Biosensor Coding System Using Sequential Conductive Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional biosensor systems face inaccuracies and inefficiencies in analyte concentration measurements due to errors in encoding patterns on sensor strips, caused by material variations or damage during manufacturing, shipping, and handling, which can lead to incorrect calibration and analysis results.

Innovation Solution

A biosensor system that applies test signals to a sequential conductive pattern on the sensor strip, generating code signals to calibrate correlation equations for accurate analyte concentration determination, using a processor to selectively connect test contacts with conductive and non-conductive areas, thereby improving measurement precision and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional encoding patterns are used on sensor strips, then manufacturing is simpler, but measurement precision deteriorates due to errors from material variations and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalyte concentration measurement accuracyVSAvoidencoding pattern consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional optical encoding patterns with electrical encoding patterns. Instead of using optical features that require precise manufacturing and material consistency, the system uses electrical conductors and contacts that can be reliably manufactured and read. This substitution of the encoding domain from optical to electrical directly addresses the manufacturing precision issue while improving measurement precision through more reliable code reading.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an electrical copy of the calibration information that is more robust than the original optical encoding. By transferring the encoding from optical patterns to electrical conductive patterns, the system creates a redundant representation that is less susceptible to manufacturing variations and damage, thereby improving both manufacturing and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If optical encoding patterns are used, then device complexity is lower, but reliability deteriorates due to susceptibility to material variations and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalibration information reading accuracyVSAvoidpattern read device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes optical reading mechanisms with electrical reading mechanisms. The pattern read device uses electrical contacts to read conductive patterns instead of optical sensors to read optical patterns. This substitution improves reliability because electrical contacts are less susceptible to material variations and damage, while the increase in device complexity is minimal and justified by the significant reliability improvement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If conventional encoding patterns are used, then manufacturing is easier, but loss of information increases due to errors from handling and shipping damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalibration information integrityVSAvoidencoding pattern manufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces optical encoding with electrical encoding, where calibration information is stored in conductive patterns rather than optical patterns. This substitution reduces information loss because electrical conductors are more resistant to damage from handling and shipping. The manufacturing complexity increases slightly but is offset by the significant reduction in information loss and improved reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system enhances the accuracy and precision of analyte concentration measurements by effectively calibrating correlation equations based on code signals, reducing errors associated with material variations and handling issues, leading to reliable biosensor analysis.

Implementation Method 1

A biosensor system applies test signals to a sequential conductive pattern on the sensor strip, generating code signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS7809512B2Biosensor coding system

Publication Date: 2010.10.05 ASCENSIA DIABETES CARE HLDG AG

AI summary

A biosensor system determines an analyte concentration using one or more calibrated correlation equations for an optical and/or electrochemical analysis of a biological fluid. The biosensor system may be implemented using a measurement device and a sensor strip. The measurement device applies test signals to a sequential conductive pattern on a sensor strip. The measurement device selectively and sequentially connects test contacts with conductive and non-conductive areas on the sequential conductive pattern, which generates code signals in response to the test signals. The measurement device uses the code signals to calibrate one or more of the correlation equations. The measurement device uses the calibrated correlation equations to determine the analyte concentration.