ANALYSIS DEVICE WITH HOUSING LOCK MECHANISM

• US 20080257040A1
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Pelzer, Wolfgang, Reubzaet, Wouter, Riebel, Stefan, Meinecke, Dieter
• Granted Patent: US 7,946,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/431
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0406 specially shaped apparatus housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

An analysis device is provided comprising a housing having at least two housing parts, a measuring unit and a processor provided therein for purposes of the functionality of the analysis device and generation of analysis data, wherein the device comprises a lock element for producing a generally fixed mechanical connection between the at least two housing parts. Providing such a lock element allows the analysis device to be checked for quality control and/or functionality purposes before the lock element is fitted to the housing, and if the device requires service or repair as a result of such checks then the housing can be reopened without damage to the housing or other aspects of the device. Once the lock element is fitted into a locked position for locking the housing together, subsequent reopening of the housing causes structural effects, including damage or destruction, to either or both of the lock element and the housing or housing parts, ensuring that such reopening becomes apparent to the user.

Claims

1. An analysis device for analyzing a medically significant component of a sample, comprising a housing having at least two housing parts, a measuring unit provided in the housing for performing the analysis on the sample, and a processor having software for processing measured values ascertained by the measuring unit and for preparing data from the measured values, the device further comprising a lock element configured for locking the housing of the analysis device by producing a generally fixed mechanical connection between the at least two housing parts, the analysis device being generally functional for its basic purpose when the housing parts are in a generally mated orientation and the lock element is not fitted in a locked position, the housing being locked when the lock element is fitted in the locked position, wherein when the lock element is fitted in the locked position subsequent reopening of the housing is precluded without the reopening being apparent from structural effects on at least one of the housing and the lock element, and wherein during manufacture of the analysis device at least one functionality check may be performed on the analysis device being assembled except for the lock element and any of flaws and errors that are presented from said at least one check may be corrected or repaired without structural effects on the housing and lock element from reopening the housing parts.

2. The analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the locking of the housing by the lock element is configured to cause damage to the lock element upon the reopening of the housing.

3. The analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the lock element engages housing parts in such a way that removing the lock element is precluded without causing destruction of the lock element.

4. The analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the lock element comprises a plurality of catch hooks each configured for insertion into corresponding receptacle openings provided in the housing.

5. The analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the lock element comprises a predetermined breaking point configured to break upon at least one of reopening of the housing and removal of the lock element, when the lock element is in the locked position.

6. The analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the lock element is configured to comprise an additional housing part which connects the other at least two housing parts.

7. The analysis device according to claim 6, wherein the lock element comprises a component of the overall housing.

8. The analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the lock element comprises a load-bearing component of the housing construction and is configured to contribute to keeping the housing parts mechanically together.

9. The analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the lock element is configured as an integral design part of the housing such that its locking function is not generally apparent to a user of the analysis device.

10. The analysis device according to claim 1, the analysis device comprising a device selected from the group consisting of a blood glucose meter, a cholesterol measuring device, and a blood coagulation parameter measuring device, wherein the sample comprises a bodily fluid.

11. The analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a portable analysis device which may be manually handled, manually actuated, and manually operated by a user.

12. A method for producing an analysis device for analyzing a medically significant component of a sample, comprising the steps of:

providing a device defined by a housing comprising at least two housing parts, a measuring unit provided in the housing for performing the analysis by a sample and a processor provided in the housing having software for processing the measured values ascertained by the measuring unit and for preparing analysis measurement data from the measured values;

positioning the housing parts in a generally mated but unlocked orientation;

performing at least one functionality check on the device;

if flaws or other errors are presented, then fixing, correcting or repairing the device and repeating the at least one functionality check; and

it no further flaws or errors are presented, then fitting a lock element to the housing so that thereafter reopening of the housing is no longer possible without the reopening being apparent on at least one of the housing and the lock element.