Method of detecting an obstruction in a fluid analyzer

A method of detecting an obstruction on a sensor of a fluid analyzer, comprising:

• at a first time period, successively causing flow of a first calibration fluid and a second calibration fluid having known analyte concentrations to the sensor and determining a first response sensitivity of the sensor based at least in part on the known analyte concentrations and sensor responses of the sensor to the first calibration fluid and the second calibration fluid, wherein the known analyte concentration of the first calibration fluid and the known analyte concentration of the second calibration fluid are different;
• at a second time period, successively causing flow of the first calibration fluid and the second calibration fluid to the sensor and determining a second response sensitivity of the sensor based at least in part on the known analyte concentrations and the sensor responses of the sensor to the first calibration fluid and the second calibration fluid;
• and
• determining, by a processor, presence of the obstruction on the sensor based on at least in part on a difference between the first response sensitivity and the second response sensitivity.

A fluid analyzer, comprising:

• a sensor configured to measure at least one parameter associated with a fluid;
• one or more containers configured to store a first calibration fluid and a second calibration fluid having known analyte concentrations, wherein the known analyte concentration of the first calibration fluid and the known analyte concentration of the second calibration fluid are different;
• one or more channels configured to provide fluid communication among the sensor and the one or more containers;
• and
• a processor configured to determine presence of an obstruction obstructing the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to:
• at a first time period, successively cause flow of the first calibration fluid and the second calibration fluid to the sensor and determine a first response sensitivity of the sensor based on at least in part on the known analyte concentrations and sensor responses of the sensor to the first calibration fluid and the second calibration fluid;
• at a second time period, successively cause flow of the first calibration fluid and the second calibration fluid to the sensor and determine a second response sensitivity of the sensor based at least in part on the known analyte concentrations and sensor responses of the sensor to the first calibration fluid and the second calibration fluid;
• and
• determine the presence of the obstruction based on at least in part on a difference between the first response sensitivity and the second response sensitivity.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing an obstruction detection algorithm comprising processor-executable code that when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

• at a first time period, control one or more valves to successively pass a first calibration fluid and a second calibration fluid having known analyte concentrations through a fluid channel to a sensor, wherein the known analyte concentration of the first calibration fluid and the known analyte concentration of the second calibration fluid are different, and store first data indicative of a first response slope based at least in part on a first difference between first information generated by a meter indicative of a first electric potential generated by the sensor contacting the first calibration fluid and second information generated by the meter indicative of a second electric potential generated by the sensor contacting the second calibration fluid;
• at a second time period after the first time period, control the one or more valves to successively pass the first calibration fluid and the second calibration fluid through the fluid channel to the sensor, and store second data indicative of a second response slope based at least in part on a second difference between third information generated by the meter indicative of a third electric potential generated by the sensor contacting the first calibration fluid and fourth information generated by the meter indicative of a fourth electric potential generated by the sensor contacting the second calibration fluid;
• and
• store third data indicative of an obstruction on the sensor in response to a difference between the first response slope and the second response slope being beyond a threshold.