Patent ID: 6959247

Claim:
A removable data storage device for a meter, said meter having a microprocessor and a meter memory containing machine language instructions, said meter receiving test strips at a first location to measure an analyte concentration in fluid samples, said meter receiving said removable data storage device at a second location, said data storage device comprising: a carrier having a proximal end and a distal end, said carrier being shaped for inserting said distal end into said meter in a preferred orientation; said carrier including a circuit board, said circuit board having electrical contacts for electrically connecting to said meter at said second location, said electrical contacts including at least one ground contact and at least one voltage supply contact; and said circuit board including a nonvolatile memory device storing data for use by said meter, said data including at least one constant for use by the machine language instructions stored in said meter memory, whereby when said removable data storage device is inserted into said meter in said preferred orientation, said at least one ground contact becomes electrically connected to said meter before said at least one voltage supply contact permitting reliable uploading of said at least one constant from said nonvolatile memory into the meter memory for subsequent use by the machine language instructions; and whereby said removable data storage device can be removed from said meter such that said at least one ground contact becomes electrically disconnected from said meter after said at least one voltage supply contact thereby minimizing the risk of malfunction.