Method and apparatus for coding diagnostic meters

• US 8,940,246 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2007
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• 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, Akins, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Turk, Neil N
• Application Number:
  US11/934,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20080134810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,644 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 422/402
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0096 Casings for storing test samples A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/027 Digital display, e.g. LCD, LED
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/041 Connecting closures to device or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0858 Side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50 Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes devices for taking samples of blood A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5055 Hinged, e.g. opposable surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 for laboratory containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7759 Dipstick; Test strip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00108 Test strips, e.g. paper
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/487 of liquid biological material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48707 by electrical means G01N33/49, G01N33/493 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48771 : Coding of information, e.g. calibration data, lot number
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48778 : Containers specially adapted therefor, e.g. for dry storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

A system for diagnostic testing may include a meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to a test media, the meter having a housing and an interface for receiving a signal representing coding information, and a container configured to contain test media compatible with the meter, the container having a coding element associated therewith. Additionally, the system may provide a mechanism for removing the meter from an interconnected test container and reattaching it to a new container using on-container coding methods that can recalibrate the meter for the new container of test strips.

Claims

1. A system for diagnostic testing comprising:

an electronic meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to test media, the electronic meter comprising a housing having a test media port and an interface for receiving a signal representing coding information;

a plurality of test media compatible with the electronic meter, each test media of the plurality of test media having a first end and a second end, the first end having a width and a height, wherein a width and a height of the test media port is approximately equal to the width and the height of the first end for insertion of the first end into the test media port; and

a container having an open interior volume permitting contact between the plurality of test media housed therein, the container having a coding element associated therewith and a top end;

wherein at least one of the housing and the container comprises a top mount attachment configured to releasably attach the housing to the container; and

the coding element associated with the container transmit the coding information to the interface when the housing is attached to the container.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the top mount attachment is configured to releasably mount the housing to the top end of the container.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the top mount attachment comprises at least one lock protruding from the housing and at least one corresponding protrusion protruding from at least a portion of a lip of the container, each lock configured to slidably traverse at least a portion of each protrusion, wherein in a first position, each lock and each protrusion are disengaged so that the housing is capable of being removed from the top end of the container, and wherein in a second position, each lock and each protrusion are engaged so that the housing is prevented from being removed from the top end of the container.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the housing is rotated about a central axis to transit from the first position to the second position.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises at least one tab extending from a side wall of the housing, wherein the tab has a top surface.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the top surface of each tab comprises one or more ridges.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the tab extends at an angle from the side wall, wherein the angle, relative to a vertical plane substantially parallel to the side wall, ranges from about 1 degree to about 90 degrees.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the test media port is positioned on an outer surface of the housing.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein, when a test media of the plurality of test media is inserted into the media port, the first end of the test media extends into the test media port and the second end of the test media extends away from the test media port and electronic meter.

11. The system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one top mount attachment configured to releasably engage the housing and the container, wherein the at least one top mount attachment is configured to releasably remove the container and releasably attach a second container.

8. A system for diagnostic testing comprising:

an electronic meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to test media, the electronic meter comprising a housing having a test media port and an interface for receiving a signal representing coding information;

a plurality of test media compatible with the electronic meter, each test media of the plurality of test media having a first end and a second end, the first end having a width and a height, wherein a width and a height of the test media port is approximately equal to the width and the height of the first end for insertion of the first end into the test media port;

a container configured to contain test media compatible with the electronic meter, the container having a coding element associated therewith and a top end;

wherein at least one of the housing and the container comprises a top mount attachment configured to releasably attach the housing to the container; and

the coding element associated with the container transmits the coding information to the interface when the housing is attached to the container;

wherein the top mount attachment comprises at least one lock protruding from the housing and at least one corresponding protrusion protruding from at least a portion of a lip of the container, each lock configured to slidably traverse at least a portion of each protrusion when the housing and the container are rotated with respect to one another;

wherein in a first rotation position, each lock and each protrusion are disengaged so that the housing is capable of being removed from the top end of the container; and

wherein in a second rotation position, each lock and each protrusion are engaged so that the housing is prevented from being removed from the top end of the container.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the test media port is positioned on an outer surface of the housing.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein, when a test media of the plurality of test media is inserted into the media port, the first end of the test media extends into the test media port and the second end of the test media extends away from the test media port and electronic meter.