TEST-SENSOR CARTRIDGE

• US 20100099192A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Wu, Huan-Ping, Brenneman, Allen J.
• Application Number:
  US12/530,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20100099192A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/43
• 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 cartridge is disclosed (200). The drum-like cartridge comprises a first face (202), a second opposing face (213), and a side portion (204) connecting the first and second opposing faces. With a plurality of test-sensor cavities (209) that is generally uniformly positioned therethrough. The plurality of the test sensor cavities are arranged in a non-radial layout. The plurality of test-sensor cavities contains a respective test sensor (207). The test sensor is adapted to assist in determining a concentration of an analyte, especially glucose.

Claims

1. A test-sensor cartridge comprising a first face, a second opposing face, and a side portion connecting the first and second opposing faces, the first face forming a plurality of test-sensor cavities that is generally uniformly positioned therethrough, the plurality of the test sensor cavities being arranged in a non-radial layout, the plurality of test-sensor cavities containing a respective test sensor, the test sensor being adapted to assist in determining a concentration of an analyte.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein at least the first face is generally round.

3. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the second face is generally round.

4. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the outer diameter of the face of the cartridge is from about 0.25 inches to about 2.0 inches.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein at least the first face is generally polygonal.

8. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the second face further comprises a plurality of generally uniformly-spaced notches, the number of notches corresponding to the number of test-sensor cavities.

9. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the test-sensor cavities are generally offset from a radial position at an angle ranging from approximately 1.0 degree to approximately 30 degrees.

12. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the test sensor includes an enzyme.

13. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the analyte is glucose.

14. The cartridge of claim 13, wherein the enzyme is glucose dehydrogenase.

5. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

10-11. -11. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. An instrument adapted to determine an analyte concentration of a fluid sample using a test sensor, the instrument comprising:

a display adapted to display information to a user;

a user-interface mechanism adapted to allow the user to interact with the instrument;

a test-sensor cartridge comprising a first face, a second opposing face, and a side portion connecting the first and second opposing faces, the first face forming a plurality of test-sensor cavities that is generally uniformly positioned therethrough, the plurality of the test sensor cavities being arranged in a non-radial layout, the plurality of test-sensor cavities containing a respective test sensor, the test sensor being adapted to assist in determining a concentration of the analyte; and

a body portion including at least a first opening formed therein, the first opening being adapted to receive a test sensor from the test-sensor cartridge.

17. The instrument of claim 16, wherein the first face and the second opposing face are generally round.

23. The instrument of claim 16, wherein the second face further comprises a plurality of generally uniformly-spaced notches, the number of notches corresponding to the number of test-sensor cavities.

24. The instrument of claim 16, wherein the test-sensor cavities are generally offset from a radial position at an angle ranging from approximately 1.0 degrees to approximately 30 degrees.

31. The instrument of claim 16, further comprising a mechanism adapted to index the test sensor from the test-sensor cartridge.

32. The instrument of claim 16, further comprising a mechanism adapted to excise the test sensor from the test-sensor cartridge.

18-22. -22. (canceled)

25-30. -30. (canceled)

33. A method of excising a test sensor from a test-sensor cartridge located within an analyte-testing instrument, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a test-sensor cartridge comprising a first face, a second opposing face, and a side portion connecting the first and second opposing faces, the first face forming a plurality of test-sensor cavities that is generally uniformly positioned therethrough, the plurality of the test sensor cavities being arranged in a non-radial layout, the plurality of test-sensor cavities containing a respective test sensor, the test sensor being adapted to assist in determining a concentration of an analyte;

providing an instrument comprising a display adapted to display information to a user, a user-interface mechanism adapted to allow the user to interact with the instrument, a body portion including at least a first opening formed therein, the first opening being adapted to receive a test sensor from the test-sensor cartridge, and an excise mechanism;

moving the excise mechanism so as to excise a test sensor from the cartridge, the excised test sensor being positioned within the first opening of the instrument.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the second face further comprises a plurality of generally uniformly-spaced notches, the number of notches corresponding to the number of test-sensor cavities.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein the test-sensor cavities are generally offset from a radial position at an angle ranging from approximately 1.0 degrees to approximately 30 degrees.

48. The method of claim 33, further comprising a mechanism adapted to index the test sensor from the test-sensor cartridge.

34-39. -39. (canceled)

42-47. -47. (canceled)