# US 10,309,920 B2 · Gating system and method for biosensor test strips > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,920 B2 - Document ID: US10309920B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/606,441 - Filed: 2017-05-26 - Published: 2017-11-30 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-26 - Assignees: Trividia Health, Inc. - Applicants: Trividia Health, Inc. - Inventors: Stephen Davies; Brent E. Modzelewski; Jeffrey Akins - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309920B2 ## CPC - G01N 27/3273: {Devices therefor, e.g. test element readers, circuitry (details not specific to biochemical electrodes G01N33/4875)} - G01N 27/3272: {Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels (optical biosensors G01N33/52)} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A system is disclosed, the system comprises a diagnostic test strip having a diagnostic end and a meter contacting end, the meter contacting end having at least one identifying feature that distinguishes the meter contacting end from the diagnostic end; a diagnostic meter configured to read information from the meter contacting end of the test strip when the meter contacting end of the test strip is fully inserted in to the meter; and a port in the meter, the port having a gating mechanism configured to identify the meter contacting end and allow the test strip to be fully inserted into the meter only after the gating mechanism identifies the meter contacting end of the test strip as a proper end for insertion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a diagnostic test strip having a diagnostic end and a meter contacting end, the meter contacting end having at least one identifying feature that distinguishes the meter contacting end from the diagnostic end; a diagnostic meter configured to read information from the meter contacting end of the test strip when the meter contacting end of the test strip is fully inserted into the meter; and a port in the meter, the port having a gating mechanism configured to identify the meter contacting end and allow the test strip to be fully inserted into the meter only after the gating mechanism identifies the meter contacting end of the test strip as a proper end for insertion, wherein the gating mechanism includes one or more gates configured to be closed to prevent insertion of the test strip until the gating mechanism recognizes the strip. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the gating mechanism comprises a plurality of gate components which identify the meter contacting end of the diagnostic test strip. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the gating mechanism allows the test strip to be fully inserted into the port after the plurality of gate components contact the meter contacting end in a specific, pre-set order. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one identifying feature comprises one or more of width, thickness or a pre-determined shaping. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the gating mechanism comprises one or more inclined planes and the test strip is shaped and sized to contact each of the one or more inclined planes in a predetermined order to open the gating mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the gating mechanism comprises a first gate and a second gate and wherein the first gate includes a stopper overlapping the second gate such that the stopper can prevent the second gate from opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the gating mechanism comprises two or more gates, wherein each of the gates includes at least one stop and at least one riser, the at least one stop is configured to make physical contact with the meter contacting end of the test strip to allow the at least one riser to lift and open the gating mechanism. ### Claim 8 A meter comprising: a port configured to read information from a meter contacting end of a test strip when the meter contacting end of the test strip is fully inserted in to the meter; and a gating mechanism formed in the port and configured to identify a meter contacting end of the test strip, the gating mechanism being configured to allow the test strip to be fully inserted into the meter only after the gating mechanism identifies the meter contacting end of the test strip as a proper end for insertion, wherein the gating mechanism includes one or more gates configured to be closed to prevent insertion of the test strip until the gating mechanism recognizes the strip. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The meter of claim 8, wherein the gating mechanism comprises a first gate and a second gate and wherein the first gate includes a stopper overlapping the second gate such that the stopper can prevent the second gate from opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The meter of claim 8, wherein the gating mechanism comprises a plurality of gate components which identify the meter contacting end of the diagnostic test strip. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The meter of claim 10, wherein the gating mechanism allows the test strip to be fully inserted into the port after the plurality of gate components contact the meter contacting end in a specific, pre-set order. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The meter of claim 8, wherein the at least one identifying feature comprises one or more of width, thickness or a pre-determined shaping. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The meter of claim 8, wherein the gating mechanism comprises one or more inclined planes and the test strip is shaped and sized to contact each of the one or more inclined planes in a predetermined order to open the gating mechanism. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The meter of claim 8, wherein the gating mechanism comprises two or more gates, wherein each of the gates includes at least one stop and at least one riser, the at least one stop is configured to make physical contact with the meter contacting end of the test strip to allow the at least one riser to lift and open the gating mechanism. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: placing a sample of a fluid for analysis on a diagnostic test strip, the test strip having a diagnostic end for receiving the sample and a meter contacting end for communicating information to a meter, the meter contacting end having at least one identifying feature that distinguishes the meter contacting end from the diagnostic end; inserting the meter contacting end into a port of the meter, the port having a gating mechanism that identifies the meter contacting end and allows the test strip to be fully inserted into the meter only after the gating mechanism identifies the meter contacting end of the test strip, wherein the gating mechanism includes one or more gates configured to be closed to prevent insertion of the test strip until the gating mechanism recognizes the strip; and causing the meter to read the information on the diagnostic test strip. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the gating mechanism comprises a plurality of gate components which identify the meter contacting end of the diagnostic test strip. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the gating mechanism allows the test strip to be fully inserted into the port after the plurality of gate components contact the meter contacting end in a specific, pre-set order. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one identifying feature comprises one or more of width, thickness or a pre-determined shaping. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the gating mechanism comprises one or more inclined planes and the test strip is shaped and sized to contact each of the one or more inclined planes in a predetermined order to open the gating mechanism. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the gating mechanism comprises two or more gates, wherein each of the gates includes at least one stop and at least one riser, the at least one stop is configured to make physical contact with the meter contacting end of the test strip to allow the at least one riser to lift and open the gating mechanism. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the gating mechanism comprises a first gate and a second gate and wherein the first gate includes a stopper overlapping the second gate such that the stopper can prevent the second gate from opening.