Method and apparatus for dispensing diagnostic test strips

• US 20110000933A1
• 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, Chan, Victor
• Granted Patent: US 9,039,977 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 lid connected to the container by a hinge; and

a linkage assembly operatively connected to the lid, the linkage assembly adapted to contact one test strip of the stack of test strips;

wherein when the lid is opened, a test strip is dispensed.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the linkage assembly comprises a lifting member, said lifting member comprising a lower contacting member for contacting an edge of the one test strip of the stack of test strips.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lifting member comprises a guide member that travels in a guide rail of the container to guide movement of the lifting member.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the linkage assembly comprises:

a first arm member connected to the lid;

a second arm member connected to the first arm member by a living hinge; and

a third arm member connected to the second arm member by a living hinge, the third arm member being the lifting member and contacting the one test strip so that the test strip is dispensed when the lid is opened.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said guide rail is disposed on a side wall of the container.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the linkage assembly comprises:

a slider arm connected to the lid, the slider arm having a slot that engages a boss on the container;

a first linkage member connected to the slider arm; and

a second linkage member connected to the first linkage member, the second linkage member being the lifting member and contacting the one test strip so that the test strip is dispensed when the lid is opened.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the lid is closed, the linkage assembly is moved to a resting position in which the lower contacting member contacts the edge of a next-dispensed test strip.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing element for urging the stack of test strips into a position such that the linkage assembly contacts one test strip of the stack of test strips.

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

means for storing a stack of test strips;

means for contacting and edge of one test strip of the stack of test strips; and

a lid connected to the container by a hinge for actuating the contacting means to dispense the contacted test strip

wherein the contacting means comprises a linkage assembly operatively connected to the lid.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the linkage assembly comprises a lifting member, said lifting member comprising a lower contacting member for contacting the edge of the one test strip of the stack of test strips.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the lifting member comprises a guide member that travels in a guide rail of the container to guide movement of the lifting member.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the linkage assembly comprises:

a first arm member connected to the lid;

a second arm member connected to the first arm member by a living hinge; and

a third arm member connected to the second arm member by a living hinge, the third arm member being the lifting member and contacting the one test strip so that the test strip is dispensed when the lid is opened.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said guide rail is disposed on a side wall of the container.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the linkage assembly comprises:

a slider arm connected to the lid, the slider arm having a slot that engages a boss on the container;

a first linkage member connected to the slider arm; and

a second linkage member connected to the first linkage member, the second linkage member being the lifting member and contacting the one test strip so that the test strip is dispensed when the lid is opened.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when the lid is closed, the linkage assembly is moved to a resting position in which the lower contacting member contacts the edge of a next-dispensed test strip.

16. 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 the stack of test strips with a linkage assembly;

actuating the linkage assembly to dispense the engaged test strip by opening a lid of the storage container, which is operatively engaged with the linkage assembly; and

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

17. The method of storing and dispensing test strips according to claim 16, wherein the engaging member contacts an edge of one test strip of the stack of test strips.

18. The method of storing and dispensing test strips according to claim 16, further comprising closing the lid to place the linkage assembly into a resting position, in which a member of the linkage assembly contacts the edge of a next-dispensed test strip.

19. The method of storing and dispensing test strips according to claim 16, wherein the actuating operation comprises guiding a guide member of the linkage assembly in a guide track of the container to guide the movement of the linkage assembly.

20. The method of storing and dispensing test strips according to claim 16, wherein the linkage assembly comprises a slider arm having a slot therein and the container comprises a guide boss engaged with the slot;

and

the actuating operation comprises guiding movement of the linkage assembly by cooperation between the guide boss and the slider arm.