Patent Abstract:
The present invention provides a test strip for measuring a signal of interest in a biological fluid when the test strip is mated to an appropriate test meter, wherein the test strip and the test meter include structures to verify the integrity of the test strip traces, to measure the parasitic resistance of the test strip traces, and to provide compensation in the voltage applied to the test strip to account for parasitic resistive losses in the test strip traces.

Full Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/961,352, filed Oct. 8, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,569,126, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/581,002, filed Jun. 18, 2004, and which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. This application is also related to application Ser. No. 10/871,937, filed Jun. 18, 2004, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in measuring signals such as those related to concentrations of an analyte (such as blood glucose) in a biological fluid as well as those related to interferants (such as hematocrit and temperature in the case of blood glucose) to analyte concentration signals. The invention relates more particularly to a system and method for quality assurance of a biosensor test strip. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Measuring the concentration of substances in biological fluids is an important tool for the diagnosis and treatment of many medical conditions. For example, the measurement of glucose in body fluids, such as blood, is crucial to the effective treatment of diabetes. 
     Diabetic therapy typically involves two types of insulin treatment: basal, and meal-time. Basal insulin refers to continuous, e.g. time-released insulin, often taken before bed. Meal-time insulin treatment provides additional doses of faster acting insulin to regulate fluctuations in blood glucose caused by a variety of factors, including the metabolization of sugars and carbohydrates. Proper regulation of blood glucose fluctuations requires accurate measurement of the concentration of glucose in the blood. Failure to do so can produce extreme complications, including blindness and loss of circulation in the extremities, which can ultimately deprive the diabetic of use of his or her fingers, hands, feet, etc. 
     Multiple methods are known for determining the concentration of analytes in a blood sample, such as, for example, glucose. Such methods typically fall into one of two categories: optical methods and electrochemical methods. Optical methods generally involve spectroscopy to observe the spectrum shift in the fluid caused by concentration of the analyte, typically in conjunction with a reagent that produces a known color when combined with the analyte. Electrochemical methods generally rely upon the correlation between a current (Amperometry), a potential (Potentiometry) or accumulated charge (Coulometry) and the concentration of the analyte, typically in conjunction with a reagent that produces charge-carriers when combined with the analyte. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,029 to Columbus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,410 to Pace, U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,536 to Columbus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,448 to Muggli, U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,197 to Lilja et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,564 to Szuminsky et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,420 to Nankai et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,015 to Szuminsky et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,516 to White, U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,999 to Diebold et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,636 to Pollmann et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,890 to Carter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,884 to Hill et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,548 to Hill et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,817 to Crismore et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,441 to Fujiwara et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,770 to Priedel, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,039 to Shieh, which are hereby incorporated in their entireties. The biosensor for conducting the tests is typically a disposable test strip having a reagent thereon that chemically reacts with the analyte of interest in the biological fluid. The test strip is mated to a nondisposable test meter such that the test meter can measure the reaction between the analyte and the reagent in order to determine and display the concentration of the analyte to the user. 
       FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a typical prior art disposable biosensor test strip, indicated generally at  10  (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,999,582 and 5,438,271, assigned to the same assignee as the present application, and incorporated herein by reference). The test strip  10  is formed on a nonconductive substrate  12 , onto which are formed conductive areas  14 , 16 . A chemical reagent  18  is applied over the conductive areas  14 , 16  at one end of the test strip  10 . The reagent  18  will react with the analyte of interest in the biological sample in a way that can be detected when a voltage potential is applied between the measurement electrodes  14   a  and  16   a.    
     The test strip  10  therefore has a reaction zone  20  containing the measurement electrodes  14   a , 16   a  that comes into direct contact with a sample that contains an analyte for which the concentration in the sample is to be determined. In an amperometric or coulometric electrochemical measurement system, the measurement electrodes  14   a , 16   a  in the reaction zone  20  are coupled to electronic circuitry (typically in a test meter (not shown) into which the test strip  10  is inserted, as is well known in the art) that supplies an electrical potential to the measurement electrodes and measures the response of the electrochemical sensor to this potential (e.g. current, impedance, charge, etc.). This response is proportional to the analyte concentration. 
     The test meter contacts the test strip  10  at contact pads  14   b , 16   b  in a contact zone  22  of the test strip  10 . Contact zone  22  is located somewhat remotely from measurement zone  20 , usually (but not always) at an opposite end of the test strip  10 . Conductive traces  14   c , 16   c  couple the contact pads  14   b , 16   b  in the contact zone  22  to the respective measurement electrodes  14   a , 16   a  in the reaction zone  20 . 
     Especially for biosensors  10  in which the electrodes, traces and contact pads are comprised of electrically conductive thin films (for instance, noble metals, carbon ink, and silver paste, as non-limiting examples), the resistivity of the conductive traces  14   c , 16   c  that connect the contact zone  22  to the reaction zone  20  can amount to several hundred Ohms or more. This parasitic resistance causes a potential drop along the length of the traces  14   c , 16   c , such that the potential presented to the measurement electrodes  14   a ,  16   a  in the reaction zone  20  is considerably less than the potential applied by the test meter to the contact pads  14   b , 16   b  of the test strip  10  in the contact zone  22 . Because the impedance of the reaction taking place within the reaction zone  20  can be within an order of magnitude of the parasitic resistance of the traces  14   c , 16   c , the signal being measured can have a significant offset due to the I-R (current x resistance) drop induced by the traces. If this offset varies from test strip to test strip, then noise is added to the measurement result. Furthermore, physical damage to the test strip  10 , such as abrasion, cracks, scratches, chemical degradation, etc. can occur during manufacturing, shipping, storage and/or user mishandling. These defects can damage the conductive areas  14 , 16  to the point that they present an extremely high resistance or even an open circuit. Such increases in the trace resistance can prevent the test meter from performing an accurate test. 
     Thus, a system and method are needed that will allow for confirmation of the integrity of test strip traces, for measurement of the parasitic resistance of test strip traces, and for controlling the potential level actually applied to the test strip measurement electrodes in the reaction zone. The present invention is directed toward meeting these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a test strip for measuring a signal of interest in a biological fluid when the test strip is mated to an appropriate test meter, wherein the test strip and the test meter include structures to verify the integrity of the test strip traces, to measure the parasitic resistance of the test strip traces, and to provide compensation in the voltage applied to the test strip to account for parasitic resistive losses in the test strip traces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is schematic plan view of a typical prior art test strip for use in measuring the concentration of an analyte of interest in a biological fluid. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic plan view of a first embodiment test strip according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment electronic test circuit for use with the first embodiment test strip of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded assembly view of a second typical test strip for use in measuring the concentration of an analyte of interest in a biological fluid. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a view of an ablation apparatus suitable for use with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a view of the laser ablation apparatus of  FIG. 5  showing a second mask. 
         FIG. 7  is a view of an ablation apparatus suitable for use with the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic plan view of a second embodiment test strip according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment electronic test circuit for use with the second embodiment test strip of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment electronic test circuit for use with the second embodiment test strip of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe that embodiment. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended. Alterations and modifications in the illustrated device, and further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein, as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates are contemplated, are desired to be protected. In particular, although the invention is discussed in terms of a blood glucose meter, it is contemplated that the invention can be used with devices for measuring other analytes and other sample types. Such alternative embodiments require certain adaptations to the embodiments discussed herein that would be obvious to those skilled in the art. 
     Although the system and method of the present invention may be used with test strips having a wide variety of designs and made with a wide variety of construction techniques and processes, a first embodiment electrochemical test strip of the present invention is illustrated schematically in  FIG. 2 , and indicated generally at  200 . Portions of test strip  200  which are substantially identical to those of test strip  10  are marked with like reference designators. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the test strip  200  comprises a bottom substrate  12  formed from an opaque piece of 350 μm thick polyester (such as Melinex 329 available from DuPont) coated on its top surface with a 50 nm conductive gold layer (for instance by sputtering or vapor deposition, by way of non-limiting example). Electrodes, connecting traces and contact pads therefor are then patterned in the conductive layer by a laser ablation process. The laser ablation process is performed by means of an excimer laser which passes through a chrome-on-quartz mask. The mask pattern causes parts of the laser field to be reflected while allowing other parts of the field to pass through, creating a pattern on the gold which is evaporated where contacted by the laser light. The laser ablation process is described in greater detail hereinbelow. For example, working  214   a , counter  216   a , and counter sense  224   a  electrodes may be formed as shown and coupled to respective measurement contact pads  214   b ,  216   b  and  224   b  by means of respective traces  214   c ,  216   c  and  224   c . These contact pads  214   b ,  216   b  and  224   b  provide a conductive area upon the test strip  200  to be contacted by a connector contact of the test meter (not shown) once the test strip  200  is inserted into the test meter, as is well known in the art. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate an embodiment of the present invention that improves upon the prior art test strip designs by allowing for compensation of parasitic I-R drop in the counter electrode line of the test strip. It will be appreciated that the test strip  200  of  FIG. 2  is substantially identical to the prior art test strip  10  of  FIG. 1 , except for the addition of the counter sense electrode  224   a , contact pad  224   b , and trace  224   c . Provision of the counter sense line  224  allows the test meter (as described hereinbelow) to compensate for parasitic resistance between the contact pads  216   b , 224   b . Note that the embodiment of  FIG. 2  when used with the circuit of  FIG. 3  only compensates for the I-R drop on the counter electrode side of the test strip  200 . Parasitic resistance on the working electrode side of the test strip  200  cannot be detected using this circuitry, although it could be replicated on the working electrode side if desired, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art with reference to the present disclosure. Further methods for compensating for parasitic resistance on both the working and counter sides of the test strip are presented hereinbelow. The counter sense line of  FIG. 2  therefore allows the test meter to compensate for any parasitic resistance potential drop in the counter line  216 , as explained in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a schematic electrical circuit diagram of a first embodiment electrode compensation circuit (indicated generally at  300 ) housed within the test meter. As indicated, the circuit couples to contact pads  214   b ,  216   b  and  224   b  when the test strip  200  is inserted into the test meter. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a voltage potential is applied to the counter electrode contact pad  216   b , which will produce a current between the counter electrode  216   a  and the working electrode  214   a  that is proportional to the amount of analyte present in the biological sample applied to the reagent  18 . The current from working electrode  214   a  is transmitted to working electrode contact pad  214   b  by means of working electrode trace  214   c  and provided to a current-to-voltage amplifier  310 . The analog output voltage of amplifier  310  is converted to a digital signal by analog-to-digital converter (A/D)  312 . This digital signal is then processed by microprocessor  314  according to a previously stored program in order to determine the concentration of analyte within the biological sample applied to the test strip  200 . This concentration is displayed to the user by means of an appropriate output device  316 , such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. 
     Microprocessor  314  also outputs a digital signal indicative of the voltage potential to be applied to the counter electrode contact pad  216   b . This digital signal is converted to an analog voltage signal by digital-to-analog converter (D/A)  318 . The analog output of D/A  318  is applied to a first input of an operational amplifier  320 . A second input of the operational amplifier  320  is coupled to counter sense electrode contact pad  224   b . The output of operational amplifier  320  is coupled to the counter electrode contact pad  216   b.    
     Operational amplifier  320  is connected in a voltage follower configuration, in which the amplifier will adjust its output (within its physical limits of operation) until the voltage appearing at its second input is equal to the commanded voltage appearing at its first input. The second input of operational amplifier  320  is a high impedance input, therefore substantially no current flows in counter sense line  224 . Since substantially no current flows, any parasitic resistance in counter sense line  224  will not cause a potential drop, and the voltage appearing at the second input of operational amplifier  320  is substantially the same as the voltage at counter sense electrode  224   a , which is in turn substantially the same as the voltage appearing at counter electrode  216   a  due to their close physical proximity. Operational amplifier  320  therefore acts to vary the voltage potential applied to the counter electrode contact pad  216   b  until the actual voltage potential appearing at the counter electrode  216   a  (as fed back over counter sense line  224 ) is equal to the voltage potential commanded by the microprocessor  314 . Operational amplifier  320  therefore automatically compensates for any potential drop caused by the parasitic resistance in the counter electrode trace  216   c , and the potential appearing at the counter electrode  216   a  is the desired potential. The calculation of the analyte concentration in the biological sample from the current produced by the working electrode is therefore made more accurate, since the voltage that produced the current is indeed the same voltage commanded by the microprocessor  314 . Without the compensation for parasitic resistance voltage drops provided by the circuit  300 , the microprocessor  314  would analyze the resulting current under the mistaken presumption that the commanded voltage was actually applied to the counter electrode  216   a.    
     Many methods are available for preparing test strips having multiple electrodes, such as carbon ink printing, silver paste silk-screening, scribing metalized plastic, electroplating, chemical plating, and photo-chemical etching, by way of non-limiting example. One preferred method of preparing a test strip having additional electrode sense lines as described herein is by the use of laser ablation techniques. Examples of the use of these techniques in preparing electrodes for biosensors are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/866,030, “Biosensors with Laser Ablation Electrodes with a Continuous Coverlay Channel” filed May 25, 2001, and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/411,940, entitled “Laser Defined Features for Patterned Laminates and Electrode,” filed Oct. 4, 1999, both disclosures incorporated herein by reference. Laser ablation is particularly useful in preparing test strips according to the present invention because it allows conductive areas having extremely small feature sizes to be accurately manufactured in a repeatable manner. Laser ablation provides a means for adding the extra sense lines of the present invention to a test strip without increasing the size of the test strip. 
     It is desirable in the present invention to provide for the accurate placement of the electrical components relative to one another and to the overall biosensor. In a preferred embodiment, the relative placement of components is achieved, at least in part, by the use of broad field laser ablation that is performed through a mask or other device that has a precise pattern for the electrical components. This allows accurate positioning of adjacent edges, which is further enhanced by the close tolerances for the smoothness of the edges. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a simple biosensor  401  useful for illustrating the laser ablation process of the present invention, including a substrate  402  having formed thereon conductive material  403  defining electrode systems comprising a first electrode set  404  and a second electrode set  405 , and corresponding traces  406 ,  407  and contact pads  408 ,  409 , respectively. Note that the biosensor  401  is used herein for purposes of illustrating the laser ablation process, and that it is not shown as incorporating the sense lines of the present invention. The conductive material  403  may contain pure metals or alloys, or other materials, which are metallic conductors. Preferably, the conductive material is absorptive at the wavelength of the laser used to form the electrodes and of a thickness amenable to rapid and precise processing. Non-limiting examples include aluminum, carbon, copper, chromium, gold, indium tin oxide (ITO), palladium, platinum, silver, tin oxide/gold, titanium, mixtures thereof, and alloys or metallic compounds of these elements. Preferably, the conductive material includes noble metals or alloys or their oxides. Most preferably, the conductive material includes gold, palladium, aluminum, titanium, platinum, ITO and chromium. The conductive material ranges in thickness from about 10 nm to 80 nm, more preferably, 30 nm to 70 nm, and most preferably 50 nm. It is appreciated that the thickness of the conductive material depends upon the transmissive property of the material and other factors relating to use of the biosensor. 
     While not illustrated, it is appreciated that the resulting patterned conductive material can be coated or plated with additional metal layers. For example, the conductive material may be copper, which is then ablated with a laser into an electrode pattern; subsequently, the copper may be plated with a titanium/tungsten layer, and then a gold layer, to form the desired electrodes. Preferably, a single layer of conductive material is used, which lies on the base  402 . Although not generally necessary, it is possible to enhance adhesion of the conductive material to the base, as is well known in the art, by using seed or ancillary layers such as chromium nickel or titanium. In preferred embodiments, biosensor  401  has a single layer of gold, palladium, platinum or ITO. 
     Biosensor  401  is illustratively manufactured using two apparatuses  10 ,  10 ′, shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  7 , respectively. It is appreciated that unless otherwise described, the apparatuses  410 ,  410 ′ operate in a similar manner. Referring first to  FIG. 5 , biosensor  401  is manufactured by feeding a roll of ribbon  420  having an 80 nm gold laminate, which is about 40 mm in width, into a custom fit broad field laser ablation apparatus  410 . The apparatus  410  comprises a laser source  411  producing a beam of laser light  412 , a chromium-plated quartz mask  414 , and optics  416 . It is appreciated that while the illustrated optics  416  is a single lens, optics  416  is preferably a variety of lenses that cooperate to make the light  412  in a pre-determined shape. 
     A non-limiting example of a suitable ablation apparatus  410  ( FIGS. 5-6 ) is a customized MicrolineLaser 200-4 laser system commercially available from LPKF Laser Electronic GmbH, of Garbsen, Germany, which incorporates an LPX-400, LPX-300 or LPX-200 laser system commercially available from Lambda Physik AG, Göttingen, Germany and a chromium-plated quartz mask commercially available from International Phototool Company, Colorado Springs, Co. 
     For the MicrolineLaser 200-4 laser system ( FIGS. 5-6 ), the laser source  411  is a LPX-200 KrF-UV-laser. It is appreciated, however, that higher wavelength UV lasers can be used in accordance with this disclosure. The laser source  411  works at 248 nm, with a pulse energy of 600 mJ, and a pulse repeat frequency of 50 Hz. The intensity of the laser beam  412  can be infinitely adjusted between 3% and 92% by a dielectric beam attenuator (not shown). The beam profile is 27×15 mm 2  (0.62 sq. inch) and the pulse duration 25 ns. The layout on the mask  414  is homogeneously projected by an optical elements beam expander, homogenizer, and field lens (not shown). The performance of the homogenizer has been determined by measuring the energy profile. The imaging optics  416  transfer the structures of the mask  414  onto the ribbon  420 . The imaging ratio is 2:1 to allow a large area to be removed on the one hand, but to keep the energy density below the ablation point of the applied chromium mask on the other hand. While an imaging of 2:1 is illustrated, it is appreciated that the any number of alternative ratios are possible in accordance with this disclosure depending upon the desired design requirements. The ribbon  420  moves as shown by arrow  425  to allow a number of layout segments to be ablated in succession. 
     The positioning of the mask  414 , movement of the ribbon  420 , and laser energy are computer controlled. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the laser beam  412  is projected onto the ribbon  420  to be ablated. Light  412  passing through the clear areas or windows  418  of the mask  414  ablates the metal from the ribbon  420 . Chromium coated areas  424  of the mask  414  blocks the laser light  412  and prevent ablation in those areas, resulting in a metallized structure on the ribbon  420  surface. Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a complete structure of electrical components may require additional ablation steps through a second mask  414 ′. It is appreciated that depending upon the optics and the size of the electrical component to be ablated, that only a single ablation step or greater than two ablation steps may be necessary in accordance with this disclosure. Further, it is appreciated that instead of multiple masks, that multiple fields may be formed on the same mask in accordance with this disclosure. 
     Specifically, a second non-limiting example of a suitable ablation apparatus  410 ′ ( FIG. 7 ) is a customized laser system commercially available from LPKF Laser Electronic GmbH, of Garbsen, Germany, which incorporates a Lambda STEEL (Stable energy eximer laser) laser system commercially available from Lambda Physik AG, Göttingen, Germany and a chromium-plated quartz mask commercially available from International Phototool Company, Colorado Springs, Co. The laser system features up to 1000 mJ pulse energy at a wavelength of 308 nm. Further, the laser system has a frequency of 100 Hz. The apparatus  410 ′ may be formed to produce biosensors with two passes as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , but preferably its optics permit the formation of a 10×40 mm pattern in a 25 ns single pass. 
     While not wishing to be bound to a specific theory, it is believed that the laser pulse or beam  412  that passes through the mask  414 ,  414 ′,  414 ″ is absorbed within less than 1 μm of the surface  402  on the ribbon  420 . The photons of the beam  412  have an energy sufficient to cause photo-dissociation and the rapid breaking of chemical bonds at the metal/polymer interface. It is believed that this rapid chemical bond breaking causes a sudden pressure increase within the absorption region and forces material (metal film  403 ) to be ejected from the polymer base surface. Since typical pulse durations are around 20-25 nanoseconds, the interaction with the material occurs very rapidly and thermal damage to edges of the conductive material  403  and surrounding structures is minimized. The resulting edges of the electrical components have high edge quality and accurate placement as contemplated by the present invention. 
     Fluence energies used to remove or ablate metals from the ribbon  420  are dependent upon the material from which the ribbon  420  is formed, adhesion of the metal film to the base material, the thickness of the metal film, and possibly the process used to place the film on the base material, i.e. supporting and vapor deposition. Fluence levels for gold on KALADEX® range from about 50 to about 90 mJ/cm 2 , on polyimide about 100 to about 120 mJ/cm 2 , and on MELINEX® about 60 to about 120 mJ/cm 2 . It is understood that fluence levels less than or greater than the above mentioned can be appropriate for other base materials in accordance with the disclosure. 
     Patterning of areas of the ribbon  420  is achieved by using the masks  414 ,  414 ′. Each mask  414 ,  414 ′ illustratively includes a mask field  422  containing a precise two-dimensional illustration of a pre-determined portion of the electrode component patterns to be formed.  FIG. 5  illustrates the mask field  422  including contact pads and a portion of traces. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the second mask  414 ′ contains a second corresponding portion of the traces and the electrode patterns containing fingers. As previously described, it is appreciated that depending upon the size of the area to be ablated, the mask  414  can contain a complete illustration of the electrode patterns ( FIG. 7 ), or portions of patterns different from those illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  in accordance with this disclosure. Preferably, it is contemplated that in one aspect of the present invention, the entire pattern of the electrical components on the test strip are laser ablated at one time, i.e., the broad field encompasses the entire size of the test strip ( FIG. 7 ). In the alternative, and as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , portions of the entire biosensor are done successively. 
     While mask  414  will be discussed hereafter, it is appreciated that unless indicated otherwise, the discussion will apply to masks  414 ′,  414 ″ as well. Referring to  FIG. 5 , areas  424  of the mask field  422  protected by the chrome will block the projection of the laser beam  412  to the ribbon  420 . Clear areas or windows  418  in the mask field  422  allow the laser beam  412  to pass through the mask  414  and to impact predetermined areas of the ribbon  420 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the clear area  418  of the mask field  422  corresponds to the areas of the ribbon  420  from which the conductive material  403  is to be removed. 
     Further, the mask field  422  has a length shown by line  430  and a width as shown by line  432 . Given the imaging ratio of 2:1 of the LPX-200, it is appreciated that the length  30  of the mask is two times the length of a length  434  of the resulting pattern and the width  432  of the mask is two times the width of a width  436  of the resulting pattern on ribbon  420 . The optics  416  reduces the size of laser beam  412  that strikes the ribbon  420 . It is appreciated that the relative dimensions of the mask field  422  and the resulting pattern can vary in accordance with this disclosure. Mask  414 ′ ( FIG. 6 ) is used to complete the two-dimensional illustration of the electrical components. 
     Continuing to refer to  FIG. 5 , in the laser ablation apparatus  410  the excimer laser source  411  emits beam  412 , which passes through the chrome-on-quartz mask  414 . The mask field  422  causes parts of the laser beam  412  to be reflected while allowing other parts of the beam to pass through, creating a pattern on the gold film where impacted by the laser beam  412 . It is appreciated that ribbon  420  can be stationary relative to apparatus  410  or move continuously on a roll through apparatus  410 . Accordingly, non-limiting rates of movement of the ribbon  420  can be from about 0 m/min to about 100 m/min, more preferably about 30 m/min to about 60 m/min. It is appreciated that the rate of movement of the ribbon  420  is limited only by the apparatus  410  selected and may well exceed 100 m/min depending upon the pulse duration of the laser source  411  in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     Once the pattern of the mask  414  is created on the ribbon  420 , the ribbon is rewound and fed through the apparatus  410  again, with mask  414 ′ ( FIG. 6 ). It is appreciated, that alternatively, laser apparatus  410  could be positioned in series in accordance with this disclosure. Thus, by using masks  414 ,  414 ′, large areas of the ribbon  420  can be patterned using step-and-repeat processes involving multiple mask fields  422  in the same mask area to enable the economical creation of intricate electrode patterns and other electrical components on a substrate of the base, the precise edges of the electrode components, and the removal of greater amounts of the metallic film from the base material. 
     The second embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  improve upon the prior art by providing for I-R drop compensation of both the working and counter electrode leads on the test strip. Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is schematically illustrated a second embodiment test strip configuration of the present invention, indicated generally at  800 . The test strip  800  comprises a bottom substrate  12  coated on its top surface with a 50 nm conductive gold layer (for instance by sputtering or vapor deposition, by way of non-limiting example). Electrodes, connecting traces and contact pads therefor are then patterned in the conductive layer by a laser ablation process as described hereinabove. For example, working  814   a , working sense  826   a , counter  216   a , and counter sense  224   a  electrodes may be formed as shown and coupled to respective measurement contact pads  814   b ,  826   b ,  216   b  and  224   b  by means of respective traces  814   c ,  826   c ,  216   c  and  224   c . These contact pads  814   b ,  826   b ,  216   b  and  224   b  provide a conductive area upon the test strip  800  to be contacted by a connector contact of the test meter (not shown) once the test strip  800  is inserted into the test meter. 
     It will be appreciated that the test strip  800  of  FIG. 8  is substantially identical to the first embodiment test strip  200  of  FIG. 2 , except for the addition of the working sense electrode  826   a , contact pad  826   b , and trace  826   c . Provision of the working sense line  826  allows the test meter to compensate for any I-R drop caused by the contact resistance of the connections to the contact pads  814   b  and  216   b , and to compensate for the trace resistance of traces  814   c  and  216   c.    
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a schematic electrical circuit diagram of a second embodiment electrode compensation circuit (indicated generally at  900 ) housed within the test meter. As indicated, the circuit couples to contact pads  826   b ,  814   b ,  216   b  and  224   b  when the test strip  800  is inserted into the test meter. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a voltage potential is applied to the counter electrode contact pad  216   b , which will produce a current between the counter electrode  216   a  and the working electrode  814   a  that is proportional to the amount of analyte present in the biological sample applied to the reagent  18 . The current from working electrode  814   a  is transmitted by working electrode trace  814   c  to working electrode contact pad  814   b  and provided to current-to-voltage amplifier  310 . The analog output voltage of amplifier  310  is converted to a digital signal by A/D  312 . This digital signal is then processed by microprocessor  314  according to a previously stored program in order to determine the concentration of the analyte of interest within the biological sample applied to the test strip  800 . This concentration is displayed to the user by means of LCD output device  316 . 
     Microprocessor  314  also outputs a digital signal indicative of the voltage potential to be applied to the counter electrode contact pad  216   b . This digital signal is converted to an analog voltage signal by D/A  318 . The analog output of D/A  318  is applied to a first input of an operational amplifier  320 . A second input of the operational amplifier  320  is coupled to an output of operational amplifier  910 . Operational amplifier  910  is connected in a difference amplifier configuration using an instrumentation amplifier. A first input of operational amplifier  910  is coupled to working sense electrode contact pad  826   b , while a second input of operational amplifier  910  is coupled to counter sense electrode contact pad  224   b . The output of operational amplifier  320  is coupled to the counter electrode contact pad  216   b.    
     Operational amplifier  320  is connected in a voltage follower configuration, in which the amplifier will adjust its output (within its physical limits of operation) until the voltage appearing at its second input is equal to the commanded voltage appearing at its first input. Both inputs of operational amplifier  910  are high impedance inputs, therefore substantially no current flows in counter sense line  224  or working sense line  826 . Since substantially no current flows, any parasitic resistance in counter sense line  224  or working sense line  826  will not cause a potential drop, and the voltage appearing across the inputs of operational amplifier  910  is substantially the same as the voltage across the measurement cell (i.e. across counter electrode  216   a  and working electrode  814   a ). Because operational amplifier  910  is connected in a difference amplifier configuration, its output represents the voltage across the measurement cell. 
     Operational amplifier  320  will therefore act to vary its output (i.e. the voltage potential applied to the counter electrode contact pad  216   b ) until the actual voltage potential appearing across the measurement cell is equal to the voltage potential commanded by the microprocessor  314 . Operational amplifier  320  therefore automatically compensates for any potential drop caused by the parasitic resistance in the counter electrode trace  216   c , counter electrode contact  216   b , working electrode trace  814   c , and working electrode contact  814   b , and therefore the potential appearing across the measurement cell is the desired potential. The calculation of the analyte concentration in the biological sample from the current produced by the working electrode is therefore made more accurate. 
       FIG. 10 , in conjunction with  FIG. 8 , illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention that improves over the prior art by providing I-R drop compensation for both the working and counter electrode lines, as well as providing verification that the resistance of both the working and counter electrode lines is not above a predetermined threshold in order to assure that the test meter is able to compensate for the I-R drops. Referring now to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a schematic electrical circuit diagram of a third embodiment electrode compensation circuit (indicated generally at  1000 ) housed within the test meter. The electrode compensation circuit  1000  works with the test strip  800  of  FIG. 8 . As indicated, the circuit couples to contact pads  826   b ,  814   b ,  216   b  and  224   b  when the test strip  800  is inserted into the test meter. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a voltage potential is applied to the counter electrode contact pad  216   b , which will produce a current between the counter electrode  216   a  and the working electrode  814   a  that is proportional to the amount of analyte present in the biological sample applied to the reagent  18 . The current from working electrode  814   a  is transmitted to working electrode contact pad  814   b  by working electrode trace  814   c  and provided to current-to-voltage amplifier  310 . The output of current-to-voltage amplifier  310  is applied to the input of instrumentation amplifier  1002  which is configured as a buffer having unity gain when switch  1004  in the closed position. The analog output voltage of amplifier  1002  is converted to a digital signal by A/D  312 . This digital signal is then processed by microprocessor  314  according to a previously stored program in order to determine the concentration of analyte within the biological sample applied to the test strip  800 . This concentration is displayed to the user by means of LCD output device  316 . 
     Microprocessor  314  also outputs a digital signal indicative of the voltage potential to be applied to the counter electrode contact pad  216   b . This digital signal is converted to an analog voltage signal by D/A  318 . The analog output of D/A  318  is applied to the input of an operational amplifier  320  that is configured as a voltage follower when switch  1006  is in the position shown. The output of operational amplifier  320  is coupled to the counter electrode contact pad  216   b , which will allow measurement of a biological fluid sample applied to the reagent  18 . Furthermore, with switches  1006 ,  1008  and  1010  positioned as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the circuit is configured as shown in  FIG. 9  and may be used to automatically compensate for parasitic and contact resistance as described hereinabove with respect to  FIG. 9 . 
     In order to measure the amount of parasitic resistance in the counter electrode line  216 , switch  1008  is placed in the position shown in  FIG. 10 , switch  1006  is placed in the position opposite that shown in  FIG. 10 , while switch  1010  is closed. The operational amplifier  320  therefore acts as a buffer with unity gain and applies a voltage potential to counter electrode contact pad  216   b  through a known resistance R nom . This resistance causes a current to flow in the counter electrode line  216  and the counter sense line  224  that is sensed by current-to-voltage amplifier  310 , which is now coupled to the current sense line through switch  1010 . The output of current-to-voltage amplifier  310  is provided to the microprocessor  314  through A/D  312 . Because the value of R nom  is known, the microprocessor  314  can calculate the value of any parasitic resistance in the counter sense line  224  and the counter electrode line  216 . This parasitic resistance value can be compared to a predetermined threshold stored in the test meter to determine if physical damage has occurred to the test strip  800  or if nonconductive buildup is present on the contact pads to such an extent that the test strip  800  cannot be reliably used to perform a test. In such situations, the test meter may be programmed to inform the user that an alternate test strip should be inserted into the test meter before proceeding with the test. 
     In order to measure the amount of parasitic resistance in the working electrode line  814 , switches  1006  and  1008  are placed in the position opposite that shown in FIG.  10 , while switch  1010  is opened. The operational amplifier  320  therefore acts as a buffer with unity gain and applies a voltage potential to working sense contact pad  826   b  through a known resistance R nom . This resistance causes a current to flow in the working sense line  826  and the working electrode line  814  that is sensed by current-to-voltage amplifier  310 . The output of current-to-voltage amplifier  310  is provided to the microprocessor  314  through A/D  312 . Because the value of R nom  is known, the microprocessor  314  can calculate the value of any parasitic resistance in the working sense line  826  and the working electrode line  814 . This parasitic resistance value can be compared to a predetermined threshold stored in the test meter to determine if physical damage has occurred to the test strip  800  or if nonconductive buildup is present on the contact pads to such an extent that the test strip  800  cannot be reliably used to perform a test. In such situations, the test meter may be programmed to inform the user that an alternate test strip should be inserted into the test meter before proceeding with the test. 
     All publications, prior applications, and other documents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each had been individually incorporated by reference and fully set forth. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the description is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. Only the preferred embodiment, and certain other embodiments deemed helpful in further explaining how to make or use the preferred embodiment, have been shown. All changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6