Electronic analyte assaying device

• US 9,970,923 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2016
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Sturman, Andy, Zin, Benedict, Nazareth, Albert, Bell, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Xu, Xiaoyun R
• Application Number:
  US15/251,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20160370346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/17 Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated where the material investigated is optically excited causing a change in wavelength of the incident light G01N21/63
• 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 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/12 Circuits of general importance; Signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2333/59 Follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH]; Chorionic gonadotropins, e.g. HCG; Luteinising hormone [LH]; Thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]
• 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 33/48792 Data management, e.g. communication with processing unit for in vivo diagnostics A61B5/0002; transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/493 urine
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/62 involving urea
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/689 related to pregnancy or the gonads
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/76 Human chorionic gonadotropin including luteinising hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone or their receptors

Abstract

An improved electronic diagnostic device for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid sample comprises a casing having a display, a test strip mounted in the casing, a processor mounted in the casing, and a first sensor mounted in the casing and operatively coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to receive a signal from the first sensor when the device is exposed to ambient light thereby causing the device to become activated. The device includes a light shield that exerts pressure across a width of the test strip to prevent fluid channeling along the length of the test strip. The processor is configured to present an early positive test result reading when a measured value exceeds a predetermined early reading threshold value at any time after a predetermined early testing time period.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid sample, said apparatus comprising:

a casing having a display;

a test strip;

a light shield placed in contact with said test strip, wherein said light shield minimizes the effect of fluid channeling along the length of said test strip by providing pressure across the width of said test strip;

a processor mounted in said casing;

a first sensor operatively coupled to said processor, wherein said first sensor is configured to provide a signal to said processor when said first sensor detects ambient light; and

a removable cover installed on the diagnostic device so as to prevent said first sensor from sensing ambient light thereby preventing said diagnostic device from activating.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power source internal to the device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said removable cover is a light impervious material.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said light impervious material is a wrapper.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to activate said diagnostic device based on said signal provided by said first sensor when said first sensor detects ambient light.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to perform a diagnostic self-test upon activation to ensure said device is operating within one or more pre-established parameters.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said diagnostic device is configured to signal that said device is operating within the one or more pre-established parameters.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light source mounted in said casing and operatively coupled to said processor, wherein said light source is configured to illuminate a portion of said test strip.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said light source is configured to normalize the effect of ambient light within said casing.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a second sensor mounted in said casing and operatively coupled to said processor, wherein said second sensor is positioned proximate said test strip so as to sense an area corresponding to a test result site.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a third sensor mounted in said casing and operatively coupled to said processor, wherein said third sensor is positioned proximate said test strip so as to sense an area adjacent to said test result site.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said processor is further configured to perform a comparison of a reading from said second sensor and a reading from said third sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said comparison comprises said processor calculating a difference value by subtracting the said second sensor reading from said third sensor reading.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said processor is further configured to display a positive test result message on said display based on results of said comparison.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said processor is further configured to display said positive test result when said difference value is greater than an early positive result threshold value at any time after a predetermined time period.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said early positive result threshold value is greater than a normal predetermined threshold value and said predetermined time period is less than a standard time period.