Multiple temperature measurements coupled with modeling
The present invention is directed to, inter alia, systems and methods for calculating a temperature associated with an analyte measurement component of a biosensing instrument (such as a blood glucose monitor), with a test strip that is inserted in a biosensing instrument, or both. The present systems and methods may employ at least two temperature sensors, and the acquired temperature information may be used to modulate data regarding an analyte in a biological sample, thereby providing a more accurate measurement of the analyte.
1. A system comprising:
a housing that substantially defines an internal space;
an analyte measurement component that is within said housing or proximate said housing;
a first temperature sensor that is disposed at a first position within said housing and in thermal communication with a heat source;
a second temperature sensor that is disposed at a second position within said housing and in thermal communication with said heat source to a lesser extent relative to said first temperature sensor, such that ambient air contacts said second temperature sensor and displaces heated air proximate said second temperature sensor;
a first opening in said housing at a location proximate said second temperature sensor, a second opening at a second location in said housing, a channel extending between said first opening and said second opening and containing said second temperature sensor, wherein each of said openings place said channel in fluid communication with the ambient environment outside of said housing; and,
a processor that is disposed within said housing, is in electronic communication with said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor, and uses temperature data from said temperature sensors to calculate a temperature associated with said analyte measurement component.
2. The system according to claim 1 wherein insulating material is interposed between said first temperature sensor and said heat source.
3. The system according to claim 1 wherein insulating material is interposed between said second temperature sensor and said heat source.
4. The system according to claim 1 wherein insulating material is interposed between said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor.
5. The system according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said processor is not separated from said channel by insulating material.
6. The system according to claim 1 wherein said system is configured to reduce the heat transfer resistance between the second temperature sensor and the ambient environment outside of said housing.
7. The system according to claim 1 wherein said processor calculates said temperature (TA) associated with said analyte measurement component by performing a calculation according to formula (I)
TA
=
TS
+
K
K
-
1
(
TM
-
TS
)
(
I
)
wherein TS is the temperature measured by said second temperature sensor, TM is the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor, and K is defined by
K
=
(
TS
-
TA
)
(
TM
-
TA
)
wherein TS is the temperature measured by the second temperature sensor, TA is the actual temperature of the ambient environment outside of said housing, and TM is the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor.
8. The system according to claim 1 wherein said system compensates for said calculated temperature at said analyte measurement component during a measurement of an analyte on a test strip.
9. The system according to claim 1 comprising a convection system that permits air flow from the ambient environment outside of said housing into at least a portion of said internal space, wherein said air flow displaces heated air proximate said second temperature sensor.
10. The system according to claim 9 wherein said heat source generates heat for forming said heated air.
11. The system according to claim 10 wherein said heated air is formed by heat transferred from said heat source via a transfer element that contacts said heat source.
12. The system according to claim 11 wherein said transfer element is a circuit board.
13. The system according to claim 1 wherein said second temperature sensor is positioned proximate an opening in said housing.
14. The system according to claim 13 wherein said system further comprises insulating material that at least partially isolates said second temperature sensor, said heat conductive material, and said opening from the remainder of the internal space of said housing.
15. The system according to claim 13 wherein heat conductive material is disposed between said second temperature sensor and said opening in said housing.
16. The system according to claim 15 wherein said second temperature sensor is mounted on said heat conductive material.
17. The system according to claim 15 wherein said heat conductive material comprises metal or plastic.
18. A system comprising:
a housing that substantially defines an internal space;
an analyte measurement component that is within said housing or proximate said housing;
a first temperature sensor that is disposed at a first position within said housing and in thermal communication with a heat source;
a second temperature sensor that is disposed at a second position within said housing and in thermal communication with the ambient environment outside of said housing to a greater extent relative to said first temperature sensor;
a convection system that permits air flow from the ambient environment outside of said housing into at least a portion of said internal space, wherein said air flow displaces heated air proximate said second temperature sensor; and,
a processor that is disposed within said housing, is in electronic communication with said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor, and uses temperature data from said temperature sensors to calculate a temperature associated with said analyte measurement component.
19. The system according to claim 18 wherein said heat source generates heat for forming said heated air.
20. The system according to claim 19 wherein said heated air is formed by heat transferred from said heat source via a transfer element that contacts said heat source.
21. The system according to claim 20 wherein said transfer element is a circuit board.
22. A system comprising:
a housing that substantially defines an internal space;
an analyte measurement component that is within said housing or proximate said housing;
a first temperature sensor that is disposed at a first position within said housing and in thermal communication with a heat source;
a second temperature sensor that is disposed at a second position within said housing and in thermal communication with said heat source to a lesser extent relative to said first temperature sensor;
a convection system that permits air flow from the ambient environment outside of said housing into at least a portion of said internal space, wherein said air flow displaces heated air proximate said second temperature sensor; and,
a processor that is disposed within said housing, is in electronic communication with said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor, and uses temperature data from said temperature sensors to calculate a temperature associated with said analyte measurement component.
23. The system according to claim 22 wherein said heat source generates heat for forming said heated air.
24. The system according to claim 23 wherein said heated air is formed by heat transferred from said heat source via a transfer element that contacts said heat source.
25. The system according to claim 24 wherein said transfer element is a circuit board.
26. A system comprising:
a housing that substantially defines an internal space;
an analyte measurement component that is within said housing or proximate said housing;
a first temperature sensor that is disposed at a first position within said housing and in thermal communication with a heat source;
a second temperature sensor that is disposed at a second position within said housing and in thermal communication with the ambient environment outside of said housing to a greater extent relative to said first temperature sensor, such that ambient air contacts said second temperature sensor and displaces heated air proximate said second temperature sensor;
a first opening in said housing at a location proximate said second temperature sensor, a second opening at a second location in said housing, a channel extending between said first opening and said second opening and containing said second temperature sensor, wherein each of said openings place said channel in fluid communication with the ambient environment outside of said housing; and,
a processor that is disposed within said housing, is in electronic communication with said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor, and uses temperature data from said temperature sensors to calculate a temperature associated with said analyte measurement component.
27. A system comprising:
a housing that substantially defines an internal space;
an analyte measurement component that is within said housing or proximate said housing;
a first temperature sensor that is disposed at a first position within said housing and in thermal communication with a heat source;
a second temperature sensor that is disposed at a second position within said housing and in thermal communication with the ambient environment outside of said housing to a greater extent relative to said first temperature sensor; and,
a processor that is disposed within said housing, is in electronic communication with said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor, and uses temperature data from said temperature sensors to calculate a temperature associated with said analyte measurement component,
wherein said processor calculates said temperature (TA) associated with said analyte measurement component by performing a calculation according to formula (I)
TA
=
TS
+
K
K
-
1
(
TM
-
TS
)
(
I
)
wherein TS is the temperature measured by said second temperature sensor, TM is the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor, and K is defined by
K
=
(
TS
-
TA
)
(
TM
-
TA
)
wherein TS is the temperature measured by the second temperature sensor, TA is the actual temperature of the ambient environment outside of said housing, and TM is the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor.
28. A system comprising:
a housing that substantially defines an internal space;
an analyte measurement component that is within said housing or proximate said housing;
a first temperature sensor that is disposed at a first position within said housing and in thermal communication with a heat source;
a second temperature sensor that is disposed at a second position within said housing and in thermal communication with said heat source to a lesser extent relative to said first temperature sensor; and,
a processor that is disposed within said housing, is in electronic communication with said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor, and uses temperature data from said temperature sensors to calculate a temperature associated with said analyte measurement component,
wherein said processor calculates said temperature (TA) associated with said analyte measurement component by performing a calculation according to formula (I)
TA
=
TS
+
K
K
-
1
(
TM
-
TS
)
(
I
)
wherein TS is the temperature measured by said second temperature sensor, TM is the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor, and K is defined by
K
=
(
TS
-
TA
)
(
TM
-
TA
)
wherein TS is the temperature measured by the second temperature sensor, TA is the actual temperature of the ambient environment outside of said housing, and TM is the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor.