Developing a new glucose meter [Archive]

telizas

10-01-2009, 09:43 AM

Well, if we're telling what we REALLY want, I want it to be more like a pulse-Ox reader... No pokes at all!!

Realistically...
Everyone is moving to no coding, so thats nice. Having a light on the end where the strip goes is nice too, only a few have this feature, and its handy for doing BG checks at night without waking a partner or running to the bathroom.

Better, more reliable downloading capabilities. It seems like people have such an issue with downloading the info. I wish someone would take this feature seriously. Why are there none with USB connections and decent software? We pay enough for the strips!

I'm sure others will have more ideas...

TheRabbit

10-01-2009, 10:18 AM

Wow, thanks for the fast responses.

@inkvisitor: I am working for a small company on both the meter and the sensor strips.
The reason why I came here is because of google, and it's free and simple to post online to get some ideas flowing. Plus it's more direct. Any other ideas would be helpful though, hopefully free, haha.
The sensor strips can get pretty expensive, mostly due to the precious metals used, and especially the enzymes. The sampling time is due mostly to the enzyme reaction rates. I am currently working on the sample amounts, and I will see what I can do to keep the cost down on ours.

@telizas: I have tried to to propose a less invasive blood sampling method, but they have been shot down due to high costs and complex manufacturing. Money is always the issue. The light on the end is a great idea, I will incorporate that into my design. As for downloading the info, I am trying to stay away from usb since the port takes up a lot of room. I was thinking about using a microsd card instead. Then for the actual software, this part can get costly. I could program something nice with an graphical interface, graphs, and buttons, but that would take more time and be costly (but we could make a lot of money on that, lol). I guess what I am trying to say is that do you think that you and others could be happy with a simple text file read out with glucose levels and a timestamp? This would also remove operating system incompatibility issues, but I guess I am just rationalizing this, haha.

Thanks again!

xMenace

10-01-2009, 10:23 AM

Things on my list..

Accuracy!

We are told they are not accurate, but the reality is we treat them like they are. I won't treat a 3.6 but I will treat a 3.3. In reality they are the same frickin number!

Making them more accurate is the number one thing you can do.

Size

When you consider size, and smaller is better, you have to consider the whole package. The Aviva Nano is an example. It is much smaller, but the lancet device is still big and the strip box is still big. The whole case offers very little if any size reduction. A waste of effort!

Connectivity

The Contour was just announced as the first USB meter. The first!? Every ****ing camera on the planet has a USB connection. Why can't all meters? Huh?

Actually why can't they all be wireless? Why can't they all connect to my pump?

Fail!

Memory, Averages, and other features

Not useful for me. I focus on the latest test. If I want to test for other purposes like rate setting, I'll use software and controlled, specific testing. I refuse to use my compliance testing to make changes with. This has served me well.

Others are different.

themarquis

10-01-2009, 10:26 AM

Okay, I'm a bit of a geek, but I think even non-geeks could get behind this.

For non-geeky folks, here's the summary: you take readings and enter carbs, etc. with the meter ... then your readings and carb entries magically appear online on a (secure) webpage with pretty graphs and everything. You don't need to lift a finger or transfer readings or fiddle with software or anything.

For geeks: the ideal meter would use bluetooth or IR or something to wirelessly send data to your computer. It could be set up to do it automatically (you're going to see this word a lot) whenever it's in range. Better yet, it sends the data periodically wherever you are via wireless internet. You don't have to lift a finger. The meter could also have some buttons on it for further data entry a la the Ultra Smart glucometer (so you can note carbs, dietary details, exercise, etc.)

Then all this data is formatted and organized automatically. It can be automatically posted to a private web page so that you can look at it anywhere, anytime. You can look at it as data or as visually attractive graphs or trends or whatever. You can run reports or draw graphs on the fly for various queries (i.e., relationship between carbs and bg).

Your health care team or caregivers can look at this private webpage whenever they want -- results are constantly updated. Alerts can be set to automatically email or text a caregiver or health care worker when a reading or series of readings is out of range. Or folks can get daily or weekly digests of readings sent via email.

Starting to get the picture? This is technologically so simple. Yet today's glucometers are so behind the times! We're forced to pay a ton of money for a cable to connect to our computer. (even stupider ... my meter has an IR port on it. Sweet! My computer has an IR port. Right? No! I am forced to buy a special proprietary CABLE that connects to a special proprietary IR DEVICE that then will connect to my computer. What??? what genius thought up that one? 'Let's make this meter WIRELESSLY connect ... through a WIRED connection!')

Then we have to spend even more money for the clunky proprietary software. Then whenever you want to look at your numbers, you have to manually connect the glucometer and update your data, fiddle with stupid drivers (for example, for the proprietary WIRED WIRELESS device), wrestle with stupid software. There's no data backup, no connectivity with caregivers. File formats are proprietary, so it's not like I can send my data to other people. Maybe I have to convert data to .csvs or something? But 99 percent of the population has no idea what a .csv is, anyway.

End of rant. :)

Subby

10-01-2009, 10:29 AM

Personally I would really like a simple output file of result and time stamp, and I encourage it because of that - but I doubt know that it will fit in with your main target market - those that are looking for basic ease and simplicity.

One things that really gets me about meter design is the clumsy cases you usually get. The case design is really as important as the tester itself, but it often seems like an afterthought. What's the point making a small tester if you put it in a sandwich sized case? How easy is it to open, (every second counts when you take multiple tests a day) is each element easy to access? Are they secure? Is there a pouch for a few odds and ends as well, such as for putting used strips if no bin? Are the zips, velcro, etc easy to use?

One of my most prized posessions (yes, really) is the case from my Accu check Active. It is not like the one you see online for that model, it is not so much a case but is rather more like a wetsuit for the tester (uses wetsuit material too). It surrounds the tester, with a clear plastic face for visibility, there is a loop at the top to hold the strip drum, and the lancet device sits aside it through a loop of thick elastic, like a spear. This case has lasted me for probably 10 years, I have put whatever my current tester is in it if it possible fits. The ease with which taking a test with this setup is unreal.

However they changed to a more traditional case for that model, and I've not seen it elsewhere. So I assume that while I love it, others may not. Still, something to think about.

themarquis

10-01-2009, 10:42 AM

Then for the actual software, this part can get costly. I could program something nice with an graphical interface, graphs, and buttons, but that would take more time and be costly (but we could make a lot of money on that, lol). I guess what I am trying to say is that do you think that you and others could be happy with a simple text file read out with glucose levels and a timestamp? This would also remove operating system incompatibility issues, but I guess I am just rationalizing this, haha.

Thanks again!

OMG ... yes. A text file readout would be amazing and miles ahead of the other glucometers. Yes, I'd love something technologically more exciting (as I describe in my earlier post!), but a text file readout is simple and useful.

The reason is that it gets around the whole "fiddling with software, drivers, proprietary file formats" issue I just described. How simple is that -- stick the SD card (or whatever) into my computer and get a tiny text file with all my data. Then ... I can do what I like with it. Folks who don't need anything fancy can email it or print it. Geeks like me can format it however we like.

The other nice thing about a simple text format is that it would be easy to input it to an extant system like SugarStats (check it out if you're not familiar with it.) They've done all the work of setting up the system to make the pretty graphs and all that -- why reinvent the wheel? They have a simple file format called something like a sugarStats csv you can take a look at. Very basic -- just time/datestamp, glucose meter reading, tag field and note field. It woudl be awesome if your meter's text output was in this format (or could easily be converted to it).

Your company might also get a ton of customers by advertising on sugarstats or other online diabetes tracking programs and promoting your interoperability (is that a word?). There are a lot of people out there who have a little bit of technological know-how, want to track their data properly, and are not satisfied with the terrible software most of the meter companies sell. They end up on these online tracking systems but often input their data manually from their meters. If your company could make it easier for this group of people to input data, you may have a wider customer base.

Now I'm very curious about your company and what you folks are working on. And also whether you're looking to hire anyone soon ... :)

e||ement

10-01-2009, 10:46 AM

i'd like to see a basic calculator function in it (maybe some have this already?) or something tailored to figuring out insuling doses based on my insulin:carb ratio.

even a function that allows you to enter your i:c and then you just put in the number of carbs and it spits out your dose.

this would be sooooooooooooo helpful in determining my bolus dose after taking my pre-meal reading.

i'm pretty good at math...but sometimes i just don't feel like dividing 33 by 24 in my head :p and then i pull out my cell phone and have to troll for the calculator function.

maybe i'm just lazy. or maybe you can design a meter that comes embedded in cell phones!

xMenace

10-01-2009, 11:00 AM

foxl

10-01-2009, 11:00 AM

How about ... marketing TWO types of meters -- more accurate and more features for insulin-dependent users, and simple and cheaper (possibly less-accurate) for non-insulin-dependent users?

Maybe we non-ID's could get more strips out of our insurers, that way, while the ID's could get the needed accuracy, bells, and whistles?

TheRabbit

10-01-2009, 11:23 AM

Thanks for the all the ideas, one thing I would like would be if you could refrain from ranting and using profanity. So keep it clean, think things out before posting and work out main points.

I am doing this on my lunch break so it would be nice if I could quickly reply to everyone and not have to read though huge paragraphs.

Also, keep in mind that we are a small business so at most we will have 2 models for this device. One for children, and a standard one for everyone else. I will push for a third or a forth model once the first two start selling (geeks/tech savy, and elderly/people who just want something that does not need much input). But of course, don't limit your ideas based on our capabilities, just limit yourselves to reality.

Finally, does anyone know if there's a way for me to edit my original post so that I have just keep all the responses there? Or are there any mods or admins that are willing to make an exception for me?

Thanks again everyone!

@xMenace: I will keep the whole package size under consideration. As for the wireless, they are power hungry and most people are not willing to replace or charge another battery on basically a daily basis, it's kind of like having the bluetooth on your phone on all day long. But I have a semi replacement idea in the works. For the usb connection, would you accept the microsd card idea instead? As for the rest, I can only say: secret technology.

@themarquis: That is a good idea, but two things that stop it: battery life, and crazy public privacy groups. But would you accept the microsd card data idea?
Thanks for the sugarstats info, I would like to keep my company secret for now due to proprietary and marketing stuff. I would also like to keep everything on this forum secret and have you all sign NDAs but that's impossible, lol, stupid competition with the large companies making all the money. As for hiring you, what can you bring to the table?

@Subby: Yah... I kind of got that gist from people I know, most people just want something pretty that works but are not willing to pay. As for the case, I will see if we can partner with those manufacturers that make those protective cases for cell phones. But I can see the reason why accu check dropped the case that you love so much, it's too expensive to make. How much did it cost you though?

@e||ement: the iphone actually has an app for that (maybe I should not have mentioned that, lol), but I would not really want to open that door, because of the huge lawsuits I can see popping up. If someone dies because of a wrong calculation, our company ends up dying. Unless we put a whole agreement form into the program and remind the user every time they test that we are not liable for any actions taken based on these calculations, haha.

Well it's past my lunch break so back to work for me.
Hopefully the mods/admins can get back to me on my request or hopefully I just cant find that "edit" button to include all these follow up comments on my original post.

Thanks for all the feedback!

Subby

10-01-2009, 11:32 AM

cyberus

10-01-2009, 11:47 AM

Any reason a bluetooth function couldn't be used for wireless?

USB bluetooth dongles are dirt cheap (<$10) so that takes care of the computer end.
If the meter were setup to only power up bluetooth when asked to xmit data that would take the curse off the batteries.

And speaking of batteries ... on of the things I like the most about my Compact Plus is the fact that it uses common AA batteries rather than expensive watch/calc style batteries, combining a low cost battery (AA) with "turn on bluetooth during data session, turn off after X minutes" seems like it would eliminate multiple issues ie expensive cables and so on.

anniebug

10-01-2009, 12:00 PM

A meter that acted like a Palm Pilot or a Smart Phone, where I could easily enter data that was pertinent to the reading, i.e.: stressful meeting, looming deadline, fight iwth the kids, carby lunch, etc, would be great. There's not enough room in the log book that came with my meter, and I'm not going to spend $45 on the Accu-Chek computer companion. Something that could serve as a log with unlimited space.

I tend to be wordy. :cool:

TheRabbit

10-01-2009, 12:02 PM

I appologize to anyone that I may have offended with what I said about trying to keep the thread clean.

I just wanted to be able to read through what everyone had to say in the short amount of time that I have.

I appreciate all the free help that you guys are giving me now and hope to be able to return the favor by incorporating what you want once we get into production mode.

Thank you.

notme

10-01-2009, 12:02 PM

Editing your original post can only be done in the first few minutes after you post. Adding responses to your original post would not really help you much as anyone can post to this thread and they would just start stacking up behind your original post once again.

butterflykisses

10-01-2009, 12:05 PM

I would like a iphone that doubles as a tester. :D

Accuracy is number one.
I would like the microSD.
lighting that allows night/dark area testing.
compact size.

As far as the I:C calculator goes, pumps do that. They don't automatically give the suggested amount, the user has the option of using the suggestion or not. Maybe a reminder on the screen when accessing the feature would be sufficient, but it definitely would be helpful for those who are using I:C ratios.

Russell A.

10-01-2009, 12:10 PM

My goodness how unfortunate for you to have to deal with people expressing themselves the way they want, and for being a little messy when they give you your free market research. There's an easy answer to that one for me... cya.

I am with Subby on this one! Come into our little forum like a bull in a china shop!:mad:

You get what you pay for Bunny Dude!

KMA!!!

Russell

SteveFromIowa

10-01-2009, 04:00 PM

You wouldn't have to write a custom app with all the bells and whistle's. Just make it able to download one. That's how the i-phone works. Apps are written by scads of other company's for use on the i-phone.

If you can't do that, I'd love to be able to enter how many units I bolus'd or basel'd and have that show up in the .txt output with the time-stamp.

The card would work better than a cable (if you can't blue-tooth it).

The case should be just tall enough to hold an insulin injector pen, or maybe have a detachable protective sleeve for an injector pen. For me to keep tester and insulin together, I finally found a zippered CD case that wasn't too large, but large enough to hold my tester, my insulin pen, strips, and a few supplies.

I think it is valuable for people to provide feedback here, because this is a publicly read forum and maybe Mr. Wabbit's competition might hear our requests and incorporate them. ;)

Tattoo azz

10-01-2009, 06:39 PM

A micro sd card would be miles better than phaffing around with cables. Text files would be just as good (no need for software, yipee!). Smaller, neater prickers would be cool. How about looking at the strip containers too? is there a more ecologically safe material for containers to be made of other than the devil that is plastic? :D
A screen light and a strip light would be cool too. Looking at the case, i would like to see a seperate pocket for used strips cos trash bins aren't always around.
P.S you can count me in for field tests of the finished product! :D

telizas

10-01-2009, 07:04 PM

This is really intriguing. A diabetes calculator with settable ratios would be so nice to have! All you might have to enter are the expected carb load and it would spit out the recommended dose.

I bet it's too close to medical advice though. Liability in cases of ODing.

i'd like to see a basic calculator function in it (maybe some have this already?) or something tailored to figuring out insuling doses based on my insulin:carb ratio.

even a function that allows you to enter your i:c and then you just put in the number of carbs and it spits out your dose.

this would be sooooooooooooo helpful in determining my bolus dose after taking my pre-meal reading.

i'm pretty good at math...but sometimes i just don't feel like dividing 33 by 24 in my head :p and then i pull out my cell phone and have to troll for the calculator function.

maybe i'm just lazy. or maybe you can design a meter that comes embedded in cell phones!

Actually, the meter you get with a One Touch Ping pump has this. I don't know why they don't offer it without the RF capabilities, but this is EXACTLY what it does. Well, you set the I:C ratio, ISF and such on the pump, but the meter knows all this info, so when you take a reading and ask it to bolus, it gives you a suggested dose based on the carbs you enter or your BG (ie, a correction). Then you have to enter in that amount, or a different amount if you want and hit GO - it will NOT do it for you. It is only a calculator, for sure, but a very fancy one. And I LOVE it. :)

It only works, though, if the settings are right and thats what take so much time to figure out.

TheRabbit

10-02-2009, 10:01 AM

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for accepting me on your forum and providing me with all this feed back.

@cyberus: Although blutooth is cheap and it is everywhere, the power consumption is the issue. I could use a larger battery and possibly AA or AAA, the trade off would be a larger meter, would that okay?

@anniebug: Cell phone compatibility would be good, but wireless standards are the issue. The good low powered standards like zigbee are not widely used. Would purchasing an add on connector to your cell phone to interface with the meter be an acceptable tradeoff?

@notme: Thanks for the response, I guess I'll just keep responding this way.

@butterflykisses: The iphone actually has an app for that, just google 'iphone glucose' and you can find a whole presentation on that. But I am biased so it seems a bit clunky to me.

@SteveFromIowa: That is a great idea, I never thought about making it open source. I will talk to my boss about that to see if we may face any legal issues on that.
I will keep in mind the case size.
Haha, as for competition, there are just 4 big companies in this field and it is hard for a small company like us to make a big impact, so we are just trying to see what we can do to help.

@Tattoo azz: For the strip container, we should be able to use biodegradable plastic, I will look into that. But right now most companies need to use the "devil" plastic because of what the sensor strips are made of. The plastic in current sensor strips are very cheap, and therefore making them UV sensitive. Therefore they need the hard plastic case to protect them from going bad. I see that you feel the same way about the light issue as telizas, haha, I will put that into my design.
Hmm, a used strip pocket, I did not think about that. I will include that if it it does not make the whole design too large. But it might be slightly more expensive since I would also have to include a protective/washable lining because of the blood.
Thanks for your support!

@telizas: I will see if I can incorporate the calculator into ours as well, or perhaps that will not necessary if it is already on the pump. Or maybe I'll just let it go to SteveFromIowa's suggestion of making it open source so people can write their own custom calculator? Not sure if this is a good or bad idea since someone could make a fake calculator. I guess that we would have to regulate the apps. But having an online store would be not a good idea and regulating them for free would be a huge drain of resources.

Now I have a few question I would appreciate feedback on.
I am also working on a cartridge based sensor design so that the user will never have to touch the sensor. Do you think this is good or bad? Or do you prefer the current strips? Also if you like the cartridge idea, about how many in a pack would you like to see?

How would you feel about a completely wireless meter without a lcd screen? This would help cut production costs, leading to a cheaper meter. Or are the strips the main price concern?

Finally, what do you think about the new glucose sensor that can attach to the nintendo DS, good bad or just a gimmick?

Thanks for all the feed back. I might not respond for about a month or two because of lab tests and other things I need to take of.

I thank the online community of this forum for providing me with all this information and will try to incorporate them into my designs :)

cyberus

10-02-2009, 10:56 AM

@cyberus: Although blutooth is cheap and it is everywhere, the power consumption is the issue. I could use a larger battery and possibly AA or AAA, the trade off would be a larger meter, would that okay?

IMO it wouldn't be a problem, Like I said I use a Compact Plus and it uses AA batteries, uses a 17 strip drum, and uses IR for data xmit, its not all that big or bulky. Since I didn't see that you are planning on any kind of multi-use strip cartridge (which takes up a *significant* portion of the Compact Plus meter) it really shouldn't be that big of a size hit to use AA.

Speaking of strips, since again no multi-use cartridge has been mentioned, PLEASE make sure they are big enough to not be a pain to use, neuropathy, arthritis, and simple aging can drive people to the cartridge type systems since so many meters use strips the size of a match (or so it seems)

Tribbles

10-02-2009, 01:01 PM

What would I like? Accuracy and a micro-usb port for download with a documented protocol. MicroSD card I would hate because it is fiddly and most PCs have no way of reading them.

If you remove the display it would have to have an audio feed out and that could cause problems with insurance because it is considered a luxury unless you are partially sighted.

Something the size of an iPod Nano which let me write apps for it would be great.

jer.lawrence

10-02-2009, 01:18 PM

What would I like? Accuracy and a micro-usb port for download with a documented protocol. MicroSD card I would hate because it is fiddly and most PCs have no way of reading them.

Ditto to this -- I think a Micro USB port would be great. You could include a small cable, but wouldn't need to. Most of us geeks that want USB already have USB cables.

Tattoo azz

10-02-2009, 03:23 PM

A meter with no screen would be going back to the dark ages, we need a screen to have an idea of what our blood sugar levels are and adjust our insulin accordingly, to have to turn the pc on every time you need to check your blood would make me stamp on the meter and get a different make! :D And what about those diabetics who don't have a pc or laptop?

Most strip containers hold either 25 or 50 strips, so that's a starting point for you, anything less than 25 would again be a step backwards.

The meter add-on for the DS is a great bit of kit! If this had been around when i was a kid i would have learnt to control my blood sugar quicker, this is because it uses a reward system that gives you points for good blood sugar and stable consistant control. These points can then be transferred to some DS games and exchanged for more cars, more levels, clues, hints, tips etc.

shiftzor

10-02-2009, 05:34 PM

My goodness how unfortunate for you to have to deal with people expressing themselves the way they want, and for being a little messy when they give you your free market research. There's an easy answer to that one for me... cya.

I think actually if TheRabbit really wanted valuable information he could search the millions of threads on this forum. There's hundreds of problems with meters today, you only have to take the time to look around.

Wireless meters is probably not practical but usb meter is. Would it really make the meter that much bigger? Code less is a necessity for me and I wouldn't change meter for a coded system unless it was really that much better. Graphing is important to me because I am not someone who sees patterns in numbers easily ;) however I think data freedom is important being able to export it in xml or something.

Winglucofacts is an example of good meter software imo, it's a rubbish implementation but the idea is there.

Sorry don't do short posts too well ;). The topic is a big issue.

themarquis

10-02-2009, 06:14 PM

The thing about cartridges is that the meter companies probably think it will be a big sell: "omg get a load of this, folks -- it's gonna blow your minds -- you don't have to handle those annoying, disgusting, bloody strips ever again!"

But speaking for myself, I really don't care whether I "handle" the strips. Whatever. It takes like two seconds to "handle" them. Meh.

Now, if I had terrible arthritis, it would be different. But there are several (I think) meters already on the market with cartridges or drums or wheels or whatever. I mean, let's be honest, the market for another kind of cartridge or drum or thingamabob is not going to be huge.

The other issue is that the cartridge strips (I've found) are usually much more expensive than the regular strips. I assume that's because we're paying for the "cuteness" of the cartridges as well as the money it takes to manufacture them. I have a Breeze 2 now with a test disk. It's fairly convenient that it dispenses the little strips, cuts down on the process by a few seconds. But they're extremely expensive. I'm only using it now because I got a deal on nearly expired test strip disks. :)

So assuming that your new amazing meter will use expensive cartridges, no. No, I do not think that would be a good idea.

butterflykisses

10-02-2009, 06:51 PM

@butterflykisses: The iphone actually has an app for that, just google 'iphone glucose' and you can find a whole presentation on that. But I am biased so it seems a bit clunky to me.

No no, not an app, I want the glucose meter integrated with the iphone...a phone/pda/mp3/GLUCOSE meter!!!:D

anniebug

10-05-2009, 07:10 AM

@anniebug: Cell phone compatibility would be good, but wireless standards are the issue. The good low powered standards like zigbee are not widely used. Would purchasing an add on connector to your cell phone to interface with the meter be an acceptable tradeoff?

I think you misunderstood me. I don't want a cell phone interface with my meter. I want a meter to have a keypad like a smart phone so that I can instantly enter data pertinent to that reading, such as Mother-in-law here for visit; stressful meeting at work; had a bite of birthday cake, that kind of thing.

EeyoreButterfly

10-05-2009, 08:23 PM

I love the fact that Freestyle Lite has a "port light" and then once it has enough blood and the test has started it switches to a backlight on the screen. I love it, it's an easy way to test and know the test has started.

I like the "vampire" strips that suck up the blood, and like the feature some have that the test does not start until there is enough blood on the strip. No coding is also a must.

I do like a meter that I can enter nutritional and medicinal data that I can use to graph, but it needs to be able to be downloaded on my computer, which means the driver needs to be compatible with the major software packages .I have this issue with my UltraSmart. I got a cable, but then the driver cannot be used with 62 bit Windows which is what I have, so it was a total waste of effort.

condensr

10-07-2009, 04:48 AM

I would love to see bluetooth as part of the meter. If not bluetooth, then mini/micro USB that comes up on the computer as a standard storage device. No drivers. Store the test data in CSV files with no proprietary binary formats.

Most important for me, though, is sample size. No more than ~0.5 microlitres, please.

I like the idea of a cartridge style system, but have never tried one. The Compact Plus looks nice (especially with the attached lancing device) but the 1.5 uL sample size makes it a no-go.

For me, there is no point to making the meter super-small if you can't also make a (reliable!) lancing device that is just as small and can attach to or be carried with the meter.

I prefer standard batteries such as AAA, or for a coin style something common like a CR2032.

A high-contrast screen like OLED would be nice..

xMenace

10-07-2009, 06:19 AM

I am also working on a cartridge based sensor design so that the user will never have to touch the sensor. Do you think this is good or bad? Or do you prefer the current strips? Also if you like the cartridge idea, about how many in a pack would you like to see?

Cartridges don't interest me, at least not yet. When I lose my site, maybe.

Speaking of that, put a speaker in so I can hear my results. Seriously. D is a leading cause of blindness. We have many sight impaired people on here. I've lost vision twice so far where I couldn't read my meter with one eye.

How would you feel about a completely wireless meter without a lcd screen? This would help cut production costs, leading to a cheaper meter. Or are the strips the main price concern?

Without a screen? How do we read it? We don't sit at home in front of our computers all day. If I'm in my car or in the hockey dressing room, I need to see my results now. BTW I use my cell phone to make telephone calls and that's it. Well I do use the alarms. Speaking of which an alarm system would be cool, but a nice loud one that would wake you up when you need to test. I am more than capable of using other features, but I purposely don't. No interest in Blackberries, Iphones, or whatever else you can think of. My phone is for calls only! I am not alone in this.

Being in Canada I get my meters for free. I think most people around the world can if they know how, even Americans. I use 8+ strips a day vs 1 meter a year. Strips are the main price concern.

Finally, what do you think about the new glucose sensor that can attach to the nintendo DS, good bad or just a gimmick?

What's a Nintendo DS? :eek:

xMenace

10-07-2009, 06:27 AM

A micro sd card would be miles better than phaffing around with cables.

Card readers are so common now thanks to digital cameras, and they might hold a lifetime of readings vs the pittance most meters store.

art

10-07-2009, 06:50 AM

Having worked in Medical device research, as a number cruncher, I'll tell you one thing. Remember you have to make a profit.'

As a Diabetic I want a non-invasive meter. Problem is the $$$ is in the strips. Unless you price the meter through the roof and then nobody could afford to but it.

Something of a problem..

But no matter what make it computer compatible and have it come with a cable or pure USB as Bayer has just done.

Art

MCS

10-07-2009, 07:50 AM

Being an innovator and a person that has brought new products to the market myself. The question I have is, are you going to return all this valuble info you are getting by donating to this forum.

Free information is only free if you allow it to be. How about sell say the first say 500 meters to everyone that has donated you information for a $1.00/ech.

So what I am trying to say here is do something in return.

Russell A.

10-07-2009, 08:04 AM

I think everyone’s input is great but still some how feel like we are being used! BUT I am with you! What is in this for US? Especially with the “TheRabbit” lashing out, being critical and not appreciative of the info. I still say ban the SOB!

Russell

Being an innovator and a person that has brought new products to the market myself. The question I have is, are you going to return all this valuble info you are getting by donating to this forum.

Free information is only free if you allow it to be. How about sell say the first say 500 meters to everyone that has donated you information for a $1.00/ech.

So what I am trying to say here is do something in return.

conguitos

10-16-2009, 11:54 AM

I think everyone’s input is great but still some how feel like we are being used! BUT I am with you! What is in this for US? Especially with the “TheRabbit” lashing out, being critical and not appreciative of the info. I still say ban the SOB!

Russell

I've read the posts by TheRabbit and I don't get where he's not appreciative of the received information. I don't understand how you can call him a s0n 0f a b1tch or even demand his banning.

khewell

10-17-2009, 03:29 AM

I've looked at a LOT of meters.
I'd like to see one that has just a simple USB hookup, could download data in a text format, a small light for the strip, back light display, and a 2hr timer to remind me when to check again. Anything beyond that would just be icing on the cake.

Doug

10-18-2009, 10:13 AM

the reasons that meters store readings in databases is so you cant manipulate the data before you give it to your Dr

xMenace

10-18-2009, 08:06 PM

I can never find a steady place to put mine. Can you make one that floats in the air?

ant hill

10-18-2009, 08:27 PM

I can never find a steady place to put mine. Can you make one that floats in the air?

Yeah if you're are in orbit out in space. LOL

TheRabbit, You don't muck around do you. Anyway I would like to say thanks for the work that you put into this project and hopes to get to market. :D:D

Tribbles

10-18-2009, 09:09 PM

...and a 2hr timer to remind me when to check again.
Yes!!! Ideally preset 15 minute, 1 hour, and two hour timers.

Seabear70

10-19-2009, 01:57 PM

Ok, I have a gripe about the packaging. Bayer is coming out with a flash drive based test unit, which will help some, but there's more that can be done.

I Scuba dive, do Iron Butt Motorcycle riding, and generally live an active lifestyle. I do not need nor do I wish to carry a fanny pack around with me that is not water proof or impact resistant at all.

So, make the whole thing smaller. Give me a flat package of test strips that I can stick in a small belt case with a lancing system with extra lancets that I can tuck into the same package. Add in a meter with built in software and a usb connector and the whole thing should be no larger than a pack of cigarettes with a solid belt clip, and I should be able to stand on it or drop it in a mud puddle without worrying if I'm going to lose two weeks worth of data.