Measuring device and methods for use therewith

• US 9,267,910 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agamatrix Incorporated (AgaMatrix Holdings LLC d/b/a WaveForm Diabetes)
• Original Assignee: Agamatrix Incorporated (AgaMatrix Holdings LLC d/b/a WaveForm Diabetes)
• Inventors: Harding, Ian, Iyengar, Sridhar G., Wei, Baoguo, Diamond, Steven, Forest, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hyun, Paul
• Application Number:
  US14/473,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20150083587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 422/68.1, 204/403.01, 324/76.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/28 Electrolytic cell components
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3271 Amperometric enzyme electrodes for analytes in body fluids, e.g. glucose in blood amperometry per se G01N27/49; aspects concerning the enzyme reagent C12Q1/001
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52
• 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: G01N 27/403 Cells and electrode assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/50 Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms, compositions or test papers therefor; processes for forming such compositions, condition responsive control in microbiological or enzymological processes C12Q

Abstract

The ability to switch at will between amperometric measurements and potentiometric measurements provides great flexibility in performing analyses of unknowns. Apparatus and methods can provide such switching to collect data from an electrochemical cell. The cell may contain a reagent disposed to measure glucose in human blood.

Claims

1. A test instrument for use with a human user and for use with an elongated test strip having at a first end an electrical connection point and at a second end an electrochemical cell, the test instrument comprising:

a housing;

an electrochemical cell comprising at least first and second electrodes and a reagent reactive with a constituent of a fluid sample;

a source of potential or current external to the electrochemical cell and connected to the electrochemical cell for application of potential or current to the first and second electrodes;

measurement circuitry external to the electrochemical cell for measuring an electrical signal generated in the electrochemical cell in response to application of potential or current;

electronic control means, the electronic control means coupled with the source of potential or current to controllably apply the source of potential or current to the electrochemical cell; and

potentiometric circuitry for measuring a decay in a chemical potential between the first and second electrodes in the absence of an applied potential or current,

wherein the electronic control means is coupled with the source of potential or current to automatically cease application of potential or current to the electrochemical cell after an electrical signal has been measured, and then cause the potentiometric circuitry to measure the decay in chemical potential;

an electrical connector at the housing, the connector disposed to form an electrical connection with the electrical connection point of an elongated test strip when inserted therein; and

a light source at the housing, the light source aimed to cast light upon the electrochemical cell of the elongated test strip, the light source illuminated in response to an input from a human user.

2. The test instrument of claim 1 wherein the light source is additionally aimed to cast light upon the electrical connector, the light source illuminated in response to an input from a human user prior to insertion of the electrical connection point of the elongated test strip into the electrical connector.

3. The test instrument of claim 1 wherein the light source is a light-emitted diode.

4. The test instrument of claim 1 wherein the light source is non-red.

5. The test instrument of claim 4 wherein the light source is blue.