Portable analytical device

• US 9,816,956 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2015
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Werner, Karl, Afshar, Nader, Young, Morris J., Greenburg, Alan, Galley, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Lore
• Application Number:
  US14/830,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20160003762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3273 Devices therefor, e.g. test element readers, circuitry details not specific to biochemical electrodes G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48792 Data management, e.g. communication with processing unit for in vivo diagnostics A61B5/0002; transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/66 involving blood sugars, e.g. galactose
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A portable analytical device includes a housing, a measuring facility and a processor in the housing, and an electrical connector coupled to the housing and having one end electrically connected to the processor and an opposite end extending outwardly from the housing. The measuring facility is configured to analyze an optical or electrochemical change in the test element having received a liquid sample of the body fluid and to generate measuring values resulting from the analysis. A memory has stored therein software at least a portion of which is executable by the processor to process the measuring values to produce analytical measuring data taking into account calibration values. The electrical connector may be a male universal serial bus (USB) electrical connector, a Type-A USB electrical connector or a mini-USB electrical connector having electrical connections for electrical power, ground, data and ID.

Claims

1. A portable, patient-operable analytical device for analysis of a medically significant component of a body fluid for self-monitoring by a patient, comprising:

a device housing defining an opening therein,

a measuring facility arranged inside the device housing configured to receive a test element via the housing opening, the measuring facility configured to analyze one of an optical and electrochemical change in the test element having received a liquid sample of the body fluid and to generate measuring values resulting from the analysis,

a processor arranged inside the device housing and including a memory having stored therein software at least a portion of which is executable by the processor to process the measuring values to produce analytical measuring data taking into account calibration values, and

an electrical connector selected from the group consisting of;

a male universal serial bus (USB) electrical connector carried by the housing and having one end electrically connected to the processor and an opposite end extending outwardly from the device housing, the device housing, measuring facility, processor and male USB electrical connector together forming a USB device,

a Type-A universal serial bus (USB) electrical connector coupled to the housing and having one end electrically connected to the processor and an opposite end extending outwardly from the device housing, and

a mini-universal serial bus (USB) electrical connector coupled to the housing and having one end electrically connected to the processor and an opposite end extending outwardly from the device housing, the mini-USB electrical connector having electrical connections for electrical power, ground, data and ID.

2. The analytical device of claim 1 wherein the opposite end of the electrical connector is configured to operatively connect to an external electronic device and to receive electrical power to operate the processor and the measuring facility from the external electronic device.

3. The analytical device of claim 1 wherein the opposite end of the electrical connector is configured to operatively connect to an external electronic device and includes a voltage supply input configured to transmit an external supply of electrical power to the analytical device from the external electronic device.

4. The analytical device of claim 1 wherein the opposite end of the electrical connector is configured to operatively connect to an external electronic device, and wherein the analytical device is configured to provide one or more portions of the software through the electrical connector to the external electronic device when the electrical connector is operatively connected to the external electronic device.

5. The analytical device of claim 1 wherein the opposite end of the electrical connector is configured to operatively connect to an external electronic device, and wherein one of operation of the analytical device and action of the analytical device to analyze the one of the optical and electrochemical change in the test element is controlled by the external electronic device via the operatively connected electrical connector.

6. The analytical device of claim 1 wherein the electrical connector is the male USB electrical connector,

and wherein the male USB electrical connector is one of a Type-A USB electrical connector, a Type-B USB electrical connector and a mini-USB electrical connector.

7. The analytical device of claim 1 wherein the electrical connector is the Type-A USB electrical connector,

and wherein the Type-A USB electrical connector is a male Type-A USB electrical connector,

and wherein the opposite end of the male Type-A USB electrical connector is configured to be electrically connected to a female Type-A USB electrical connector of one of a USB host and a USB hub.

8. The analytical device of claim 7 wherein the USB host is one of a personal computer, a laptop computer and a notebook computer.

9. The analytical device of claim 1 wherein the electrical connector is the Type-A USB electrical connector,

and further comprising a protective cap to protect the opposite end of the Type-A USB electrical connector during periods of non-use of the analytical device.

10. The analytical device of claim 1 wherein the electrical connector is the mini-USB electrical connector,

and wherein the mini-USB electrical connector is a male mini-USB electrical connector,

and wherein the opposite end of the male mini-USB electrical connector is configured to be electrically connected to a female mini-USB electrical connector of one of a USB host and a USB hub.

11. The analytical device of claim 10 wherein the USB host is one of a personal computer, a laptop computer and a notebook computer.

12. The analytical device of claim 1 wherein the electrical connector is the mini-USB electrical connector,

and further comprising a protective cap to protect the opposite end of the mini-USB electrical connector during periods of non-use of the analytical device.

13. A portable, patient-operable analytical device for analysis of a medically significant component of a body fluid for self-monitoring by a patient, comprising:

a device housing defining an opening therein,

a measuring facility arranged inside the device housing configured to receive a test element via the housing opening, the measuring facility configured to analyze one of an optical and electrochemical change in the test element having received a liquid sample of the body fluid and generating measuring values resulting from the analysis,

a processor arranged inside the device housing and including a memory having stored therein software at least a portion of which is executable by the processor to process the measuring values to produce analytical measuring data taking into account calibration values,

a display electrically connected to the processor to display the analytical measuring data, and

a universal serial bus (USB) electrical connector carried by the housing and having one end electrically connected to the processor and an opposite end extending outwardly from the device housing.

14. The analytical device of claim 13 wherein the USB electrical connector is a male universal serial bus (USB) connector.

15. The analytical device of claim 14 wherein the opposite end of the male USB electrical connector is configured to be electrically connected to a female USB electrical connector of one of a USB host and a USB hub.

16. The analytical device of claim 15 wherein the USB host is one of a personal computer, a laptop computer and a notebook computer.

17. The analytical device of claim 13 wherein the USB electrical connector is one of a Type-A USB electrical connector, a Type-B USB electrical connector and a mini-USB electrical connector.

18. The analytical device of claim 13 wherein the opposite end of the USB electrical connector is configured to operatively connect to an external electronic device and to receive electrical power to operate the processor and the measuring facility from the external electronic device.

19. The analytical device of claim 13 wherein the opposite end of the USB electrical connector is configured to operatively connect to an external electronic device and includes a voltage supply input configured to transmit an external supply of electrical power to the analytical device from the external electronic device.

20. The analytical device of claim 13 wherein the opposite end of the USB electrical connector is configured to operatively connect to an external electronic device, and wherein one of operation of the analytical device and action of the analytical device to analyze the one of the optical and electrochemical change in the test element is controlled by the external electronic device via the operatively connected electrical connector.

21. A portable, patient-operable analytical device for analysis of a medically significant component of a body fluid for self-monitoring by a patient, comprising:

a device housing defining an opening therein,

a measuring facility arranged inside the device housing configured to receive a test element via the housing opening, the measuring facility configured to analyze one of an optical and electrochemical change in the test element having received a liquid sample of the body fluid and to generate measuring values resulting from the analysis,

a processor arranged inside the device housing and including a memory having stored therein software executable by the processor to process the measuring values to produce analytical measuring data taking into account calibration values, and

an electrical connector carried by the housing and having one end electrically connected to the processor and an opposite end extending outwardly from the device housing, the analytical device being hot swappable.

22. The analytical device of claim 21 wherein the electrical connector is a male universal serial bus (USB) connector.

23. The analytical device of claim 22 wherein the opposite end of the male USB electrical connector is configured to be electrically connected to a female USB electrical connector of one of a USB host and a USB hub.

24. The analytical device of claim 23 wherein the USB host is one of a personal computer, a laptop computer and a notebook computer.

25. The analytical device of claim 22 wherein the male USB electrical connector is one of a Type-A USB electrical connector, a Type-B USB electrical connector and a mini-USB electrical connector.

26. The analytical device of claim 21 wherein the opposite end of the electrical connector is configured to operatively connect to an external electronic device and to receive electrical power to operate the processor and the measuring facility from the external electronic device.

27. The analytical device of claim 21 wherein the opposite end of the electrical connector is configured to operatively connect to an external electronic device and includes a voltage supply input configured to transmit an external supply of electrical power to the analytical device from the external electronic device.

28. The analytical device of claim 21 wherein the opposite end of the electrical connector is configured to operatively connect to an external electronic device, and wherein one of operation of the analytical device and action of the analytical device to analyze the one of the optical and electrochemical change in the test element is controlled by the external electronic device via the operatively connected electrical connector.

29. A portable, patient-operable analytical device for analysis of a medically significant component of a body fluid for self-monitoring by a patient, comprising:

a device housing defining an opening therein,

a measuring facility arranged inside the device housing configured to receive a test element via the housing opening, the measuring facility configured to analyze one of an optical and electrochemical change in the test element having received a liquid sample of the body fluid and to generate measuring values resulting from the analysis,

a processor arranged inside the device housing and including a memory having stored therein software executable by the processor to process the measuring values to produce analytical measuring data taking into account calibration values,

an electrical connector carried by the housing and having one end electrically connected to the processor and an opposite end extending outwardly from the device housing, and

a protective cap to protect the opposite end of the electrical connector during periods of non-use of the analytical device.

30. The analytical device of claim 29 wherein the electrical connector is a universal serial bus (USB) electrical connector.

31. The analytical device of claim 30 wherein the USB electrical connector is a male universal serial bus (USB) connector.

32. The analytical device of claim 31 wherein the opposite end of the male USB electrical connector is configured to be electrically connected to a female USB electrical connector of one of a USB host and a USB hub.

33. The analytical device of claim 32 wherein the USB host is one of a personal computer, a laptop computer and a notebook computer.

34. The analytical device of claim 30 wherein the USB electrical connector is one of a Type-A USB electrical connector, a Type-B USB electrical connector and a mini-USB electrical connector.

35. The analytical device of claim 29 wherein the opposite end of the electrical connector is configured to operatively connect to an external electronic device and receives electrical power to operate the processor and the measuring facility from the external electronic device.

36. The analytical device of claim 29 wherein the opposite end of the electrical connector is configured to operatively connect to an external electronic device and includes a voltage supply input configured to transmit an external supply of electrical power to the analytical device from the external electronic device.

37. The analytical device of claim 29 wherein the opposite end of the electrical connector is configured to operatively connect to an external electronic device, and wherein one of operation of the analytical device and action of the analytical device to analyze the one of the optical and electrochemical change in the test element is controlled by the external electronic device via the operatively connected electrical connector.

38. A system for analyzing a medically significant component of a body fluid for self-monitoring by a patient, comprising:

an electronic device comprising a display, a microphone, a first electrical connector and a first processor electrically connected to the display, the microphone and the first electrical connector, and

an analytical device comprising;

a device housing defining an opening therein,

a measuring facility arranged inside the device housing and configured to receive a test element via the housing opening, the measuring facility configured to analyze a detectable change in the test element having received a liquid sample of the body fluid received and to generate measuring values resulting from the analysis,

a second processor arranged inside the device housing and including a memory having stored therein software executable by at least one of the first and second processors to process the measuring values to produce analytical measuring data, and

a second electrical connector carried by the device housing and electrically connected to the second processor,

wherein the first and second electrical connectors are configured to be connected to each other via which the analytical measuring data is provided from the second processor to the first processor, the second processor configured to receive and act upon voice commands from the user received via the microphone.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the first processor is configured to control the display to display at least one of user input instructions and information relating to the analysis,

and wherein user input required in response to the at least one of the displayed user input instructions and information is provided by the user via the microphone.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein the electronic device comprises a speaker operatively connected to the first processor,

and wherein the first processor is configured to control the speaker to display the analytical measuring data by audibly conveying the analytical measuring data.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein the first processor is configured to control the display to display thereon the analytical measuring data.

42. The system of claim 38 wherein the first electrical connector is a female universal serial bus (USB) electrical connector, and the second electrical connector is a a male USB electrical connector.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the first and second USB electrical connectors are one of Type-A USB electrical connectors, Type-B USB electrical connectors and mini-USB electrical connectors.

44. The system of claim 38 wherein the analytical device is configured to provide one or more portions of the software through the second electrical connector to the electronic device when the second electrical connector is operatively connected to the first electrical connector.