Diagnostic meter

• US 20070233395A1
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trividia Health, Inc. (Sinocare, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Home Diagnostics Incorporated
• Inventors: Modzelewski, Brent E., Oti, Carlos, Caban, Allan Javier, Neel, Gary T., Rounds, George R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,696,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• 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 33/48778 Containers specially adapted therefor, e.g. for dry storage
• 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: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A system for diagnostic testing, including a meter assembly that communicates with a partner device, such as a PC. The device can be made compact, convenient to carry, and easily connectable to a variety of electronics devices.

Claims

1. A system for diagnostic testing, the system comprising:

a meter device for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to test media, the meter device having a housing, the housing containing a test media interface, a mass storage device, and a data interface device.

2. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the meter housing further contains a display configured to display results of the diagnostic test.

3. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the meter housing is configured to be connected to a sampling device.

4. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 3, wherein the sampling device is a lancet.

5. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the meter housing is configured to be attached to a side portion of a test media container.

6. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the data interface device comprises a USB connector.

7. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the data interface device comprises a wireless communications device.

8. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 7, wherein the wireless communications device comprises an infrared device.

9. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 7, wherein the wireless communications device comprises an RF frequency device.

10. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the data interface device is configured to establish data communication with a partner device.

11. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 10, wherein the partner device is selected from the group consisting of:

a cell phone, a PDA, a general purpose computer, a digital media player, a digital camera, and wireless information device.

12. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 10, wherein a transceiver dock is hardwired to the partner device.

13. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 12, wherein the transceiver dock and the meter housing are wirelessly connected.

14. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 10, wherein a cradle is plugged into a socket of the meter housing to establish wireless data communication with the partner device.

15. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 14, wherein the cradle and the partner device are BlueTooth®

compatible.

36. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 1, wherein the meter housing is configured to selectively close an opening of a test media container.

16. A method for providing diagnostic data to a computer, the method comprising:

a) providing a diagnostic meter having a housing containing a test media port for receiving test media, a mass storage device, and a data interface device;

b) providing a partner device comprising a data communication port, the data communication port capable of establishing data communication with the data interface device;

c) performing a diagnostic test on test media in the test media port to obtain at least one test value;

d) establishing data communication between the diagnostic meter and the data communication port of the partner device and the data interface device of the diagnostic meter;

e) transmitting the at least one test value from the diagnostic meter to the partner device; and

f) displaying the at least one test value on the partner device.

17. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising the step of physically plugging the diagnostic meter into a port on the partner device.

18. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising the step of establishing a wireless connection between the diagnostic meter and the partner device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the mass storage device further comprises software, wherein the method further comprises executing the software on the partner device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of executing the software further comprises processing the at least one test value.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of transmitting identification information from the diagnostic meter to the computer with the at least one test value.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of transmitting identification information comprises transmitting time and data information for the at least one test value.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of transmitting identification information comprises transmitting user information for the at least one test value.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising storing the at least one test value in the mass storage device before transmitting the at least one test value to the partner device.

25. A system for diagnostic testing, the system comprising:

a meter device for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to test media, the meter device having a housing, the housing containing a test media interface, and a data interface device; and

wherein the housing is characterized by a lack of a display.

26. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 25, wherein the data interface device is configured to establish data communication with a partner device.

27. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 26, wherein the partner device is selected from the group consisting of:

a cell phone, a PDA, a general purpose computer, a digital media player, a digital camera, and wireless information device.

28. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 27, wherein the partner device contains a mass storage device and a display configured to display results of the diagnostic test.

29. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 25, wherein the data interface device comprises a wireless communications device.

30. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 29, wherein the wireless communications device comprises an infrared device.

31. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 29, wherein the wireless communications device comprises an RF frequency device.

32. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 26, wherein a transceiver dock is hardwired to the partner device.

33. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 32, wherein the transceiver dock and the meter housing are wirelessly connected.

34. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 26, wherein a cradle is plugged into a socket of the meter housing to establish wireless data communication with the partner device.

35. The system for diagnostic testing of claim 34, wherein the cradle and the partner device are BlueTooth®

compatible.