RF tag on test strips, test strip vials and boxes

Inventors

Goodnow, Timothy T. • He, Lei (Lawrence)

Assignees

Therasense Inc • Abbott Diabetes Care Inc

Abstract

A glucose monitoring system, includes a glucose sensor strip or package of strips. The strip includes a substrate and a glucose monitoring circuit that has electrodes and a bodily fluid application portion of selected chemical composition. An antenna is integrated with the glucose sensor strip. A RFID sensor chip is coupled with the glucose sensor strip and the antenna. The chip has a memory containing digitally-encoded data representing calibration and/or expiration date information for the strip.

Core Innovation

The disclosed invention provides a glucose monitoring system that includes a glucose meter and a glucose test strip with an RFID antenna and an RFID sensor chip integrated with the strip. The RFID sensor chip stores digitally encoded calibration information and/or expiration-date information associated with the glucose test strip, and may store additional information such as a lot number, manufacture date, strip type, and calibration code. The system retrieves the stored digitally encoded strip metadata by using an RFID reader component coupled to the glucose meter and configured to read and use the tag data.

In operation, the glucose meter’s RFID reader component transmits a radio frequency signal and detects a backscattering radio wave that includes digitally encoded data. The digitally encoded data represents information related to a monitored analyte level determined by an analyte sensor, and can further represent digitally encoded data such as expiration date information for in vitro test strips and container metadata. The RFID communication links the test strip metadata with the meter’s analyte determination and information output.

The disclosure further describes using the retrieved digitally encoded information to reduce human error and improve calibration accuracy relative to approaches that require manual entry or separate code-strip handling. The encoded calibration codes stored in the RFID tag can replace and/or augment code-strip calibration routines, thereby enabling automatic retrieval and use of calibration-related information tied to the test strip.

The system is described with an integrated RFID antenna and mounting of the RFID sensor chip, and it discusses backscattering communication and a preferred use of the 13.56 MHz ISM band for the RFID interaction. The disclosed configurations support digitally encoded storage and retrieval of test-strip-related metadata from a passive RFID tag, including the association of strip metadata with a glucose test strip vial or box when applicable.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provides two independent claims: one directed to a glucose monitoring device and one directed to a method. The independent claims share a common structure that combines an RFID antenna and RFID reader component that transmit an RF signal and detect a backscattering radio wave carrying digitally encoded data representing an analyte level, coupled with an output of information related to the monitored analyte level.

Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on a housing-based glucose monitoring device or method that uses an RFID antenna and RFID reader to transmit an RF signal and detect backscattered RF waves carrying digitally encoded data representing an analyte level determined by an analyte sensor, with an output unit providing information related to the monitored analyte level. Dependent claims in the partial content further specify RFID reader operation constraints, display characteristics, and digitally encoded test-strip metadata such as expiration date, lot number, manufacture date, strip type, and calibration code/data.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications