Method and system for quality evaluation of a handheld analytical device

1. A method for quality evaluation of a handheld analytical device that is operable by a human user in a sequence of handling steps to test an analyte in a sample fluid applied on a test element, the method comprising:

(a) programming a handling cycle for a robot having a robot arm in order to mimic the sequence of handling steps;

(b) having the robot operate the device in at least one handling cycle during which an artificial finger of the robot is used to mimic various factors of a user handling the handheld analytical device to perform a self test; and

(c) monitoring step (b) with a control unit to evaluate at least one parameter influencing the quality of the device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (c) comprises obtaining a test result with the device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the analytical device is a glucose meter and the analyte is glucose.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (c) comprises determining measurement accuracy of the device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying an operating condition of the robot to determine the influence of the operating condition on the accuracy of the device.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising using the artificial finger on the robot arm to apply sample fluid to a test element.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sample fluid is whole blood or artificial blood.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the artificial finger has a property similar to a human finger, the property being at least one of predefined elasticity, skin friction, surface contamination and color.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the handling cycle comprises loading the artificial finger with sample fluid using a fluid supply arranged within the artificial finger or by using a pipette.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the handling cycle comprises moving the artificial finger with a predefined orientation and/or force towards a test element.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the handling cycle comprises grabbing the device with a receiving end of the at least one robot arm.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the artificial finger comprises a hard core that replicates human bone covered by one or more softer layers that replicate human skin.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the handling cycle simulates at least one of right-handed, left-handed, single-handed and two-handed use of the device.

14. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising rotating the at least one robot arm around different axes, wherein the at least one robot arm is provided with at least five articulated joints along its length.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the handling cycle comprises continuously carrying the device by the at least one robot arm or depositing the device intermittently within the reach of the at least one robot arm.

16. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising using a graphical user interface for simplified programming of the handling cycle as a chain of preprogrammed modules which define elementary movements of the robot.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein movement paths of the robot are modified by re-arranging graphical symbols on a display which represent the preprogrammed modules.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adapting or modifying one or more handling cycles to simulate differences in user handling and evaluating an influencing parameter resulting therefrom.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the various factors include one or more of spatial direction, amplitude, velocity, frequency of oscillation or deflection of the artificial finger.

20. A method for quality evaluation of a handheld analytical device that is operable by a human user in a sequence of handling steps to test an analyte in a sample fluid applied on a test element, the method comprising:

(a) programming a handling cycle for a robot having a robot arm in order to mimic the sequence of handling steps;

(b) having the robot operate the device in at least one handling cycle which includes using an artificial finger on the robot arm to apply sample fluid to a test element; and

(c) monitoring step (b) with a control unit to evaluate at least one parameter influencing the quality of the device.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the sample fluid is whole blood or artificial blood.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the handling cycle comprises loading the artificial finger with the sample fluid using a fluid supply arranged within the artificial finger or by using a pipette.

23. A method for quality evaluation of a handheld analytical device that is operable by a human user in a sequence of handling steps to test an analyte in a sample fluid applied on a test element, the method comprising:

(a) programming a handling cycle for a robot having a robot arm in order to mimic the sequence of handling steps;

(b) having the robot operate the device in at least one handling cycle which includes adapting the handling cycle in a number of degrees of freedom of robot movement to thereby reproduce a user's impairment or illness; and

(c) monitoring step (b) with a control unit to evaluate at least one parameter influencing the quality of the device.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the adapting comprises one or more of adapting spatial direction, amplitude, velocity, frequency of an oscillation or deflection of the robot, or of a robot arm and/or of an artificial finger of the robot.