Compact foldable meter

• US 7,850,910 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: McCloud, William W., Creaven, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): MERKLING, SALLY ANNE
• Application Number:
  US12/084,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20090162248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 606181-183, 606/583, 422/68.1, 422/58
• US Class Current: 422/400
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires

Abstract

A foldable instrument (10) adapted to determine an analyte concentration of a fluid sample using a test sensor is disclosed. The instrument comprises a first portion (12) including a display (22) and a second portion (14) pivotally coupled to the first portion by a pivot mechanism (23). The second portion includes a user-interface mechanism (16a-c). One of the first portion (12) and second portion (14) includes at least one opening (18) formed therein. The opening is adapted to receive a test sensor. The instrument is adapted to be folded into a closed position and unfolded into an open position by rotating one of the first portion and second portion about the pivot mechanism (23).

Claims

1. A foldable instrument adapted to determine an analyte concentration of a fluid sample using a test sensor, the instrument comprising:

a first portion including a display and a first internally-facing surface; and

a second portion pivotally coupled to the first portion by a pivot mechanism, the second portion including a user-interface mechanism and a second internally-facing surface,

wherein one of the first portion and second portion includes at least one opening formed therein, the opening being adapted to receive a test sensor,

wherein the instrument is adapted to be folded into a closed position and unfolded into an open position by rotating one of the first portion and second portion about the pivot mechanism in a direction generally parallel to the entire first and second internally-facing surfaces.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the instrument has a generally circular cross section.

3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion have substantially the same shape.

4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the user-interface mechanism includes at least one button.

5. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the display and the user-interface are positioned on the first and second internally-facing surfaces of the respective first and second portions.

6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the display is positioned on the first internally-facing surface of the first portion, and wherein the user-interface mechanism is positioned on an externally-facing surface of the second portion.

7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the display is positioned on an externally-facing surface of the first portion, and wherein the user-interface mechanism is positioned on the second internally-facing surface of the second portion.

8. The instrument of claim 7, further comprising a removable cover adapted to cover the display.

9. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising at least one compartment coupled to one of the first portion and the second portion, the at least one compartment being adapted to store at least one analyte-testing instrument.

10. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the instrument has a footprint of less than 5 in².

11. The instrument of claim 10, wherein the display has an area of at least 1 in².

12. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are adapted to releasably lock therewith.

13. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are electrically connected by a flexible circuit cable.

14. A foldable instrument adapted to determine an analyte concentration of a fluid sample using a test sensor, the instrument comprising:

a main housing including a first portion and a generally parallel second portion, the second portion being coupled to the first portion by a wall portion;

a middle portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion, the middle portion including at least one opening formed therein, the opening being adapted to receive a test sensor, the middle portion being pivotally coupled to at least one of the first portion and the second portion by a pivot mechanism;

a display positioned on one of the first portion and the middle portion; and

a user-interface mechanism positioned on one of the first portion and the middle portion not including the display,

wherein the instrument is adapted to be folded into a closed position and unfolded into an open position by rotating at least one of the main housing and the middle portion about the pivot mechanism along a plane generally parallel to both the main housing and the middle portion.

15. The instrument of claim 14, wherein the instrument has a generally circular cross section.

16. The instrument of claim 14, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the middle portion have substantially the same shape.

17. The instrument of claim 14, wherein the first portion includes the display and wherein the middle portion includes the user-interface mechanism.

18. The instrument of claim 14, wherein the first portion includes the user-interface mechanism and wherein the middle portion includes the display.

19. The instrument of claim 14, wherein the test-sensor opening is adjacent to the wall portion when the instrument is in the closed position.

20. The instrument of claim 14, further comprising at least one compartment coupled to at least one of the first portion and the second portion, the at least one compartment being adapted to store analyte-testing instruments.

21. The instrument of claim 14, wherein the first portion includes a first internally-facing surface and the second portion includes a second internally-facing surface, the at least one of the main housing and the middle portion being rotated in a direction generally parallel to the first and second internally-facing surfaces.

22. A foldable instrument adapted to determine an analyte concentration of a fluid sample using a test sensor, the instrument comprising:

a main housing including a first portion and a generally parallel second portion, the second portion being coupled to the first portion by a wall portion, the main housing having a first internally facing surface;

a middle portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion, the middle portion including at least one opening formed therein, the opening being adapted to receive a test sensor, the middle portion being pivotally coupled to at least one of the first portion and the second portion by a pivot mechanism, the middle portion having a second internally facing surface;

a display positioned on one of the first portion and the middle portion; and

a user-interface mechanism positioned on one of the first portion and the middle portion not including the display,

wherein the instrument is adapted to be folded into a closed position and unfolded into an open position by rotating at least one of the main housing and the middle portion about the pivot mechanism in a direction generally parallel to the entire first and second internally-facing surfaces.