Analytical system and method for its operation

Abstract

An analytical system comprising a replaceable magazine ( 12 ) for providing a plurality of test units that react to an analyte and a measuring device ( 14 ) for processing the test units, wherein the magazine ( 12 ) is provided with a code ( 26 ) that can be registered by the measuring device ( 14 ). In order to enable the simplest possible coding, it is proposed that the code ( 26 ) comprises an unique magazine identifier ( 28 ) for the magazine ( 12 ) and that the measuring device ( 14 ) has a magazine-independent test counter ( 16 ) which registers the processing of a test unit and a counter memory ( 18 ) to store the magazine identifier ( 28 ) and a corresponding count of the test counter ( 16 ).

1 . Analytical system especially for carrying out patient self-monitoring such as blood sugar tests comprising a replaceable magazine ( 12 ) for providing a plurality of test units that react to an analyte and a measuring device ( 14 ) for processing the test units, wherein the magazine ( 12 ) is provided with a code ( 26 ) that can be registered by the measuring device ( 14 ), characterized in that the code ( 26 ) comprises an unique magazine identifier ( 28 ) for the magazine ( 12 ) and that the measuring device ( 14 ) has a magazine-independent test counter ( 16 ) which registers the processing of a test unit and a counter memory ( 18 ) to store the magazine identifier ( 28 ) and a corresponding count of the test counter ( 16 ).  
   
   
       2 . Analytical system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the test counter ( 16 ) contains an arithmetic unit which updates the count stored for the registered magazine identifier ( 28 ) of a magazine ( 12 ) according to the consumption of test units.  
   
   
       3 . Analytical system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the count gives the number of test units of a respective magazine ( 12 ) that are used or are still available.  
   
   
       4 . Analytical system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the count for the magazine in use (12) can be displayed for the user on a display ( 24 ).  
   
   
       5 . Analytical system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the counter memory ( 18 ) has a plurality of storage locations for the storage of a plurality of magazine identifiers ( 28 ) and associated counts.  
   
   
       6 . Analytical system according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the test counter ( 16 ) has a comparator to compare the magazine identifier ( 28 ) that is read in with the magazine identifiers that are present in the counter memory ( 18 ).  
   
   
       7 . Analytical system according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the test counter ( 16 ) allocates an initial count to a magazine identifier ( 28 ) of a newly inserted magazine ( 12 ) that has not yet been stored.  
   
   
       8 . Analytical system according to  claim 6 , characterized in that when the magazine identifier ( 28 ) of a newly inserted magazine ( 12 ) agrees with a stored magazine identifier ( 28 ), the test counter ( 16 ) reads out the corresponding count in the counter memory ( 18 ) and continues to count.  
   
   
       9 . Analytical system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the measuring device ( 14 ) comprises an optical, magnetic, electric or electromagnetic code reader ( 20 ) to register at least the magazine identifier ( 28 ).  
   
   
       10 . Analytical system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the code ( 26 ) can be attached to the magazine ( 12 ) as a bar-code in particular a 2-D bar-code, magnetic strip, electronic memory component, in particular an EPROM or transponder.  
   
   
       11 . Analytical system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the code ( 26 ) includes the total count of test units of a magazine ( 12 ).  
   
   
       12 . Analytical system according to  claim 1 , characterized by a hand-held device ( 10 ) to exchange a magazine ( 12 ) as a consumable unit.  
   
   
       13 . Analytical system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the test units are in the form of a test tape or test strip to which body fluid can be applied.  
   
   
       14 . Method for operating an analytical system, especially for carrying out patient self-monitoring such as blood sugar tests in which a plurality of test units that react to an analyte are provided by a replaceable magazine ( 12 ) and the test units are processed in a measuring device ( 14 ), characterized in that an unique magazine identifier ( 28 ) of the magazine ( 12 ) is registered, the magazine identifier ( 28 ) is allocated a count for the number of used or available test units of the magazine ( 12 ) in a counter memory ( 18 ) and when a test unit has been processed, the counter reading is advanced without intervention on the magazine.