Capacitive Autocoding for Diagnostic Test Strips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrochemical test strips for measuring blood glucose levels require manual input of lot-specific codes, leading to potential user errors and increased manufacturing costs due to barcode requirements, which can result in inaccurate measurements.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an embedded capacitive code on the test strips, comprising individually electrically isolated contacting pads with predefined capacitive states, allows the diagnostic meter to automatically read and identify data specific to each strip, eliminating the need for manual code entry and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual input of lot-specific codes is required, then user control over code entry is maintained, but user errors increase and measurement accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The test strip automatically provides its own lot-specific code through embedded capacitive elements that the meter reads autonomously. The strip's capacitive pads store manufacturing lot information and automatically transmit it to the meter without requiring user intervention, eliminating manual code entry errors while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of typing codes is replaced with an automated electrical reading system. The meter automatically detects capacitive values from the strip's embedded pads and converts them to lot-specific codes, substituting manual input with an automated electrochemical sensing mechanism.
2Extent of automation
If bar-code readable information is incorporated onto individual strips, then automatic code reading is enabled, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using optical barcodes requiring complex printing and reading systems, the patent changes the parameter to electrical capacitance. Simple capacitive pads with varying capacitance values encode lot information, allowing automatic reading through electrical measurement rather than optical scanning, reducing manufacturing and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The code information is distributed across multiple local capacitive pads on the strip rather than requiring a single complex barcode. Each pad contributes a portion of the code through its capacitance value, enabling automatic reading while using simple,低成本 manufacturing processes for creating the capacitive elements.
3Loss of information
If more unique codes are needed for better strip differentiation, then data storage capacity increases, but code reading complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The code is segmented into multiple capacitive pads, each contributing a portion of the total information. By varying the capacitance values across multiple simple pads rather than using a single complex code structure, the system achieves high data storage capacity while keeping each individual reading operation simple and the overall device complexity low.
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
This solution enhances measurement accuracy and reliability by automating the calibration process, reducing user errors, and enabling cost-effective production and packaging of test strips from mixed lots, while providing a higher number of unique codes for improved data storage and strip differentiation.
Implementation Method 1
an embedded code comprising one or more individually electrically isolated contacting pads provided distal to the electrical strip contacts. The contacting pads are associated with one of a plurality of predefined capacitive states.
Data Source
AI summary
A capacitive autocoding circuit is provided herein. A test strip may include an embedded code comprising one or more individually electrically isolated contacting pads associated with one of a plurality of predefined capacitive states. The respective capacitive states associated with each of the contacting pads together form a capacitive state sequence such that when the test strip is inserted into a diagnostic meter the sequence is read to identify data particular to the capacitive sequence and the test strip.