Test strip holding and reading mechanism for a meter
First Claim
1. In combination, a strip supporting a reagent chemistry the remission of which changes as the chemistry reacts with a component of a body fluid to indicate the concentration of the component in the body fluid, the strip having opposed major surfaces, and a device for accepting the strip, the device comprising a pathway along which radiation is guided from a radiation source to the chemistry when the strip is properly inserted into the device and along which remission is guided from the chemistry to a radiation detector when the strip is properly inserted into the device, a tile having a tile surface for providing a standard remission, means for movably supporting the tile to permit the tile surface to move from a position in which the tile surface receives radiation from the radiation source and produces the standard remission which is guided along the pathway to the radiation detector when no strip is inserted into the device to a position separated from the radiation source by the strip when the strip is inserted into the device, the means for movably supporting the tile comprising a strip carrier body having a surface facing the tile, a lift for movable engagement by the strip carrier body, one of the strip carrier body and lift providing a pair of elongated slots the long dimensions of which extend generally transversely to the directions of motion of the strip into and from the device and generally transversely to the major surfaces of the strip when the strip is inserted into the device, the other of the strip carrier body and lift having a pair of oppositely extending trunnions for engaging the slots, the lift further including incline means for engagement by the strip as the strip is inserted into the device to move the lift away from the strip carrier body as permitted by the engagement of the trunnions in the slots and permit insertion of the strip between the strip carrier body and lift, the incline means provided at an entry end of the strip carrier body and lift, means for yieldably urging the lift toward the facing surface of the strip carrier body so that the lift lies against the facing surface of the strip carrier body when no strip is inserted into the device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An instrument for analyzing test strips supporting chemistries which react with a medically significant component of a body fluid to indicate the concentration of the component in the body fluid. The instrument includes a pathway along which radiation is guided from a radiation source to a strip when the strip is inserted into the instrument and along which remission is guided from the strip to a radiation detector. A title provided on the instrument provides a first remission when no strip is inserted into the instrument. The tile is separated from the radiation source by the strip when the strip is inserted into the instrument. The first remission and the strip'"'"'s remission, respectively, indicate the absence and the presence of the strip in the instrument. The strip also has a surface opposite the chemistry supporting surface characterized by a second strip remission different from the first strip remission. The instrument is capable of determining whether the strip has been inserted into the instrument correctly or backward.
201 Citations
23 Claims
- 1. In combination, a strip supporting a reagent chemistry the remission of which changes as the chemistry reacts with a component of a body fluid to indicate the concentration of the component in the body fluid, the strip having opposed major surfaces, and a device for accepting the strip, the device comprising a pathway along which radiation is guided from a radiation source to the chemistry when the strip is properly inserted into the device and along which remission is guided from the chemistry to a radiation detector when the strip is properly inserted into the device, a tile having a tile surface for providing a standard remission, means for movably supporting the tile to permit the tile surface to move from a position in which the tile surface receives radiation from the radiation source and produces the standard remission which is guided along the pathway to the radiation detector when no strip is inserted into the device to a position separated from the radiation source by the strip when the strip is inserted into the device, the means for movably supporting the tile comprising a strip carrier body having a surface facing the tile, a lift for movable engagement by the strip carrier body, one of the strip carrier body and lift providing a pair of elongated slots the long dimensions of which extend generally transversely to the directions of motion of the strip into and from the device and generally transversely to the major surfaces of the strip when the strip is inserted into the device, the other of the strip carrier body and lift having a pair of oppositely extending trunnions for engaging the slots, the lift further including incline means for engagement by the strip as the strip is inserted into the device to move the lift away from the strip carrier body as permitted by the engagement of the trunnions in the slots and permit insertion of the strip between the strip carrier body and lift, the incline means provided at an entry end of the strip carrier body and lift, means for yieldably urging the lift toward the facing surface of the strip carrier body so that the lift lies against the facing surface of the strip carrier body when no strip is inserted into the device.
- 22. In combination, a strip supporting a reagent chemistry which reacts with a component of a body fluid to indicate the concentration of the component in the body fluid, and a device for accepting the strip, the device comprising a pathway along which radiation is guided from a radiation source to the strip when the strip is inserted into the device and along which remission is guided from the strip to a radiation detector when the strip is inserted into the device, a housing for providing a first remission, the housing receiving radiation from the radiation source and producing the first remission which is guided along the pathway to the radiation detector when no strip is inserted into the device, the housing separated from the radiation source by the strip when the strip is inserted into the device, the first remission and the strip'"'"'s remission respectively indicating the absence and the presence of the strip in the device, the strip having first and second opposed major surfaces, the strip'"'"'s remission being the remission of said first major surface, said second major surface having a second strip remission different from the first strip remission, the radiation detector producing a first output in response to detection of the first strip remission and a second and different output in response to the second strip remission, the first strip remission and the second strip remission respectively indicating first and second orientations of the strip in the device.
Specification