Method and apparatus for dispensing diagnostic test strips

• US 20110000932A1
• Filed: 09/13/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Embecta Corporation
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Lovell, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,652,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0829 by means of an actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/087 by means of an actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/24 by pushers engaging the edges of the articles
• 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: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack

Abstract

An apparatus for storing and dispensing a test strip includes a container configured to store a stack of test strips. The container maintains appropriate environmental conditions, such as humidity, for storing the test strips. An engaging member is disposed in the container and is adapted to contact one test strip of the stack of test strips. An actuator actuates the engaging member to dispense the one test strip from the container. Since one test strip is dispensed at a time, the remaining test strips are not handled by the user. Accordingly, the unused test strips remain free of contaminants such as naturally occurring oils on the user'"'"'s hand.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing and dispensing test strips, comprising:

a container configured to store a stack of test strips;

a spring disposed in the container, the spring adapted to contact one test strip of the stack of test strips; and

an actuator for actuating the spring to dispense the one test strip from the container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a thumbwheel at least partially exposed outside of the container.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the spring comprises a spiral pusher spring.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises a thumbwheel connected to the spiral pusher spring by a gear train so that rotation of the thumbwheel causes the spring to dispense the contacted test strip.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said gear train and said spiral pusher spring are disposed in a cartridge that is selectively removable from said container.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a cylindrical spring drum disposed in said container, wherein said spiral pusher spring is wound around said cylindrical spring drum.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a guide track disposed in said container, wherein a first end of the spiral pusher spring is fixed to the cylindrical spring drum and a second end of the spiral pusher spring is disposed in said guide track to contact an edge of one test strip of the stack of test strips.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a rack connected to the spring;

a pinion engaging the rack; and

a thumbwheel engaging the pinion so that rotation of the thumbwheel displaces the rack and causes the spring to dispense the contacted test strip.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a lever arm that pivots about a pivot point, an end of the lever arm being connected to the spring to drive the spring so that pivoting of the lever causes the spring to dispense the contacted test strip.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a biasing element for urging the stack of test strips into a position such that the spring contacts one test strip of the stack of test strips.

11. An apparatus for storing and dispensing test strips, comprising:

means for storing a stack of test strips;

a spring for contacting one test strip of the stack of test strips, the spring contacting an edge of one test strip of the stack of test strips; and

means for actuating the contacting means to dispense the contacted test strip.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the spring comprises a spiral pusher spring.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the actuating means comprises a thumbwheel connected to the spiral pusher spring by a gear train so that rotation of the thumbwheel causes the spring to dispense the contacted test strip.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a cylindrical spring drum disposed in said container; and

a guide track disposed in said container;

wherein a first end of the spiral pusher spring is fixed to the cylindrical spring drum and a second end of the spiral pusher spring is disposed in said guide track to contact an edge of one test strip of the stack of test strips.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the actuating means comprises:

a rack connected to the spring;

a pinion engaging the rack; and

a thumbwheel engaging the pinion so that rotation of the thumbwheel displaces the rack and causes the spring to dispense the contacted test strip.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the actuating means comprises a lever arm that pivots about a pivot point, an end of the lever arm being connected to the spring to drive the spring so that pivoting of the lever causes the spring to dispense the contacted test strip.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for urging the stack of test strips into a position such that the spring contacts one test strip of the stack of test strips.

18. A method of storing and dispensing test strips, comprising:

arranging a plurality of test strips to form a stack of test strips;

storing the plurality of test strips in a storage container;

urging the stack of test strips toward a dispensing position;

engaging an edge of one test strip of the stack of test strips with a spring;

actuating the spring to dispense the engaged test strip; and

urging the remaining test strips toward the dispensing position so that another test strip is placed into a dispensing position.

19. The method of storing and dispensing test strips according to claim 18, wherein the operation of actuating the spring comprises:

transmitting the rotational force of a thumbwheel to rotate a spring drum connected to an end of the spring; and

guiding an opposing end of the spring in a guide track to push the edge and dispense the engaged test strip.

20. The method of storing and dispensing test strips according to claim 18, wherein the operation of actuating the spring comprises pivoting a lever which is operatively engaged with the engagement member.