Method for the audible output of a piece of information in an analysis system

• US 7,658,091 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Werner, Karl, Albrecht, Gertrud
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bellamy; Tamiko D
• Application Number:
  US11/565,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20070144235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 73/18.2, 735/91, 359/22
• US Class Current: 73/1.82
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7415 Sound rendering of measured values, e.g. by pitch or volume variation A61B5/741 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/009 alarms, e.g. audible
• 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

A system for analysing a fluid sample arranged on a test element comprises a data processing unit configured to process results of an analysis of the fluid sample arranged on the test element, an audible signal generator, and a control unit. The control unit may control the audible signal generator to generate an audible test signal that is configured to test the operability of the signal generator to audibly encode information. The audible test signal may include audible features that allow for identification of any deviation of the generated audible test signal from a correctly generated audible test signal, and/or from which malfunction of the signal generator can be detected.

Claims

1. A method of operating an audible signal generator in an analysis system configured to analyse a fluid sample arranged on a test element, the method comprising controlling the signal generator to generate an audible test signal, the audible test signal including audible features that allow for audible identification by a user of the analysis system of a correctly generated audible test signal and any deviations therefrom.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling the signal generator comprises controlling the signal generator to generate the audible test signal only upon detection of start up of the analysis system.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising detecting start up of the analysis system when the test element is inserted into the analysis system.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising detecting start up of the analysis system when the analysis system is turned on.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling the signal generator comprises controlling the signal generator to generate the audible test signal automatically at least one particular instant during operation of the analysis system.

6. The method claim 1 further comprising controlling the audible signal generator to include in the audible features at least one audible feature in the form of a number having at least one digit.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising analysing the fluid sample to determine a concentration of an analyte contained in the fluid sample,

wherein the number corresponds to the concentration of the analyte in the fluid sample.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the audible signal generator to include in the audible features at least one audible feature relating to the operational readiness of the analysis system.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the audible signal generator to include in the audible features at least one audible feature relating to an instant for a particular action to be performed by a user of the analysis system.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the audible signal generator to include in the audible features at least one audible feature relating to a need to replace or refill a consumable used in the operation of the analysis system.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the audible signal generator to include in the audible features at least one audible in the form of a sequence of a number of tones, the number of tones in the sequence denoting information contained in the test signal.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling the signal generator comprises controlling the signal generator to generate the audible test signal in the form of a tone or a sequence of tones, the tone or sequence of tones having a constant or changing frequency.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling the signal generator comprises controlling the signal generator to generate the audible test signal in the form a sequence of tones, at least some of the tones in the sequence of tones having the same or different tone lengths.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling the signal generator comprises controlling the signal generator to generate the audible test signal in the form of a tone or a sequence of tones, the tone or sequence of tones having constant or changing volume.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the audible signal generator to include in the audible features at least one audible feature from which malfunction of the signal generator can be detected.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the audible signal generator to include in the audible features at least one audible feature that tests the operability of the signal generator to encode information.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the analysis system includes a switch positioned to be tripped by insertion of the test element into the analysis system,

and wherein the method further comprises controlling the audible signal generator to generate the audible test signal when the switch is tripped by insertion of the test element into the analysis system.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the analysis system includes a user accessible button and wherein the analysis system turns on when the user accessible button is pressed,

and wherein the method further comprises controlling the audible signal generator to generate the audible test signal when the user accessible button is pressed.