Apparatus for preventing electrical shock in devices

• US 8,057,244 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bernstein, Daniel M., Jennewine, R. Curtis, Haley, Charlene A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta; Tho D
• Application Number:
  US12/791,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20100255517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 439/131, 439133-135, 439/149, 439/373, 439/909
• US Class Current: 439/135
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48792 Data management, e.g. communication with processing unit for in vivo diagnostics A61B5/0002; transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate

Abstract

A device for preventing electrical shock from a device with electrical interfaces. A shutter or other barrier associated with the device that physically prevents access or contact to one of the electrical interfaces while another electrical interface is in use.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

inserting a test strip into a test strip port of a glucose measurement device to determine a glucose level from a sample applied to the test strip;

removing the test strip from the test strip port;

connecting an electrical port of the glucose measurement device to a power source using a cable, the cable comprising a shroud having a cavity configured to cover the test strip port and the electrical port when the cable is connected to the electrical port;

charging an internal battery of the glucose measurement device when the glucose measurement device is connected to the power source; and

blocking access to the test strip port to prevent a test strip from being inserted into the test strip port while the glucose measurement device is charging.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the test strip includes inserting the test strip into the test strip port of a continuous glucose monitoring device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising unblocking access to the test strip port when the glucose measurement device is disconnected from the power source.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing the device from being connected to the power source when the test strip port is unblocked.

5. The method of claim 1, further including providing a display to the glucose measurement device such that the display is viewable while the glucose measurement device is connected to the power source.

6. The method of claim 1, further including providing a user interface to the glucose measurement device such that the user interface is accessible while the glucose measurement device is connected to the power source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cavity conforms to an end portion form factor of the glucose measurement device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the power source is a computer.

9. A method comprising:

inserting a test strip into a test strip port of a glucose measurement device to determine a glucose level from a sample applied to the test strip;

removing the test strip from the test strip port;

connecting an electrical interface of the glucose measurement device to a computer using a cable, the cable comprising a shroud having a cavity configured to cover the test strip port and the electrical interface when the cable is connected to the electrical interface;

exchanging data between the glucose measurement device and the computer when the glucose measurement device is connected to the computer; and

blocking access to the test strip port to prevent a test strip from being inserted into the test strip port while the glucose measurement device is exchanging data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein inserting the test strip includes inserting the test strip into the test strip port of a continuous glucose monitoring device.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising unblocking access to the test strip port when the glucose measurement device is disconnected from the computer.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising preventing the device from being connected to the computer when the test strip port is unblocked.

13. The method of claim 9, further including providing a display to the glucose measurement device such that the display is viewable while the glucose measurement device is connected to the computer.

14. The method of claim 9, further including providing a user interface to the glucose measurement device such that the user interface is accessible while the glucose measurement device is connected to the computer.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the cavity conforms to an end portion form factor of the glucose measurement device.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising recharging an internal battery of the glucose measurement device when the glucose measurement device is connected to the computer and exchanging data.

17. A method for preventing electrical shock, the method comprising:

providing an analyte measurement device having a first port and a second port, wherein the first port is associated with a different function than the second port;

connecting a cable to the first port, the cable comprising a shroud having a cavity configured to cover the first port and the second port when the cable is connected to the first port; and

blocking access to the second port when the cable is connected to the first port.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first port is an electrical port.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the second port is a test strip port.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising charging the analyte measurement device when the cable is connected to the first port.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising exchanging data between the analyte measurement device and a computer when the cable is connected to the first port.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the cavity conforms to an end portion form factor of the analyte measurement device.