Apparatus for preventing electrical shock in devices

• US 8,142,211 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jennewine, R. Curtis, Haley, Charlene A., Bernstein, Daniel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Tho D
• Application Number:
  US12/791,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20110133698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 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. An apparatus, comprising:

a body comprising a barrier with first and second surfaces, the first surface defining a cavity of a shroud;

a connector extending through the body to the first surface of the barrier to connect to a computer port of a glucose monitoring device; and

a plug to connect to a test strip port of the device,

wherein at least one of the barrier or the plug prevents access to the test strip port of the device when the connector is connected to the computer port, wherein the cavity of the shroud is configured to cover the computer port and the test strip port when the connector is connected to the computer port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cable connected to the connector and extending from the second surface of the barrier.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cable is permanently connected to the connector.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cable is detachably connected to the connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein data is uploaded, downloaded or both to the device via the computer port of the device when the cable is connected to the computer port of the device and to a computer.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a body comprising a barrier with first and second surfaces, the first surface defining a cavity of a shroud;

a connector extending through the body to the first surface of the barrier to connect to a power charging port of a glucose monitoring device; and

a plug to connect to a test strip port of the device;

wherein at least one of the barrier or the plug prevents access to the test strip port of the device when the connector is connected to the power charging port, wherein the cavity of the shroud is configured to cover the power charging port and the test strip port when the connector is connected to the power charging port.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a cable connected to the connector and extending from the second surface of the barrier.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cable is permanently connected to the connector.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cable is detachably connected to the connector.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein an internal battery of the device is configured to charge through the power charging port of the device when the cable is connected to the power charging port of the device and to a power source.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the power source is a computer.

12. A method, comprising:

providing a glucose monitoring device having a test strip port and a computer port;

providing an electrical protection device, wherein the electrical protection device comprises a body comprising a barrier with first and second surfaces, the first surface defining a cavity of a shroud, a connector extending through the body to the first surface of the barrier to connect to the computer port of the glucose monitoring device, and a plug to connect to the test strip port of the device, wherein at least one of the barrier or the plug prevents access to the test strip port of the device when the connector is connected to the computer port, and wherein the cavity of the shroud is configured to cover the computer port and the test strip port when the connector is connected to the computer port; and

connecting the connector of the electrical protection device to the computer port of the glucose monitoring device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrical protection device further comprises a cable connected to the connector and extending from the second surface of the barrier.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the cable is permanently connected to the connector.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the cable is detachably connected to the connector.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising uploading data, downloading data or both to the device via the computer port of the device when the cable is connected to the computer port of the device and to a computer.

17. A method, comprising:

providing a glucose monitoring device having a test strip port and a computer port;

providing an electrical protection device, wherein the electrical protection device comprises a body comprising a barrier with first and second surfaces, the first surface defining a cavity of a shroud, a connector extending through the body to the first surface of the barrier to connect to a power charging port of a glucose monitoring device, and a plug to connect to a test strip port of the device, wherein at least one of the barrier or the plug prevents access to the test strip port of the device when the connector is connected to the power charging port, and wherein the cavity of the shroud is configured to cover the power charging port and the test strip port when the connector is connected to the power charging port; and

connecting the connector of the electrical protection device to the computer port of the glucose monitoring device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electrical protection device further comprises a cable connected to the connector and extending from the second surface of the barrier.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the cable is permanently connected to the connector.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising charging an internal battery of the glucose monitoring device through the power charging port of the device when the cable is connected to the power charging port of the device and to a power source.