Haptic glucometer guide

• US 9,364,183 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Original Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Inventors: Park, Jacob, Standard, Matthew, Pawluck, Dianne, Thurby-Hay, Linda, Clore, John, Spain, Amber
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brazin, Jacqueline
• Application Number:
  US14/596,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20150196254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 422/544, 600/365
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1411 by percutaneous method, e.g. by lancet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150748 Having means for aiding positioning of the piercing device at a location where the body is to be pierced means for aiding positioning of devices for bringing media into the body A61M5/427, locating blood vessels A61B5/489
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150801 Means for facilitating use, e.g. by people with impaired vision; means for indicating when used correctly or incorrectly; means for alarming
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/702 Posture restraints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 4/00 Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body operating or control means for prostheses A61F2/48, A61F2/68

Abstract

A glucometer guide is provided to address the difficulty that blind or visually impaired diabetic patients have when attempting to independently use a glucometer. The guide provides haptic cues for the effective transfer of blood onto a test strip.

Claims

1. A glucometer guide comprising:

a compartment at a first end of the guide for connection to a glucometer;

a cavity formed at a second end of the guide to accommodate an inserted finger of a user and permit rotation of the finger therein,

the guide having a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end;

the cavity being a substantially hollow cylindrical cavity having its longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide;

a window in said cavity

wherein the window is positioned to allow a lancet to prick the finger through said window and to allow the blood of the pricked finger to contact a test strip after rotation of the finger,

wherein the window is positioned to allow contact with an end of the test strip extending between the window in the cavity and the glucometer when housed in the compartment,

wherein the guide is a one-piece device, and

wherein said compartment is configured for removably attaching said glucometer to the guide.

2. The guide of claim 1, further comprising a shelf for positioning of the test strip between the window in the cavity and the glucometer in the compartment.

3. The guide of claim 2, further comprising an alignment feature on said shelf.

4. The guide of claim 1, further comprising an opening at the bottom of said compartment.

5. A method for the measurement of blood glucose in a subject, the method comprising:

analyzing a blood sample with a glucometer using a glucometer guide,

wherein said guide having a longitudinal axis extending between a first end and a second end comprises;

a compartment at the first end of the guide for connection to the glucometer;

a cavity formed at the second end of the guide to accommodate an inserted finger of a user and permit rotation of the finger therein;

the cavity being a substantially hollow cylindrical cavity having its longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide;

a window in said cavity wherein the window is positioned to allow a lancet to prick the finger through said window and to allow the blood of the pricked finger to contact a test strip after rotation of the finger,

wherein the test strip extending between the window in the cavity and the glucometer in the compartment,

wherein the guide is a one-piece device and wherein said compartment is configured for removably attaching said glucometer to the guide, and

wherein the step of analyzing includes

connecting the glucometer to the compartment of the glucometer guide;

inserting a finger into the cavity of the glucometer guide;

pricking the finger with the lancet through the window in the cavity;

rotating the finger in the cavity until the blood of the pricked finger contacts the test strip extending between the window in the cavity and the glucometer in the compartment; and

measuring the blood glucose of the blood sampled on the test strip with the glucometer.

6. A glucometer guide comprising:

a compartment at a first end of the guide for connection to a glucometer;

a cavity formed at a second end of the guide to accommodate an inserted finger of a user and permit rotation of the finger therein;

the guide having a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end;

the cavity being a substantially hollow cylindrical cavity having its longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide;

a window in said cavity wherein the window is positioned to allow a lancet to prick the finger through said window and to allow the blood of the pricked finger to contact a test strip after rotation of the finger,

wherein the window is positioned to allow contact with an end of the test strip extending between the window in the cavity of the glucometer when housed in the compartment;

at least one protrusion adjacent to said window and extending into the cavity;

wherein the guide is a one-piece device; and

wherein said compartment is configured for removably attaching said glucometer to the guide.

7. The guide of claim 6, wherein said at least one protrusion includes a pair of elongated, inwardly projecting ridges positioned on opposite sides of said window.