Devices and methods for body fluid sampling and analysis

Abstract

Described here are meters and methods for sampling, transporting, and/or analyzing a fluid sample. The meters may include a meter housing and a cartridge. In some instances, the meter may include a tower which may engage one or more portions of a cartridge. The meter housing may include an imaging system, which may or may not be included in the tower. The cartridge may include one or more sampling arrangements, which may be configured to collect a fluid sample from a sampling site. A sampling arrangement may include a skin-penetration member, a hub, and a quantification member.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An integrated body fluid sampling meter comprising:
 a meter housing;   a light source and a light detector in the meter housing;   a cartridge insertable into the meter housing and comprising a plurality of cells, wherein each cell comprises a light-blocking seal and wherein at least one cell is positionable between the light source and the light detector,   wherein the meter is configured to assess integrity of the seal of at least one cell after insertion of the cartridge into the meter housing.   
     
     
         30 . The meter of  claim 29 , wherein the meter is configured to assess integrity of the seal of the at least one cell based on detection of light from the light source exiting the cartridge. 
     
     
         31 . The meter of  claim 29 , wherein the meter is configured to index each cell as available or unavailable based at least in part on the assessed integrity of the seal of each cell. 
     
     
         32 . The meter of  claim 29 , wherein each cell comprises a respective sampling arrangement comprising a penetration member and a reagent pad. 
     
     
         33 . The meter of  claim 32 , wherein the meter comprises an imaging system configured to determine whether at least a portion of the sampling arrangement in the at least one cell is in a viewing field of the imaging system, and wherein the meter is configured to index each cell as available or unavailable based at least in part on whether at least a portion of the cell's respective sampling arrangement is in the viewing field. 
     
     
         34 . The meter of  claim 29 , wherein the cartridge comprises a barcode and the meter is configured to scan the barcode after insertion of the cartridge into the meter housing. 
     
     
         35 . The meter of  claim 29 , wherein the cartridge is rotatable within the meter housing. 
     
     
         36 . The meter of  claim 29 , wherein the cartridge is movable between a testing position in which an available cell is aligned with a port of the meter housing, and a standby position in which none of the available cells are aligned with the port of the meter housing. 
     
     
         37 . The meter of  claim 29 , wherein the seal comprises a foil seal. 
     
     
         38 . A method of operating a body fluid sampling meter comprising a meter housing, and a light source and a light detector in the meter housing, the method comprising:
 receiving a cartridge in the meter housing, the cartridge comprising a plurality of cells, wherein each cell comprises a light-blocking seal and wherein at least one cell is positionable between the light source and the light detector; and   assessing integrity of the seal of at least one cell in the received cartridge.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein assessing integrity of the seal of the at least one cell in the received cartridge comprises directing light from the light source into the cartridge and detecting light from the light source exiting the cartridge. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising indexing each cell as available or unavailable based at least in part on the assessed integrity of the seal of each cell. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the meter comprises an imaging system and each cell comprises a respective sampling arrangement comprising a penetration member and a reagent pad. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the method further comprises determining whether at least a portion of the sampling arrangement in the at least one cell is in a viewing field of the imaging system, and indexing each cell as available or unavailable based at least in part on whether at least a portion of the cell's respective sampling arrangement is in the viewing field. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising rotating the cartridge and scanning a barcode on the cartridge to obtain information relating to the cartridge. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising rotating the cartridge to a testing position in which an available cell is aligned with a port of the meter housing when the meter is preparing to receive a sample. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising rotating the cartridge to a standby position in which none of the available cells are aligned with a port of the meter housing when the meter is not preparing to receive a sample.