HANDHELD ANALYZER FOR TESTING A SAMPLE
First Claim
1. A handheld analyzer for testing a biological fluid for a medically significant component, comprising a display device, a housing, a loading opening for receiving a replaceable magazine containing a plurality of analytical consumable means, a withdrawal device for withdrawing one of the analytical consumable means from the magazine and for conveying it onto a conveyance pathway, an analysis sensor to which an analytical consumable means may be supplied on the conveyance pathway, and a test unit which detects the correct positioning of an analytical consumable means in the conveyance pathway, wherein the test unit comprises an electric switch component configured for mechanically sensing the positioning of an analytical consumable means on the conveyance pathway, assuming at least one switch position which represents the presence of an analytical consumable means and delivering a switch signal as a function of the positioning of the analytical consumable means, the test unit further comprising an optical sensor unit configured for optically sensing the positioning of an analytical consumable means on the conveyance pathway and delivering a sensor signal as a function of the positioning of the analytical consumable means, and the test unit further comprising a control unit configured for analyzing the switch signal of the electric switch component, analyzing the sensor signal of the optical sensor unit, and controlling the handheld analyzer as a function of the comparison of these signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a handheld analyzer for testing a sample, in particular of a biological fluid, for a medically significant component. It comprises a test unit, which detects the correct positioning of an analytical consumable means in a conveyance pathway. According to this invention, the test unit has both an electric switch component which mechanically senses the positioning of the analytical consumable means and an optical sensor unit which optically senses the positioning of the analytical consumable means on the conveyance pathway. The handheld analyzer is controlled as a function of a comparison of the signals of the electric switch component and the optical sensor unit. It is possible in this way to reduce malfunctions or operating errors associated therewith.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A handheld analyzer for testing a biological fluid for a medically significant component, comprising a display device, a housing, a loading opening for receiving a replaceable magazine containing a plurality of analytical consumable means, a withdrawal device for withdrawing one of the analytical consumable means from the magazine and for conveying it onto a conveyance pathway, an analysis sensor to which an analytical consumable means may be supplied on the conveyance pathway, and a test unit which detects the correct positioning of an analytical consumable means in the conveyance pathway, wherein the test unit comprises an electric switch component configured for mechanically sensing the positioning of an analytical consumable means on the conveyance pathway, assuming at least one switch position which represents the presence of an analytical consumable means and delivering a switch signal as a function of the positioning of the analytical consumable means, the test unit further comprising an optical sensor unit configured for optically sensing the positioning of an analytical consumable means on the conveyance pathway and delivering a sensor signal as a function of the positioning of the analytical consumable means, and the test unit further comprising a control unit configured for analyzing the switch signal of the electric switch component, analyzing the sensor signal of the optical sensor unit, and controlling the handheld analyzer as a function of the comparison of these signals.
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14. A method for operating a handheld analyzer for testing a biological fluid for a medically significant component, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing the handheld analyzer comprising a display device, a withdrawal device, for withdrawing an analytical consumable means from a magazine and for conveying said means onto a conveyance pathway, an analysis sensor to which the analytical consumable means can be supplied on the conveyance pathway, and a test unit comprising an electric switch component, an optical sensor unit and a control unit, the test unit being configured to detect the correct positioning of an analytical consumable means in the conveyance pathway; activating the handheld analyzer; withdrawing, one of the analytical consumable means from the magazine and conveying said means onto the conveyance pathway; analyzing a switch signal from the electric switch component using the control unit, the electric switch component being configured for mechanically sensing the positioning of an analytical consumable means on the conveyance pathway; analyzing a sensor signal from the optical sensor unit using the control unit, the optical sensor unit being configured for optically sensing the positioning of the analytical consumable means on the conveyance pathway; and controlling the handheld analyzer as a function of the comparison of the switch signal and the sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification