Sensor dispensing device

• US 20030089730A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: Hypoguard USA Inc.
• Inventors: Brickwood, David, Maisey, Graeme A., May, Stuart R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,997,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/232
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 1/00 Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated carriers used for associating, collating, or gathering articles B65H39/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2402/41 Portable or hand-held apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2407/30 Means for preventing damage of handled material, e.g. by controlling atmosphere
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack

Abstract

An embodiment of a sensor dispensing device for dispensing sensors for measuring analyte concentration in a fluid includes a cartridge assembly (32) having a housing (70) with an opening and means (16) for making a moisture-proof seal around the opening. A stack of sensors (12) is stored in the housing (70) and urged through the opening towards a stop member (73) by spring means. The device is provided with an externally actuable pusher (18) for breaking the seal and for pushing a single sensor from the housing.

Claims

1. A sensor dispensing device for dispensing sensors for testing of analyte concentration in a fluid, the device comprising:

a) a housing having a plurality of sensors arranged in a stack therein, each sensor carrying reagent means for producing a signal in response to the concentration of analyte in an applied fluid;

b) the housing having an opening of sufficient dimensions to permit a sensor to pass through the opening;

c) a stop member located beyond the opening which limits outward travel of sensors from the stack;

d) a spring means which urges the sensors towards the stop member;

e) a fixed gap between the stop member and the said opening of suitable dimensions to permit a sensor to be pushed through the said gap;

f) a sealing member for forming a moisture-tight seal with at least one sealing surface on or around the housing so as to protect sensors in the housing from atmospheric moisture, the relative positions of the sealing member and the sealing surface being adjustable by externally-actuable means to make or break the said seal; and

g) an externally-actuable pushing member for pushing a sensor from the said stack through the said gap to a dispensed position.

2. A sensor dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising signal-reading means for determining the concentration of an analyte in an applied sample according to a signal generated by the said sensor at the said dispensed position.

3. A sensor dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pushing member and the means for making or breaking the seal are actuated by operation of a single external actuating member.

4. A sensor dispensing device as claimed claim 3, wherein the actuating member is slidably mounted in relation to the housing.

5. A sensor dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pushing member is reciprocally slidable between a first position and a second position.

6. A sensor dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the arrangement is such that movement of the pushing member from the first position to the second position will cause the pushing member to insert at least a portion of itself between a sealing surface and the sealing member so as to break the seal and then to travel to an extent sufficient to permit a sensor to be urged to a position where it will be pushed through the gap by the pushing member in the course of its return journey to the first position.

7. A sensor dispensing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the arrangement is such that the pushing member will push in opposite directions on both the sealing member and the nearest sensor in the stack as it travels from the first position to the second position.

8. A sensor dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pushing member is urged from one position to the other by spring means.

9. A sensor dispensing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pushing member is urged to the first position by spring means.

10. A sensor dispensing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pushing member is connected to the actuating member by means of a rack and pinion gear arrangement.

11. A sensor dispensing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the actuating member is connected to the pushing member by means of linkages which convert a first translational motion to rotational motion and then convert the rotational motion to a second translational motion.

12. A sensor dispensing device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the direction of the second translational motion is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the first translational motion.

13. A sensor dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensors comprise amperometric biosensors having electrode tracks thereon for outputting an electrical signal in response to the concentration of analyte in a fluid when applied thereto, and wherein the device further comprises electrical contacts mounted in relation to the housing for engaging with the said electrode tracks at the said dispensed position;

and wherein the said signal-reading means comprises a meter connected to the electrical contacts, having electronics means for producing a signal output which is dependent on the electrical signal from a sensor when the sensor is engaged with the said contacts.

14. A sensor dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is part of a removable cartridge assembly.

15. A cartridge assembly for use in a sensor dispensing device in accordance with claim 14, the cartridge assembly comprising:

a) a housing having a plurality of sensors arranged in a stack therein, each sensor carrying reagent means for producing a signal in response to the concentration of analyte in an applied fluid;

b) the housing having an opening of sufficient dimensions to permit a sensor to pass through the opening;

c) a stop member located beyond the opening which limits outward travel of sensors from the stack;

d) a spring means which urges the sensors towards and into contact with the stop member;

e) a fixed gap between the stop member and the said opening of suitable dimensions to permit a sensor to be pushed through the said gap; and

f) at least one sealing surface on or around the housing for making a moisture-tight seal with a suitable sealing member so as to protect sensors in the housing from atmospheric moisture.

16. A cartridge assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a cartridge inner member, and wherein the cartridge assembly further comprises a cartridge outer member in which the cartridge inner member is located, the sealing surface being provided around the periphery of the cartridge outer member.

17. A cartridge assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the said sealing surface is provided on a flange around the cartridge outer member.

18. A cartridge assembly as claimed in any claim 15, wherein the opening of the housing has two opposed edges, the stop member being attached to or integrally formed with one of the said opposed edges and spaced apart from at least a portion of the other opposed edge.

19. A cartridge inner member for a cartridge assembly in accordance with claim 18, the cartridge inner member comprising:

a) a housing having a plurality of sensors arranged in a stack therein, each sensor carrying reagent means for producing a signal in response to the concentration of analyte in an applied fluid;

b) the housing having an opening of sufficient dimensions to permit a sensor to pass through the opening;

c) a stop member located beyond the opening which limits outward travel of sensors from the stack;

d) a spring means which urges the sensors towards and into contact with the stop member;

e) a fixed gap between the stop member and the said opening of suitable dimensions to permit a sensor to be pushed through the said gap;

wherein the opening of the housing has two opposed edges, the stop member being attached to or integrally formed with one of the said opposed edges, and spaced apart from at least a portion of the other opposed edge.

20. A cartridge assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the dimensions of the gap are such as to permit only a single sensor at a time to be pushed through the gap.

23. A cartridge assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein the dimensions of the gap are such as to permit only a single test member at a time to be pushed through the gap.

21. A cartridge assembly comprising a housing having opposed first and second walls, a plurality of test members arranged in a stack therein, each test member carrying reagent means for producing a signal in response to the concentration of analyte in an applied fluid, a spring means which urges the stack towards and into contact with the second wall, the housing having a gap adjacent to the second wall of suitable dimensions to permit a test member to be pushed through the said gap;

wherein at least one sealing surface is provided on or around the housing for making a moisture-tight seal with a suitable sealing member so as to protect test members in the housing from atmospheric moisture.

22. A cartridge assembly as claimed in claim 21, further including a support member in which the housing is received and on which the said sealing surface is provided.

24. A test device for testing of analyte concentration in a fluid to be applied thereto, the device comprising:

a) a plurality of test members arranged in a stack, each test member carrying reagent means for producing an electrical signal in response to the concentration of analyte in an applied fluid and having a plurality of electrode tracks for transmitting said electrical signal;

b) a cartridge assembly comprising a housing containing the said stack of test members, the housing having an opening and a peripheral sealing surface around the opening, and a stop member above the opening which limits outward travel of test members from the stack, the said stack of test members being urged towards the stop member by spring means;

wherein there is a gap between the stop member and the opening of suitable dimensions to permit a single test member to be pushed from the housing through the said gap;

c) electrical contacts mounted in relation to the housing for engaging with electrode tracks on a test member at an engagement location;

d) a meter connected to the said electrical contacts, having electronics means for producing a signal output which is dependent on the electrical signal from a test member when the test member is engaged with the said contacts;

e) a cap for closing the said opening, the cap and housing being movable relative to each other between an open position wherein a test member can pass between them and a closed position in which the cap is urged against the sealing surface, at least one of the cap and the sealing surface being provided with sealing means for making a moisture-tight seal therebetween when in the closed position;

f) an externally actuable pushing member which is reciprocally slidable between a first position and a second position,

the arrangement being such that movement of the pushing member from the first position to the second position will cause at least a part of the pushing member to be inserted between the sealing surface and the cap so as to adjust the cap to the open position and to push the stack of test members against the force of the spring means, and then to travel to an extent sufficient to permit a test member to be urged to a position where it will be pushed through the said gap to the engagement location by the pushing member in the course of its return journey to the first position.