Test strip with magneto-elastic-resonance sensor
View Patent ↗A test meter system for testing a characteristic of a fluid, the test meter system including a test meter having a housing with an opening adapted to accept a test strip, an interrogation coil within the housing, a pick-up coil within the housing, and a test strip including at least one magneto-elastic-resonance sensor. When the test strip is within the opening, the interrogation coil may utilize magneto-elastic-resonance technology to interrogate the magneto elastic-resonance sensor and the pick-up coil may be used to sense a resultant oscillation frequency of the magneto elastic-resonance sensor, the resultant oscillation frequency associated with the characteristic. The test strip may include a plurality of sensors. The sensors may be coated with a coating sensitive to a characteristic of the fluid, where the interrogation reveals information about the fluid characteristic.
1. A method of interrogating a test strip to identify a characteristic of a fluid sample, said method comprising:
applying a fluid sample to a test strip, wherein said fluid sample wets a magneto elastic-resonance sensor positioned within a cavity of a wicking layer of said test strip;
interrogating the sensor with a magneto-elastic-resonance interrogation coil;
reading a resultant oscillation frequency of said sensor with a pick-up coil; and
identifying a characteristic of the fluid sample based on the resultant oscillation frequency.
2. A test meter system for testing a characteristic of a fluid, the test meter system comprising:
a test meter having a housing with an opening adapted to accept a test strip;
an interrogation coil within said housing;
a pick-up coil within said housing; and
the test strip comprising at least one magneto-elastic-resonance sensor, a body of wicking material, and a cavity within the wicking material, wherein said at least one magneto-elastic-resonance sensor is located within said cavity; and
wherein, when said test strip is within said opening, said interrogation coil is capable of utilizing magneto-elastic-resonance technology to interrogate the one at least one magneto elastic-resonance sensor and said pick-up coil is capable of sensing a resultant oscillation frequency of said one at least one magneto elastic-resonance sensor, the resultant oscillation frequency associated with said characteristic.
3. The test meter system of claim 2 , further comprising a second sensor outside of said cavity.
4. The test meter system of claim 2 , wherein said at least one magneto elastic-resonance sensor is nearer a top portion of said cavity than a bottom portion.
5. The test meter system of claim 2 , wherein said at least one magneto elastic-resonance sensor is coated with a characteristic sensitive coating.
6. The test meter system of claim 2 , further comprising a second sensor, said at least one magneto elastic-resonance sensor and said second sensor both being located adjacent said cavity, wherein said at least one magneto elastic-resonance sensor is coated with a humidity sensitive coating and said second sensor is coated with a temperature sensitive coating.
7. The test meter system of claim 2 , wherein said at least one magneto elastic resonance sensor is coated with a coating sensitive to at least one of temperature, viscosity, glucose, and humidity.
8. The test meter system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one magneto-elastic-resonance sensor is a first sensor, the test meter system further comprising a second sensor, wherein said at least one magneto elastic-resonance sensor is located in a flow path of said fluid applied to said test strip before said second sensor, and said cavity is located elastic-adjacent said second sensor.
9. The test meter system of claim 8 , wherein said meter initiates a power-up procedure when said at least one magneto elastic-resonance sensor is wetted with said fluid and said meter begins a testing procedure when said second sensor is wetted with said fluid.
10. The test meter system of claim 8 , wherein the magneto-elastic-resonance sensor is a first sensor, the system further comprising a second magneto-elastic-resonance sensor positioned outside of said cavity.
11. The test meter system of claim 8 , wherein the second sensor is a magneto-elastic-resonance sensor.
12. The test meter system of claim 11 , further comprising a third sensor coated with a temperature sensitive coating.
13. The test meter system of claim 12 , further comprising a fourth sensor coated with a humidity sensitive coating.
14. The test meter system of claim 2 , wherein said at least one magneto elastic-resonance sensor is coated with glucose oxidase.
15. A test strip for testing a characteristic of a fluid, said test strip comprising:
a body of wicking material;
a cavity within the wicking material; and
a magneto elastic-resonance sensor within said cavity.
16. The test strip of claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of magneto elastic-resonance sensors.
17. The test strip of claim 15 ,
further comprising a second sensor located outside of said cavity.
18. The test strip of claim 17 , wherein said second sensor is located adjacent said cavity.
19. The test strip of claim 15 , wherein said magneto elastic-resonance sensor is closer to a top portion of said cavity than a bottom portion.
20. The test strip of claim 15 , wherein said magneto elastic-resonance sensor is coated with a characteristic sensitive coating.
21. The test strip of claim 20 , wherein said magneto-elastic-resonance sensor is coated with a coating sensitive to at least one of temperature, viscosity, glucose, and humidity.