Systems and methods for a versatile electrochemical test strip that may include one or more assays for different analytes in the same test strip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017176410-A1
Application number	US-201615382389-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 16, 2016
Priority date	Dec 17, 2015
Publication date	Jun 22, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A test strip for electrochemical testing of a blood analyte includes a plurality of test sites for the electrochemical testing of analytes on a single test strip. Each test site includes a first receiving port, the first receiving port for receiving a blood sample, the first receiving port at a first end of the test strip. The test site further includes a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes proximate to the first receiving port. Each test site further includes a first contact and a second contact, the first and second contacts at a second end of the test strip, the first and second contacts interconnected with the first and second electrodes, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1 . A test strip for electrochemical testing of a blood analyte, the test strip comprising:
a first receiving port, the first receiving port for receiving a blood sample, the first receiving port at a first end of the test strip; a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes proximate to the first receiving port; and a first contact and a second contact, the first and second contacts at a second end of the test strip, the first and second contacts interconnected with the first and second electrodes, respectively.

2 . The test strip of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second electrodes includes a reagent on a surface of one of the first and second electrodes.

3 . The test strip of claim 2 , wherein the reagent is painted on to the one of the first and second electrodes.

4 . The test strip of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second receiving port, the second receiving port proximate to the first receiving port of the first end of the test strip; a third electrode and a fourth electrode, the third and fourth electrodes proximate to the second receiving port; and a third contact and a fourth contact, the third and fourth contacts at the second end of the test strip and interconnected with the third and fourth electrodes, respectively.

5 . The test strip of claim 4 , further comprising a fifth contact and a sixth contact, the fifth and sixth contacts interconnected to provide for an insertion indication when the test strip is inserted into a meter.

6 . The test strip of claim 5 , wherein the first receiving port and the second receiving port are on opposite sides of the test strip, such that one is underneath the other.

7 . The test strip of claim 1 , wherein the test strip has between zero to three additional sample receiving ports; and the test strip has dimensions, wherein the dimensions are the sample regardless of the number of additional sample receiving ports.

8 . The test strip of claim 1 , further comprising a reference electrode, the reference electrode proximate to the first and second electrodes.

9 . The test strip of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third electrode and a fourth electrode, the third and fourth electrodes proximate to the first receiving port; and a third contact and a fourth contact, the third and fourth contacts at a second end of the test strip, the third and fourth contacts interconnected with the third and fourth electrodes, respectively.

10 . The test strip of claim 9 , further comprising:
a fifth electrode and a sixth electrode, the fifth and sixth electrodes proximate to the first receiving port; and a fifth contact and a sixth contact, the fifth and sixth contacts at a second end of the test strip, the fifth and sixth contacts interconnected with the fifth and sixth electrodes, respectively.

11 . A test strip and meter combination system for electrochemical testing of a blood analyte, the system comprising:
a test strip including:
a first receiving port, the first receiving port for receiving a blood sample, the first receiving port at a first end of the test strip;
a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes proximate to the first receiving port; and
a first contact and a second contact, the first and second contacts at a second end of the test strip, the first and second contacts interconnected with the first and second electrodes, respectively; and
a meter, the meter having a test strip receiving port shaped to receive the test strip, the meter including a plurality of contacts, a first portion of the plurality of contacts positioned to interface with the first and second contacts.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein one of the first and second electrodes includes a reagent on a surface of one of the first and second electrodes.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the reagent is painted on to the one of the first and second electrodes.

14 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a second receiving port, the second receiving port proximate to the first receiving port of the first end of the test strip; a third electrode and a fourth electrode, the third and fourth electrodes proximate to the second receiving port; and a third contact and a fourth contact, the third and fourth contacts at the second end of the test strip and interconnected with the third and fourth electrodes, respectively, wherein a second first portion of the plurality of contacts is positioned to interface with the third and fourth contacts.

15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising a fifth contact and a sixth contact on the test strip, the fifth and sixth contacts interconnected to provide for an insertion indication when the test strip is inserted into the meter, and a third portion of the plurality of contacts positioned to interface with the fifth and sixth contacts.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first receiving port and the second receiving port are on opposite sides of the test strip, such that one is underneath the other.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the test strip has between zero to three additional sample receiving ports; and the test strip has dimensions, wherein the dimensions are the sample regardless of the number of additional sample receiving ports.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the meter includes a plurality of interfacing portions of the plurality of contacts which are each positioned to interface with each set of contacts corresponding to a receiving port.

19 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising a reference electrode in the test strip, the reference electrode proximate to the first and second electrodes.

20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the test strip further includes:
a third electrode and a fourth electrode, the third and fourth electrodes proximate to the first receiving port; and a third contact and a fourth contact, the third and fourth contacts at a second end of the test strip, the third and fourth contacts interconnected with the third and fourth electrodes, respectively.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the test strip further includes:
a fifth electrode and a sixth electrode, the fifth and sixth electrodes proximate to the first receiving port; and a fifth contact and a sixth contact, the fifth and sixth contacts at a second end of the test strip, the fifth and sixth contacts interconnected with the fifth and sixth electrodes, respectively.

Assignees

• Polymer Technology Systems Inc

Inventors

• Hughes Gary L
• Patwardhan Aniruddha

Classifications

• G01N33/48707

  by electrical means (G01N33/49, G01N33/493 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01N33/492 Primary

  Determining multiple analytes · CPC title

• G01N27/3272

  Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels (optical biosensors G01N33/52) · CPC title

• G01N27/3273

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