Systems, Devices, Media, and Methods for Measuring Analytes in Biological Fluids
First Claim
1. A test medium for a biological fluid analyte measurement device, the test medium comprising:
- a support medium;
a plurality of test pads disposed along the support medium, each test pad comprising a thin layer of a fluid transporting material having a length that is continuous between a first end and a second end of the test pad, a width, a thickness, and a cross sectional area defined by the width and the thickness of the test pad, the layer of the fluid transporting material of each of the plurality of test pads comprising at least one of;
a fluid sampling region configured for receiving a small volume of a biological fluid sample; and
at least one analyte measurement region fluidically coupled to the fluid sampling region, the at least one analyte measurement region having a length,wherein the fluid sampling region or the at least one analyte measurement region carries at least one reagent capable of reacting with an analyte that is expected to be present within the fluid sample; and
a plurality of hermetic isolation pads disposed along the support medium such that each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads is located between a pair of test pads, each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads comprising a fluid impermeable material, each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads having a length between a first end and a second end of the hermetic isolation pad, a width, a thickness, and a cross sectional area defined by the width and the thickness of the hermetic isolation pad, wherein the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads is greater than or equal to the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of test pads.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A replaceable cartridge for a biological analyte measurement device includes housing configured for removable engagement therefrom, and a support medium disposed within the housing. The support medium carries test pads made of a thin layer of fluid transporting material, and hermetic isolation pads made of a fluid impermeable material. The housing provides a port through which test pads are exposable to an external environment; and a set of sealing elements that define a cross sectional area within a channel internal to the housing, through which the support medium, test pads, and hermetic isolation pads are displaceable. Engagement of a hermetic isolation with the set of sealing elements results in the formation of a hermetic seal within the housing. Hermetic isolation pads can be formed as portions of cleanse pads that can be wiped across surfaces corresponding to a set of sensors, or as sealing pads separate from cleanse pads.
6 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A test medium for a biological fluid analyte measurement device, the test medium comprising:
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a support medium; a plurality of test pads disposed along the support medium, each test pad comprising a thin layer of a fluid transporting material having a length that is continuous between a first end and a second end of the test pad, a width, a thickness, and a cross sectional area defined by the width and the thickness of the test pad, the layer of the fluid transporting material of each of the plurality of test pads comprising at least one of; a fluid sampling region configured for receiving a small volume of a biological fluid sample; and at least one analyte measurement region fluidically coupled to the fluid sampling region, the at least one analyte measurement region having a length, wherein the fluid sampling region or the at least one analyte measurement region carries at least one reagent capable of reacting with an analyte that is expected to be present within the fluid sample; and a plurality of hermetic isolation pads disposed along the support medium such that each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads is located between a pair of test pads, each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads comprising a fluid impermeable material, each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads having a length between a first end and a second end of the hermetic isolation pad, a width, a thickness, and a cross sectional area defined by the width and the thickness of the hermetic isolation pad, wherein the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads is greater than or equal to the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of test pads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A test medium for a biological fluid analyte measurement device, the test medium comprising:
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a support medium; a plurality of test pads disposed along the support medium, each test pad comprising a thin layer of a fluid transporting material having a length that is continuous between a first end and a second end of the test pad, a width, a thickness, and a cross sectional area defined by the width and the thickness of the test pad, the layer of the fluid transporting material of each of the plurality of test pads comprising at least one of; a fluid sampling region configured for receiving a small volume of a biological fluid sample; and at least one analyte measurement region fluidically coupled to the fluid sampling region, the at least one analyte measurement region having a length, wherein the fluid sampling region or the at least one analyte measurement region is pre-loaded with at least one reagent capable of reacting with an analyte that is expected to be present within the fluid sample; and a plurality of cleanse pads disposed along the support medium such that each of the plurality of cleanse pads is located between a pair of test pads, each of the plurality of cleanse pads having a length between a first end and a second end of the cleanse pad, a width, a thickness, and a cross sectional area defined by the width and the thickness of the cleanse pad, wherein the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of cleanse pads is greater than or equal to the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of test pads., wherein each of the plurality of cleanse pads is not pre-loaded with the at least one reagent, and wherein each of the plurality of cleanse pads comprises a material capable of wiping, absorbing, or wicking portions of the distinct fluid sample away from a surface corresponding to a set of sensors when wiped across the surface corresponding to the set of sensors in association with displacement of the support medium in a forward motion direction, wherein the support medium comprises (a) a structure to which portions of test pads and cleanse pads are adhered, or (b) a structure made from the fluid transporting material and which has been rendered fluid nontransporting or hydrophobic at predetermined locations.
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22. A replaceable cartridge for a biological analyte measurement device, the replaceable cartridge comprising:
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a support medium displaceable in a forward motion direction by way of a set of mechanical drive elements; a plurality of test pads disposed along the support medium, each of the plurality of test pads positionable relative to a set of sensors, each of the plurality of test pads comprising a thin layer of a fluid transporting material having a length that is continuous between a first end and a second end of the test pad, a width, a thickness, and a cross sectional area defined by the width and the thickness of the test pad, the layer of the fluid transporting material of each of the plurality of test pads comprising at least one of; a fluid sampling region configured for receiving a small volume of a biological fluid sample; and at least one analyte measurement region corresponding to the fluid sampling region and carrying at least one reagent capable of reacting with an analyte that is expected to be present within the fluid sample, the at least one analyte measurement region having a length, wherein the fluid sampling region or the at least one analyte measurement region carries at least one reagent capable of reacting with an analyte that is expected to be present within the fluid sample; and a plurality of hermetic isolation pads disposed along the support medium such that each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads is located between a pair of test pads, each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads comprising a fluid impermeable material, each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads having a length between a first end and a second end of the hermetic isolation pad, a width, a thickness, and a cross sectional area defined by the width and the thickness of the hermetic isolation pad, wherein the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads is greater than or equal to the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of test pads; and a housing in which the support medium resides and which is configured for removable engagement with the analyte measurement device, the housing comprising; a plurality of internal surfaces providing a primary channel having a primary cross sectional area through which the support medium, each of the plurality of test pads, and each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads are displaceable; at least one set of sealing elements that occupies a portion of the primary cross sectional area along a portion of the primary channel to define a secondary channel through which the support medium, each of the plurality of test pads, and each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads are displaceable, the secondary channel having a secondary cross sectional area smaller than the primary cross sectional area, wherein the at least one set of sealing elements is engageable with each of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads when the hermetic isolation pad is displaced through portions of the secondary channel; and a port through which each of the plurality of test pads is exposable to an environment external to the housing, wherein engagement of a hermetic isolation pad of the plurality of hermetic isolation pads with the at least one set of sealing elements enables the formation of a hermetic seal within the housing that isolates portions of the primary channel from the environment external to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification