Embedded strip lot autocalibration
Inventors
Neel, Gary T. • Modzelewski, Brent E. • Caban, Allan Javier • Will, Adam Mark • Oti, Carlos
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9927387-B2
Publication Date
2018-03-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
An auto-calibration system for diagnostic test strips is described for presenting data individually carried on each test strip readable by a diagnostic meter. The test strip meter may provide a predetermined varying resistance on one strip or a plurality of varying resistances from strip lot to strip lot.
Core Innovation
A system and related test strip for measuring a body fluid constituent includes a test strip having at least one electrically insulating layer with a proximal region and a distal region, a conductive pattern formed on the insulating layer, and a reagent layer contacting at least a portion of at least one electrode disposed at the proximal region. The conductive pattern further includes conductive traces electrically connecting the electrodes to electrical strip contacts located at a distal conductive region, and the strip includes a machine-readable pattern formed on the insulating layer to identify data particular to the test strip.
The machine-readable pattern comprises a plurality of contacting pads having either a first or second predetermined electrical value, where the first and second predetermined value are different from one another. The contacting pads are disposed distal of the electrical strip contacts and are electrically separated from the electrical strip contacts, and at least one contacting pad is configured as a ground contacting pad to establish a common connection to an electrical ground.
The ground contacting pad includes a grounding portion configured to establish the connection to the electrical ground, and a notch portion distal to and electrically separated from the grounding portion, with a distal edge of the grounding portion being proximal to distal edges of the remaining contacting pads. A diagnostic meter includes a connector with a channel configured to receive the test strip, first and second pluralities of connector contacts positioned to contact the electrical strip contacts, and a microprocessor operable with a decoder for decoding a resistance of the electrical strip contacts as information.
Claims Coverage
The document contains three independent claims: a system, a method of making, and a test strip. Across these independent claims, the coverage is built around five inventive feature clusters: a machine-readable pattern using contacting pads with first/second predetermined electrical values, distal placement and electrical isolation of the contacting pads from the electrical strip contacts, a ground contacting pad with grounding portion and distal notch portion, diagnostic meter connector contacts and microprocessor decoder for resistance, and making strip structures on one sheet and separating into test strips.
Machine-readable pattern with contacting pads of different predetermined electrical values
A machine-readable pattern formed on the at least one insulating layer comprising a plurality of contacting pads, each contacting pad having either a first or second predetermined electrical value, the first and second predetermined value being different from one another, and being readable to identify data particular to the test strip.
Distal placement and electrical isolation of contacting pads from electrical strip contacts
The contacting pads are disposed distal of the electrical strip contacts and are electrically separated from the electrical strip contacts.
Ground contacting pad with grounding portion and distal notch portion electrically separated
At least one contacting pad is a ground contacting pad configured to establish a common connection to an electrical ground, the ground contacting pad including a grounding portion to establish the connection to the electrical ground and a notch portion distal to and electrically separated from the grounding portion, wherein a distal edge of the grounding portion of the ground contacting pad is proximal to distal edges of the remaining contacting pads.
Diagnostic meter connector contacts and microprocessor decoder for resistance
A diagnostic meter comprising a connector having a channel with a proximal end and a distal end configured to receive the test strip, a first plurality of connector contacts and a second plurality of connector contacts disposed in the channel positioned to contact electrical strip contacts located in distinct portions of a contact region of the test strip, and a microprocessor operable with a decoder for decoding a resistance of the electrical strip contacts as information.
Method of making strip structures on one sheet and separating into test strips
A method of making a plurality of test strips by forming a plurality of test strip structures on one sheet, each including a sample chamber, an insulating layer with a proximal region and a distal region, and a conductive pattern with a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of electrical strip contacts on the sheet; forming electrically isolated contacting pads distally of and electrically isolated from the electrodes to form a machine-readable pattern; and separating the test strip structures into the plurality of test strips.
Overall, the independent claims cover a body-fluid measuring test strip and measuring system in which a distal, electrically isolated machine-readable pattern of contacting pads encodes strip-specific data using first/second predetermined electrical values, includes a ground contacting pad with a grounding portion and a distal notch portion electrically separated from the grounding portion, and, in the system claim, a diagnostic meter connector and microprocessor-decoder decode a resistance of the electrical strip contacts as information.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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