Analyte meter protectors and methods

• US 7,842,241 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Strasma, Paul, Gary, Kenneth, Arbogast, Frederic, Azzano, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander; Lyle A
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, DENNIS MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/495,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20090270696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 422/55, 422/58, 422/61, 422/68.1, 422/82.05, 422/103, 422/104
• US Class Current: 422/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4875 Details of handling test elements, e.g. dispensing or storage, not specific to a particular test method test-elements per se B01L, automatic analysers G01N35/00, in-vivo analysis on the human body for medical diagnosis A61B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/817 Enzyme or microbe electrode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/144444 Glucose

Abstract

Analyte meter protectors, meters that include the same, and methods.

Claims

1. An analyte test system, comprising:

an electrochemical analyte meter having, an interior portion and a port, wherein the port provides an opening to the interior portion of the meter; and

a port protector about the port, wherein the port protector includes a slot dimensioned to receive an analyte test strip, wherein the slot is configured to contact a surface of the analyte test strip so as to swipe across the surface of the analyte test strip when the analyte test strip is passed through the slot, and wherein the port protector further includes an engagement feature that serves to align and attach the port protector to the meter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the port protector is removably attachable to the meter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the system comprises a plurality of port protectors.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the meter is integrated with an in vivo analyte monitoring device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the in vivo analyte monitoring device comprises a transmitter module.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the in vivo analyte monitoring device comprises a receiver module.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the protector is attached to the meter with an adhesive employed on a meter-contacting surface of the protector.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an engagement feature to mate the port protector and the meter.

9. An analyte test system, comprising:

an electrochemical analyte meter having a port that provides an opening to an interior portion of the meter; and

a port protector attachable to the meter about the port, wherein the port protector includes,

an interface surface forming a fluid tight seal between the meter and the port protector,

a slot configured to receive an analyte test strip and contact a surface of the analyte test strip so as to swipe across the surface of the analyte test strip when the analyte test strip is passed through the slot,

a ledge extending from the slot to guide the analyte test strip into the slot,

a flexible valve disposed at least partially across the slot, and engagement features that serve to align and attach the port protector to the meter.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the flexible valve includes a self-sealing slit.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the interface surface of the port protector corresponds to a surface of the meter about the port so as to form a negative of the surface of the meter.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the port protector is formed of an elastomeric material.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the port protector includes a hard plastic frame with a complaint area around the slot.

14. An analyte test system, comprising:

an analyte meter having a port that provides an opening to an interior portion of the meter; and

a port protector attachable to an exterior surface of the meter about the port, wherein the port includes,

an interface surface forming a fluid tight seal between the exterior surface of the meter and the port protector, wherein the interface surface is a negative of the exterior surface of the meter about the port,

a slot configured to receive an analyte test strip and contact a surface of the analyte test strip so as to swipe across the surface of the analyte test strip when the analyte test strip is passed through the slot,

a ledge extending from the slot to guide the analyte test strip into the slot,

two guides grooves positioned on opposing sides of the port protector,

a flexible valve disposed at least partially across the slot,

molded features that align the port protector with the port, and

engagement ribs to attach the port protector to the meter.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising an adhesive applied to the interface surface of the port protector.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the port protector is formed of an elastomeric material.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the port protector includes a hard plastic frame with a complaint area around the slot.