APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD FROM BIOSENSOR METERS

• US 20150160187A1
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Gofman, Igor
• Granted Patent: US 9,921,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 33/49 Blood chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/144444 Glucose

Abstract

A biosensor meter (10a) is provided for determining an analyte concentration in a fluid, such as glucose in blood. The biosensor meter includes a USB port (14a) having a first data signal port terminal (32d′), and a detection circuit (50a) including a first input terminal and an output terminal. The first input terminal of the detection circuit (50a) is coupled to the first data signal port terminal (32d′). The detection circuit (50a) provides at the output terminal a first output signal when a current sensed at the first input terminal is greater than or equal to a first predetermined amount, and a second output signal when the current sensed at the first input terminal is less than the first predetermined amount. The detection circuit is configured to detect whether the USB port (14a) of the biosensor meter (10a) is connected to the USB port (14b) of another electronic device, such as a computer (12), and to prompt the meter'"'"'s user for not carrying out a measurement in order to reduce the risk of electrical shock.

Claims

1. A biosensor meter for determining an analyte concentration in a fluid, the biosensor meter comprising:

a USB port comprising a first data signal port terminal;

a detection circuit comprising a first input terminal coupled to the first data signal port terminal, and comprising an output terminal,

wherein the detection circuit is adapted to provide at the output terminal a first output signal when a current sensed at the first input terminal is greater than or equal to a first predetermined amount, and a second output signal when the current sensed at the first input terminal is less than the first predetermined amount.

2. The biosensor meter of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit comprises an operational amplifier comprising an inverting input coupled to first input terminal, and a non-inverting input coupled to a voltage reference.

3. The biosensor meter of claim 2, wherein the detection circuit further comprises a feedback resistor coupled between the inverting input and an output of the operational amplifier.

4. The biosensor meter of claim 1, further comprising a controlled switch coupled between the first input terminal and the conductor.

5. The biosensor meter of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the detection circuit.

6. The biosensor meter of claim 1, wherein the biosensor meter is adapted to disable determination of the analyte concentration in the fluid when the detection circuit provides the first output signal at the output terminal.

7. The biosensor meter of claim 6, wherein the biosensor meter disables determination of the analyte concentration in the fluid by providing a warning to not apply a fluid sample to the biosensor meter.

8. The biosensor meter of claim 7, wherein the warning comprises one or more of a displayed message and an audible sound.

9. The biosensor meter of claim 1, wherein the biosensor meter comprises a blood glucose monitor.

10. The biosensor meter of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit provides the first output signal at the output terminal when the USB port of the biosensor meter is coupled to a USB port of a computer device.

11. A method for use with a biosensor meter used to determine an analyte concentration in a fluid, the biosensor meter comprising a USB port comprising a first data signal port terminal, the method comprising:

providing a detection circuit comprising a first input terminal coupled to the first data signal port terminal, and comprising an output terminal;

providing a first output signal at the output terminal when a current sensed at the first input terminal is greater than or equal to a first predetermined amount; and

providing a second output signal at the output terminal when the current sensed at the first input terminal is less than the first predetermined amount.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a detection circuit that comprises an operational amplifier comprising an inverting input coupled to the first data signal port terminal, a non-inverting input coupled to a voltage reference, and an output that provides the first output signal and the second output signal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a feedback resistor coupled between the inverting input and an output of the operational amplifier.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising controllably switching the inverting input of the operational amplifier to the first data signal port terminal.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a microcontroller having an input terminal coupled to the output of the operational amplifier.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising disabling determination of the analyte concentration in the fluid when the current sensed at the first input terminal is greater than or equal to a first predetermined amount.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein disabling determination of the analyte concentration in the fluid comprises providing a warning to not apply a fluid sample to the biosensor meter.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the warning comprises one or more of a displayed message and an audible sound.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the biosensor meter comprises a blood glucose monitor.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing the first output signal when the USB port of the biosensor meter is coupled to a USB port of a computer device.