Biological testing system and connector therefor
First Claim
1. A system for measuring an analyte of interest in a biological fluid, comprising:
- a test strip for receiving a sample of the biological fluid and having at least one contact pad formed thereon; and
a meter having a connector that defines a corridor therein for receiving a portion of the test strip as it moves in a direction of insertion, the connector having at least one contact wire for contacting a surface of a respective one of the at least one contact pads at a respective at least one contact point;
wherein said at least one contact wire has a proximal portion coupled to said connector and a distal portion, and an arm portion between said proximal portion and said distal portion;
wherein said arm portion deflects without contacting the corridor in response to insertion of said test strip; and
wherein said at least one contact wire extends from said proximal portion, and said distal portion includes a contact portion having a radius of curvature to contact the contact pad.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector for establishing electrical connection between a testing device and a test strip with a biological fluid thereon includes a contact pad on the test strip, and one or more contact wires in the testing device. When the strip is inserted into the testing device, part of the strip'"'"'s end engages a contact portion of a contact wire and deflects it in a direction normal to the direction of insertion. In certain embodiments the radius of curvature (in the direction of insertion) of the contact portion is controlled to reduce abrasion of the strip by the wire. In other embodiments the radius of curvature (perpendicular to the direction of insertion) is controlled to reduce the abrasion of the strip by the wire. Sometimes the contact portion and/or contact pad is plated with a sacrificial material to reduce the coefficient of friction. In other embodiments various numbers of contacts receive the end of the strip substantially simultaneously, or are staggered in rows to distribute the resistance presented.
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Citations
110 Claims
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1. A system for measuring an analyte of interest in a biological fluid, comprising:
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a test strip for receiving a sample of the biological fluid and having at least one contact pad formed thereon; and a meter having a connector that defines a corridor therein for receiving a portion of the test strip as it moves in a direction of insertion, the connector having at least one contact wire for contacting a surface of a respective one of the at least one contact pads at a respective at least one contact point; wherein said at least one contact wire has a proximal portion coupled to said connector and a distal portion, and an arm portion between said proximal portion and said distal portion; wherein said arm portion deflects without contacting the corridor in response to insertion of said test strip; and wherein said at least one contact wire extends from said proximal portion, and said distal portion includes a contact portion having a radius of curvature to contact the contact pad. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A connector for use in a test meter adapted for use with a biological test strip to measure an analyte of interest, a portion of the test strip being received in an opening and a corridor in the test meter as it moves in a direction of insertion, the test strip when received in the opening having at least one contact pad which engages the connector, the connector comprising:
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at least one contact, the contact comprising a contact wire having a contact portion that makes conductive contact with a contact pad of the test strip, wherein said contact wire has a proximal portion and a distal portion, and an arm portion between said proximal portion and said distal portion; and wherein said arm portion deflects without contacting the corridor in response to insertion of the test strip; and wherein said contact wire extends from said proximal portion, and said distal portion includes the contact portion having a curved shape to engage the contact pad. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A test meter adapted for use with a biological test strip to measure an analyte of interest and having at least one contact pad formed thereon, the test meter comprising:
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a housing having a slot and a corridor therein for receiving a portion of the test strip; and a connector disposed at least partially within the housing, the connector comprising; an opening for receiving at least a portion of the test strip as the test strip moves in a direction of insertion; and at least one contact wire disposed in the opening, the at least one contact wire having a contact portion that makes electrical contact with a respective one of the at least one contact pad of the test strip; wherein said at least one contact wire has a proximal portion and a distal portion, and an arm portion between said proximal portion and said distal portion; wherein said arm portion deflects without contacting the corridor as the test strip moves in direction of insertion; and wherein said at least one contact wire extends from said proximal portion, and said distal portion includes the contact portion having a radius of curvature to engage the contact pad. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102)
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103. A system for measuring an analyte of interest in a biological fluid, comprising:
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a test strip for receiving a sample of the biological fluid and having at least one contact pad formed thereon; and a meter having a connector for receiving the test strip as the test strip moves in a direction of insertion, the connector having a housing and at least one contact wire for contacting a respective one of the at least one contact pads at a respective at least one contact point; wherein said at least one contact wire has a proximal end, a distal end, and an arm portion positioned between the proximal end and the distal end; wherein the arm portion is mounted such that the arm portion deflects without contacting the housing when receiving the test strip; and wherein the contact wire includes a contact portion adjacent the distal end, the contact portion having a curved shape to contact the contact pad. - View Dependent Claims (104, 105, 106)
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107. A connector for use in a test meter adapted for use with a biological test strip to measure an analyte of interest, a portion of the test strip being received in an opening and a corridor in the test meter as the test strip moves in a direction of insertion, the test strip when received in the opening having at least one contact pad which engages the connector, the connector comprising:
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at least one contact, the contact comprising a contact wire having a contact portion that makes conductive contact with the contact pad of the test strip, wherein said at least one contact wire has a first and second side, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an arm portion positioned between said proximal portion and said distal portion, the distal portion including the contact portion having a curved shape to contact the contact pad; and wherein said arm portion deflects without contacting the corridor in response to insertion of the test strip. - View Dependent Claims (108, 109, 110)
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Specification