Sensor-Dispensing Device And Mechanism For Extracting Sensor

• US 20080021296A1
• Filed: 10/19/2005
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Creaven, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,142,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/365
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack

Abstract

A cartridge assembly is adapted to be used in a sensor-dispensing device. The cartridge assembly comprises an end cap, a disposable cartridge and a sealing mechanism. The end cap includes one opening. The disposable cartridge comprises an outer and inner cartridge. The inner cartridge contains sensors arranged in a stack therein. Each of the sensors carries a reagent sufficient to produce a signal in response to the analyte concentration in a fluid. The outer cartridge forms an opening of sufficient dimensions to permit a sensor to pass through the opening. The outer cartridge includes a holding mechanism that holds at least one of the sensors in place during movement of the inner cartridge. The sealing mechanism is adapted to form a substantially moisture-tight seal.

Claims

1. A sensor-dispensing device adapted to determine an analyte concentration of a fluid, the device comprising:

a cartridge assembly including an end cap, a disposable cartridge and a sealing mechanism, the disposable cartridge comprising an outer cartridge and an inner cartridge, the inner cartridge containing a plurality of sensors arranged in a stack therein, the outer cartridge including a holding mechanism that holds at least one of the sensors in place during movement of the inner cartridge, the sealing mechanism being adapted to form a substantially moisture-tight seal so as to protect the sensors within the inner cartridge from atmospheric moisture; and

a gripping mechanism being adapted to grip a sensor and pull the sensor from the stack through the opening in the outer cartridge to a dispensed position,

wherein the outer cartridge forms an opening of sufficient dimensions to permit a sensor and the gripping mechanism to pass therethrough.

2. The sensor-dispensing device of claim 1 further comprising a mechanism for determining the analyte concentration in the fluid.

3. The sensor-dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the gripping mechanism is reciprocally slidable between a first position and a second position.

4. The sensor-dispensing device of claim 3, wherein the movement of the gripping mechanism from the first position to the second position causes the gripping mechanism to insert at least a portion thereof between a sealing surface and the sealing mechanism so as to break the seal and then to travel to an extent sufficient to permit a sensor to be urged to a position to contact the sensor and wherein the movement of the gripping mechanism from the second position to the first position pulls the sensor through the opening.

5. The sensor-dispensing device of claim 4, wherein the gripping mechanism contacts both the sealing mechanism and an uppermost sensor in the stack when traveling from the first position to the second position.

6. The sensor-dispensing device of claim 5, wherein the gripping mechanism is adapted to be manually urged between the first and second positions by a user.

7. The sensor-dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the sealing mechanism is attached to the end cap.

8. The sensor-dispensing device of claim 7, wherein the sealing mechanism includes a seal door and a linkage mechanism, the linkage mechanism assists in facilitating the movement of the seal door.

9. The sensor-dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the opening permit only a single sensor at a time to be pulled therethrough.

10. The sensor-dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the outer housing includes exactly one opening.

11. The sensor-dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the holding mechanism holds the uppermost sensor in place while the inner cartridge is moved relative to the outer cartridge by the gripping mechanism.

12. The sensor-dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the gripping mechanism contains electrical contacts to link the sensor to the electronics of the sensor-dispensing device.

13. A cartridge assembly being adapted to be used in a sensor-dispensing device, the sensor-dispensing device being adapted to determine the analyte concentration of a fluid, the cartridge assembly comprising:

an end cap;

a disposable cartridge comprising an outer cartridge and an inner cartridge, the inner cartridge containing a plurality of sensors arranged in a stack therein, each of the plurality of sensors carrying a reagent sufficient to produce a signal in response to the analyte concentration in the fluid, the outer cartridge forming an opening of sufficient dimensions to permit a sensor to pass through the opening, the outer cartridge including a holding mechanism that holds at least one of the sensors in place during movement of the inner cartridge; and

a sealing mechanism being adapted to form a substantially moisture-tight seal so as to protect the sensors within the inner cartridge from atmospheric moisture.

14. The cartridge assembly of claim 13, wherein the sealing mechanism is attached to the end cap.

15. The cartridge assembly of claim 14, wherein the sealing mechanism includes a seal door and a linkage mechanism, the linkage mechanism assists in facilitating the movement of the seal door.

16. The cartridge assembly of claim 13, wherein the dimensions of the opening permit only a single sensor at a time to be pulled therethrough.

17. The cartridge assembly of claim 13, wherein the outer cartridge includes exactly one opening.

18. The cartridge assembly of claim 13 further including a mechanical mechanism for positioning the test sensors, one at a time, for removal from the inner cartridge.

19. The cartridge assembly of claim 13, wherein the holding mechanism holds the uppermost sensor in place while the inner cartridge is moved relative to the outer cartridge.

20. A method of operating a sensor-dispensing device, the sensor-dispensing device adapted to handle a sensor pack containing a plurality of sensors, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a sensor-dispensing device including a cartridge assembly and a gripping mechanism, the cartridge assembly including an end cap, a disposable cartridge and a sealing mechanism, the disposable cartridge comprising an outer cartridge and an inner cartridge, the inner cartridge containing a plurality of sensors arranged in a stack therein, the outer cartridge including a holding mechanism that holds at least one of the sensors in place during movement of the inner cartridge, the outer cartridge forming an opening of sufficient dimensions to permit a sensor and the gripping mechanism to pass therethrough, the sealing mechanism being adapted to form a substantially moisture-tight seal so as to protect the sensors within the inner cartridge from atmospheric moisture; and

advancing the gripping mechanism so as to move the sealing mechanism to an open position and to contact one of the plurality of test sensors,

pulling the test sensor via the gripping mechanism through the opening of the cartridge assembly,

placing a fluid with an analyte on the test sensor; and

determining the concentration of the analyte.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the analyte is glucose.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein advancing the gripping mechanism includes reciprocally sliding the gripping mechanism between a first position and a second position.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the sealing mechanism is attached to the end cap.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the sealing mechanism includes a seal door and a linkage mechanism, the linkage mechanism assists in facilitating the movement of the seal door.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the dimensions of the opening permit only a single sensor at a time to be pulled therethrough.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the outer housing includes exactly one opening.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the holding mechanism holds the uppermost sensor in place while the inner cartridge is moved relative to the outer cartridge by the gripping mechanism.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the gripping mechanism contains electrical contacts to link the sensor to the electronics of the sensor-dispensing device.