Diagnostic electrode for evaluating circuitry of an analyzer
AssigneePorton Diagnostics, Inc.
InventorsJohn R. North, Robert L. Kay, Jonathan Ivy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A diagnostic electrode actively generates test signals to be supplied to analyzer circuitry. The electrode emulates a disposable sensor associated with the analyzer during a normal mode of normal operation. The diagnostic device generates predetermined signals for an output interface of the device using a power supply disposed within the device. The diagnostic module can be designed to produce voltage signals, current signals, or light signals to be received by the analyzer, depending on the type of analyzer to which the diagnostic electrode is to be associated.
Claims27
An apparatus for testing circuit operation of an analyzer comprising:
- a power source;
- a reference signal generator, coupled to said power source and generating a reference signal based on said power source;
- and
- an output interface adapted to supply said reference signal to the analyzer.
A diagnostic electrode for supplying reference signals to an analyzing device that has an input interface adapted to receive a removable sensor, the electrode comprising:
- a body shaped to mimic the outer contours of the removable sensor;
- an active signal source;
- an output interface coupled to said active signal source adapted to connect the electrode to the input interface of the analyzer in the same manner that the removable sensor is coupled to the input interface.
A testing module, insertable into a sensor receiving area of an analyzer and supplying a reference signal to analyzing circuitry in the analyzer, the module comprising:
- an output interface coupled to an input interface of the analyzer when the module is disposed in the sensor receiving area;
- a reference signal generator, coupled to said output interface and supplying a reference signal to said output interface;
- and
- means for energizing said reference signal generator, said means for energizing comprising,
- a power supply, and
- means for controlling a coupling of said power supply and said reference signal generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.