Method and apparatus for encoding test strips
Inventors
Iyengar, Sridhar • Boiteau, Charles • Forest, Martin • Butters, Colin
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9176091-B2
Publication Date
2015-11-03
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 an electrochemical test system in which a test meter receives an electrochemical test strip for detecting an analyte and determining an analyte concentration. The test strip is generally planar and comprises a sample cell for receiving a test sample for analysis and electrodes disposed within the sample cell for performing an electrochemical assay. The test strip includes a connection region with electrical connectors exposed for connection on a top surface, and a plurality of encoding pads disposed within the connection region on a bottom surface, where at least two encoding pads are in electrical connection with each other.
A strip port connector in the test meter connects the electronic circuitry with a received test strip using a pair of opposed contacts having a top contact and a bottom contact. The top and bottom contacts are transversely aligned and biased such that the central contact portions are in electrical contact with one another when no test strip is received in the test meter, and the distal ends are separable by insertion of the test strip between the opposed contacts. This arrangement creates different electrical states in a no test strip received condition versus a strip inserted condition.
The electronic circuitry is configured to test for electrical contact between the pair of top and bottom contacts one or more times when no test strip is received in the meter, to monitor integrity of the contacts that make electrical connection to the electrochemical test strip. In embodiments where the central contact portions contact the received test strip, one of the top or bottom contacts is connected to the electronic circuitry to read encoding marks disposed on one surface of the test strip, and the other is connected to the electronic circuitry to obtain information about measurements made by the test strip on a sample introduced into the test strip.
The test meter uses the contact testing in the no-strip condition to generate error states when contact extent fails a predefined threshold and to support accurate concentration determination adjusted using the encoding pad conveyed information.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims include methods for determining analyte concentration with strip-encoded information and for monitoring electrical contact integrity, and they also include multiple test meter configurations with opposed, biased strip-port contacts and no-strip self-testing of electrical contact integrity. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features are the biased, transversely aligned opposed contacts that are electrically connected when no strip is received and separable upon insertion, together with electronic circuitry configured to test electrical contact one or more times in a no-strip state, and in some embodiments the use of those contacts to read encoding marks and obtain measurement-related information.
Biased transversely aligned opposed strip-port contacts with separable distal ends
A test meter strip port connector contains a pair of opposed contacts with a top contact and a bottom contact, where the top and bottom contacts are transversely aligned and are biased such that central contact portions are in electrical contact when no test strip is received, and the distal ends are separable from one another by insertion of the test strip between the opposed contacts.
No-strip electrical contact integrity testing by electronic circuitry
The electronic circuitry is configured to test for electrical contact between the pair of top and bottom contacts one or more times when no test strip is received in the meter.
Analyte concentration determination adjusted using encoding pads
A method for determining the concentration of an analyte includes inserting an electrochemical test strip into a test meter, introducing a sample into the test strip, measuring an initial value for concentration of analyte, and adjusting the initial concentration of analyte as needed based upon information conveyed by encoding pads on the test strip.
Encoding marks reading and measurement information acquisition via opposed contacts
When a test strip is received, one of the top or bottom contacts is connected to the electronic circuitry to read encoding marks disposed on one surface of the test strip, and the other of the top or bottom contacts is connected to the electronic circuitry to obtain information about measurements made by the test strip on a sample introduced into the test strip, with electronic circuitry configured to test for electrical contact one or more times when no test strip is received.
No-strip monitoring by testing electrical contact between opposed contacts
A method for monitoring a test meter includes testing for electrical contact between the pair of top and bottom contacts at one or more times when no test strip is received in the test meter, wherein the top and bottom contacts are biased such that central contact portions are in electrical contact when no test strip is received and distal ends are separable by insertion of the test strip.
Central contact portions close but not in electrical contact when no strip is received
A test meter uses top and bottom contacts biased towards each other such that the central contact portions are close to but not in electrical contact with one another when no test strip is received, and where insertion of the test strip makes the central contact portions contact the received test strip, while electronic circuitry tests for electrical contact one or more times when no test strip is received.
Top contact and bottom plate opposed contact configuration
A test meter includes a strip port connector comprising a pair of contacts having a top contact and a bottom plate disposed in alignment with the central contact portion, where the top contact is biased such that the central contact portions of the contacts are in electrical contact when no test strip is received, the distal ends of the top contact and plate are separable by insertion of the test strip therebetween, and the electronic circuitry tests for electrical contact one or more times when no test strip is received.
Longitudinally asymmetric opposed contacts
In a strip port connector with opposed transversely aligned top and bottom contacts, one of the top and bottom contacts extends longitudinally within the strip port connector to a greater extent than the other, and the electronic circuitry is configured to test for electrical contact between the pair of top and bottom contacts one or more times when no test strip is received.
Overall, the independent claims center on a test meter strip port connector with opposed, transversely aligned biased contacts that are electrically connected in a no-strip state and separable by test strip insertion, together with electronic circuitry configured to test electrical contact integrity one or more times when no test strip is received. Some independent claims further require using the contacted configuration to read encoding marks on the strip and to obtain measurement-related information, and a method claim adjusts an initial analyte concentration based on information conveyed by the encoding pads.
Stated Advantages
Supports monitoring integrity of the contacts that make electrical connection to the electrochemical test strip.
Enables self-checking of electrical contact in a no-test-strip mode by testing contact between opposed top and bottom contacts one or more times.
Allows generation of an error state when contact extent fails a predefined threshold in the absence of a received test strip.
Allows adjusting an initial concentration of analyte based upon information conveyed by encoding pads on the test strip.
Documented Applications
Determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample using an electrochemical test strip and a test meter, including adjusting the initial concentration based on encoding pads.
Monitoring a test meter to confirm integrity of the contacts that make electrical connection to an electrochemical test strip in a no-test-strip received condition.
Reading encoding marks on a surface of a test strip and obtaining information about measurements made by the test strip on a sample introduced into the test strip.
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