Apparatus and method for determining the concentration of a component of a sample

An electrical apparatus for use with an electrical cell for providing power, the cell having two terminals, the apparatus including a first connector for contacting one of the terminals and a second connector for contacting the other of the terminal when the cell is installed in the apparatus, the second connector including:

• a base portion fixed in the apparatus, a first generally planar leg portion resiliently connected to and extending away from the base portion, a second generally planar leg portion resiliently connected to and extending away from the first generally planar leg portion, and a third generally planar leg portion resiliently connected to and extending away from the second generally planar leg portion and toward the first generally planar leg portion, installation of the cell in the apparatus causing the other terminal to resiliently engage the second generally planar leg portion, a well for receiving the cell, the well including an opening through which the first connector is exposed to the well, a boss adjacent the opening, the boss precluding the other terminal from engaging the first connector when the cell is inserted into the well in incorrect orientation.

An apparatus for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a biological sample, the apparatus including first and second keys for use in operating the apparatus, the keys extending from a common support mounted in the apparatus, each of the keys having a reduced cross sectional hinge portion adjacent to the common support whereby substantially independent activation of the first and second keys is provide, a third key disposed between the first and second keys for use in operating the apparatus, the third key also having a reduced cross sectional hinge portion adjacent to a second support mounted in the apparatus, the common support having a relief portion for receiving the second support such that the three keys generally define a surface when the apparatus is assembled.

An apparatus for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a biological sample, the apparatus comprising a strip and an instrument, the instrument comprising a slot through which the strip is intended to be inserted, the strip having at least one electrical contact thereon in communication with the sample, the instrument including an electrical connector for engagement with the electrical contact of the strip when the strip is inserted into the instrument for determining the concentration, the instrument including first and second housing portions, the slot being provided in one of the portions and the connector being mounted in the other of the housing portions, the other housing portion including a member fixed thereto to engage the connector resiliently when the housing portions are assembled together to promote alignment of the connector with the slot, and a circuit board mounted in the other housing portion, the electrical connector disposed on the circuit board.

An apparatus for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a biological sample, the apparatus comprising a strip and an instrument, the instrument comprising a slot through which the strip is intended to be inserted, the strip having at least one electrical contact thereon in communication with the sample, the instrument including an electrical connector for engagement with the electrical contact of the strip when the strip is inserted into the instrument for determining the concentration, the instrument including first and second housing portions, the slot being provided in one of the housing portions and the connector being mounted in the other of the housing portions, the other housing portion including a member fixed thereto to engage the connector resiliently when the housing portions are assembled together to promote alignment of the connector with the slot, and a second member fixed to the other housing portion for resiliently engaging the connector when the housing portions are assembled together to promote alignment of the connector with the slot in cooperation with the first-mentioned member.

A method of operating an instrument, the instrument including a housing for at least some of the instrument components, the instrument components housed within the housing having at least first and second operating states, the instrument components evolving heat at a first time rate when the instrument is in the first operating state and at a second time rate when the instrument is in the second operating state, the instrument components including a controller, the controller keeping a record of how long the instrument is operated in each of said first and second states and calculating from the record the heating of the interior of the housing resulting from the operation of the instrument in each of said first and second states.

An instrument including a housing for at least some components of the instrument, the instrument components housed within housing having at least first and second operating states, the instrument components housed within the housing evolving heat at a first time rate when the instrument is in the first operating state and a second time rate when the instrument is in the second operating state, the instrument components including a controller for keeping a record of how long the instrument is operated in each of said first and second states and calculating from the record the heating of the interior of the housing resulting from the operation of the instrument in each of said first and second states, the instrument comprising an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a sample, the apparatus further comprising a strip for dosing with the sample, the instrument including a port for receiving the strip, the controller adjusting the determined ambient temperature to an adjusted ambient temperature based upon the heating of the interior of the housing resulting from the operation of the instrument in each of said first and second states, and determining the concentration of the medically significant component of the sample based upon the adjusted ambient temperature.

An instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a sample, the instrument including a controller and a power supply for providing power to the controller, the power supply including one or more cells for providing direct current at a first voltage, an inductance and a first solid state switch in series across the one or more cells, the controller providing a first switching signal for the first switch, a first rectifier and a first capacitance in a second circuit for rectifying and storing the voltage variations appearing across one of the first switch and inductance, the second circuit storing voltage variations of a first polarity appearing across one of the first switch and inductance and the third circuit storing voltage variations of a second and opposite polarity appearing across one of the first switch and inductance.

An instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a sample, the instrument including a first key for selecting a function from a group of at least two functions, a second key, a controller for assigning to the second key the function selected from a group of at least two functions by the first key, and a display for displaying for the user an assignment by the controller of the function to the second key, a strip for dosing with the sample, the instrument including a port for receiving the strip to enable the instrument to determine the concentration of the medically significant component of the sample, the strip containing a chemistry for reacting with the medically significant component of the sample and a pair of strip terminals, the port including a complementary pair of instrument terminals, the strip terminals making contact with respective instrument terminals when the strip is inserted into the port, the chemistry reacting with the medically significant component of the sample to produce across the pair of strip terminals a signal indicative of the reaction, receiving the strip in the port and dosing of the strip enabling the determination of the first concentration.

A hand held instrument for determining the glucose concentration of a sample, the instrument including a first key for selecting a function from a group of at least two functions, a second key, a controller for assigning to the second key the function selected from a group of at least two functions by the first key, and a display for displaying for the user an assignment by the controller of the function to the second key, a strip for dosing with sample, the instrument including a port for receiving the strip to enable the instrument to determine the glucose concentration of the sample.

A hand held instrument for determining the glucose concentration of a sample, the instrument including a first key for selecting a function from a group of at least two functions, a second key, a controller for assigning to the second key the function selected from a group of at least two functions by the first key, and a display for displaying for the user an assignment by the controller of the function to the second key, a strip containing a chemistry for reacting with glucose in the sample, the instrument including a port for receiving the strip and a device for assessing the reaction of the chemistry with glucose in the sample and for producing a signal indicative of assessment, receiving the strip in the port and dosing of the strip enabling the determination of the glucose concentration of the sample.