Patent Grant
9825384
This document pertains generally, but not by way of limitation, to point-of-care analyzers for evaluating samples contained in a cuvette.
Point-of-care analyzer instruments are used to evaluate biological samples collected from the patient at the time of collection of the sample or soon after collection. A cuvette is used to collect or receive collected biological sample and interface the sample with the analysis systems of the analyzer instrument. The cuvettes for receiving biological samples are advantageous as the cuvettes are typically disposable or reusable after washing. The cuvettes are also often configured to avoid directly contacting the collected sample with the circuitry for processing the samples, which would require the circuitry pins to be cleaned or replaced after each use to avoid contamination. However, a specialized connector is required to connect the cuvette to the analysis system and interface the sample with the pins of the analysis system. An improperly inserted cuvette can result in a poor connection between the cuvette and the pins, which can cause poor or inconsistent readings. A similar disadvantage is that the cuvette is typically small in size requiring the sensor interfaces to be tightly spaced on the cuvette. The tight spacing of the interfaces and the corresponding tight spacing of the pins can cause leakage current and other interference between the pins, which can further result in poor or inconsistent readings.
The present inventors have recognized, among other things, that a problem to be solved can include performing sensitive electrochemical analysis of a biological sample on a cuvette, where the sensor information from the cuvette is transmitted to a reader that is electrically connected to the cuvette. However, the tightly spaced pins and the corresponding circuits required to connect the cuvette to the reader can result in electrical leakage between adjacent circuits preventing the low ohm continuity and high pin-to-pin impedance. A problem to be solved can include that the sensitive electrochemical analysis often performed by the reader requires near-zero ohm continuity (<5Ω) between the pins while maintaining high pin-to-pin impedance (>5 GΩ). In particular, the flux commonly used to solder leads or components to the circuit board can further increase the leakage between the adjacent circuits and leads. Other contaminants left on the connector assembly during construction or fluids on the cuvette or circuits can similarly create leakage between the leads.
In an example, the present subject matter can provide a solution to this problem, such as by a solderless connector assembly for a reader assembly can include a base component and a clamp component that can be connected to the base component so as to retain at least one lead there between. The base component and the clamp component cooperate to retain the leads without soldering the leads, which can cause electrical leakage between adjacent leads. In at least one example, the reader can be portable to operate as a point-of-care analyzer where a cuvette can be connected to a circuit on board the reader via the at least one lead for evaluating a biological sample contained within the cuvette.
The lead can have a cuvette end and a circuit end, where the lead is positioned between the base component and the clamp component such that the cuvette end and the circuit end protrude from between the base component and the clamp component. The circuit end of each lead can be positioned to contact a circuit pad of a circuit board, where the clamping of the connector assembly maintains the circuit end of the lead in contact with the circuit board. This arrangement removes the need to solder the lead to the circuit board removing a potential leakage point. In addition, the connector assembly can be removed from the circuit board without desoldering. In this configuration, a cuvette having a plurality of cuvette contacts can be positioned adjacent to the connector assembly such that the cuvette end engages the cuvette contacts to operably connect the cuvette to the circuit board. In an example, the cuvette end can be shaped such that positioning the cuvette such that the cuvette end of the lead engages the cuvette contacts and biases the lead maintaining contact between the lead and the cuvette contact.
In at least one example, the base component can define at least one recessed track for receiving a lead, wherein securing the clamp component to the base component encloses each recessed track and isolates the recessed track from the adjacent recessed track. The clamp component can define at least one corresponding track mirroring one of the recessed tracks, wherein the recessed track and corresponding track cooperate to define a channel for receiving a lead. The base component and/or the clamp component can comprise a high impedance material to minimize electrical leakage between the adjacent tracks and the leads received therein.
In an example, a reader can include a circuit board, at least one circuit pad, and a connector assembly, where the connector assembly can include a base component, a clamp component and at least one lead. The base component can define at least one recessed track for receiving each lead. The clamp component can be secured to the base component to clamp the at least one lead between the base component and the clamp component. The connector assembly can be operably engaged to the circuit board such that the lead between the base component and the clamp component engages a corresponding contact of the circuit.
In an example, a point-of-care system can include a printed circuit board, a connector assembly, and a cuvette including at least one interface. The base component can define at least one recessed track for receiving each lead. The clamp component can be secured to the base component to clamp the at least one lead between the base component and the clamp component. The connector assembly can be operably engaged to the circuit board such that the lead between the base component and the clamp component engages a corresponding contact of the circuit. The cuvette can further include at least one cuvette contact, wherein the cuvette is moveable into an inserted position wherein the at least one cuvette contact is positioned to engage a cuvette end of the lead.
This overview is intended to provide an overview of subject matter of the present patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation of the present subject matter, The detailed description is included to provide further information about the present patent application.
In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.
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Example 1 is a circuit assembly comprising: an edge connector assembly including: a base component; a clamp component connected to the base component; at least one lead having a center portion, a circuit end, and a second circuit end; wherein the clamp component is configured to be tightened against the base component to secure the at least one lead there between; a printed circuit board having at least one circuit contact; wherein the edge connector assembly is fastened to the printed circuit assembly without requiring solder for either mechanical or electrical connection to the at least one circuit contact.
In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includes, wherein the base component defining at least one recessed track for receiving the at least one lead.
In Example 3, the subject matter of Example 2 optionally includes, wherein the recessed track is sized to receive the center portion of the at least one lead such that the circuit end and the cuvette end protrude from the connector assembly.
In Example 4, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-3 optionally include, further comprising: an analyzer frame for receiving the printed circuit board.
In Example 5, the subject matter of Example 4 optionally includes, wherein the base component is configured to receive at least one fastener for coupling the base component to the analyzer frame adjacent the printed circuit board.
In Example 6, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 4-5 optionally include, wherein the analyzer frame defines a slot for receiving the cuvette to position an interface of the cuvette in contact with the cuvette end of the lead.
In Example 7, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-6 optionally include, wherein the clamp component is configured to receive a fastening element for tightening the clamp component against the base component.
In Example 8, the subject matter of Example 7 optionally includes, wherein the fastening element is adjustable such that the fastening element is selectively tightenable to adjust the tension applied to the leads positioned between the clamp component and the base component.
In Example 9, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-8 optionally include, wherein the analyzer is a point-of-care analyzer.
Example 10 is a point-of-care system, comprising: a printed circuit board having at least one circuit contact; a connector assembly include: a base component; a clamp component adjustably connected to the base component; at least one lead having a center portion, a circuit end, and a cuvette end, wherein the clamp component is configured to be tightened against the base component to secure the at least one lead such that the circuit end engage the circuit contact of the printed circuit board; a cuvette including at least one interface movable into an inserted position, wherein the interfaces of the cuvette are aligned with the PCB end of the corresponding lead when the cuvette is in the inserted position.
In Example 11, the subject matter of Example 10 optionally includes, wherein the base component defining at least one recessed track for receiving the at least one lead.
In Example 12, the subject matter of Example 11 optionally includes, wherein the recessed track is sized to receive the center portion of the at least one lead such that the circuit end and the cuvette end protrude from the connector assembly.
In Example 13, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 10-12 optionally include, further comprising: an analyzer frame for receiving the printed circuit board.
In Example 14, the subject matter of Example 13 optionally includes, wherein the base component is configured to receive at least one fastener for coupling the base component to the analyzer frame adjacent the printed circuit board.
In Example 15, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 13-14 optionally include, wherein the analyzer frame defines a slot for receiving the cuvette to position the circuit contact of the cuvette in contact with the cuvette end of the lead.
In Example 16, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 10-15 optionally include, wherein the clamp component is configured to receive a fastening element for affixing the clamp component to the base component.
Each of these non-limiting examples can stand on its own, or can be combined in any permutation or combination with any one or more of the other examples.
The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the present subject matter can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, the present inventors also contemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein.
In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and any documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in this document controls.
In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.
Method examples described herein can be machine or computer-implemented at least in part. Some examples can include a computer-readable medium or machine-readable medium encoded with instructions operable to configure an electronic device to perform methods as described in the above examples. An implementation of such methods can include code, such as microcode, assembly language code, a higher-level language code, or the like. Such code can include computer readable instructions for performing various methods. The code may form portions of computer program products. Further, in an example, the code can be tangibly stored on one or more volatile, non-transitory, or non-volatile tangible computer-readable media, such as during execution or at other times. Examples of these tangible computer-readable media can include, but are not limited to, hard disks, removable magnetic disks, removable optical disks (e.g., compact disks and digital video disks), magnetic cassettes, memory cards or sticks, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like.
The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description as examples or embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the present subject matter should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
This patent application claims the benefit of priority, under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e), to Kurkowski el al., U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/273,836, entitled “SOLDERLESS EDGE CONNECTOR,” filed on Dec. 31, 2015, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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|---|---|---|---|
| 4693529 | Stillie | Sep 1987 | A |
| 5785534 | Longueville | Jul 1998 | A |
| 6695646 | Grabbe | Feb 2004 | B1 |
| 6918775 | Korsunsky | Jul 2005 | B2 |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170194730 A1 | Jul 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62273836 | Dec 2015 | US |
