TAPE MAGAZINE FOR A HAND-HELD DEVICE

• US 20110229960A1
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Rösicke, Bernd, List, Hans, Haar, Hans-Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,815,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• 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 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 16/00 Unwinding, paying-out webs reel-to-reel type web winding and unwinding mechanisms B65H18/103, B65H18/145
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 18/08 Web-winding mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48764 Test tape taken off a spool
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The present invention concerns a tape magazine especially for a hand-held device for analysing a body fluid with a test tape that can be unwound from a storage unit and wound onto a waste unit where the waste unit can be driven in order to wind forward the test tape. The invention provides that a lock which keeps the test tape under tension is integrated in the tape magazine at least on the storage unit. The present invention also concerns a hand-held device with such a tape magazine. The present invention also concerns a hand-held device with a mechanical drive for the test tape and a disposable hand-held device with polymer-based electronic components.

Claims

1. Tape magazine apparatus for a hand-held device for analysing a body fluid, the apparatus comprising:

a test tape,

a storage unit formed for unused test tape,

a waste unit formed for used test tape and to be driven in order to move forward the test tape from the storage unit, and

an integrated brake that is formed to hold the test tape under tension between the storage and waste units.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake is formed to apply a force to the storage unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake is formed to exert a direct braking force on the test tape.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake is formed to act on a reel body for the test tape.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake is formed to exert a constant braking force on the storage unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake is formed as a frictional element.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake comprises a leaf spring.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake is formed by a seal at an opening of the storage unit for the test tape.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake is formed to act on the storage unit with a variable braking force.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein variable braking force depends on the diameter of a tape spool of the storage unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the variable braking force depends on the tape tensile force upon movement of the test tape.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the brake has a lever loaded with a braking force via a spring.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the lever has a roller at one end and the test tape is deflected over the roller.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the brake has a compensation mechanism that is loaded with a force that changes depending on the diameter of a supply spool of the storage unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the compensation mechanism is formed by a spring-loaded rocker arm which touches the circumference of the supply spool.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage unit has a first housing wall and the waste unit has a second housing wall that forms an overlapping area with the first wall, the overlapping area defining an opening formed to carry through the test tape.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the integrated brake includes a seal positioned in the opening.

18. A hand-held device for analysing a body fluid with a replaceable tape magazine according to claim 1.

19. A tape magazine apparatus for analysing a body fluid comprising:

a test tape,

a reel body for unused test tape and a reel body for used test tape, at least one reel body being driven in order to forward the test tape, and

a hand-operated transport mechanism provided as a tape drive.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the transport mechanism has a lever for the hand operation that is coupled to at least one reel body.

21-45. -45. (canceled)