METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO DETERMINE FILL DIRECTION AND FILL ERROR IN ANALYTE MEASUREMENTS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of determining a sample fill error in an analyte test strip having at least two electrodes spaced apart along a fill passage disposed on a substrate that extends from at least a first opening to a second opening, the method comprising the steps of:
- applying a signal to first and second electrodes of the at least two electrodes;
depositing a fluid sample into one of the first and second openings;
monitoring the first and second electrodes for output signals indicative of an electrochemical reaction with the sample; and
in the event the first electrode or the second electrode outputs a signal before the other of the first and second electrodes then monitoring the other of the first and second electrodes for a signal output within a predetermined time period else reporting a fill error when the signal output of the other electrode is after the predetermined time period.
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Abstract
Various embodiments for methods and systems that allow for detecting of a direction in which a sample is flowing towards a plurality of electrodes and detecting a fill error of an electrochemical test strip.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of determining a sample fill error in an analyte test strip having at least two electrodes spaced apart along a fill passage disposed on a substrate that extends from at least a first opening to a second opening, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying a signal to first and second electrodes of the at least two electrodes; depositing a fluid sample into one of the first and second openings; monitoring the first and second electrodes for output signals indicative of an electrochemical reaction with the sample; and in the event the first electrode or the second electrode outputs a signal before the other of the first and second electrodes then monitoring the other of the first and second electrodes for a signal output within a predetermined time period else reporting a fill error when the signal output of the other electrode is after the predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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5. A method of determining a sample fill error in an analyte test strip having at least first, second, fourth, and fifth electrodes spaced apart along a fill passage disposed on a substrate that extends from at least a first opening to a second opening, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying a signal to the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes; depositing a fluid sample into one of the first and second openings; monitoring the first through fourth electrodes for a signal output; in the event the first electrode outputs a signal greater than a first threshold before one of the third or fourth electrodes outputs a signal greater than a second threshold then; sampling the signal from the first electrode and measuring the second, third and fourth electrodes for a signal output from the second electrode greater than the first threshold and a signal output from at least one of the third and fourth electrodes greater than the second threshold within a first predetermined time period otherwise reporting a fill error when the signal output from at least one of the third and fourth electrodes is after the first predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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17. A method of determining a sample fill direction for an analyte test strip having at least two electrodes spaced apart along a fill passage disposed on a substrate that extends from at least a first opening to a second opening, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying a signal to first and second electrodes of the at least two electrodes; depositing a fluid sample into one of the first and second openings; monitoring the first and second electrodes for output signals indicative of an electrochemical reaction; in the event the first electrode outputs a signal greater than a first predetermined threshold before the second electrodes, storing in memory an indication that a direction of the movement of the sample is in a first direction; and in the event the second electrode outputs a signal greater than a second predetermined threshold before the first electrode, storing in memory an indication that a direction of the movement of the sample is in a second direction.
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18. A method of determining a sample fill direction for an analyte test strip having at least first, second, fourth, and fifth electrodes spaced apart along a fill passage disposed on a substrate that extends from at least a first opening to a second opening such that a sample can move from the first opening toward the second opening or from the second opening toward the first opening, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying a signal to the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes; depositing a fluid sample into one of the first and second openings; monitoring the first through fourth electrodes for a signal output; in the event the first electrode outputs a signal greater than a first threshold before one of the third or fourth electrodes outputs a signal greater than a third threshold then; selecting a first measurement based on output signals from each of the first and second electrodes before a second measurement based on output signals from the third and fourth electrodes; and in the event the third and fourth electrodes output a signal greater than a second threshold and before any output signal from one of the first and second electrodes then; selecting the second measurement based on output signals from the third and fourth electrodes before the first measurement based on output signals from each of the first and second electrodes.
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19. A system comprising:
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a test strip, the test strip including; a substrate having at least first, second third, fourth, and fifth electrodes disposed in a passage extending between a first opening and a second opening to permit fluid sample to flow into one or more of the openings; and a test meter including; a housing; a test strip port connector configured to connect to the respective electrode connectors of the test strip; and a microprocessor in electrical communication with the test strip port connector to apply electrical signals or sense electrical signals from the plurality of electrodes during a test sequence, wherein the microprocessor is configured to; (a) apply a signal to the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes; (b) monitor the first through fourth electrodes for a signal output representative of a deposition of fluid sample onto the test strip; (c) in the event the first electrode outputs a signal greater than a first threshold before one of the third or fourth electrodes outputs a signal greater than a second threshold then; (i) sample the signal from the first electrode and (ii) measure the second, third and fourth electrodes for a signal output from the second electrode greater than the first threshold and a signal output from at least one of the third and fourth electrodes greater than the second threshold within a first predetermined time period otherwise report a fill error when the signal output from at least one of the third and fourth electrodes is after the first predetermined time period; (d) in the event one of or both of the third and fourth electrodes output a signal greater than the third threshold before one of the first and second electrodes outputs a signal greater than the first threshold then; (i) determine whether the first electrode outputs a signal greater than the first threshold before the second electrode and report an error if true, (ii) otherwise determine whether the second electrode outputs a signal greater than the first threshold before the first electrode and if true monitor the first electrode to determine whether the first electrode outputs a signal greater than the first threshold within a second predetermined time period, and (e) in the event the first electrode fails to outputs a signal greater than the first threshold within the second time period, report an error.
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Specification