# US 9,436,924 B2 · Automated analyte sensor ordering methods and apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,924 B2 - Document ID: US9436924B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/707,112 - Filed: 2012-12-06 - Published: 2014-06-12 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-06 - Assignees: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG - Applicants: Bayer HealthCare LLC - Inventors: Mirza Kokic; John Farrell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436924B2 ## CPC - G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders - G01N 33/4875: {Details of handling test elements, e.g. dispensing or storage, not specific to a particular test method (test-elements per se B01L, automatic analysers G01N35/00, in-vivo analysis on the human body for medical diagnosis A61B)} - G01N 33/49: Blood {(chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80)} - G06K 7/10861: {sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels (postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48)} - G06Q 10/08726: {for replenishment processing, procedures, or recommendations using forecasting or optimisation} - G06Q 10/0877: {by inventory control or reporting using inventory tracking or counting} - G16H 10/40: for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - G01N 27/3272: {Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels (optical biosensors G01N33/52)} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract Methods, systems, and apparatus adapted to automate ordering of test strips for use in an analyte meter device are disclosed. The method, system and apparatus includes inputting information from an indicia on a package of test strips indicative of a quantity of test strips in the package; tracking a number of test strips used in the analyte meter device; and generating an automatic order for additional test strips based on a signal indicating that a reorder threshold has been reached. Numerous additional features and aspects are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automated analyte meter test strip ordering system, comprising: an analyte meter device including a first processor with a first memory storing first instructions and a wireless communications facility, the first processor programmed to execute the first instructions to direct the first processor to use test strips to measure a characteristic of an analyte, to track a quantity of the test strips used, and to transmit information regarding the tracked quantity of the test strips used; a package of test strips including a plurality of test strips and a machine-readable indicia on an exterior surface of the package, the indicia representative of at least an initial number of test strips in the package; and a personal communications device, separate and distinct from the analyte meter device, the personal communications device including a second processor with a second memory storing second instructions, an indicia reading device, and a communications transceiver, the second processor programmed to execute the second instructions to direct the second processor to use the indicia reading device to read input information from the indicia on the package of test strips, to use the communications transceiver to communicate with the analyte meter device to receive the information regarding the tracked quantity of the test strips used, to determine when to order additional test strips based on the information received from the analyte meter device and the indicia on the package of test strips, and to use the communications transceiver to order additional test strips from an ordering server, wherein the indicia reading device includes a camera within the personal communications device operable to photograph the indicia via capturing an image of the indicia from the package and decoding the photographed indicia. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising an ordering server operative to communicate with the personal communications device and to receive a test strip order from the personal communications device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the personal communications device further includes additional second instructions stored in the second memory, the additional second instructions directing the second processor to communicate the decoded indicia using the communications transceiver to the analyte meter device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the personal communications device further includes additional second instructions stored in the second memory, the additional second instructions directing the second processor to track a rate of test strip usage in the analyte meter device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the analyte meter device further includes additional first instructions stored in the first memory, the additional first instructions directing the first processor to track a rate of test strip usage in the analyte meter device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the analyte meter device further includes additional first instructions stored in the first memory, the additional first instructions directing the first processor to determine that a reorder threshold has been reached and to communicate that the reorder threshold has been reached using the wireless communications facility to the personal communications device.