Abstract: A system and method for testing and ejecting a test strip of a fluid testing medical device. The system includes parallel first and second guide rails defining a rail cavity between the guide rails. A sled includes a sled post and opposed first and second side leg sets each having at least one deflectable leg. Each of the deflectable legs is externally slidably engaged to one of the guide rails limiting the sled to only sliding motion in either a loading direction or an opposite ejection direction. An actuator arm is rotatably connected to a mechanism assembly. The sled post is received in an actuator arm slot. Actuator arm rotation in a loading rotational direction displaces the sled in the loading direction in a sliding motion. Subsequent opposite rotation of the actuator arm in an ejection rotational direction displaces the sled in the ejection direction and ejects the test strip.

Abstract: A handheld medical device is configured to illuminate a test strip inserted therein and may include a housing having a port configured to receive a test strip. A circuit board may be mounted inside the housing. A measurement module may be mounted to the circuit board and may be cooperatively operable with the test strip inserted into the port to measure a sample of fluid residing on the test strip. The circuit board faces an opposing top surface of the test strip inserted into the port. A light source may be mounted on the circuit board and operable to emit light substantially perpendicular to the opposing top surface of the test strip inserted into the port. The light source may project the light along an optical axis substantially perpendicular to the opposing top surface of the test strip and illuminate an area surrounding a dosing end of the test strip.

Abstract: A system and method for testing and ejecting a test strip of a fluid testing medical device. The system includes parallel first and second guide rails defining a rail cavity between the guide rails. A sled includes a sled post and opposed first and second side leg sets each having at least one deflectable leg. Each of the deflectable legs is externally slidably engaged to one of the guide rails limiting the sled to only sliding motion in either a loading direction or an opposite ejection direction. An actuator arm is rotatably connected to a mechanism assembly. The sled post is received in an actuator arm slot. Actuator arm rotation in a loading rotational direction displaces the sled in the loading direction in a sliding motion. Subsequent opposite rotation of the actuator arm in an ejection rotational direction displaces the sled in the ejection direction and ejects the test strip.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving and ejecting a test strip of a fluid testing device. The system includes parallel first and second guide rails defining a rail cavity between the guide rails. A sled includes a sled post and opposed first and second side leg sets each having at least one deflectable leg. Each of the deflectable legs is externally slidably engaged to one of the guide rails limiting the sled to only sliding motion in either a loading direction or an opposite ejection direction. An actuator arm is rotatably connected to a mechanism assembly. The sled post is received in an actuator arm slot. Actuator arm rotation in a loading rotational direction displaces the sled in the loading direction in a sliding motion. Subsequent opposite rotation of the actuator arm in an ejection rotational direction displaces the sled in the ejection direction and ejects the test strip.

Abstract: An analyte meter, such as a blood glucose meter, uses electrochemical test strips and has a contoured strip port to improve electrochemical test strip reliability. The analyte meter has a strip connector with strip terminals that electrically connected to strip electrodes when a test strip is inserted through the strip port opening next to the strip connector. The contoured strip port is located next to the strip connector and comprises a strip shelf having side guides for aligning the test strip with the strip port, a strip port opening having a bottom opening extending from a first bottom edge to a second bottom edge, top guides located at a first top edge and a second top edge, and a contoured top extending between the top guides creating an arched clearance above the bottom opening to provide clearance for test strip electrical traces.

Abstract: A system for measuring an analyte of interest in a biological fluid includes a test strip for receiving a sample of the biological fluid having multiple contacts formed thereon. A test device includes a circuit board having multiple conducting strips. A connector assembly is fixed to the circuit board and receives the test strip as the test strip moves in an insertion direction to a test position. The connector assembly includes a connector assembly body and multiple conductors. Each of the conductors includes a conductor contact body fixedly connected to the connector assembly body, and a contact arm integrally connected to the conductor contact body and freely extending entirely in the insertion direction. The contact arm is deflected when directly contacted by one of the multiple contacts of the test strip.

Abstract: A handheld medical device is configured to illuminate a test strip inserted therein and may include a housing having a port configured to receive a test strip. A circuit board may be mounted inside the housing. A measurement module may be mounted to the circuit board and may be cooperatively operable with the test strip inserted into the port to measure a sample of fluid residing on the test strip. The circuit board faces an opposing top surface of the test strip inserted into the port. A light source may be mounted on the circuit board and operable to emit light substantially perpendicular to the opposing top surface of the test strip inserted into the port. The light source may project the light along an optical axis substantially perpendicular to the opposing top surface of the test strip and illuminate an area surrounding a dosing end of the test strip.

Abstract: A handheld test strip illumination device includes a housing. A strip connector positioned within the housing receives a first portion of a test strip in a test strip test position. A light source is positioned within the housing. A lens/light reflecting device is aligned to receive photons emitted from the light source and direct the photons onto the first portion of the test strip within the strip connector. The first portion of the test strip within the strip connector includes a longitudinal transparent layer receiving the photons emitted from the lens/light reflecting device within the housing. The photons pass through the longitudinal transparent layer and are emitted from the longitudinal transparent layer in a second portion of the test strip positioned outside of the housing, thereby illuminating a dose area of the test strip.

Abstract: A test strip container with an insert comprising a channel and a retaining member and methods of manufacturing and utilization thereof are disclosed. The container includes a housing, an insert, a lid, and at least one retaining member in at least one channel. The at least one retaining member releasably retains a plurality of test strips in the at least one channel.

Abstract: A system for measuring an analyte of interest in a biological fluid includes a test strip for receiving a sample of the biological fluid having multiple contacts formed thereon. A test device includes a circuit board having multiple conducting strips. A connector assembly is fixed to the circuit board and receives the test strip as the test strip moves in an insertion direction to a test position. The connector assembly includes a connector assembly body and multiple conductors. Each of the conductors includes a conductor contact body fixedly connected to the connector assembly body, and a contact arm integrally connected to the conductor contact body and freely extending entirely in the insertion direction. The contact arm is deflected when directly contacted by one of the multiple contacts of the test strip.

Abstract: A handheld test strip illumination device includes a housing. A strip connector positioned within the housing receives a first portion of a test strip in a test strip test position. A light source is positioned within the housing. A lens/light reflecting device is aligned to receive photons emitted from the light source and direct the photons onto the first portion of the test strip within the strip connector. The first portion of the test strip within the strip connector includes a longitudinal transparent layer receiving the photons emitted from the lens/light reflecting device within the housing. The photons pass through the longitudinal transparent layer and are emitted from the longitudinal transparent layer in a second portion of the test strip positioned outside of the housing, thereby illuminating a dose area of the test strip.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving and ejecting a test strip of a fluid testing device. The system includes parallel first and second guide rails defining a rail cavity between the guide rails. A sled includes a sled post and opposed first and second side leg sets each having at least one deflectable leg. Each of the deflectable legs is externally slidably engaged to one of the guide rails limiting the sled to only sliding motion in either a loading direction or an opposite ejection direction. An actuator arm is rotatably connected to a mechanism assembly. The sled post is received in an actuator arm slot. Actuator arm rotation in a loading rotational direction displaces the sled in the loading direction in a sliding motion. Subsequent opposite rotation of the actuator arm in an ejection rotational direction displaces the sled in the ejection direction and ejects the test strip.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving and ejecting a test strip of a fluid testing device. The system includes parallel first and second guide rails defining a rail cavity between the guide rails. A sled includes a sled post and opposed first and second side leg sets each having at least one deflectable leg. Each of the deflectable legs is externally slidably engaged to one of the guide rails limiting the sled to only sliding motion in either a loading direction or an opposite ejection direction. An actuator arm is rotatably connected to a mechanism assembly. The sled post is received in an actuator arm slot. Actuator arm rotation in a loading rotational direction displaces the sled in the loading direction in a sliding motion. Subsequent opposite rotation of the actuator arm in an ejection rotational direction displaces the sled in the ejection direction and ejects the test strip.

Abstract: A limited-use blood glucose meter includes a printed circuit board assembly that includes a power source, a strip port, a strip reading device, a controller device, a bi-stable display, and a display controller. The strip reading measures a reaction between a blood sample present on the blood glucose test strip and the blood glucose reagent, generates a blood glucose signal, and calculates a blood glucose level. The controller device receives the blood glucose level from the strip reading device. The controller device provides display instructions to the display controller and the display controller provides drive voltages to the bi-stable segments such that the bi-stable segments persistently display the most-recent blood glucose level. The strip reading device performs a predetermined number of blood glucose tests and calculates a blood glucose level only for blood glucose strips associated with the disposable blood glucose meter.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving and ejecting a test strip of a fluid testing device. The system includes parallel first and second guide rails defining a rail cavity between the guide rails. A sled includes a sled post and opposed first and second side leg sets each having at least one deflectable leg. Each of the deflectable legs is externally slidably engaged to one of the guide rails limiting the sled to only sliding motion in either a loading direction or an opposite ejection direction. An actuator arm is rotatably connected to a mechanism assembly. The sled post is received in an actuator arm slot. Actuator arm rotation in a loading rotational direction displaces the sled in the loading direction in a sliding motion. Subsequent opposite rotation of the actuator arm in an ejection rotational direction displaces the sled in the ejection direction and ejects the test strip.

Abstract: A blood glucose meter for providing easy access to test strips and measuring blood glucose, a disposable and removable cartridge for providing easy access to test strips, and methods of manufacturing and utilization thereof are disclosed. The blood glucose meter for providing easy access to test strips and measuring blood glucose has a disposable and removable cartridge, a retaining member which releasably retains the test strips in a stacked configuration, and a housing. The disposable and removable cartridge has a rigid lid attached to a flexible body.

Abstract: A limited-use blood glucose meter includes a printed circuit board assembly that includes a power source, a strip port, a strip reading device, a controller device, a bi-stable display, and a display controller. The strip reading measures a reaction between a blood sample present on the blood glucose test strip and the blood glucose reagent, generates a blood glucose signal, and calculates a blood glucose level. The controller device receives the blood glucose level from the strip reading device. The controller device provides display instructions to the display controller and the display controller provides drive voltages to the bi-stable segments such that the bi-stable segments persistently display the most-recent blood glucose level. The strip reading device performs a predetermined number of blood glucose tests and calculates a blood glucose level only for blood glucose strips associated with the disposable blood glucose meter.

Abstract: A blood glucose meter for providing easy access to test strips and measuring blood glucose, a disposable and removable cartridge for providing easy access to test strips, and methods of manufacturing and utilization thereof are disclosed. The blood glucose meter for providing easy access to test strips and measuring blood glucose has a disposable and removable cartridge, a retaining member which releasably retains the test strips in a stacked configuration, and a housing. The disposable and removable cartridge has a rigid lid attached to a flexible body.

Abstract: A test strip container with an insert comprising a channel and a retaining member and methods of manufacturing and utilization thereof are disclosed. The container includes a housing, an insert, a lid, and at least one retaining member in at least one channel. The at least one retaining member releasably retains a plurality of test strips in the at least one channel.

Abstract: A multicolor liquid ink jet print head including a print head body containing liquid ink and having a nozzle assembly and electrical connections to the nozzle assembly. The print head body defines passageways to couple the ink from ink chambers in the print head body to the nozzle assembly. The disclosed print head body contains three ink chambers for inks of three different colors, each of which are connected by a separate pathway in the print head body to a separate section of the nozzle assembly. The ink flow channels of the print head body are designed to assure total isolation of each color of ink from each of the other colors. The print head body includes sidewalls and a bottom, with the bottom of the print head body defining three exit ports communicating with the nozzle assembly. One of the nozzle ports communicates with an opening in the bottom of one of the ink chambers.