Small Volume in Vitro Analyte Sensor and Methods

An electrode connector for use in measuring a bioanalyte in a sample, the sample being present in a sensor strip;

• the connector comprising:
• (a) a sensor strip receiving area sized for selective receipt therein of a first end of a sensor strip having first and second, opposite, side edges;
• (b) a first electrical contact structure comprising at least three contact leads oriented for each one to separately contact a separate electrode trace in the first end of the sensor strip when the first end of the sensor strip is operatively positioned in the sensor strip receiving area;
• and
• (c) a second electrical contact structure comprising a first insertion lead and a second insertion lead, each of which is positioned to contact an insertion monitor stripe at the sensor strip first end when the sensor strip first end is operatively positioned in the sensor strip receiving area;
• (i) the first insertion lead being oriented to extend across the first side edge of the sensor strip, to engage the insertion monitor stripe, when the first end of the sensor strip is operatively positioned in the sensor strip receiving area;
• and,
• (ii) the second insertion lead being oriented to extend across the second side edge of the sensor strip, to engage the insertion monitor stripe, when the first end of the sensor strip is operatively positioned in the sensor strip receiving area.