Analyte Test Strip Dispensers and Elastomeric Caps for Sealing the Dispensers
First Claim
1. A analyte test strip dispenser, comprising:
- a housing including an open end of the housing;
a stack of analyte test strips disposed within the housing, the stack of analyte test strips stacked in a longitudinal direction and comprising a first analyte test strip at a first end of the stack and a second analyte test strip adjacent the first analyte test strip, the first end of the stack near the opening of the housing;
a dispensing element coupled to the housing and configured to displace the first analyte test strip out of the opening of the housing;
a biasing element coupled to the strip carrier and applying a biasing force to the stack of analyte test strips in a direction towards the dispensing element; and
an elastomeric cap including a cavity that receives the open end of the housing, wherein the elastomeric cap is undersized in relation to the open end of the housing such the elastomeric cap stretches over the open end of the housing and provides a pressure-fit seal around the open end of the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In some aspects, analyte test strip dispensers are provided. In some aspects, the analyte test strip dispensers store a plurality of analyte test strips and dispense one or more analyte test strips when needed. The analyte test strips may be stacked with an analyte test strip at one of the stack engaged with a dispensing element. The dispensing element may be slid relative to the dispenser to displace the analyte test strip out of the dispenser. In some aspects, an elastomeric cap having strong barrier properties for water vapor and moisture is provided. The elastomeric cap may be undersized in relation to the dispenser and stretched to couple to the dispenser, thus providing a pressure-fit seal along with strong barrier properties to water vapor and moisture.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A analyte test strip dispenser, comprising:
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a housing including an open end of the housing; a stack of analyte test strips disposed within the housing, the stack of analyte test strips stacked in a longitudinal direction and comprising a first analyte test strip at a first end of the stack and a second analyte test strip adjacent the first analyte test strip, the first end of the stack near the opening of the housing; a dispensing element coupled to the housing and configured to displace the first analyte test strip out of the opening of the housing; a biasing element coupled to the strip carrier and applying a biasing force to the stack of analyte test strips in a direction towards the dispensing element; and an elastomeric cap including a cavity that receives the open end of the housing, wherein the elastomeric cap is undersized in relation to the open end of the housing such the elastomeric cap stretches over the open end of the housing and provides a pressure-fit seal around the open end of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An elastomeric cap for sealing an analyte test strip dispenser, comprising:
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an elastomeric shell forming a cavity that receives an open end of an analyte test strip dispenser; and an interior surface within the cavity; wherein the elastomeric cap is elastic so as to be stretchable over the open end of the dispenser to provide a pressure-fit seal around the open end of the dispenser, and wherein the elastomeric cap comprises a material having strong barrier properties for water vapor and moisture. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification