Handheld apparatus for analysis with a conveyance path for test elements

• US 20070183925A1
• Filed: 02/05/2005
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Schabbach, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,922,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/58
• 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

A handheld device for analyzing a sample for a medically significant component may comprise an analysis sensor to which an analytic consumable may be supplied along a conveyance path, a drivable conveyance roll configured to grip the analytic consumable protruding into the conveyance path, a motor configure to drive the drivable conveyance roll, and a housing containing the analysis sensor, the drivable conveyance roll and the motor.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A handheld analysis device for analyzing a sample for a medically significant component, comprising:

a drum magazine containing an analytic consumable that is configured to receive the sample,

an analysis sensor to which the analytic consumable may be supplied along a conveyance path,

a drivable conveyance roll configured to grip the analytic consumable projecting out of the drum magazine and into the conveyance path and to move the analytic consumable along the conveyance path, and

a housing containing the drum magazine, the analysis sensor and the drivable conveyance roll.

19. The handheld analysis device of claim 18 further comprising a movable pushrod contained within the housing and configured to force the analytic consumable at least partially out of the drum magazine and at least partially into the conveyance path.

20. The handheld analysis device of claim 19 wherein the drum magazine defines at least one removal opening,

and wherein the movable pushrod is configured to force the analytic consumable at least partially out of the drum magazine via the at least one removal opening.

21. The handheld analysis device of claim 20 wherein the drum magazine has a front face defining the at least one removal opening,

and wherein the conveyance roll is situated directly adjacent to the front face of the drum magazine.

22. The handheld analysis device of claim 20 wherein the drum magazine defines at least one insertion opening diametrically opposite the at least one removal opening,

and wherein the movable pushrod is configured to be moved into the at least one insertion opening to force the analytic consumable at least partially out of the at least one removal opening of the drum magazine.

23. The handheld analysis device of claim 22 further comprising a drive configured to drive the conveyance roll.

24. The handheld analysis device of claim 23 wherein the drive comprises a threaded rod defining a thread that extends laterally along the drum magazine, the threaded rod cooperating together with a shaft to drive the conveyance roll.

25. The handheld analysis device of claim 24 wherein the drive further comprises a transmission that cooperates together with the threaded rod via a gearwheel to move the movable pushrod.

26. The handheld analysis device of claim 25 wherein the drive further comprises an electric motor configured to drive the threaded rod.

27. The handheld analysis device of claim 23 wherein the drive and the conveyance roll are configured to reintroduce the analytic consumable into the drum magazine after analysis of the sample received on the analytic consumable.

28. The handheld analysis device of claim 18 wherein the housing defines a loading opening configured to receive the drum magazine therein, the drum magazine being replaceable within the housing.

29. The handheld analysis device of claim 18 wherein the drum magazine is configured to contain a plurality of analytic consumables.

30. The handheld analysis device of claim 18 wherein the housing defines a housing opening to which the conveyance path leads,

and wherein the conveyance roll defines a geometrical longitudinal axis and is drivable along its geometrical longitudinal axis both clockwise and counterclockwise in order to move the consumable toward the housing opening and away from the housing opening.

31. The handheld analysis device of claim 18 further comprising a counter roll,

and wherein the conveyance roll and the counter roll define a conveyance gap between the two through which the analytic consumable is moved.

32. The handheld analysis device of claim 31 wherein the conveyance gap has a profile tailored to the analytic consumable.

33. The handheld analysis device of claim 32 wherein the counter roll defines a groove along a direction of conveyance.

34. The handheld analysis device of claim 18 further comprising a conveyance surface that is stationary relative to the conveyance roll,

and wherein the conveyance roll and the conveyance surface define a conveyance gap between the two through which the analytic consumable is moved.

35. The handheld analysis device of claim 34 wherein the conveyance gap has a profile tailored to the analytic consumable.

36. The handheld analysis device of claim 35 wherein the counter roll defines a groove along a direction of conveyance.

37. The handheld analysis device of claim 34 further comprising a conveyance base extending along the conveyance path to support a removed analytic consumable.

38. The handheld analysis device of claim 37 wherein the conveyance surface is part of the conveyance base.

39. The handheld device of claim 18 wherein the conveyance roll defines a surface having a high coefficient of friction.

40. The handheld analysis device of claim 18 further comprising an additional conveyance roll for removing the analytic consumable from the housing, the conveyance roll and the another conveyance roll being situated at a distance from one another along the conveyance path.

41. The handheld analysis device of claim 18 wherein the sample is a biological liquid.

42. The handheld analysis device of claim 18 further comprising a display unit configured to display a result of analysis of the sample.

43. A handheld analysis device for analyzing a sample for a medically significant component, comprising:

an analysis sensor to which an analytic consumable may be supplied along a conveyance path,

a drivable conveyance roll configured to grip the analytic consumable protruding into the conveyance path and to move the analytic consumable along the conveyance path,

a motor configured to drive the drivable conveyance roll, and

a housing containing the analysis sensor, the drivable conveyance roll and the motor.

44. The handheld analysis device of claim 43 wherein the motor is configured to drive the conveyance roll in a first direction that moves the analytic consumable along the conveyance path in a direction toward the housing opening, and to also drive the conveyance roll in a second direction that moves the analytic consumable long the conveyance path in a direction away from the housing opening.

45. The handheld analysis device of claim 43 wherein the sample is a biological liquid.

46. A handheld analysis device for analyzing a sample for a medically significant component, comprising:

a housing defining a housing opening through which an analytic consumable may pass,

an analysis sensor, positioned within the housing, to which the analytic consumable may be supplied along a conveyance path, the conveyance path leading to the housing opening,

a drivable conveyance roll positioned within the housing and configured to automatically grip the analytic consumable advanced through the housing opening and advance the analytic consumable along the conveyance path.

47. The handheld analysis device of claim 46 wherein the sample is a biological liquid.