Patent ID: 7228162

Claim:
A method of measuring an analyte concentration in body fluid in an animal body having skin and subcutaneous soft tissue that includes body fluid, said method comprising: (a) providing an analyte measuring device, including: (i) an analyte sensing element having an indicating electrode, said indicating electrode being adapted to be activated by electric power, and to form a raw analyte measurement when so activated and in contact with said body fluid; and (ii) an electric power, data processing and display device adapted to mate to said analyte sensing element and activate said analyte sensing element by applying electric power to it and adapted to receive said raw analyte measurement and to compute and display a refined analyte measurement, related to said raw analyte measurement; (b) introducing said analyte sensing element into said animal body subcutaneous soft tissue, thereby placing said indicating electrode into contact with said animal body subcutaneous soft tissue and said body fluid; (c) activating said analyte sensing element by applying electric power to it, thereby causing said analyte sensing element to form a raw analyte measurement; (d) removing said analyte sensing element from said soft tissue after the raw analyte measurement is formed; and (e) wherein said analyte sensing element retains body fluid in contact with said indicating electrode after said analyte sensing element is removed from said body, and wherein said analyte sensing element is removed from said body prior to a refined analyte measurement being formed.