RF tag on test strips, test strip vials and boxes

Inventors

Goodnow, Timothy T.He, Lei (Lawrence)

Assignees

Therasense IncAbbott Diabetes Care Inc

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Publication Number

US-8358210-B2

Patent

Publication Date

2013-01-22

Expiration Date


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. An 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 glucose monitoring system integrates a glucose test strip or strip package with an antenna and an RFID sensor chip coupled to glucose sensor electrodes. The RFID chip propagates a backscattering radio wave that includes digitally encoded data representing a monitored analyte level detected by the glucose sensor when the RFID chip is within a predetermined range of an RF power signal.

The RFID sensor chip memory stores digitally encoded data related to the monitored analyte level and additional digitally encoded information, including calibration and/or expiration date information. The digitally encoded information can further include lot information, a calibration code, and chemical composition for computing glucose, so that calibration data can be retrieved digitally by an RFID reader.

The embodiments include passive RFID operation, where an RFID reader interrogates the chip, and the RFID backscattering provides a mechanism to automatically retrieve calibration data when a strip is inserted. The document describes using RFID to reduce labeling and calibration errors and to improve reliability by matching meter calibration to strip chemical composition variations.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim set covers an analyte monitoring device and a corresponding method, each built around a circuit board carrying an RFID chip and an antenna, an analyte sensor in signal communication with the RFID chip, memory storing digitally encoded monitored analyte level data, and backscattering of an RF signal that conveys the encoded analyte level within a predetermined RF power range. The claims include 6 inventive features, with dependent refinements for analyte-specific embodiments, additional stored sensor-related data, and constraints on RFID operation and antenna structure.

Rfid backscattering conveying monitored analyte level within a predetermined RF range

An RFID chip backscatters a radio wave including digitally encoded data representing a monitored analyte level detected by an analyte sensor when the RFID chip is within a predetermined range of a radio frequency (RF) power signal.

Circuit board with RFID chip and antenna coupled for RFID communication

A circuit board includes an RFID chip mounted on the circuit board and an antenna coupled to the circuit board, with the RFID chip and the antenna in signal communication such that the backscattering radio wave propagates the encoded monitored analyte level data.

Memory storing digitally encoded monitored analyte level data

Memory stores digitally encoded data representing a monitored analyte level detected by the analyte sensor.

Analyte sensor in signal communication with RFID chip

An analyte sensor is coupled to the circuit board and in signal communication with the RFID chip.

Disposing RFID chip on circuit board with coupled analyte sensor and antenna

Disposing an RFID chip on a circuit board; coupling an analyte sensor to the circuit board for signal communication with the RFID chip; and coupling an antenna to the circuit board for signal communication with the RFID chip.

Method backscattering of radio wave with encoded monitored analyte level

Propagating a backscattering radio wave including digitally encoded data representing the monitored analyte level when the RFID chip is within a predetermined range of a radio frequency (RF) power signal.

The claim coverage centers on coupling an analyte sensor to an RFID chip on a circuit board, storing digitally encoded monitored analyte level data in memory, and using an antenna so that the RFID chip backscatters an RF signal carrying the encoded analyte level when within a predetermined RF power range. Dependent refinements add analyte-specific embodiments, additional digitally encoded calibration/expiration and other sensor-associated information, and constraints on RFID operation and read range.

Stated Advantages

Reduce labeling and calibration errors.

Improve reliability by matching meter calibration to strip chemical composition variations.

Documented Applications

Glucose monitoring using glucose test strips with RFID tags on individual strips, strip packages, vial lids, or boxes, where an RFID reader retrieves digitally encoded calibration data when a strip is inserted.

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