Method and apparatus for encoding test strips
Inventors
Iyengar, Sridhar • Boiteau, Charles • Forest, Martin • Butters, Colin
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10488359-B2
Publication Date
2019-11-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
A test meter for receiving a test strip comprises: (a) a housing;(b) electronic circuitry disposed within the housing and(c) a strip port connector connected to the electronic circuitry and extending to an opening in the housing, said strip port connector connecting the electronic circuitry with a received test strip. The strip port connector contains a pair of top and bottom contacts, said top and bottom contacts having a proximal end and a distal end and a central contact portion, the top and bottom contacts of the pair are transversely aligned with one another; and the distal ends of the top and bottom contacts are separated or separable from one another by insertion of a test strip between the opposed contacts. The contacts and the meter are adapted to permit detection of faulty contacts and/or coding associated with an inserted test strip.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a combination of a test meter and an electrochemical test strip in which a strip port connector in the meter includes a pair of opposed contacts. Each contact has a proximal end, a distal end, and a central contact portion, and the connector extends to an opening in the housing to connect the electronic circuitry with a received test strip. The electronic circuitry is configured to test for electrical contact between the pair of opposed contacts one or more times when no test strip is received in the meter.
In the no-strip state, the connector contact behavior supports electrical contact detection so the meter circuitry can detect faulty or damaged contacts and operate in an error state. When a test strip is inserted, the separability and alignment of the opposed contacts support connection with the strip’s connection region, enabling electrochemical assay operation using electrodes in a generally planar sample cell. The test strip includes a connection region and has a top surface and a bottom surface.
The test strip further provides a bottom surface connection region with a plurality of encoding pads disposed within the connection region, where at least two encoding pads are in electrical connection with each other. The meter circuitry interrogates conductive encoding pads and can utilize optional top-side conductive patterns and/or notches and virtual notches to obtain coding information such as coding for calibration batch, regional or country coding, product/customer identification, assay type, and date of manufacture. The encoding pad configurations are designed to increase coding combinations and resist erroneous reads from smearing.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a combination of a test meter and an electrochemical test strip, with inventive features centered on no-strip electrical contact testing between opposed connector contacts and the use of encoding pads in the strip connection region that are electrically interconnected. The dependent claims further refine no-strip contact state by biasing and specify particular encoding pad and isolation geometries for coding robustness.
No-strip electrical contact testing for opposed connector contacts
The electronic circuitry is configured to test for electrical contact between the pair of opposed contacts one or more times when no test strip is received in the meter.
Planar electrochemical test strip with connection region and exposed electrode connectors
An electrochemical test strip is generally planar and comprises a sample cell for receiving a test sample for analysis and electrodes disposed within the sample cells for performing an electrochemical assay, with the test strip having a connection region and electrical connectors disposed within the connection region and exposed for connection on the top surface.
Encoding pads disposed in the strip connection region on the bottom surface with electrical interconnection
A plurality of encoding pads are disposed within the connection region on the bottom surface of the test strip, wherein at least two of the encoding pads are in electrical connection with each other.
Biasing the opposed contact central portions close but not electrically connected in a no-strip state
When the combination includes the opposed contacts, the top and bottom contacts are biased so that their central portions are close but not electrically connected when no test strip is received in the test meter.
Biasing the opposed contact central portions electrically connected in a no-strip state
A contact arrangement includes a top contact and a bottom plate in which the top contact is biased so the central portions are electrically connected when no test strip is in the test meter.
Specific encoding pad count on the strip bottom surface
The test strip includes five encoding pads on its bottom surface.
Notch cut to electrically isolate one encoding pad from other encoding pads
A notch cut from a test strip is used to electrically isolate one encoding pad from other encoding pads.
Using contacts to read encoding marks and obtain measurement information
Top and bottom contacts are electrically connected to electronic circuitry configured to read encoding marks on a test strip surface and to obtain measurement information from measurements performed on an introduced sample.
The coverage emphasizes no-strip electrical contact testing of opposed connector contacts and electrochemical test strips with a connection region and bottom-surface encoding pads that are electrically interconnected, with refinements for biased no-strip contact states, encoding-pad count, isolation by notches, and reading encoding marks to obtain measurement information.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Electrochemical assay and sample/analyte determination using a generally planar electrochemical test strip received by a test meter.
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