METHODS, SYSTEM AND DEVICE TO IDENTIFY A TYPE OF TEST STRIP

• US 20110057671A1
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Guthrie, Brian, Macrae, Allan, De Angeli, Marco, WELSH, Raymond
• Application Number:
  US12/875,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20110057671A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/693
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48771 Coding of information, e.g. calibration data, lot number
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/66 involving blood sugars, e.g. galactose
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/145 Indicating the presence of current or voltage

Abstract

Various methods, devices and systems are described in which certain analyte test strip are identified for use in an analyte test meter or identified as unsuitable for use in the meter.

Claims

1. A method of determining a type of a test strip in a glucose meter, the method comprising:

(a) inserting a test strip into a strip port connector of the glucose meter, the strip port connector having first, second and third discrete contacts;

(b) determining whether there is a continuity between a first contact and a second contact that are in electrical connection with at least one contact pad of the test strip;

(c) evaluating whether there is a continuity between a third contact and the first contact or between the third contact and the second contact that are in electrical connection with one or more contact pads of the test strip;

(d) initiating a glucose test upon detection of continuity in the determining and evaluating.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an error message that a first type of test strip has not been mated with the glucose meter where continuity was detected in the determining but not in the evaluating.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising instructing a user to input a calibration code where a second type of test strip has been inserted into the glucose meter where a continuity was detected in the determining but not in the evaluating.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(e) performing each of the determining and evaluating at least once; and

(f) identifying that a first type of test strip has been inserted upon detection of continuity in the determining and evaluating.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the first type of test strip includes a continuous conductive track in conductance with the first, second, and third contacts.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the second type of test strip has a continuous conductive track in conductance with the first and second contacts, but not the third contact.

7. The method of claim 1, in which two of the three contacts are electrically connected to ground.

8. A glucose meter comprising:

a strip connector having first, second and third contacts, the third contact connected to a ground;

a switch having a source input, a drain input, and a gate input, the source input connected to a ground, the drain input connected to the first contact; and

a microcontroller having a first interrupt connected to the gate input of the switch and a second interrupt connected to the second contact, the microcontroller being in electrical communication with the first contact and the third contact upon insertion of a test strip.

9. The glucose meter of claim 8, in which the second interrupt comprises a connection to a supply voltage via a pull-up resistor.

10. The glucose meter of claim 8, in which the switch comprises one of a MOSFET and FET switch.

11. The glucose meter of claim 8, in which two of the three contacts are electrically connected to ground.

12. A glucose measurement system comprising:

a glucose test strip having a plurality of conductive tracks;

a glucose meter having;

a power supply and ground;

a strip port connector having first, second and third contact with the third contact connected to the ground;

a transistorized switch having a source input connected the ground, a drain input connected to the first contact of the strip port connector and a gate input; and

a microcontroller having a first interrupt connected to the gate input of the switch and a second interrupt connected to the second contact, the microcontroller being in electrical communication with the first contact and the third contact upon insertion of the test strip.

13. A method of differentiating between a first type of analyte test strip and other analyte test strip with a transistor switch having its gate input connected to a first interrupt of a microcontroller and a drain input of the switch connected to a first contact and a source input of the switch connected to a ground, the method comprising:

inserting a test strip into a strip port connector so that contact pads of the strip are in electrical connection with the first contact, second contact, and third contact;

detecting via a second interrupt of the microcontroller whether the first contact is connected to the second contact and the third contact formed by a configuration of one or more contact pads of the analyte test strip;

upon detection of the connection of the first, second and third contacts in common, turning the switch on and off for a predetermined number of times via the first interrupt;

detecting changes in logic states of the second interrupt; and

identifying the glucose strip as one at the first type or another type based on a number of high and low logic states of the second interrupt.