TEST-SENSOR CARTRIDGE

• US 20100072270A1
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Huang, Dijia, Zhong, Weiping, Creaven, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0067 Types of closures or fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0081 Pins cooperating with slots of a slideable locking bar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/085 combined with means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48778 Containers specially adapted therefor, e.g. for dry storage

Abstract

A test-sensor cartridge including a plurality of test sensors adapted to assist in determining an analyte concentration of a fluid sample. The cartridge further includes a plurality of walls forming a cavity therein. The cavity is adapted to include the plurality of test sensors. At least one of the plurality of walls forms at least one aperture. The cartridge further includes a lid adapted to enclose the cavity. The cartridge further includes a locking feature adapted to lock the lid to one or more of the walls. The locking feature is adapted to be disengaged by the at least one aperture receiving a projection of an analyte-testing instrument.

Claims

1. A test-sensor cartridge comprising:

a plurality of test sensors adapted to assist in determining an analyte concentration of a fluid sample;

a plurality of walls forming a cavity therein, the cavity being adapted to include the plurality of test sensors, at least one of the plurality of walls forming at least one aperture;

a lid adapted to enclose the cavity; and

a locking feature adapted to lock the lid to one or more of the walls, the locking feature being adapted to be disengaged by the at least one aperture receiving a projection of an analyte-testing instrument.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the locking feature includes a latch coupled to the cartridge and a corresponding notch coupled to the lid.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the locking feature includes a tab portion extending into the aperture.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the aperture extends completely through the cartridge.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge further includes a coding feature positioned such that the coding feature may be read by the analyte-testing instrument when the at least one opening receives the projection.

6. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein the coding feature is located on a surface of the lid adjacent to the cavity and the projection includes a feature for reading the coding feature.

7. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the aperture is adapted to receive a first projection of a first analyte-testing instrument with which the cartridge is compatible and wherein the aperture may not receive a second projection of a second analyte-testing instrument with which the cartridge is incompatible.

8. A test-sensor cartridge comprising:

a plurality of test sensors adapted to assist in determining an analyte concentration of a fluid sample;

a plurality of walls forming a cavity therein, the cavity being adapted to include the plurality of test sensors, at least one of the walls forming at least one aperture;

a lid adapted to enclose the cavity;

a coding feature positioned on at least one of the walls or the lid; and

a locking feature adapted to lock the lid to one or more of the walls, at least a portion of the locking feature being positioned within the at least one aperture, the locking feature being adapted to be disengaged by the at least one aperture receiving a projection of an analyte-testing instrument, and

wherein the coding feature is adapted to be read by a reading device positioned on the analyte-testing instrument.

9. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the locking feature includes a latch coupled to the cartridge and a corresponding notch coupled to the lid.

10. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the locking feature is coupled to the lid, the locking feature further including a tab portion extending into the aperture.

11. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the aperture extends completely through the cartridge.

12. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the coding feature is positioned on an exterior surface of one of the walls.

13. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the coding feature is located on a surface of the lid adjacent to the cavity and the projection includes reading device.

14. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the aperture is adapted to receive a first projection of a first analyte-testing instrument with which the cartridge is compatible and wherein the aperture may not receive a second projection of a second analyte-testing instrument with which the cartridge is incompatible.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the act of disengaging the locking feature includes the at least one projection forcing the locking feature out from the at least one aperture.

15. A method of modifying testing parameters of an analyte-testing instrument, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a test-sensor cartridge including a plurality of walls forming a cavity therein, the cavity being adapted to include a plurality of test sensors, at least one of the walls forming at least one aperture, the cavity being enclosed by a lid having a locking feature adapted to lock the lid to one or more of the walls, the test sensors being adapted to assist in the determination of a concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample, at least one of the lid or the walls having a coding feature being positioned thereon;

providing an analyte-testing instrument having at least one projection located thereon, the analyte-testing instrument including a reading device;

disengaging the locking feature by contacting the cartridge to the analyte-testing instrument such that the at least one projection mates with the at least one aperture;

reading the coding feature using the reading device;

modifying at least one testing parameter of the analyte-testing instrument based on information received by reading the coding feature.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the locking feature includes a latch coupled to the cartridge and a corresponding notch coupled to the lid.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the locking feature includes a tab portion extending into the aperture.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the aperture extends completely through the cartridge.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the coding feature is located on a surface of the lid adjacent to the cavity and the reading device is positioned on the at least one projection.