System and apparatus for determining temperatures in a fluid analyte system

A system for determining temperature differentials in a test sensor, the system comprising:

• a test sensor having a fluid-receiving area and a connection end, the sensor further including:
• a first temperature sensing device disposed along a first circuit, first temperature sensing device positioned adjacent to the fluid-receiving area;
• a second temperature sensing device disposed along a second circuit, the second temperature sensing device positioned adjacent to the connection end, the second temperature sensing device having a resistance substantially equivalent to the first temperature sensing device, the first circuit and the second circuit forming a temperature differential circuit;
• a meter with an opening configured to connect with the connection end of the test sensor, the meter configured to provide excitation signals to the temperature differential circuit, the meter including:
• a controller configured to receive output signals associated with the first and second temperature sensing devices, the controller further configured to determine the differential resistance between the first and second temperature sensing devices based on the output signals, the differential resistance having a linear relationship with temperature.

A method for determining temperature differentials in a test sensor, the method comprising:

• providing resistive components for a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor such that the resistive components of the first temperature sensor have a substantially equivalent resistance to the resistive components of the second temperature sensor;
• receiving an excitation signal in the resistive components of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor being associated with a temperature differential circuit, the second temperature sensor being disposed in a fluid-receiving area of the test sensor, the first temperature sensor being disposed in a region opposing the fluid-receiving area;
• and
• outputting a signal indicating a temperature difference between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor.

A portable meter configured to monitor temperature changes associated with fluid sample collection, the portable meter comprising:

• a housing defining an area for receiving a fluid sample;
• a controller disposed within the housing;
• and
• a differential temperature sensor disposed on the housing, the differential temperature sensor including a first electrode, a second electrode, a first conductor material, a second conductor material, and a third conductor material, the third conductor material comprising a conductive material different from the first and second conductor materials,
• wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are communicatively connected to the controller, the first electrode connected to a first contact location on the first conductor material, the second electrode connected to a second contact location on the second conductor material, the third conductor material connected to the first conductor material at a third contact location and the second conductor material at a fourth contact location such that the third contact location forms a first temperature sensing interface and the fourth contact location forms a second temperature sensing interface.

A test sensor for determining fluid analyte concentrations, the sensor comprising:

• a first region and a second region, the second region having a fluid-receiving area disposed therein, the first region being separate from the second region;
• a first circuit including a first temperature element disposed in the first region;
• and
• a second circuit including a second temperature element disposed in the second region, the first temperature element and the second temperature element each including one or more diodes;
• the first and second circuits are configured to receive excitation signals that energize the diodes in the first and second temperature elements and further configured to output a signal that is indicative of a temperature difference between the first temperature element and the second temperature element.

A test sensor configured to determine a fluid analyte concentration of a fluid sample, the sensor comprising:

• a test sensor body including a first region that has a fluid-receiving area, a second region that is separate from the fluid-receiving area, and a first temperature sensing interface that is disposed at or adjacent to the fluid-receiving area, the fluid-receiving area being configured to receive a fluid sample and allowing the fluid sample to be analyzed to determine a fluid analyte concentration;
• a first conductive trace disposed on the test sensor body, at least a portion of the first conductive trace being disposed in the first region;
• a second conductive trace disposed on the test sensor body;
• and
• a third conductive trace disposed on the test sensor body, the third conductive trace extending from the first region to the second region, the third conductive trace connected to the first conductive trace at the first temperature sensing interface, the third conductive trace further connected to the second conductive trace at a second temperature sensing interface, the second temperature sensing interface being located in the second region, the third conductive trace comprised of a different material than the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace such that a first thermocouple is formed at the first temperature sensing interface and a second thermocouple is formed at the second temperature sensing interface, the first thermocouple and the second thermocouple providing temperature data to assist in determining the fluid analyte concentration.

A method for determining temperature differentials in a test sensor, the method comprising:

• providing a first electrode and a second electrode disposed in a fluid-receiving area, the first electrode connected to a first conductive trace, the second electrode connected to a second conductive trace;
• providing a third conductive trace connected to one of the first electrode or the first conductive trace at a first temperature sensing interface disposed in the fluid-receiving area;
• connecting a test sensor contact to the third conductive trace at a second temperature sensing interface disposed in a region separate from the fluid-receiving area,
• wherein the test sensor contact, the third conductive trace, and the second conductive trace comprise one of a metal or carbon material, and the test sensor contact and the second conductive trace being made of different materials than the third conductive trace thereby forming a first thermocouple at the first temperature sensing interface and a second thermocouple at the second temperature sensing interface.

A method for making a test sensor configured to determine a fluid analyte concentration of a fluid sample, the method comprising:

• forming a first conductive trace on a test sensor body, the test sensor body including a first region that has a fluid-receiving area, a second region that is separate from the fluid-receiving area, and a first temperature sensing interface that is disposed at or adjacent to the fluid-receiving area, the fluid-receiving area being configured to receive a fluid sample and allowing the fluid sample to be analyzed to determine a fluid analyte concentration, at least a portion of the first conductive trace being disposed in the first region;
• forming a second conductive trace on the test sensor body;
• and
• forming a third conductive trace on the test sensor body, the third conductive trace extending from the first region to the second region, the third conductive trace connected to the first conductive trace at the first temperature sensing interface, the third conductive trace further connected to the second conductive trace at a second temperature sensing interface, the second temperature sensing interface being located in the second region, the third conductive trace comprised of a different material than the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace such that a first thermocouple is formed at the first temperature sensing interface and a second thermocouple is formed at the second temperature sensing interface, the first thermocouple and the second thermocouple providing temperature data to assist in determining the fluid analyte concentration.

A method for making a test sensor configured to determine a fluid analyte concentration of a fluid sample, the method comprising:

• forming a metal layer on a substrate;
• attaching the substrate with the metal layer to a test sensor body, the test sensor body including a first region that has a fluid-receiving area, a second region that is separate from the fluid-receiving area, and a first temperature sensing interface that is disposed at the fluid-receiving area, the fluid-receiving area being configured to receive a fluid sample and allowing the fluid sample to be analyzed to determine a fluid analyte concentration;
• forming a first conductive trace on the metal layer, at least a portion of the first conductive trace being disposed in the first region;
• forming a second conductive trace on the metal layer;
• and
• forming a third conductive trace on the metal layer, the third conductive trace extending from the first region to the second region, the third conductive trace connected to the first conductive trace at the first temperature sensing interface, the third conductive trace further connected to the second conductive trace at a second temperature sensing interface, the second temperature sensing interface being located in the second region, the third conductive trace comprised of a different material than the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace such that a first thermocouple is formed at the first temperature sensing interface and a second thermocouple is formed at the second temperature sensing interface, the first thermocouple and the second thermocouple providing temperature data to assist in determining the fluid analyte concentration.