Test plug and cable for a glucose monitor

• US 6,418,332 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Minimed, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Johnson, Eric, Mastrototaro, John J., Purvis, Richard E., Halili, Edgardo C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NASSER, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US09/511,819
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/316, 600/319, 600/345, 600/347, 600/365, 324/511, 324/538, 324/555
• US Class Current: 600/316
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6849 in combination with a needle set
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/1033 composed of a wire-braided conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/1091 with screen grounding means, e.g. drain wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/361 being the colour of the insulation or conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/01 characterised by the form or arrangement of the conductive interconnection between the connecting locations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/18 End pieces terminating in a probe
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for electrically connecting a medical glucose monitor to a glucose sensor set, as well as for testing the operation of the glucose monitor, monitor cable and glucose sensor set are provided. In one embodiment, an electric cable comprises a cable member, a first connector and a second connector. The cable member in turn comprises at least one insulated conductor, a conductive shielding layer disposed around the at least one insulated conductor; and an insulating layer disposed around the conductive shielding layer. A glucose monitoring system test plug provides for a releasable electrical connection with the electric cable. In one embodiment, the test plug comprises a housing and a fitting affixed thereto which is adapted to electrically couple the test plug with the electric cable. The test plug further includes an electrical circuit that produces a signal that is read by the glucose monitor to test the operational performance of the glucose monitor and the electric cable when the test plug is coupled to the electric cable and when the electric cable is coupled to the glucose monitor.

Claims

1. A test plug for use with a glucose monitor cable adapted to electrically couple to a glucose monitor, the test plug comprising:

a housing;

a fitting affixed to the housing, the fitting adapted to electrically couple the test plug to the glucose monitor cable; and

an electrical circuit adapted to provide an electrical test signal response to the cable and the glucose monitor to test the operational performance of the glucose monitor and the glucose monitor cable when the test plug is coupled to the glucose monitor cable and when the glucose monitor cable is coupled to the glucose monitor.

2. The test plug of claim 1 further comprising a key fitting formed on the fitting affixed to the housing, the key fitting being adapted to mate with the glucose monitor cable in one orientation.

3. The test plug of claim 1 further comprising a releasable coupler disposed on the housing, the releasable coupler adapted to mechanically releasably couple the test plug to the glucose monitor cable.

4. A test plug for use with a glucose monitor, the test plug comprising:

a housing;

a fitting affixed to the housing, the fitting adapted to electrically couple the test plug to the glucose monitor; and

an electrical circuit adapted to provide an electrical test signal response to the glucose monitor to test the operational performance of the glucose monitor when the test plug is coupled to the glucose monitor.

5. The test plug of claim 4 wherein the glucose monitor is adapted to electrically couple to a glucose monitor cable, the test plug further comprising:

a second fitting affixed to the housing, the second fitting adapted to electrically couple the test plug to the glucose monitor cable and wherein the electrical circuit provides the electrical test signal response to the glucose monitor through the cable to test the operational performance of the glucose monitor and the glucose monitor cable when the test plug is coupled to the glucose monitor cable and when the glucose monitor cable is coupled to the glucose monitor.

6. The test plug of claim 5 further comprising a releasable coupler disposed on the housing, the releasable coupler adapted to mechanically releasably couple the test plug to the glucose monitor cable.

7. The test plug of claim 5 further comprising a key fitting formed on the second fitting, the key fitting being adapted to mate with the glucose monitor cable in one orientation.

8. A test plug for use with at least one of an electrical cable having cable connector and a glucose monitor having an electrical connector, the test plug comprising:

a housing;

an impedance device adapted to provide an electrical test signal response;

a first fitting affixed to the housing, the first fitting adapted to electrically couple the test plug to the cable connector;

said first fitting including a first conductive contact electrically coupled to the impedance device, the first conductive contact further being adapted to be removably electrically coupled to the cable connector; and

a second fitting affixed to the housing, the second fitting adapted to electrically couple the test plug with the glucose monitor;

said second fitting including a second conductive contact electrically coupled to the impedance device, the second conductive contact further being adapted to be removably electrically coupled to the glucose monitor electrical connector.

9. A method of testing the operational performance of a glucose monitor and a glucose monitor cable, the method comprising:

electrically connecting a test plug to the glucose monitor cable which is electrically coupled to the glucose monitor, the test plug comprising;

a housing;

a fitting affixed to the housing, the fitting adapted to electrically couple the test plug with the glucose monitor cable; and

an electrical circuit that produces an electrical test signal response; and

reading the electrical test signal response with the glucose monitor to test the operational performance of the glucose monitor and the glucose monitor, cable.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising mechanically releasably coupling the test plug to the glucose monitor cable using a releasable coupler disposed on the housing.

11. A method of testing the operational performance of a glucose monitor, the method comprising:

electrically connecting a test plug to the glucose monitor, the test plug comprising;

a housing;

a fitting affixed to the housing, the fitting adapted to electrically couple the test plug with the glucose monitor; and

an electrical circuit that produces an electrical test signal response; and

reading the electrical test signal response with the glucose monitor to test the operational performance of the glucose monitor.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising testing the operational performance of the combination of the glucose monitor and a glucose monitor cable,

wherein the test plug further comprises:

a second fitting affixed to the housing, the second fitting adapted to electrically couple the test plug with the glucose monitor cable;

said combination testing comprising;

disconnecting the test plug from the glucose monitor;

electrically connecting the test plug to the glucose monitor cable; and

reading a second electrical test signal response with the glucose monitor to test the operational performance of the combination of the glucose monitor and the glucose monitor cable.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the test plug further comprises a releasable coupler disposed on the housing, the releasable coupler adapted to mechanically releasably couple the test plug with the glucose monitor cable.

14. A method for alternatively testing the performance of a glucose monitor and the combination of the glucose monitor and a glucose monitor cable, the method comprising:

electrically connecting a test plug to one of the glucose monitor and the glucose monitor cable which is electrically coupled to a glucose monitor, the glucose monitor cable having a cable connector and the glucose monitor having an electrical connector, the test plug comprising;

a housing;

an impedance device that produces an electrical test signal response;

a first fitting affixed to the housing, the first;

fitting adapted to electrically couple the test plug with the cable connector;

a first conductive contact disposed on the first fitting, the first conductive contact being electrically coupled to the impedance device, the first conductive contact further being adapted to be removably electrically coupled to the cable connector;

a second fitting affixed to the housing, the second fitting adapted to electrically couple the test plug with the glucose monitor; and

a second conductive contact disposed on the second fitting, the second conductive contact being electrically coupled to the impedance device, the second conductive contact further being adapted to be removably electrically coupled to the, glucose monitor electrical connector; and

reading the test signal response with the glucose monitor to test the operational performance of one of the glucose monitor and the combination of the glucose monitor and the glucose monitor cable.

15. A test plug for use with a glucose monitor cable adapted to electrically couple with a glucose monitor, the test plug comprising:

a housing;

means for attaching the housing to the glucose monitor cable; and

means for producing an electrical test signal response that is read by the glucose monitor to test the operational performance of the glucose monitor and the glucose monitor cable when the test plug is coupled to the glucose monitor cable and when the glucose monitor cable is coupled to the glucose monitor.

16. A test plug for use with a glucose monitor, the test plug comprising:

a housing;

means for attaching the housing to the glucose monitor; and

means for producing an electrical test signal response that is read by the glucose monitor to test the operational performance of the glucose monitor when the test plug is coupled to the glucose monitor.

17. The test plug of claim 16 further comprising:

a second means for attaching the housing to a glucose monitor cable; and

wherein the means for producing the electrical test signal response further produces a second electrical test signal response that is read by the glucose monitor to test the operational performance of the combination of the glucose monitor and the glucose monitor cable when the test plug is coupled to the combination of the glucose monitor and the glucose monitor cable.

18. A test plug for alternative use with one of an electrical cable having a cable connector and a glucose monitor having an electrical connector, the test plug comprising:

a housing;

means for producing an electrical test signal response that is read by the glucose monitor;

a first means for selectively mechanically securing the housing to the cable connector;

a first means for selectively electrically coupling the means for producing the electrical test signal response and the cable connector;

a second means for selectively mechanically securing the housing to the glucose monitor; and

a second means for selectively electrically coupling the means for producing the electrical test signal response and the glucose monitor electrical connector.

19. A test plug for alternative use with one of a shielded electrical cable and a glucose monitor, the shielded electric cable having a cable;

connector and a latch recess, the glucose monitor having a plurality of glucose monitor conductive contacts and a ground contact, the test plug comprising;

a housing having an interior;

an impedance network for producing an electrical test signal response disposed in the interior;

a first fitting disposed at the proximal end of the housing, the first fitting comprising;

a tubular element sized to mate with the cable connector;

a D-shaped fitting key disposed on the tubular element, the D-shaped fitting key being adapted to engage the cable connector in one orientation;

a first plurality of conductive contacts disposed on the D-shaped fitting key, the first plurality of conductive contacts being electrically coupled to the impedance network, the first plurality of conductive contacts further being adapted to be removably electrically coupled to the cable connector; and

a latch arm disposed on the housing, the latch arm adapted to mate with the cable connector latch recess;

a second fitting located at the distal end of the housing, the second fitting comprising;

a cylindrical body having a bore adapted to releasably couple the second fitting with the glucose monitor;

a second plurality of conductive contacts disposed within the bore, the second plurality of conductive contacts being electrically coupled to the impedance network, the second plurality of conductive contacts further being adapted to be removably electrically coupled to the plurality of glucose monitor conductive contacts; and

a drain line conductive contact disposed within the bore, the drain line conductive contact being electrically isolated from the impedance network, the drain line conductive contact further being adapted to be removably electrically coupled to the glucose monitor ground contact.

20. The test plug of claim 19 wherein the impedance network comprises at least two resistors connected in series and wherein the first plurality of conductive contacts is comprised of a first contact, a second contact, and at least one intermediate contact, the first contact being electrically connected to one:

end of the series of resistors the second contact being electrically connected to the opposite end of the series of resistors, and the at least one intermediate contact being connected to a junction point of the resistors.