Method of forming an electrical connection between an electrochemical cell and a meter

• US 6,946,067 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Lifescan Incorporated (Duv Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Hodges, Alastair McIndoc, Chambers, Garry
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam
• Assistant Examiner(s): VESTAL, REBECCA MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US10/317,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20030217934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 205/775, 205/792, 205/794.5, 204/401, 204/403.01, 204/403.11, 204/400, 204/403.02, 204/406, 204/407, 204/280, 204/281, 204/290.01, 295/92, 174/68.1, 429/92, 429/93, 429/144, 429/147
• US Class Current: 205/792
• 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: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A method of forming an electrical connection between an electrochemical cell and a meter is provided. According to the method, an electrical connection is made between a meter, by means of a wedge-shaped connector with upper and lower conductive surfaces, and an electrochemical cell comprising a first substrate with a first electrically conductive coating and a second substrate with a second electrically conductive coating, the electrically conductive coatings being disposed to face each other in a spaced apart relationship by an insulating spacer. The meter further includes a pivot point for rotating the wedge connector on the pivot point.

Claims

1. A method for forming an electrical connection between an electrochemical cell and a meter, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell comprising a first insulating substrate carrying a first electrically conductive coating, a second insulating substrate carrying a second electrically conductive coating, and an insulating spacer layer disposed therebetween, the electrically conductive coatings being disposed to face each other in a spaced apart relationship, wherein an edge of the first insulating substrate carrying the first electrically conductive coating extends beyond an edge of the second insulating substrate carrying the second electrically conductive coating and beyond an edge of the insulating spacer layer, and wherein the edge of the second insulating substrate carrying the second electrically conductive coating extends beyond the edge of the insulating spacer layer;

b) providing a meter, the meter comprising a wedge, the wedge comprising an upper wedge conductive surface and a lower wedge conductive surface, the conductive surfaces in electrical communication with the meter; and

c) inserting a portion of the electrochemical cell into the meter, whereby the wedge is inserted between the portion of the first insulating substrate carrying the first electrically conductive coating and the portion of the second insulating substrate carrying the second electrically conductive coating that extends beyond the edge of the insulating spacer layer, whereby an electrical connection between the first electrically conductive coating and the lower wedge conductive surface is formed, and whereby an electrical connection between the second electrically conductive coating and the upper wedge conductive surface is formed.

2. The method of claim 1, the meter further comprising a pivot point, wherein the wedge is capable of rotating on the pivot point.