Diagnostic meter

• US 8,696,597 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trividia Health, Inc. (Sinocare, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nipro Diagnostics, Inc.
• Inventors: Neel, Gary T., Modzelewski, Brent E., Rounds, George R., Oti, Carlos, Caban, Allan Javier
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foreman, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US11/395,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20070233395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,934 Days
• Field of Search: 128/903, 128/904, 600/300, 600/345, 600/347, 600/583, 600/584
• US Class Current: 600/584
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• 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 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48778 Containers specially adapted therefor, e.g. for dry storage
• 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: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A system for diagnostic testing, including a meter assembly that communicates with a partner device, such as a PC. The device can be made compact, convenient to carry, and easily connectable to a variety of electronics devices.

Claims

1. A system for diagnostic testing, the system comprising:

a dual-functionality meter device configured to have two alternative modes of operation, wherein in a first mode the meter device performs a diagnostic test on a sample applied to test media, and in a second mode the meter device functions as a mass storage device, the meter device having a housing, the housing containing;

a test media interface configured to receive test media for performing the diagnostic test, and

a flash drive comprising a built-in USB data connector, a mass storage controller, a flash memory chip, and an oscillator chip.

2. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the meter housing further contains a display configured to display results of the diagnostic test.

3. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the meter housing is configured to be connected to a sampling device.

4. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 3, wherein the sampling device is a lancet.

5. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the meter housing is configured to be attached to a side portion of a test media container.

6. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, further comprising a data communication interface configured to establish data communication with a partner device.

7. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 6, wherein the partner device is selected from the group consisting of:

a cell phone, a PDA, a general purpose computer, a digital media player, a digital camera, and wireless information device.

8. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 6, wherein a transceiver dock is hardwired to the partner device.

9. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 8, wherein the transceiver dock and the meter housing are wirelessly connected.

10. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 6, wherein a cradle is plugged into a socket of the meter housing to establish wireless data communication with the partner device.

11. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 10, wherein the cradle and the partner device are compatible with a wireless transmission protocol.

12. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the meter housing is configured to selectively close an opening of a test media container.

13. A diagnostic meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample, the meter comprising:

a test media interface configured to receive a test strip for performing the diagnostic test on the sample; and

a flash drive comprising a built-in USB data connector, a mass storage controller, a flash memory chip, and an oscillator chip.

14. The diagnostic meter of claim 13, further comprising a display unit configured to display the result of the diagnostic test.

15. The diagnostic meter of claim 13, wherein the flash memory chip is further configured to store one or more communication protocol driver for interfacing with the partner device.

16. The diagnostic meter of claim 13, wherein the USB data connector is configured to establish data communication with a partner device, and further wherein the partner device comprises a data port adapted to interface with the USB data connector.

17. The diagnostic meter of claim 16, further comprising a rechargeable battery unit for providing power to the meter.

18. The diagnostic meter of claim 17, wherein the battery can be recharged by connecting the diagnostic meter to the partner device using the USB data connector.

19. The diagnostic meter of claim 13, wherein the flash memory chip is further configured to store instructions for processing the result of the diagnostic test.

20. The diagnostic meter of claim 16, wherein the partner device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a PDA, a cell phone and a digital media player.

21. The diagnostic meter of claim 13, wherein the flash memory chip is a NAND-type flash memory device.