초록 ▼

A test meter of the type which receives a disposable test strip and a sample of bodily fluid from a patient and performs an electrochemical analysis of the amount of an analyte such as glucose in the sample includes a receptacle for receiving a container in which disposable test strips are provided,

A test meter of the type which receives a disposable test strip and a sample of bodily fluid from a patient and performs an electrochemical analysis of the amount of an analyte such as glucose in the sample includes a receptacle for receiving a container in which disposable test strips are provided, and a mechanism for reading information about the disposable test strips that is affixed to the container. For example, calibration values can be applied to the container in the form of a machine readable bar-code, a magnetic stripe, a memory chip or as a resonant wire loop. By automatically obtaining calibration values from the container in which the strips are provided, the chances of using the wrong calibration information are greatly reduced. The container may also contain information readable by the meter including the expiration date, and the number of test strips in the container.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [36.] A method for detection of glucose in a sample of bodily fluid from a patient comprising the steps of:providing an analytical system comprising:a test meter which receives a disposable glucose test strip and a sample of bodily fluid from a patient and performs an electrochemical an

[ We claim:] [36.] A method for detection of glucose in a sample of bodily fluid from a patient comprising the steps of:providing an analytical system comprising:a test meter which receives a disposable glucose test strip and a sample of bodily fluid from a patient and performs an electrochemical analysis of the amount of glucose in the sample, said meter comprising:(a) a housing having formed thereina slot for receiving a disposable glucose test strip with a sample of bodily fluid thereon, said slot forming a connection between the exterior of the housing and an interior region in which electronics for measuring the amount of glucose are disposed; anda receptacle for receiving a container in which disposable glucose test strips are provided, said receptacle having an open end providing access to the receptacle from the exterior of the housing and through which the container is received, and an inner end which does not provide an operative connection for disposable test strips to the interior region of the housing, said container having affixed thereto information specific to the disposable test strips provided in the container in a form readable by the test meter;(b) means for reading the information affixed to the container while it is in the receptacle, anda container of disposable glucose test strips disposed within the receptacle, said container comprising(a) a sealable body member for receiving at least one disposable glucose test strip;(b) machine-readable means for storing information specific to glucose test strips provided in the container; and(c) at least one disposable glucose test strip for electrochemical analysis of the amount of the glucose in a sample disposed within the sealable body member;removing a test strip from the container disposed within the receptacle; inserting the removed test strip into the slot formed in the housing; and applying the sample to the test strip.