Washable analyte meters, sealed connectors, and methods of manufacturing and using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10113987-B2
Application number	US-201414911714-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2014
Priority date	Aug 12, 2013
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

An analyte meter to detect an analyte concentration level in a bio-fluid sample may be cleaned and disinfected with a cleaning liquid without harming electrical and internal meter components. In some embodiments, the analyte meter is washable and immersable and may include a sealed sensor connector, sealed battery connector, and possibly a sealed USB connector that may be subjected to a cleaning liquid without the liquid entering an internal chamber of the analyte meter and contacting internal electronic components. In some embodiments, a sealed display screen and sealed keypad are provided such that liquids are prevented from entering the internal chamber. Manufacturing methods and systems utilizing the analyte sensors are provided, as are numerous other aspects.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An analyte meter, comprising:
a meter housing having a first part and a second part interfacing each other to form an internal chamber;
an analyte sensor electrical connector having a sensor port configured to receive an analyte sensor through a port entryway of the sensor port; and
at least one wash port coupled to the sensor port and separate from the port entryway, the at least one wash port configured to receive a cleaning fluid;
wherein the analyte sensor electrical connector includes at least two electrodes at a first wall of the analyte sensor electrical connector, and the at least one wash port is disposed in a second wall opposite the at least two electrodes to facilitate application of the cleaning fluid onto the at least two electrodes and out through the port entryway.

2. An analyte meter, comprising:
a meter housing having a first part and a second part interfacing each other to form an internal chamber;
an electronic circuit within the internal chamber; and
an analyte sensor electrical connector including:
a sealed electrical connection through the first part or the second part into the internal chamber,
a sensor port configured to receive an analyte sensor through a port entryway of the sensor port, and
at least one wash port coupled to the sensor port and separate from the port entryway, the at least one wash port configured to receive a cleaning fluid;
wherein the analyte sensor electrical connector includes at least two electrodes at a first wall of the analyte sensor electrical connector, and the at least one wash port is disposed in a second wall opposite the at least two electrodes to facilitate application of the cleaning fluid onto the at least two electrodes and out through the port entryway.

3. The analyte meter of claim 2 , wherein the first part and the second part comprise a sealed interface forming the internal chamber as a hermetically-sealed internal chamber.

4. The analyte meter of claim 2 , wherein the analyte sensor electrical connector comprises a connector body received in a recessed pocket of the first part or second part.

5. The analyte meter of claim 2 , wherein the at least one wash port comprises a plurality of wash ports each disposed opposite a respective electrode and having an elongated slot shape.

6. The analyte meter of claim 2 , comprising a sealing layer provided between the analyte sensor electrical connector and the first part or the second part.

7. The analyte meter of claim 2 , further comprising a display screen sealed to the first part or the second part such that fluids are prevented from entering the internal chamber from between the display screen and the first or second part.

8. The analyte meter of claim 2 , further comprising a battery connector sealed to the first part or the second part such that fluids are prevented from entering the internal chamber from between the battery connector and the first or second part.

9. The analyte meter of claim 2 , further comprising a universal serial bus port sealed to the first part or the second part such that fluids are prevented from entering the internal chamber from between the universal serial bus port and the first part or second part.

10. An analyte sensor electrical connector, comprising:
a connector body having a first wall, a sensor port having a port entryway configured to receive an analyte sensor, and at least one wash entry configured to receive a cleaning fluid;
two or more electrodes coupled to the first wall; and
two or more electrical connector parts coupled to the two or more electrodes;
wherein the at least one wash entry is disposed in a second wall opposite the two or more electrodes to facilitate application of the cleaning fluid onto the two or more electrodes and out through the port entryway.

11. The analyte sensor electrical connector of claim 10 , wherein the at least one wash entry cooperates with the port entryway to form a fluid flow channel enabling flushing of the sensor port.

12. The analyte sensor electrical connector of claim 10 wherein the at least one wash entry is formed as an elongated slot opening through the second wall.

13. The analyte sensor electrical connector of claim 10 wherein the at least one wash entry comprises a plurality of elongated slots.

14. The analyte sensor electrical connector of claim 10 wherein the two or more electrical connector parts comprise connector pins.

15. The analyte sensor electrical connector of claim 10 wherein the connector body includes snap connectors configured to secure the connector body into a pocket of an analyte meter.

16. A method of cleaning an analyte meter, comprising:
providing an analyte meter having a sensor port configured to receive an analyte sensor, the sensor port having a port entryway and a wash port separate from the port entryway; and
flowing a cleaning fluid through the wash port onto electrodes of the sensor port opposite the wash port to clean the sensor port; and
flowing the cleaning fluid out through the port entryway.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing a sealed connection between the sensor port and an internal chamber of the analyte meter.

18. A method of manufacturing an analyte meter, comprising:
providing an analyte meter housing having an internal chamber;
providing an analyte sensor electrical connector having a sensor port and at least two electrodes at a first wall of the analyte sensor electrical connector, the sensor port having a port entryway to receive an analyte sensor there through;
providing at least one wash port coupled to the sensor port, the at least one wash port disposed in a second wall opposite the at least two electrodes to facilitate application of a cleaning fluid onto the at least two electrodes and out through the port entryway;
providing an analyte meter battery connector;
forming a sealed connection between the analyte sensor electrical connector and the internal chamber; and
forming a sealed connection between the analyte meter battery connector and the internal chamber.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising providing a battery cartridge configured to mechanically and electrically couple to the analyte meter housing and comprising battery chemistry power management circuits.

20. An analyte meter, comprising:
a meter housing having a first part and a second part interfacing with and sealed to one another to form an internal chamber;
an electronic circuit within the internal chamber;
a sensor port configured to receive an analyte sensor through a port entryway of the sensor port;
at least one wash port coupled to the sensor port and separate from the port entryway;
at least two electrodes in the sensor port including a sealed electrical connection through the first part or the second part into the internal chamber, the at least two electrodes at a first wall, and the at least one wash port disposed in a second wall opposite the at least two electrodes to facilitate application of a cleaning fluid onto the at least two electrodes and out through the port entryway;
a screen display sealed to one of the first part and a second part;
a keypad sealed to one of the first part and a second part; and
a removable battery pack including a sealed electrical connection through the first part or the second part into the internal chamber.

21. An analyte meter, comprising:
display screen, keypad, analyte sensor electrical connector, and battery pack interfacing with an elect

Assignees

• Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings Ag

Inventors

• Prais Eugene
• Huang David
• Johnson James A
• Gofman Igor
• Chen Jun

Classifications

• A61B2562/227

  Sensors with electrical connectors · CPC title

• A61B2560/0443

  Modular apparatus · CPC title

• A61B5/1468

  using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means · CPC title

• A61B2560/0214

  of power generation or supply · CPC title

• G01N27/3273 Primary

  Devices therefor, e.g. test element readers, circuitry (details not specific to biochemical electrodes G01N33/4875) · CPC title