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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10677748-B2
Application number	US-201816174210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2018
Priority date	Aug 12, 2013
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

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 an internal chamber that is liquid impermeable, the meter housing having a recessed pocket;
electronic components for carrying out analyte measurements, the electronic components residing within the internal chamber; and
an analyte sensor electrical connector unit received in the recessed pocket, the analyte sensor electrical connector unit having a port entryway, a sensor port configured to receive an analyte sensor through the port entryway, at least two electrodes disposed in the sensor port coupled to the electronic components via a sealed connection, and at least one wash port separate from the port entryway and located directly over the at least two electrodes; wherein:
a fluid flow channel is formed between the at least one wash port and the port entryway such that application of a liquid onto the at least two electrodes does not adversely affect the analyte meter.

2. The analyte meter of claim 1 , further comprising a display screen sealed to the meter housing to prevent fluids from entering the internal chamber.

3. The analyte meter of claim 1 , further comprising a keypad sealed to the meter housing to prevent fluids from entering the internal chamber.

4. The analyte meter of claim 1 , further comprising a battery connector sealed to the meter housing to prevent fluids from entering the internal chamber.

5. The analyte meter of claim 1 , further comprising a universal serial bus (USB) port sealed to the meter housing to prevent fluids from entering the internal chamber.

6. The analyte meter of claim 1 , wherein the electronic components comprise a processor and a memory.

7. The analyte meter of claim 1 , further comprising at least two electrical connectors coupled respectively to the at least two electrodes via the sealed connection such that an end of each of the at least two electrical connectors extends beyond a connector body of the analyte sensor electrical connector unit.

8. The analyte meter of claim 1 , wherein the meter housing comprises a first part and a second part interfacing with and sealed to one another to form the internal chamber.

9. The analyte meter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wash port comprises a plurality of elongated slots.

10. An analyte meter, comprising:
a meter housing having an internal chamber that is liquid impermeable;
electronic components for carrying out analyte measurements, the electronic components residing within the internal chamber; and
a replaceable battery cartridge having a battery connector coupled to the electronic components, the battery connector sealed to protect against liquid ingress into the internal chamber, the replaceable battery cartridge including a battery cartridge insert and a housing having an access hole, the battery cartridge insert received in the housing and including the battery connector which extends through the access hole.

11. The analyte meter of claim 10 , further comprising an analyte sensor electrical connector unit received in a recessed pocket of the meter housing, the analyte sensor electrical connector unit having a port entryway, a sensor port configured to receive an analyte sensor through the port entryway, at least two electrodes disposed in the sensor port coupled to the electronic components via a sealed connection, and at least one wash port separate from the port entryway.

12. The analyte meter of claim 11 , wherein a fluid flow channel is formed between the at least one wash port and the port entryway such that application of a liquid onto the at least two electrodes does not adversely affect the analyte meter.

13. The analyte meter of claim 10 , wherein the replaceable battery cartridge attaches to the meter housing via a slidable insertion.

14. The analyte meter of claim 10 , wherein the replaceable battery cartridge is configured to receive any one of a plurality of battery cartridge inserts of different battery chemistries.

15. The analyte meter of claim 10 , wherein the electronic components comprise a processor and a memory.

16. A method of manufacturing an analyte meter, comprising:
enclosing electronic components for carrying out analyte measurements within a liquid-impermeable internal chamber of a meter housing; and
seating an analyte sensor electrical connector unit in a recessed pocket of the meter housing, the analyte sensor electrical connector unit having a port entryway, a sensor port configured to receive an analyte sensor through the port entryway, at least two electrodes disposed in the sensor port, and at least one wash port separate from the port entryway and located directly over the at least two electrodes; wherein the seating comprises coupling the at least two electrodes to the electronic components via a sealed connection such that application of a liquid onto the at least two electrodes does not adversely affect the analyte meter.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising attaching a replaceable battery cartridge to the meter housing, the replaceable battery cartridge having a sealed battery connector to protect against liquid ingress into the internal chamber.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising sealing a display screen to the meter housing to prevent fluids from entering the internal chamber.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising sealing a keypad to the meter housing to prevent fluids from entering the internal chamber.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising sealing a universal serial bus (USB) port to the meter housing to prevent fluids from entering the internal chamber.

Assignees

• Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings Ag

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A61B2560/0214

  of power generation or supply · CPC title

• A61B2560/0443

  Modular apparatus · CPC title

• H01R13/52

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases · CPC title

• A61B2562/227

  Sensors with electrical connectors · CPC title

• G01N27/3273 Primary

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