Device for removing consumable analytic products from a storage container

• US 20030039584A1
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Miltner, Meinrad Dilger, Michael Schabbach, Rolf Baumann, Thomas Klemm
• Original Assignee: Karl Miltner, Meinrad Dilger, Michael Schabbach, Rolf Baumann, Thomas Klemm
• Inventors: Schabbach, Michael, Baumann, Rolf, Dilger, Meinrad, Klemm, Thomas, Miltner, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 7,569,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/64
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00039 Transport arrangements specific to flat sample substrates, e.g. pusher blade
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00089 Magazines
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A method and a device for removing an analytic consumable product, in particular a test element, from a storage container having chambers which are sealed by foils from which the consumable product is pushed out by means of a plunger (7) can be optimized in that the magnitude of the thrusting force exercised by the plunger (7) during its forward motion can be controlled in dependence on the plunger (7) position.

Claims

1. Device for removing a consumable analytic product, in particular a test element, out of a storage container having one or more chambers containing the consumable product, wherein the chambers each have a removal opening for removal of a consumable product and an insertion opening disposed opposite to the removal opening for introduction of a plunger to transport the consumable product, wherein the removal opening and the insertion opening are sealed with a foil for storing the consumable product and the plunger can be displaced by means of a drive unit to remove a consumable product,

wherein

the magnitude of the thrusting force which is exercised by the plunger during its forward motion for removal of a consumable product can be controlled in dependence on the position of the plunger.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the thrusting force can be controlled in dependence on the thrusting path traveled through by the plunger, wherein the thrusting path can be determined relative to a component occupying a fixed location with respect to the device.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the thrusting force is increased during at least one of the following operational conditions:

when the plunger penetrates through the foil covering the insertion opening, when the consumable product penetrates through the foil covering the removal opening, when positioning the removed consumable product into a predetermined working position, or when expelling a used consumable product out of a predetermined working position.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the thrusting speed of the plunger is reduced in regions of increased thrusting force and increased in regions of reduced thrusting force.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the thrusting motion of the plunger can be controlled by electronic regulation of the drive unit.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit includes a drive motor which can be operated with substantially constant drive power.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit includes a drive motor which can be operated with a substantially constant rate of revolution.

8. Device according to claim 1, wherein the thrusting motion of the plunger can be controlled by a mechanical path control or a mechanical control having a cam or a curved path.

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the path control comprises a helically wound control element which can be driven by the drive unit for rotation about its longitudinal axis to control the thrust and which is connected to a carrier member to move the plunger in the thrusting direction during rotation of the control element.

10. Device according to claim 9, wherein the longitudinal axis of the control element extends in the direction of thrusting motion of the plunger.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the plunger passes through the control element in an axial direction.

12. Device according to claim 9, wherein the pitch of the control element is constant along its helically shaped windings.

13. Device according to claim 9, wherein the pitch of the control element changes along its helically shaped winding in correspondence to a desired thrusting force-position dependence for the plunger.

14. Device according to claim 13, wherein the rate of revolution of the drive unit motor is substantially constant during forward displacement of the plunger.

15. Device according to claim 13, wherein the rate of revolution of the control element is substantially constant during forward displacement of the plunger.

16. Device according to claim 9, wherein the control element comprises a cylindrical drum controller having a groove in its outer surface and the carrier member comprises a tendon block engaging into the groove.

17. Device according to claim 9, wherein the control element comprises a cylindrical helically wound transport spiral and the carrier element is configured as a carrier pin engaging into the windings of the transport spiral.

18. Analysis apparatus for analysis of a medical sample using a medical consumable product, in particular for carrying out an analysis using a test element, comprising a removal device according to claim 1.

19. Analysis apparatus of claim 18, wherein it can be operated independent of the power mains.

20. Method for removing an analytic consumable product, in particular a test element, from a storage container having one or more chambers containing consumable products, wherein the chambers each have a removal opening for removal of a consumable product and an insertion opening disposed opposite to the removal opening for introduction of a plunger to transport the consumable product, the removal opening and the insertion opening being sealed with a foil for storing the consumable product, wherein the plunger is displaced via a drive unit for removal of a consumable product,

wherein

the magnitude of the thrusting force which is exercised by the plunger during its forward motion for removal of a consumable product is controlled in dependence on the position of the plunger.