Method and apparatus for encoding test strips
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample comprising the steps of:
- inserting an electrochemical test strip for detecting the analyte into a test meter,said test strip being generally planar and comprising a sample cell for receiving a test sample for analysis and electrodes disposed within the sample cells for performing an electrochemical assay, said test strip having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the test strip comprises a connection region and wherein the test strip further comprises;
(a) electrical connectors for connecting the electrodes to a test meter, said electrical connectors being disposed within the connection region and exposed for connection on the top surface, and(b) a plurality of encoding pads disposed within the connection region on the bottom surface of the test strip, wherein at least two of the encoding pads are in electrical connection with each other; and
wherein said test meter comprises;
(a) a housing;
(b) electronic circuitry disposed within the housing and configured to test for electrical contact between the pair of top and bottom contacts one or more times when no test strip is received in the meter, and(c) a strip port connector connected to the electronic circuitry and extending to an opening in the housing, said strip port connector connecting the electronic circuitry with the received test strip, whereinthe strip port connector contains a pair of opposed contacts, the pair having a top contact and a bottom contact, said top and bottom contacts having a proximal end and a distal end and a central contact portion,the top and bottom contacts of the pair are transversely aligned with one another; and
the top and bottom contacts are biased such that the central contact portions of the contacts are in electrical contact with one another when no test strip is received in the test meter, andthe distal ends of the top and bottom contacts are separable from one another by insertion of the test strip between the opposed contacts;
introducing a sample into the test strip, measuring an initial value for concentration of analyte; and
adjusting the initial concentration of analyte as needed based upon information conveyed by encoding pads on the test strip to determine the concentration of analyte in the sample.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A test meter for receiving a test strip comprises:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) electronic circuitry disposed within the housing and
- (c) a strip port connector connected to the electronic circuitry and extending to an opening in the housing, said strip port connector connecting the electronic circuitry with a received test strip. The strip port connector contains a pair of top and bottom contacts, said top and bottom contacts having a proximal end and a distal end and a central contact portion, the top and bottom contacts of the pair are transversely aligned with one another; and the distal ends of the top and bottom contacts are separated or separable from one another by insertion of a test strip between the opposed contacts. The contacts and the meter are adapted to permit detection of faulty contacts and/or coding associated with an inserted test strip.
31 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample comprising the steps of:
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inserting an electrochemical test strip for detecting the analyte into a test meter, said test strip being generally planar and comprising a sample cell for receiving a test sample for analysis and electrodes disposed within the sample cells for performing an electrochemical assay, said test strip having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the test strip comprises a connection region and wherein the test strip further comprises; (a) electrical connectors for connecting the electrodes to a test meter, said electrical connectors being disposed within the connection region and exposed for connection on the top surface, and (b) a plurality of encoding pads disposed within the connection region on the bottom surface of the test strip, wherein at least two of the encoding pads are in electrical connection with each other; and wherein said test meter comprises; (a) a housing; (b) electronic circuitry disposed within the housing and configured to test for electrical contact between the pair of top and bottom contacts one or more times when no test strip is received in the meter, and (c) a strip port connector connected to the electronic circuitry and extending to an opening in the housing, said strip port connector connecting the electronic circuitry with the received test strip, wherein the strip port connector contains a pair of opposed contacts, the pair having a top contact and a bottom contact, said top and bottom contacts having a proximal end and a distal end and a central contact portion, the top and bottom contacts of the pair are transversely aligned with one another; and the top and bottom contacts are biased such that the central contact portions of the contacts are in electrical contact with one another when no test strip is received in the test meter, and the distal ends of the top and bottom contacts are separable from one another by insertion of the test strip between the opposed contacts; introducing a sample into the test strip, measuring an initial value for concentration of analyte; and adjusting the initial concentration of analyte as needed based upon information conveyed by encoding pads on the test strip to determine the concentration of analyte in the sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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3. A method for monitoring a test meter that receives an electrochemical test strip to confirm integrity of the contacts that make electrical connection to the electrochemical test strip, wherein
the meter comprises a strip port connector comprising a pair of opposed contacts, the pair of contacts having a top contact and a bottom contact, said top and bottom contacts having a proximal end and a distal end and a central contact portion, the top and bottom contacts of the pair are transversely aligned with one another; - the top and bottom contacts are biased such that the central contact portions of the contacts are in electrical contact with one another when no test strip is received in the test meter, and
the distal ends of the top and bottom contacts are separable from one another by insertion of the test strip between the opposed contacts, said method comprising the step of testing for electrical contact between the pair of top and bottom contacts at one or more times when no test strip is received in the test meter. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- the top and bottom contacts are biased such that the central contact portions of the contacts are in electrical contact with one another when no test strip is received in the test meter, and
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10. A test meter for receiving a test strip comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) electronic circuitry disposed within the housing and (c) a strip port connector connected to the electronic circuitry and extending to an opening in the housing, said strip port connector connecting the electronic circuitry with a received test strip, wherein the strip port connector contains a pair of opposed contacts, the pair having a top contact and a bottom contact, said top and bottom contacts having a proximal end and a distal end and a central contact portion, the top and bottom contacts of the pair are transversely aligned with one another; and the top and bottom contacts are biased such that the central contact portions of the contacts are in electrical contact with one another when no test strip is received in the test meter, and the distal ends of the top and bottom contacts are separable from one another by insertion of the test strip between the opposed contacts, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to test for electrical contact between the pair of top and bottom contacts one or more times when no test strip is received in the meter.
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23. A test meter for receiving a test strip comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) electronic circuitry disposed within the housing and (c) a strip port connector connected to the electronic circuitry and extending to an opening in the housing, said strip port connector connecting the electronic circuitry with a received test strip, wherein the strip port connector contains a pair of opposed contacts, the pair having a top contact and a bottom contact, said top and bottom contacts having a proximal end and a distal end and a central contact portion, the top and bottom contacts of the pair are transversely aligned with one another; the top and bottom contacts are biased towards each other such that the central contact portions of the contacts are close to but not in electrical contact with one another when no test strip is received in the test meter, and the distal ends of the top and bottom contacts are separable from one another by insertion of the test strip between opposed contacts such that the central contact portions contact the received test strip, wherein one of the top or bottom contacts is connected to the electronic circuitry to read encoding marks disposed on one surface of the test strip, and the other of the top or bottom contacts is connected to the electronic circuitry to obtain information about measurements made by the test strip on a sample introduced into the test strip, and wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to test for electrical contact between the pair of top and bottom contacts one or more times when no test strip is received in the meter.
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24. A test meter for receiving a test strip comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) electronic circuitry disposed within the housing and (c) a strip port connector connected to the electronic circuitry and extending to an opening in the housing, said strip port connector connecting the electronic circuitry with a received test strip, wherein the strip port connector comprises a pair of contacts, the pair of contacts having a top contact and a bottom plate, said top contact having a proximal end and a distal end and a central contact portion and said bottom plate being disposed in alignment with the central contact portion; the top contact is biased such that the central contact portions of the contacts are in electrical contact with one another when no test strip is received in the test meter, the distal ends of the top contact and the plate are separable from one another by insertion of the test strip therebetween, and the electronic circuitry is configured to test for electrical contact between the top contact and the bottom plate at one or more times when no test strip is received in the test meter.
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25. A test meter for receiving a test strip comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) electronic circuitry disposed within the housing and (c) a strip port connector connected to the electronic circuitry and extending to an opening in the housing, said strip port connector connecting the electronic circuitry with a received test strip, wherein the strip port connector receives the test strip through one longitudinal end of the strip port connector, the strip port connector contains a pair of opposed contacts, the pair having a top contact and a bottom contact, said top and bottom contacts having a proximal end and a distal end and a central contact portion, the top and bottom contacts of the pair are transversely aligned with one another; and one of the top and bottom contacts extends longitudinally within the strip port connector to a greater extent than the other, the top and bottom contacts are biased such that the central portions of the top and bottom contacts are in electrical contact with one another when no test strip is received in the test meter, and the distal ends of the top and bottom contacts being separable from one another by insertion of the test strip between the opposed contacts, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to test for electrical contact between the pair of top and bottom contacts one or more times when no test strip is received in the meter.
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26. A test meter for receiving a test strip comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) electronic circuitry disposed within the housing and (c) a strip port connector connected to the electronic circuitry and extending to an opening in the housing, said strip port connector connecting the electronic circuitry with a received test strip, wherein the strip port connector contains a pair of opposed contacts, the pair having a top contact and a bottom contact, said top and bottom contacts having a proximal end and a distal end and a central contact portion, the top and bottom contacts of the pair are transversely aligned with one another; the top and bottom contacts are biased such that the central contact portions of the contacts are in electrical contact with one another when no test strip is received in the test meter, and the distal ends of the top and bottom contacts are separable from one another by insertion of the test strip between the opposed contacts, wherein one of the top or bottom contacts is connected to the electronic circuitry to read encoding marks disposed on one surface of a test strip, and the other of the top or bottom contacts is connected to the electronic circuitry to obtain information about measurements made by the test strip on a sample introduced into the test strip, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to test for electrical contact between the pair of top and bottom contacts one or more times when no test strip is received in the meter. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification