Test sensors and methods of using side mounted meter contacts

1. A method of determining an analyte concentration of a fluid sample, the method comprising the acts of:

providing an electrochemical test sensor, the test sensor including a lid, a base and a reagent that assists in determining the concentration of the analyte in the fluid sample, the base having a length and a width, the length of the base being greater than the width of the base, the base including at least a working electrode, a counter electrode and at least three test-sensor contacts, the test sensor contacts being electrically connected to the electrodes, the at least three test-sensor contacts being spaced along the length of the base from each other, the base and the lid assisting in forming a fluid chamber for receiving the fluid sample, the at least three test-sensor contacts being staggered along both the width and the length of the base with each other, the at least three test-sensor contacts not overlapping along the length of the base with each other;

providing a meter including a test-sensor opening, the test-sensor opening having a length and a width, the test-sensor opening being formed between a bottom surface, a top surface and corresponding side surfaces, the side surfaces bridging the bottom and top surfaces, at least one of the side surfaces including a plurality of side-mounted meter contacts, the width of the test-sensor opening generally corresponding to the width of the base;

placing the test sensor into the test-sensor opening in a direction generally parallel with the length of the test sensor such that the plurality of side-mounted meter contacts electrically contact a respective one of the test-sensor contacts of the electrochemical test sensor, the plurality of side-mounted meter contacts being generally perpendicular to the direction of the test sensor being placed into the test-sensor opening; and

determining the analyte concentration using electrical signals from the side-mounted meter contacts.

2. The method of claim 1 further including a spacer such that at least a portion of the spacer is located between the lid and the base, the lid, the base and the spacer assisting in forming the fluid chamber for receiving the fluid sample.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the length of the base is at least 3 times greater than the width of the base.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the length of the base is at least 4 times greater than the width of the base.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the test-sensor contacts are in a generally polygonal shape.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrochemical test sensor further includes at least four test-sensor contacts, the at least four test-sensor contacts being spaced along the length of the base from each other, the at least four test-sensor contacts not overlapping along the length of the base with each other.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid sample is blood.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the analyte is glucose.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of side-mounted meter contacts is perpendicular to the direction of the electrochemical test sensor being placed into the test-sensor opening.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the placing of the test sensor into the test-sensor opening is performed by front-loading.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the side-mounted meter contacts are generally crescent or spoon shaped.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the test-sensor contacts are in a generally non-polygonal shape.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the base further includes an underfill electrode.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein each and every one of the at least three test-sensor contacts is spaced along the length of the base from each other and each and every one of the at least three test-sensor contacts is staggered along the width of the base with each other.

15. A method of determining a glucose concentration of a fluid sample, the method comprising the acts of:

providing an electrochemical test sensor, the test sensor including a lid, a base and a reagent that assists in determining the glucose concentration in the fluid sample, the base having a length and a width, the length of the base being greater than the width of the base, the base including at least a working electrode, a counter electrode and at least four test-sensor contacts, the test sensor contacts being electrically connected to the electrodes, the at least four test-sensor contacts being spaced along the length of the base from each other, the base and the lid assisting in forming a fluid chamber for receiving the fluid sample, the at least four test-sensor contacts being staggered along both the width and the length of the base with each other, the at least four test-sensor contacts not overlapping along the length of the base with each other;

providing a meter including a test-sensor opening, the test-sensor opening having a length and a width, the test-sensor opening being formed between a bottom surface, a top surface and corresponding side surfaces, the side surfaces bridging the bottom and top surfaces, at least one of the side surfaces including a plurality of side-mounted meter contacts, the width of the test-sensor opening generally corresponding to the width of the base;

placing the test sensor into the test-sensor opening in a direction generally parallel with the length of the test sensor such that the plurality of side-mounted meter contacts electrically contact a respective one of the test-sensor contacts of the electrochemical test sensor, the plurality of side-mounted meter contacts being generally perpendicular to the direction of the test sensor being placed into the test-sensor opening; and

determining the glucose concentration using electrical signals from the side-mounted meter contacts.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the length of the base is at least 3 times greater than the width of the base.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the length of the base is at least 4 times greater than the width of the base.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the fluid sample is blood.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the side-mounted meter contacts are generally crescent or spoon shaped.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein each and every one of the at least four test-sensor contacts is spaced along the length of the base from each other and each and every one of the at least four test-sensor contacts is staggered along the width of the base with each other, the at least four test-sensor contacts not overlapping along the length of the base with each other.

21. A method of determining a glucose concentration of a fluid sample, the method comprising the acts of:

providing an electrochemical test sensor, the test sensor including a lid, a base and a reagent that assists in determining the glucose concentration in the fluid sample, the base having a length and a width, the length of the base being greater than the width of the base, the base including at least a working electrode, a counter electrode and at least four test-sensor contacts, the test sensor contacts being electrically connected to the electrodes, the at least four test-sensor contacts being spaced along the length of the base from each other, the base and the lid assisting in forming a fluid chamber for receiving the fluid sample, the at least four test-sensor contacts being staggered along both the width and the length of the base with each other, the at least four test-sensor contacts not overlapping along the length of the base with each other;

providing a meter including a test-sensor opening, the test-sensor opening having a length and a width, the test-sensor opening being formed between a bottom surface, a top surface and corresponding side surfaces, the side surfaces bridging the bottom and top surfaces, at least one of the side surfaces including at least three side-mounted meter contacts, the width of the test-sensor opening generally corresponding to the width of the base;

placing the test sensor into the test-sensor opening in a direction generally parallel with the length of the test sensor such that the at least three side-mounted meter contacts electrically contact a respective one of the test-sensor contacts of the electrochemical test sensor, the at least three side-mounted meter contacts being generally perpendicular to the direction of the test sensor being placed into the test-sensor opening; and

determining the glucose concentration using electrical signals from the at least three side-mounted meter contacts.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the side-mounted meter contacts extend from exactly one side.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the length of the base is at least 3 times greater than the width of the base.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least three side-mounted meter contacts are generally crescent or spoon shaped.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the meter includes at least four side-mounted meter contacts.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein each and every one of the at least four test-sensor contacts is spaced along the length of the base from each other and each and every one of the at least four test-sensor contacts is staggered both along the width and the length of the base with each other.