Hand-held analytical device

• US 20050187444A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Frey, Stephan Michael, Schabbach, Michael, Hubner, Ute
• Granted Patent: US 7,803,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/322
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4875 Details of handling test elements, e.g. dispensing or storage, not specific to a particular test method test-elements per se B01L, automatic analysers G01N35/00, in-vivo analysis on the human body for medical diagnosis A61B

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable hand-held analytical device for analysis of a medically significant component of a sample, the device including a housing having a loading opening for receiving a replaceable drum cartridge containing analytical consumables, whereby the housing comprises on an outer side a dispensing opening through which the consumables can be pushed by means of a removal facility. The device includes a loading opening which is closeable by means of a lid, which upon closing effects a linear motion of a pushing part which moves the drum cartridge to a working position, in which it can be rotated about its geometric longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A portable hand-held analytical device for analysis of a medically significant component of a sample, said device comprising:

an analytical measuring unit,

a housing comprising a loading opening for receiving a replaceable drum cartridge, which can comprise analytical consumables and comprises at least one removal opening adapted to be disposed at a front face of the drum cartridge,

a lid for closing the loading opening,

a bearing for the drum cartridge facilitating a rotation of the drum cartridge about the geometric longitudinal axis of the drum cartridge, and

a removal facility for removing the analytical consumables from the drum cartridge, said housing comprising on one outer side a dispensing opening through which a consumable can be pushed by means of the removal facility, wherein

the lid is structured such that when it is closed it effects a linear motion of a pushing part of the device which moves the drum cartridge to a working position, in which it can be rotated about its geometric longitudinal axis.

2. The hand-held analytical device of claim 1, wherein the pushing part engages an axial recess of the drum cartridge.

3. The hand-held analytical device of claim 1 further comprising a fixing element by means of which the pushing part can be fixed in place.

4. The hand-held analytical device of claim 3 wherein the pushing part can be fixed in place such that it locks the drum cartridge in the working position in a rotatable position.

5. The hand-held analytical device of claim 3 wherein the pushing part comprises a lock-in position, which can engage the fixing element in a positive locking fashion.

6. The hand-held analytical device of claim 3 wherein the fixing element is borne on springs.

7. The hand-held analytical device of claim 3 wherein the fixing element is arranged in a U-shape around the pushing part such that by applying pressure to one end of the fixing element its other end can be loosened from engagement with the pushing part.

8. The hand-held analytical device of claim 1 wherein the pushing part can be pushed in the direction of the geometric longitudinal axis of an inserted drum cartridge.

9. The hand-held analytical device of claim 1 wherein the lid, upon closing, acts on the pushing part by means of a positioning element.

10. The hand-held analytical device of claim 1 wherein the lid is attached to the housing so as to be capable of swiveling.

11. The hand-held analytical device of claim 1 wherein the pushing part is part of a positioning facility which includes a spring, which exerts a pressure in the longitudinal direction on the pushing part and compensates for manufacturing tolerances in the axial direction.

12. The hand-held analytical device of claim 11 wherein the spring is a helical spring.

13. The hand-held analytical device of claim 1 wherein the bearing comprises a carrier which engages an axial recess of the drum cartridge.

14. The hand-held analytical device of claim 1 further comprising a reader sensor for reading a code on the jacket surface of the drum cartridge, which reader sensor is arranged such that it is fixed in place inside the housing.

15. The hand-held analytical device of claim 1 wherein the loading opening is arranged in one longitudinal side of the housing.