Analyte test instrument having improved versatility
First Claim
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1. A method for performing an assay using an analyte test instrument, the analyte test instrument comprising:
- a test port for receiving a test strip;
a microprocessor for executing instructions downloaded to the analyte test instrument; and
a test strip circuit that switches between a two electrode configuration and a three electrode configuration following sample application to the test strip and before removal of the test strip, wherein switching between the configurations comprises the microprocessor setting the switches of the test strip circuit from an assay with a test strip having two electrodes to an assay with a test strip having three electrodes or the microprocessor setting the switches of the test strip circuit from an assay with a test strip having three electrodes to an assay with a test strip having two electrodes, wherein the test strip circuit is in a two electrode configuration during a first portion of an assay and a three electrode configuration during a second portion of the assay,wherein the method comprises;
inserting a test strip into the test port of the analyte test instrument, wherein the test strip circuit of the analyte test instrument is in a two electrode configuration;
after inserting the test strip, applying a sample to the test strip;
running a first portion of an assay on the sample applied to the test strip;
switching the test strip circuit of the analyte test instrument from the two electrode configuration to a three electrode configuration;
running a second portion of the assay on the sample applied to the test strip; and
after running the second portion of the assay, removing the test strip from the test port.
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Abstract
An analyte test instrument that has a test strip circuitry that can be configured using information provided by a calibration strip to perform assays with test strips having two electrodes and test strips having three electrodes. The analyte test instrument of this invention comprises:
- (a) a test port for receiving a test strip;
- (b) a microprocessor for executing instructions downloaded into the analyte test instrument;
- (c) a test strip circuit capable of having a plurality of configurations, the configurations being set by the microprocessor, whereby an assay can be performed using the test strip.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for performing an assay using an analyte test instrument, the analyte test instrument comprising:
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a test port for receiving a test strip; a microprocessor for executing instructions downloaded to the analyte test instrument; and a test strip circuit that switches between a two electrode configuration and a three electrode configuration following sample application to the test strip and before removal of the test strip, wherein switching between the configurations comprises the microprocessor setting the switches of the test strip circuit from an assay with a test strip having two electrodes to an assay with a test strip having three electrodes or the microprocessor setting the switches of the test strip circuit from an assay with a test strip having three electrodes to an assay with a test strip having two electrodes, wherein the test strip circuit is in a two electrode configuration during a first portion of an assay and a three electrode configuration during a second portion of the assay, wherein the method comprises; inserting a test strip into the test port of the analyte test instrument, wherein the test strip circuit of the analyte test instrument is in a two electrode configuration; after inserting the test strip, applying a sample to the test strip; running a first portion of an assay on the sample applied to the test strip; switching the test strip circuit of the analyte test instrument from the two electrode configuration to a three electrode configuration; running a second portion of the assay on the sample applied to the test strip; and after running the second portion of the assay, removing the test strip from the test port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of performing a glucose concentration determining assay using a glucose test instrument, the glucose test instrument comprising:
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a test port for receiving a glucose test strip; a microprocessor for executing instructions downloaded to the glucose test instrument; and a test strip circuit that switches between a two electrode configuration and a three electrode configuration following sample application to the test strip and before removal of the test strip, wherein switching between the configurations comprises the microprocessor setting the switches of the test strip circuit from an assay with a test strip having two electrodes to an assay with a test strip having three electrodes or the microprocessor setting the switches of the test strip circuit from an assay with a test strip having three electrodes to an assay with a test strip having two electrodes, wherein the test strip circuit is in a two electrode configuration during a first portion of an assay and a three electrode configuration during a second portion of the assay, wherein the method comprises; inserting a glucose test strip into the test port of the glucose test instrument, wherein the test strip circuit of the glucose test instrument is in a two electrode configuration; after inserting the glucose test strip, applying a sample to the test strip; running a first portion of a glucose concentration determining assay on the sample applied to the test strip; switching the test strip circuit of the glucose test instrument from the two electrode configuration to a three electrode configuration; running a second portion of the glucose concentration determining assay on the sample applied to the test strip; and after running the second portion of the glucose concentration determining assay, removing the test strip from the test port. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification