Storage container for analytical devices

• US 20030059350A1
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Klaus-Dieter Sacherer
• Original Assignee: Klaus-Dieter Sacherer
• Inventors: Sacherer, Klaus-Dieter
• Granted Patent: US 7,547,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/104
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48778 Containers specially adapted therefor, e.g. for dry storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A storage container for holding analytical devices, the storage container being made of a rigid material and containing separate chambers in each of which at most one analytical device can be accommodated, wherein the chambers are in a regular geometric arrangement in relation to one another and each of the chambers has at least two opposite openings each sealed by a foil, wherein at least one of the chambers comprises a means for fixing the position of an analytical device in the chamber. In addition the invention concerns a system for storing analytical devices containing a storage container according to the invention and two or more analytical devices.

Claims

1. A storage container for holding analytical devices, the storage container being made of a rigid material and containing separate chambers in each of which at most one analytical device can be accommodated, wherein the chambers are in a regular geometric arrangement in relation to one another and each of the chambers has at least two opposite openings each sealed by a foil, wherein at least one of the chambers comprises a means for fixing the position of an analytical device in the chamber.

2. The storage container of claim 1 wherein the means for fixing the position of an analytical device comprises a partial constriction of the chamber.

3. The storage container of claim 2 wherein the partial constriction comprises at least one elevation in the wall of the chamber which protrudes into the interior of the chamber.

4. The storage container of claim 1 wherein the at least two openings in each chamber are sized such that an analytical device can pass through only one of the openings.

5. The storage container of claim 4 wherein the opening of each chamber through which an analytical device cannot pass is sized to allow passage of a plunger which can be used to push an analytical device out of the chamber.

6. The storage container of claim 5 wherein each of the chambers contains a guide groove for guiding the movement of a plunger.

7. The storage container of claim 1 further comprising at least one outer surface that is sealed by foil, the outer surface having an elevation present thereon which prevents direct contact between the foil sealing the outer surface and a flat support surface when the storage container is placed on such a flat support surface.

8. The storage container of claim 7 further comprising a second outer surface that is sealed by foil, the second outer surface having an elevation present thereon which prevents direct contact between the foil sealing the second outer surface and a flat support surface when the storage container is placed on such a flat support surface.

9. A system for storing analytical devices comprising at least one of the storage containers of claim 1 and a plurality of analytical devices.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the analytical devices comprise test elements for analyzing liquids.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising a measuring instrument which is suitable for holding at least one of the storage containers.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein a plurality of the analytical devices are provided per storage container.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein at least one storage container is contained in a system container.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a desiccant adapted to be placed in the system container.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein a plurality of the storage containers is contained in the system container.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a desiccant adapted to be placed in the system container.