Biosensing meter with pluggable memory key

Abstract

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.