Electrical protection circuitry for a docking station base of a hand held meter and method thereof

Abstract

An electrical protection circuitry for a docking station base of a hand held meter and method thereof are disclosed. In the event of a short circuit at a meter interface connector, the protection circuitry removes power at the meter interface connector. Similarly, in the event of an applied voltage outside a specified operating range of the base, the protection circuitry removes power to the meter interface connector. These conditions of the electrical system of the base are monitored regardless whether the meter or the meter's battery is electrically connected to the base. The protection circuitry also provides a visual indication in the event of either the over current and under / over voltage conditions. Additionally, the base is designed to prevent liquid from pooling inside a pocket used to cradle and hold the meter in the base through the use of a drain located at the lowest point in the pocket.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to electrical protection, and in particular, to electrical protection circuitry for a docking station base of a hand held meter, such as for example a blood glucose meter, which prevents system damage from liquid contact and unspecified power supply voltages and currents, and the method thereof. [0002] In hospitals and out-patient settings that desire to monitor and maintain a patient physiological values, there are a variety of hand held meters involved in bedside testing or near patient testing, which record and transmit such patient data to a remote health information system. One such hand held meter is a blood glucose meter, which in one prior art device, the transmission of patient data between the meter and the remote health information system is via a docking station base. In such a prior art device, the docking station base, in addition to providing a data connection to the information system, also pr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] It is against the above background that the present invention provides a number of advantages and advancements over prior art docking station bases for hand held meters. In particular, the present invention incorporates a unique electrical protection circuitry into the electrical system of a docking station base. The electrical protection circuitry, which automatically disconnects power from the meter interface connector under certain detected conditions, mitigates the risk of damage to the meter and base due to non-recommended cleaning practices and the application of unspecified power supply voltages and currents that may result therefrom. As dendrites are encouraged to grow on electrical connectors when a voltage is present, the electrical protection circuitry also provides protection against dendrite growth on the meter interface connector by automatically disconnecting power from the meter interface connector when the meter is undocked and the base is cleaned separately. Should a continued fault condition be indicated by the base, the present invention at a minimum mitigates the risk of damage to the more expensive meter by being also a less expensive replacement item in the combined meter and base system.

[0007] In another embodiment, the base shape is designed to prevent liquid from pooling inside a cradle portion used to hold the meter in the base. In particular, the base shape design prevents ingress of a liquid, such as a cleaning solution, which may contact any electronic components inside the base in its intended orientation through the use of a drain located at the lowest point in the cradle portion. Liquid ingress is also addressed by a provided dam to the underside of the meter interface connector which provides an area to house a gasket material to seal the underside of the base housing around the meter interface connector.

Problems solved by technology

However, the problem induced to the combined meter and base system is that occasionally customers either clean the meter and base with an over-saturated cloth, or spray the meter and base directly with the cleaning solution which can result in significant residual cleaning solution being left on the meter and base.

Once inside the housing, the cleaning solution (specifically bleach based products) can form dendrites on the wiring assembly of the printed circuit board which overtime, can eventually result in unit failure.

In some cases, meter and / or base failure occurs almost immediately after solution application and docking of the meter to the base.

In other cases, failure of the base is progressive, causing power fluctuations from an electrical short or other compromised circuitry which may unnoticeably jeopardize the operation of the meter.

None of the prior art hand held meters having a docking station base addresses the problems of non-recommended cleaning practices and the application of unspecified power supply voltages and currents that may result therefrom.

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