Boehringer Mannheim Gmbh

Other

Roche Diagnostics Gmbh

Robert A Parks

Bradley E White

Paul G Ritchie

Vladimir Svetnik

Terry Allen Beaty

Sandy Mark Richards

Christopher L Belisle

James R Parker

Michael Lee Brown

Richard W Wilson

Carol Jane Batman

Robert G Davies

Kurt Klem

Timothy L Ranney

Patricia A Hopkinson

Lynne Denise Sly

Stefan Weinert

Richard J Kasle

Nancy Kennedy Byrd

Marvin W Glass

William Brothers

Greg Paul Carpenter

Michael Steven Ray

Leonard Allen Vetsch

A surgically implantable access port has a main port body with an internal chamber formed therein, and an outlet tube connected to the main port body. The internal chamber is configured to readily receive a guide wire therein, and to passively direct the tip of a guide wire to an outlet, which is in fluid communication with the outlet tube. The chamber in the main port body is formed in a directionally aimed conical shape. The outlet may be located at the lowest area of the chamber, to help direct a guide wire thereto. A specialized needle is also described, having a curved tip with an opening formed therein. The top inner surface and the bottom outer surface of the needle, adjacent the tip opening, are rounded and non-sharp to avoid damaging a guide wire or catheter when used therewith. Methods of using the port and needle are also disclosed.

Subcutaneous vascular access port, needle and kit, and methods of using same

An instrument ( ) has a well ( ) for receiving a dry cell ( ), an opening ( ) through which a first connector ( ) is exposed to the well ( ), and a boss ( ) adjacent the opening ( ). The boss ( ) precludes the wrong terminal of the dry cell ( ) from engaging the first connector ( ) when the dry cell ( ) is inserted into the well ( ) in incorrect orientation. A second connector ( ) includes a base ( ), a first leg ( ) resiliently connected to and extending away from the base portion, a second leg ( ) resiliently connected to and extending away from the first leg ( ), and a third leg ( ) resiliently connected to and extending away from the second leg ( ) and toward the first leg ( ). A display ( ) for the instrument ( ) has a lens ( ) having a substantially transparent substrate with a polyurethane coating. The instrument housing has first and second portions. At least one locator pin ( ) extends from one ( ) of the housing portions and at least one complementary socket ( ) extends from the other ( ) of the housing portions for receiving the pin ( ) to maintain the first ( ) and second ( ) portions in assembled orientation.

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

A biosensing meter receives a biomedical sample strip or a check strip, a sample strip including electrically isolated excitation and sense electrodes. The biosensing meter includes first and second contacts that are positioned to be electrically connected by a sense electrode when a sample strip is inserted into the biosensing meter. An operational amplifier circuit has one input connected to the first contact and a second input connected to a reference potential, the one input manifesting the reference potential as a result of a feedback within the operational amplifier. A processor is coupled to the second contact and determines the presence of the reference potential at the second contact when an inserted sense electrode connects the first and second contacts. The processor also distinguishes between a sample strip and a check strip and, when a sample strip is inserted, that the sample strip exhibits a proper impedance between its sense and excitation electrodes--to enable operation of the biosensing meter upon dosing of the sample strip.

Biosensing meter which detects proper electrode engagement and

A biosensing meter is provided that determines a value of an analyte in a biological sample. The meter employs an algorithm for determining the analyte value, which value is dependent upon ambient temperature about the biological sample when it is present in a reaction zone. The biosensing meter includes a processor and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is positioned within the meter's structure and thereby exhibits a delayed response to changes in the ambient temperature. The meter performs a temperature estimation method to overcome the delayed temperature response. The method commences by the meter repetitively and periodically acquiring temperature readings from the temperature sensor when the biosensing meter is both in an on state and in an off state. When the meter is in the on state, the algorithm estimates the ambient temperature by employing at least two most recent temperature readings and extrapolating therefrom to achieve an ambient temperature estimate. Temperature readings are acquired by the meter at first intervals when the meter is in the off state and at second, shorter intervals when the meter is in the on state, the temperature extrapolations only occurring when the meter is in the on state.

Biosensing meter with ambient temperature estimation method and system

A biosensing meter is enabled to receive a sample strip that includes a sample well with an analyte reactant therein and electrodes in contact therewith. The biosensing meter includes an excitation supply for supplying potentials to a sample strip electrode. A sense amplifier is also provided for connection to another electrode of an inserted sample strip and produces an output signal indicative of sensed currents when an analyte containing fluid is present in the strip's sample well. A pluggable memory key is insertable into the meter and includes a plurality of stored parameter values and procedure routines that control operations of the meter. A microprocessor is responsive to a procedure routine and parameter values accessed from the pluggable memory key to cause the excitation supply to apply a plurality of potentials for preset durations, both the values of the potentials and the time duration of their application determined from parameter values derived from the memory key. The microprocessor controls the sense amplifier to provide a plurality of signal outputs over a predetermined duration, the sense amplifier being operated under control of specific parameter values derived from the pluggable memory key. Replacement of a pluggable memory key with a memory key containing alternative procedures and parameters enables the biosensing meter to carry out substantially modified test procedures without a requirement for modification of the structure of the meter.

Biosensing meter with pluggable memory key

A biosensing meter receives a sample strip that includes electrically isolated sense and excitation electrodes bridged by a reaction zone. When a drop of biological sample fluid is placed in the reaction zone, a plurality of fail/safe tests are performed. A drop size test is performed by a circuit that detects the size of the drop placed in the reaction zone. The circuit both detects that a drop has been placed in the reaction zone and further measures a test current level, after a delay, to determine that the drop size is sufficient to enable hydration of reactants in the reaction zone. Subsequently, during the reaction, a 'delta' current change is measured at succeeding sample time. This test measures the difference between succeeding current samples during a measurement time. If each succeeding sample is not less than preceding sample by a delta value, a determination is made that the current is not monotonically decreasing and the test is aborted. At the termination of the measurement time, a current sum test is performed wherein a processor calculates a linear sum of all sample test currents and calculates a ratio between that sum and the last current sample. If that ratio matches a pre-calculated constant for the Cottrell relationship, then it is known that the measurement values exhibit the Cottrell relationship.

Biosensing meter with fail/safe procedures to prevent erroneous

An analog-to-digital converter employs a capacitor circuit for integrating a sample of an input signal during a predetermined interval of time and, thereafter, the capacitor is discharged at a predetermined rate until the integration voltage is equal to that of a reference. The discharge time serves as a measure of the amplitude of the input signal. A measurement interval is established which is equal to an integral number of cycles of each of the possible values of frequency of the A.C. excitation. The signal integration interval has a duration less than or approximately equal to the shortest period of the A.C. excitation, this being the period of the highest frequency A.C. excitation. The signal integration is repeated periodically at each third half-cycle of the highest frequency excitation so that the total integration time experienced during positive half cycles is equal to that experienced during negative half cycles of any of the plurality of excitation frequencies. This cancels the effect of noise due to signal polarity.

Analog to digital conversion with noise reduction

A circuit is described for applying a potential to an electrode of a biosensing test cell, which electrode, when properly inserted in a female connector, is contacted by a pair spaced apart contacts. The circuit includes a source of excitation potential and an operational amplifier having one input connected to the source of excitation potential. A switching circuit is coupled between the operational amplifier and a first one of the spaced apart contacts, with the switch means exhibiting an impedance. A feedback circuit is connected between the second of the spaced-apart contacts and another input to the operational amplifier, to feed back a potential appearing at the second contact. The feedback is for the purpose of maintaining the output of the operational amplifier at a level which compensates for impedance losses in the swtiching circuit. The feedback circuit enables the output of the operational amplifier to be varied so that the potential applied to the electrode is equal to the source of excitation potential. A further circuit is connected to the feedback circuit for sensing when an open or high impedance state exists between the spaced-apart contacts.

Biosensor electrode excitation circuit

A regulated power supply employs two separate sources of power which are serially connected by a variable impedance element, such as a transistor, connected between the two power sources. Output voltage of the power supply is equal to the sum of the individual power supply voltages minus a voltage drop across the variable impedance element. A sensor circuit employing standby and active mode branches is coupled between output terminals of the power supply for control of the variable impedance element. The active branch of the sensor is switchably connected to an output power terminal of the supply so as to be operative only during the active mode. The standby branch comprises a resistive network coupled to a reference diode while the active branch comprises a feedback amplifier coupled to the reference diode.

Regulated bifurcated power supply

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Springport, IN, United States of America

Robert A Parks