APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED MEASUREMENTS OF A MONITORING DEVICE

• US 20140021045A1
• Filed: 09/23/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Life SCAN Limited
• Inventors: Kranendonk, Harry A., Murray, Lawrence K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,482,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/403.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4163 checking the operation of, or calibrating, the measuring apparatus G01N27/3274, G01N27/4175 and G01N33/0006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48785 Electrical and electronic details of measuring devices for physical analysis of liquid biological material not specific to a particular test method, e.g. user interface or power supply

Abstract

Methods and devices for improving measurements of test meter, and in particular for detecting a presence of an electrochemical sensor or strip in the test meter and a start time of an electrochemical reaction, are provided. In one exemplary embodiment of an electrochemical system includes an electrochemical sensor, a test meter, and a circuit. The circuit is configured to form an electrical connection with the electrochemical sensor such that the circuit can detect three distinct voltage ranges. The voltage ranges can be indicative of an absence of the electrochemical sensor, a presence of the sensor that is devoid of a sample, and a presence of the sensor with a sample. Test meters, methods for detecting when a sample starts to fill an electrochemical sensor for establishing when a reaction starts, and circuits for use with electrochemical strips, are also provided.

Claims

1. A test meter, comprising:

a housing;

a strip port connector attached to the housing, the strip port connector being configured to receive an electrochemical test strip and including at least one electrical connector; and

a circuit configured for making electrochemical determinations and to electrically connect with an electrochemical test strip received in the strip port connector via the at least one electrical connector, the circuit comprising;

a detection component;

a sense resistor in electrical communication with the detection component;

a voltage reference point configured to be in electrical communication with an electrode of an electrochemical test strip in contact with the at least one electrical connector; and

a wetting supply having electrical communication separate from each of the detection component, the sense resistor, and the voltage reference point when an electrochemical test strip devoid of bodily fluid sample is receive in the strip port connector;

wherein the circuit is configured for detecting;

(1) a first voltage in the absence of an electrochemical test strip in electrical communication with the circuit;

(2) a second voltage in the presence of an electrochemical test strip that is devoid of bodily fluid sample in electrical communication with the circuit; and

(3) a third voltage in the presence of an electrochemical test strip in electrical communication with the circuit with an amount of a bodily fluid sample sufficient to perform an electrochemical test in the electrochemical test strip.

2. The test meter of claim 1, wherein an absolute value of the second voltage is less than an absolute value of the first voltage and an absolute value of the third voltage is less than the absolute value of the second voltage.

3. The test meter of claim 1, wherein the presence of an electrochemical test strip in the strip port connector creates an electrical connection between the wetting supply and the detection component.

4. The test meter of claim 3, wherein the presence of sample on an electrochemical test strip that is in the strip port connector creates an electrical connection between each of the wetting supply, the detection component, and the voltage reference point.

5. The test meter of claim 1, wherein the amount of a sample sufficient to perform an electrochemical test is a minimum volume of sample sufficient to form an electrical connection between a common electrical connector of the at least one electrical connector and at least one of a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector of the at least one electrical connector.

6. The test meter of claim 1, further comprising a waveform generator for applying voltage to react a sample disposed on an electrochemical test strip that is in the strip port connector.