized into types, and the combination of values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts indicates one of the types.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor meter is one of a plurality of sensor meter types, the plurality of patterns are operable with the plurality of sensor meter types and are organized into the sensor meter types, and the combination of values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts indicate a type corresponding to the sensor meter.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor meter determines the information from the calibration element and translates the information into coefficients for an equation that determines the characteristic of the test sample.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of patterns for the electrical contacts includes at least one subset of the electrical contacts being electrically connected to each other, and the sensor meter further determines the information from the electrical contacts by determining a value corresponding to the at least one subset of connected electrical contacts.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of patterns for the electrical contacts includes a first subset of the electrical contacts connected to each other via a first conductive path and a second subset of the electrical contacts connected to each other via a second conductive path.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sum of the value corresponding to the first subset of connected electrical contacts and the value corresponding to the second subset of connected electrical contacts uniquely corresponds to the combination of values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor package receivable by the sensor meter, the sensor package containing the test sensor and including the calibration element.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the test sample is a fluid sample and the characteristic is a concentration of an analyte in the fluid sample.

14. A method for determining a characteristic of a test sample, comprising:

receiving a test sample;

reading an calibration element, the calibration element including electrical contacts configurable in one of a plurality of patterns to communicate information relating to a determination of a characteristic of the test sample, the plurality of patterns including two or more of the electrical contacts being electrically isolated from other electrical contacts;

determining at least partially the information from the electrical contacts by determining a combination of values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts; and

determining a characteristic of the test sample according to the information from the calibration element.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining a characteristic of the test sample comprises measuring a reaction between the test sample and a reagent, the measurement being calibrated by the information from the calibration element.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the information from the calibration element relates to a source for the reagent, and the information calibrates the sensor meter to account for the source.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of patterns for the electrical contacts represents binary values, and determining the information from the electrical contacts comprises determining a combination of binary values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts are unique.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of patterns are organized into types, and the combination of values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts indicates one of the types.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the calibration element is operable with a plurality of sensor meter types, and the combination of values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts indicate a type corresponding to one of the sensor meter types.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising translating the information into coefficients for an equation, wherein determining a characteristic of the test sample comprises solving the equation with the coefficients.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining the information from the electrical contacts by determining a value corresponding to at least one subset of the electrical contacts that are electrically connected to each other.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of patterns for the electrical contacts includes a first subset of the electrical contacts connected to each other via a first conductive path and a second subset of the electrical contacts connected to each other via a second conductive path.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the sum of the decoded value corresponding to the first subset of connected electrical contacts and the decoded value corresponding to the second subset of connected electrical contacts uniquely corresponds to the combination of decoded values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising confirming, with the sum, the combination of values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts.

26. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a sensor package containing the test sensor, the sensor package including the calibration element.

27. The method of claim 14, wherein the test sample is a fluid sample and the characteristic is a concentration of an analyte in the fluid sample.

28. A system for providing a calibration circuit with a type indicator, the calibration circuit providing information relating to the determination of the characteristic of the test sample, comprising:

an electrical circuit; and

a calibration circuit including electrical contacts readable by the electrical circuit, the electrical contacts being configurable in one of a plurality of patterns that communicates, to the electrical circuit, information relating to the determination of the characteristic of the test sample, the plurality of patterns including two or more of the electrical contacts being electrically isolated from any other electrical contacts, the electrical circuit determining at least partially the information from the electrical contacts by determining a combination of values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts, wherein the plurality of patterns are organized into types, and the combination of values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts indicates one of the types for the calibration circuit.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the information from the calibration circuit relates to a source for a reagent that reacts with the test sample to determine the characteristic of the test sample, and the information calibrates a measurement of the test sample according to the source.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of patterns for the electrical contacts represents binary values, and the electrical circuit determines at least partially the information from the electrical contacts by determining a combination of binary values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the values associated with the isolated electrical contacts are unique.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the electrical circuit determines the information from the calibration element and translates the information into coefficients for an equation that determines the characteristic of the test sample.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of patterns for the electrical contacts includes at least one subset of the electrical contacts being electrically connected to each other, and the sensor meter further determines the information from the electrical contacts by determining a value corresponding to the at least one subset of connected electrical contacts.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of patterns for the electrical contacts includes a first subset of the electrical contacts connected to each other via a first conductive path and a second subset of the electrical contacts connected to each other via a second conductive path.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the sum of the value corresponding to the first subset of connected electrical contacts and the value corresponding to the second subset of connected electrical contacts uniquely corresponds to the combination of values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts.