Method for manufacturing a carrier tape comprising lancets and tape magazines for storing lancets

• US 20100292609A1
• Filed: 11/16/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Zimmer, Volker, Deck, Frank, Konya, Ahmet, Hiller, Bernd
• Application Number:
  US12/619,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20100292609A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/583
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150282 for piercing elements, e.g. blade, lancet, canula, needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150305 Packages specially adapted for piercing devices or blood sampling devices kits for diabetes A61M5/003; packaging in general B65D
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150419 comprising means for capillary action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150435 Specific design of proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150572 Pierceable protectors, e.g. shields, caps, sleeves or films, e.g. for hygienic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15153 Multiple piercing elements stocked in a single compartment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15169 Characterized by a rolled strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15171 Characterized by propelling the piercing element perpendicular to the direction of movement of the strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15176 Stocking means comprising cap, cover, sheath or protection for aseptic stocking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15178 Stocking means comprising separate compartments or units for new and for used piercing elements separate compartments for used piercing elements in piercing devices A61B5/15184
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a carrier tape comprising lancets and corresponding products in which a plurality of disposable lancets having a lancet tip for piercing a user'"'"'s skin are provided on a carrier tape that is or can be wound onto a spool and used for obtaining a sample of body fluid. The lancets can each be arranged in a package and the lancet packages formed in this manner can be applied individually to the carrier tape and fastened thereon.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a carrier tape, adapted to be wound onto a spool, the carrier tape having a plurality of disposable lancets provided thereon, the lancets each having a lancet tip to pierce a user'"'"'s skin and obtain a sample of body fluid, comprising:

providing sterilized lancets and arranging each lancet in a package so that the lancets are thereby sterilely enclosed at least in the area of their tips before they are applied to the carrier tape; and

subsequently individually applying the lancet packages formed in this manner to the carrier tape and attaching them thereon.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the packages are formed from a base foil and a cover foil that is joined thereto.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the base foil and cover foil are brought into contact with one another and joined while enclosing the lancets.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the base foil and the cover foil are joined together by a hot-melt adhesive activated by a hot stamp.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of the lancet packages are manufactured in a connected manner as a package tape and are separated before application to the carrier tape.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the package tape is formed by bringing together and joining a base foil strip and a cover foil strip.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the package tape is manufactured by folding down a foil strip and forming lancet pockets in the folded foil strip.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the lancet packages are at the same time cut and the border is sealed while enclosing the lancets by using a hot cut.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the lancets are permanently joined to the packages at a proximal end section of the lancets.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein at least the tips of the lancets are protected against damage in the packages.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the lancet tips are arranged in pockets formed by the packages.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the lancet packages are formed by a base foil and a sealing compound applied thereon which encloses at least the lancet tips.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein at least the tips of the lancets in the lancet packages are sterilized before they are applied to the carrier tape.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the lancet packages are each fastened on the carrier tape at a joining surface that faces away from the lancet.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the lancet packages are applied to the carrier tape in the form of labels or stickers.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the lancet packages are provided with pieces of adhesive tape to glue them onto the carrier tape.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the lancet packages are held on the carrier tape by mechanical connecting means or by welding.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein test elements to which the sample of body fluid can be applied are applied to the carrier tape.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the test elements are applied in alternating fashion on the carrier tape with the lancet packages.

20. A method for manufacturing a carrier tape adapted to be wound onto a spool, the carrier tape having a plurality of lancets and test elements provided thereon, the lancets being configured for piercing a user'"'"'s skin, and the test elements being configured for analyzing a sample of body fluid, comprising:

prefabricating the lancets and the test elements separately as package units; and

subsequently applying the package units to the carrier tape and fastening them on the carrier tape in a common assembly process.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the lancet and test element package units have widths which correspond to the width of the carrier tape.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the carrier tape is arranged in a cassette so that it can be pulled off a take-off spool and wound onto a take-up spool.

23. A tape magazine for storing lancets, the magazine comprising a carrier tape wound onto a spool and a plurality of disposable lancets arranged on the carrier tape, the lancets each comprising a lancet tip for piercing a user'"'"'s skin, wherein the lancets are each arranged in a prefabricated package and the lancet packages are fastened on the carrier tape in spaced apart relationship from one another.

24. A tape magazine for storing lancets and analyte test elements, the magazine comprising a carrier tape wound onto a spool and a plurality of disposable lancets and analyte test elements arranged on the carrier tape, wherein the lancets and test elements are each arranged in a prefabricated package unit and the lancet and test element package units are fastened on the carrier tape in an alternating manner spaced apart from one another.