Glucose Test Strip Glycemic Context Code Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glucose testing systems face issues with users incorrectly or failing to input the glycemic context of blood glucose tests, particularly in compact test strip meters that lack compatible user interfaces, leading to inaccuracies and incomplete data.
Innovation Solution
A guided structured testing kit that includes a test strip container, a test strip meter, and diagnostic test strips with a glycemic context code, which signals the glycemic context to the meter upon insertion, allowing for automatic association with blood glucose test results, using machine-readable codes such as optical, electrical, or mechanical indicia.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If users manually input or select glycemic context in existing glucose testing systems, then the system can capture glycemic context data, but users may mistakenly select wrong context, fail to input context, or require complex user interfaces that compact meters cannot support
Solution Approach 1:
The test strip automatically provides glycemic context information through machine-readable codes (barcodes, RFID tags, or optical patterns) that the meter reads upon insertion. This eliminates the need for users to manually input context data, preventing errors while maintaining data completeness. The system serves itself by embedding the context information directly in the test strip rather than requiring user input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual user input (mechanical interaction with buttons or screens) with automated optical or electromagnetic reading of machine-readable codes on the test strip. The meter's optical sensor or RFID reader automatically detects and processes the glycemic context information, substituting complex user interface operations with simple automated detection.
2Ease of operation
If compact test strip meters are designed for ease of use, then they become portable and simple to operate, but they lack compatible user interfaces to support glycemic context input
Solution Approach 1:
The test strip autonomously provides glycemic context information through embedded machine-readable codes, eliminating the need for complex user interfaces. The meter simply reads the code upon test strip insertion, maintaining compact design while enabling context capture functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The glycemic context information is extracted from the user input process and embedded directly into the test strip itself. This separates the context data provision from the meter's user interface, allowing the meter to remain simple and compact while still capturing context information through automated code reading.
3Loss of information
If users wait to input glycemic context until reaching a computer or data-input device, then they can provide detailed context information, but the glycemic context may be forgotten and data completeness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The glycemic context information is pre-encoded on the test strip before the user performs the test. This preliminary encoding ensures the context is captured at the moment of testing without delay or reliance on later memory, preventing information loss while eliminating time delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The test strip automatically provides pre-encoded glycemic context information to the meter, eliminating the need for users to remember or later input context details. The system self-captures the context at the point of use, preventing forgetting while avoiding time delays.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A guided structured testing kit comprising a test strip container, a test strip meter, a testing protocol advisor, and at least one of diagnostic test strip is presented. The diagnostic test strip comprising a support element, a glucose reagent provided on the support element, and a glycemic context code provided on the support element. The glycemic context code can be machine-readable. The glycemic context code signals a glycemic context to a test strip meter, either upon insertion of the diagnostic test strip or by a user manually inputting the glycemic context into the test strip meter. A method for performing a guided structured test is also provided.