Detachable test sensor container having a system for reducing coding errors

• US 20080066529A1
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Zhong, Weiping
• Granted Patent: US 7,858,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/61.41
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

A test sensor container that releasably attaches to a testing device for testing an analyte concentration in a fluid sample. The test sensor container comprises a housing, a connector and an opening formed in the housing. The housing contains a plurality of test sensors. The opening formed in the housing receives a test sensor having the fluid sample to be tested by the testing device. The opening includes at least two contact springs for contacting the test sensor to be tested.

Claims

1. A test sensor container adapted for use with a testing device for testing an analyte concentration in a fluid sample, the test sensor container comprising:

a housing adapted to contain a plurality of test sensors, the housing adapted to releasably connect to the testing device, the plurality of test sensors including at least two electrodes at the ends of the test sensors;

at least one connector connected to the housing, the at least one connector adapted to releasably connect the housing to the testing device; and

an opening formed in the housing, the opening adapted to receive a test sensor having the fluid sample to be tested by the testing device, the opening having at least two contact springs adapted to contact the test sensor to be tested.

2. The test sensor container of claim 1, wherein the at least two contact springs are located at a predetermined distance in the opening of the test sensor container.

3. The test sensor container of claim 1, wherein the at least two contact springs are located at a predetermined location in the opening of the test sensor container.

4. The test sensor container of claim 1, wherein the at least two contact springs are arranged to contact the at least two electrodes of the test sensor to be tested.

5. The test sensor container of claim 4, wherein the at least two contact springs contact the at least two electrodes based on a predetermined pattern or design.

6. The test sensor container of claim 1, wherein the opening is adapted to receive a test sensor having a specific shape.

7. A method for determining an analyte concentration in a fluid sample, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a test sensor container having a housing adapted to contain a plurality of test sensors, the test sensor container releasably connected to a testing device via at least one connector;

receiving a test sensor having the fluid sample to be tested through an opening in the test sensor container, the test sensor having at least two electrodes, the opening containing at least two contact springs;

contacting the at least two contact springs with the at least two electrodes of the test sensor; and

measuring the analyte concentration via the testing device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least two contact springs and the at least two electrodes are positioned at predetermined distances to allow the contact to occur.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least two contact springs and the at least two electrodes are positioned at predetermined locations to allow the contact to occur.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least two contact springs contact the at least two electrodes based on a predetermined pattern or design.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the opening is adapted to receive a test sensor having a specific shape.

12. A system for testing an analyte concentration in a fluid sample, the system comprising:

a test sensor container including a housing for handling a plurality of test sensors and an opening for receiving a test sensor having the fluid sample to be tested, the opening having at least two contact springs; and

a testing device releasably connected to and in communication with the test sensor container such that when the at least two contact springs of the test sensor container contact the test sensor having the fluid sample, the testing device determines the analyte concentration in the fluid sample.

13. A test sensor container adapted for use with a testing device for testing an analyte concentration in a fluid sample, the test sensor container comprising:

a housing for handling a plurality of test sensors, the housing including a lid;

a spring having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the lid, the second end contacting at least one of the plurality of test sensors in the housing, the second end adapted to move the at least one of the plurality of test sensors out of the housing, one at a time, when the lid is opened by a user.

14. The test sensor container of claim 13, further comprising a mechanism for assisting in moving the at least one of the plurality of test sensors in a direction toward the lid of the housing to facilitate the removal of the at least one test sensor.

15. The test sensor container of claim 13, wherein the second end of the spring includes a rubber object for contacting the at least one of the plurality of test sensors.

16. The test sensor container of claim 13, wherein the second end of the spring includes a hook for contacting the at least one of the plurality of test sensors.

17. A test sensor container adapted for use with a testing device for testing an analyte concentration in a fluid sample, the test sensor container comprising:

a housing for handling a plurality of test sensors, the housing adapted to releasably connect to the testing device;

at least one connector for connecting the housing to the testing device; and

a counter for counting when at least one of the plurality of test sensors has been removed from the housing, such that the testing device will only operate when the counter reads that at least one of the test sensors has been removed.