Method and apparatus for coding diagnostic meters

• US 9,623,412 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2014
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trividia Health, Inc. (Sinocare, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trividia Health, Inc. (Sinocare, 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:
  US14/568,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20150098865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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:

a meter housing configured to house an electronic meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to a test medium, the meter housing having a test port;

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

a container having an open interior volume permitting contact between the plurality of test medium housed therein; and

at least one lock protruding from the meter housing and at least one corresponding protrusion protruding from at least a portion of a lip of the container, the at least one lock configured to slidably traverse at least a portion of the at least one protrusion, wherein in a first position, the at least one lock and the at least one protrusion are disengaged so that the meter housing is capable of being removed from a top end of the container, and wherein in a second position, the at least one lock and the at least one protrusion are engaged so that the meter housing is prevented from being removed from the top end of the container.

2. 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.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the top surface of each tab comprises one or more ridges.

4. The system according to claim 2, 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.

5. The system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one lever integrally molded with the housing, each lever being interconnected to a hook, and the container comprises at least one detent configured to receive the hook.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the meter housing comprises a button interconnected to a hook and a lever, and the container comprises a detent, wherein pushing the button concomitantly disengages the hook from the detent.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the meter housing comprises a press fit post and the container comprising an orifice sized to receive the press fit post.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the press fit post comprises a first partial post and a second partial post, wherein the first partial post and the second partial post are spaced apart.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an eject button configured to release the housing from the container.

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

12. The system of claim 11, wherein, when a test medium of the plurality of test medium is inserted into the test port, the first end of the test medium extends into the test port and the second end of the test medium extends away from the test port and electronic meter.

10. A system for diagnostic testing comprising:

a meter housing configured to house an electronic meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to a test medium, the meter housing having a test port;

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

a container including a top end and configured to contain test medium compatible with the electronic meter;

multiple locks protruding from the meter housing and multiple corresponding protrusions 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 meter 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 meter 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 meter housing is prevented from being removed from the top end of the container.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the test port is positioned on an outer surface of the housing.

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