Apparatus and methods for reducing electrical shock hazard from biosensor meters

• US 9,921,208 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Gofman, Igor
• Primary Examiner(s): Mui, Christine T
• Application Number:
  US14/411,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20150160187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 436 95, 436 94, 436 93, 436 91, 436150, 436149, 422 8202, 422 8201, 422 681, 422 50
• 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; and

a detection circuit for detecting a connection of the biosensor meter to a computer device, the 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,

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, and

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.

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 first data signal port terminal.

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 warning comprises one or more of a displayed message and an audible sound.

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

8. 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 the computer device.

9. 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 for detecting a connection of the biosensor meter to a computer device, the 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;

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; and

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, wherein the disabling comprises providing a warning to not apply a fluid sample to the biosensor meter.

10. The method of claim 9, 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.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a feedback resistor coupled between the inverting input and an output of the operational amplifier.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising controllably switching the inverting input of the operational amplifier to the first data signal port terminal.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a microcontroller having an input terminal coupled to the output of the operational amplifier.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the warning comprises one or more of a displayed message and an audible sound.

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

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing the first output signal when the USB port of the biosensor meter is coupled to a USB port of the computer device.

17. A biosensor meter comprising:

a fluid sample testing circuit;

a computer device connection port; and

a detection circuit coupled to the computer device connection port, wherein;

the biosensor meter is operative to disable the fluid sample testing circuit in response to the detection circuit detecting a connection between the computer device connection port and a computer device, and

the biosensor meter is further operative to provide a warning to not apply a fluid sample to the biosensor meter in response to the detection circuit detecting a connection between the computer device connection port and the computer device.

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

a microcontroller;

a connection port coupled to the microcontroller; and

a detection circuit coupled to the connection port and to the microcontroller, the detection circuit operative to detect a connection at the connection port to a computer device that is OFF;

wherein;

the microcontroller is operative to disable determination of the analyte concentration in the fluid in response to the detection circuit detecting the connection at the connection port to the computer device that is OFF.

19. The biosensor meter of claim 18, wherein the connection port comprises a USB port.

20. The biosensor meter of claim 18 further comprising a controlled switch having a first terminal coupled to the detection circuit and a second terminal coupled to the connection port, the controlled switch operative to connect or disconnect the detection circuit to and from the connection port in response to a control signal from the microcontroller.

21. The biosensor meter of claim 20, wherein the connection port comprises a first data signal port terminal coupled to the second terminal of the controlled switch and further comprises a power port terminal coupled to a power interrupt input of the microcontroller.

22. The biosensor meter of claim 18, wherein the microcontroller comprises:

a power interrupt input coupled to the connection port; and

a detect input coupled to an output of the detection circuit.

23. The biosensor meter of claim 18, wherein the detection circuit comprises:

an operational amplifier comprising an inverting input coupled to an input terminal of the detection circuit, and a non-inverting input coupled to a voltage reference; and

a comparator having an input coupled to an output of the operational amplifier and having an output coupled to the microcontroller.

24. The biosensor meter of claim 18, wherein the microcontroller comprises:

a power interrupt input coupled to the connection port; and

an analog-to-digital converter having an input.

25. The biosensor meter of claim 24, wherein the detection circuit comprises an operational amplifier comprising an inverting input coupled to an input terminal of the detection circuit, a non-inverting input coupled to a voltage reference, and an output coupled to the input of the analog-to-digital converter.

26. The biosensor meter of claim 18 further comprising a display operative to display a first message warning a user to not apply a fluid sample to a test strip and a second message inviting the user to apply a fluid sample to the test strip.

27. The biosensor meter of claim 18 further comprising a speaker operative to sound an audible alarm, beep, or spoken message warning a user to not apply a fluid sample to a test strip in response to the microcontroller disabling determination of the analyte concentration in the fluid.

28. A method of operating a biosensor meter comprising:

turning on the biosensor meter;

determining whether a power interrupt has occurred;

determining whether an output of a detection circuit in the biosensor meter is HIGH in response to not determining that a power interrupt has occurred;

disabling fluid sample measurement in the biosensor meter in response to determining that either the power interrupt has occurred or that the output of the detection circuit is HIGH; and

enabling the fluid sample measurement in response to determining that no power interrupt has occurred and the output of the detection circuit is not HIGH.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the disabling comprises displaying a warning message to not apply a fluid sample to a test strip, or activating an audible alarm, beep, or spoken message to not apply a fluid sample to the test strip.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the enabling comprises displaying an invitation message to apply a fluid sample to a test strip.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

turning ON a USB enable signal in response to determining that either the power bus interrupt has occurred or that the output of the detection circuit is HIGH; and

performing a USB operation.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

turning OFF a USB enable signal in response to determining that no power interrupt has occurred and the output of the detection circuit is not HIGH; and

performing a fluid sample measurement.