Handheld analyte meter with recharging control for improved analyte testing

• US 9,689,753 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2014
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Ramey, Blaine E., Simpson, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jagan, Mirellys
• Application Number:
  US14/285,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20150338288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 374142, 374141, 374208, 374110, 374166
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0204 of power management
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48785 Electrical and electronic details of measuring devices for physical analysis of liquid biological material not specific to a particular test method, e.g. user interface or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/66 involving blood sugars, e.g. galactose
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A handheld analyte meter, such as a blood glucose meter, has a measurement module, a rechargeable battery and a charging control to select a maximum charging current to regulate self-heating during recharging that can interfere with analyte tests. Self-heating by the meter can bias temperature measurements made inside the meter that are used to determine whether the temperature is acceptable for testing. Prior to beginning a charging session, the charging control selects the maximum charging current that does not change during the charging session based capacity of a charging source along with a first temperature measured near the battery that is compared with a first temperature range. By selecting the maximum charging current in this manner, the risk of the measurement module preventing a test under high lock-out conditions and the risk of the measurement module allowing a test when low lock-out conditions that are masked is reduced.

Claims

1. A handheld analyte meter with recharging control for regulating self-heating to improve analyte testing, comprising:

a housing having a circuit board carried inside the housing and a test strip port;

a cable connector carried in the housing with a first end exposed outside the housing for connection to a charging source and a second end coupled to the circuit board;

a rechargeable battery carried inside the housing and coupled to the circuit board and coupled to the cable connector second end;

a main processor carried on the circuit board and coupled to the rechargeable battery, the main processor having memory;

a display coupled to the circuit board and the main processor;

a first temperature sensor carried on the circuit board near the main processor and rechargeable battery for measuring a first temperature inside the housing prior to beginning a charging session that is compared to a first temperature range;

a measurement module carried on the circuit board near the test strip port and coupled to the main processor;

a second temperature sensor carried on the circuit board near the measurement module for measuring a second temperature inside the housing prior to beginning an analyte test that is compared to a second temperature range;

a strip connector carried on the circuit board near the test strip port, the strip connector coupled to the measurement module and configured to receive a test strip;

a battery charger carried on the circuit board and coupled to the cable connector that charges the rechargeable battery up to a maximum charging current until the rechargeable battery reaches a predetermined charge level; and

a charging control carried on the circuit board and coupled to the battery charger that prior to the beginning of a charging session selects the maximum charging current that does not change during the charging session,

if the first temperature is within the first temperature range, the charging control selects a high maximum charging current for the maximum charging current, and

if the first temperature is outside the first temperature range, the charging control selects a reduced maximum charging current for the maximum charging current.

2. The handheld analyte meter of claim 1, wherein if the first temperature is lower than the first temperature range the maximum charging current is reduced to lower the risk of masking a low lock-out that permits an analyte test when the second temperature is higher than a lowest value of the second temperature range.

3. The handheld analyte meter of claim 1, wherein the test strip has a strip temperature range from about 4°

C. to about 45°

C.

4. The handheld analyte meter of claim 1, wherein the handheld rechargeable analyte meter is selected from one of a handheld infusion pump controller with blood glucose meter and self-testing blood glucose meter.

5. The handheld analyte meter of claim 1, wherein if the first temperature is higher than the first temperature range the maximum charging current is reduced to lower the risk of a high lock-out that prevents an analyte test when the second temperature is higher than the second temperature range.

6. The handheld analyte meter of claim 5, wherein the charging current is selected in the range from about 50 mA to about 450 mA.

7. A method for controlling handheld analyte meter recharging to regulate self-heating for improved analyte testing, comprising:

connecting a cable coupled to a charging source to a cable connector on the handheld analyte meter and turning the analyte meter on if the analyte meter was off when the cable is connected to the cable connector;

sensing the cable is connected to the cable connector and disabling the analyte meter from conducting an analyte test for safety;

identifying a capacity of the charging source by the analyte meter;

measuring a first temperature in the analyte meter with a first temperature sensor located inside an analyte meter housing near a rechargeable battery prior to a beginning of a charging session;

determining whether the first temperature is within a first temperature range;

selecting a high maximum charging current for a maximum charging current prior to the beginning of the charging session that does not change during the charging session based upon the capacity of the charging source and if the first temperature is within the first temperature range;

selecting a reduced maximum charging current for the maximum charging current prior to the beginning of the charging session that does not change during the charging session based upon the capacity of the charging source and if the first temperature is outside the first temperature range;

recharging the rechargeable battery of the analyte meter at up to the maximum charging current selected;

disconnecting the cable from the analyte meter and enabling the analyte meter to perform an analyte test;

inserting a test strip into a strip port on the analyte meter;

measuring a second temperature with a second temperature sensor located inside the analyte meter housing near a measurement engine;

determining whether the second temperature measurement is within a second temperature range to conduct the analyte test; and

performing the analyte test if the second temperature is within the second temperature range.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein if the first temperature is higher than the first temperature range the maximum charging current is reduced to lower a risk of a high lock-out that prevents an analyte test when the second temperature is higher than the second temperature range.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein if the first temperature is lower than the first temperature range maximum charging current is reduced to lower a risk of masking a low lock-out that permits an analyte test when the second temperature is higher than a lowest value of the second temperature range.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the charging current is selected in the range from about 50 mA to about 450 mA.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the test strip has a strip temperature range from about 4°

C. to about 45°

C.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the handheld analyte meter is selected from one of a handheld infusion pump controller with blood glucose meter and a handheld blood glucose meter.