Means of handling multiple sensors in a glucose monitoring instrument system

• US 5,632,410 A
• Filed: 07/12/1996
• Issued: 05/27/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Wogoman, Frank W., Moulton, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, KENNETH W
• Application Number:
  US08/638,971
• Time in Patent Office: 319 Days
• Field of Search: 221/70, 221/79, 221/80, 221/81, 221/76, 221/197, 221/268, 221/270, 221/272, 221/25, 221/26, 221/30, 221/32
• US Class Current: 221/79
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• 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 33/66 involving blood sugars, e.g. galactose

Abstract

A sensor dispensing instrument (20) includes a sensor magazine (26) that contains a plurality of blood glucose sensors (38) disposed in sensor slots (30A-J). Each of the sensor slots (30A-J) is in fluid communication with a desiccant cavity (50A-J) in which desiccant material is disposed. The front and rear walls (34, 32) of the sensor magazine (26) are sealed with burst foils (40, 42) so as to seal the sensor slots (30A-J) and the desiccant cavities (36A-J). The sensor instrument (20) has an outer housing (22) with a laterally extending magazine opening (24) adapted to receive the sensor magazine (26). A pivot rod (28) is moved through the magazine (26) and is locked into an operating position. The magazine (26) is rotated on the pivot rod (28) until a detent arm (48) on the instrument housing (22) engages a detent groove (50A-J) on the magazine (26) to position the magazine (26) in a sensor feeding position. Once so positioned, a sensor push rod (54) is pushed forward resulting in the push rod (54) piercing the rear burst foil (42) and engaging a sensor (38) in one of the sensor slots (30A-J) to thereby push the sensor (38) out through the front burst foil (40) and into a testing position. While in this testing position, the sensor (38) can be placed in a blood sample that needs to be analyzed. Once the test is completed, the push rod (54) is advanced forward further to thereby eject the used sensor (38) from the sensor handling instrument (20). The push rod (54) then is retracted to a standby position and the sensor magazine (26) is rotated until the detent arm (48) engages another detent groove (50A-J) so that another sensor slot (30A-J) is in alignment with the push rod (54).

Claims

1. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) for handling of a plurality of fluid sensors (38) comprising:

a housing (22) having a magazine opening (24);

a sensor magazine (26) adapted to be disposed in said magazine opening (24), said sensor magazine (26) having a plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) each of which sensor slots (30A-J) is adapted to accommodate one of said plurality of fluid sensors (38);

a feed means (54);

a pivot means (28) for maintaining said sensor magazine (26) in said magazine opening (24) and permitting said sensor magazine (26) to be positioned so that one of said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) is in alignment with said feed means (54); and

feed actuator means (58) connected to said feed means (54) for advancing said feed means (54) through said sensor slot (30A-J) in alignment with said feed means (54) so that said sensor (38) in said sensor slot (30A-J) is placed into a testing position and for further advancing said feed means (54) so that said sensor (38) is ejected from said instrument (20).

2. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensor magazine (26) is a right cylinder having a plurality of detent means (50A-J) along its outer periphery (52), each of said detent means (50A-J) corresponding to one of said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J).

3. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said detent means (50A-J) and said sensor slots (30A-J) are equally spaced on said sensor magazine (26).

4. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) as set forth in claim 2 including a detent arm means (48) projecting into said magazine opening (24), one of said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) being in alignment with said feed means (54) when said detent arm means (48) is disposed in one of said plurality of detent means (50A-J).

5. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensor magazine (26) includes a plurality of desiccant cavities (36A-J), each of which desiccant cavities (36A-J) is in fluid communication with one of said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) .

6. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) as set forth in claim 5 including desiccant material in each of said plurality of desiccant cavities (36A-J) so that each of said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) is maintained in a desiccate state.

7. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) as set forth in claim 5 wherein said sensor magazine (26) includes first and second walls (32, 34) with each of said plurality of desiccant cavities (36A-J) extending from said first wall (32) toward said second wall (34) and including first foil means (42) covering said first wall (32) such that said plurality of desiccant cavities (36A-J) are sealed by said first foil means (42).

8. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensor magazine (26) includes first and second walls (32, 34) with each of said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) extending from said first wall (32) to said second wall (34) and including first foil means (42) covering said first wall (32) and a second foil means (40) covering said second wall (34) such that said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) are sealed between said first and second foil means (42, 40).

9. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) as set forth in claim 8 wherein as said feed means (54) is being advanced by said feed actuator means (58) said feed means (54) pierces said first foil means (42), enters into said sensor slot (30A-J) in alignment with said feed means (54) and engages said sensor (38) in said sensor slot (30A-J) forcing said sensor (38) to pierce through said second foil means (40) into said testing position.

10. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said plurality of sensors (38) includes a chamfered testing end (64) that is adapted to pierce said second foil means (40) and that is adapted to be placed in fluid to be tested.

11. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feed actuator means (58) returns said feed means (54) to a standby position after said one said plurality of sensors (38) is ejected from said instrument (20).

12. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pivot means (28) has a first position wherein said sensor magazine (26) is permitted to rotate on said pivot means (28) and a second position retracted away from said magazine opening (24) so that said sensor magazine (26) can be inserted into or removed from said magazine opening (24).

13. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) as set forth in claim 12 including a knob means (72) associated with said pivot means (28) for moving said pivot means (28) to said first and second positions.

14. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) for handling of a plurality of fluid sensors (38) comprising:

a housing (22) having a magazine receiving means (24);

a sensor magazine (26) adapted to be disposed in said magazine receiving means (24) and having first and second walls (32,

     34), said sensor magazine (26) having a plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) extending between said first and second walls (32,

     34) with one of said plurality of fluid sensors (38) being disposed in each of said sensor slots (30A-J) and a plurality of desiccant cavities (36A-J) extending from said first wall (32) towards said second wall (34), each of which desiccant cavities (36A-J) having desiccant material disposed therein and being in fluid communication with one of said sensor slots (30A-J);

a push rod (54);

a pivot means (28) engageable with said sensor magazine (26) when said sensor magazine (26) is positioned in said magazine receiving means (24) for positioning said sensor magazine (26) and permitting the rotation of said sensor magazine (26) so that one of said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) is in alignment with said push rod (54); and

first foil means (42) covering said first wall (32) and a second foil means (40) covering said second wall (34) such that said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) and said plurality of desiccant cavities (36A-J) are sealed by said first and second foil means (42,

     40); and

actuator means (58) associated with said push rod (54) for advancing said push rod (54) through said first foil means (42) into said sensor slot (30A-J) in alignment with said push rod (54) so that said sensor (38) in said sensor slot (30A-J) is forced through said second foil means (40) and placed into a testing position and for further advancing said push rod (54) so that said sensor (38) is ejected from said instrument (20).

15. A sensor dispensing instrument (20) as set forth in claim 14 including a detent arm means (48) projecting into said magazine receiving means (24) and wherein said sensor magazine (26) has a plurality of detent means (50A-J) along its outer periphery (52), each of said detent means (50A-J) corresponding to one of said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) so that one of said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) is in alignment with said push rod (54) when said detent arm means (48) is disposed in one of said plurality of detent means (50A-J).

16. A sensor magazine (26) for use in a dispensing instrument (20) for fluid sensors (38) comprising:

a sensor housing portion (22) having first and second walls (32,

     34) with a plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) extending between said first and second walls (32,

     34), each of said plurality of said sensor slots (30A-J) being adapted to receive a fluid sensor (38); and

first foil means (42) covering said first wall (32) and a second foil means (40) covering said second wall (34) such that said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) are sealed by said first and second foil means (42,

     40).

17. A sensor magazine (26) as set forth in claim 16 including a plurality of desiccant cavities (36A-J) extending from said first wall (32) towards said second wall (34), each of which desiccant cavities (36A-J) having desiccant material disposed therein and being in fluid communication with one of said sensor slots (30A-J).

18. A sensor magazine (26) as set forth in claim 17 wherein said first foil means (42) additionally seals said plurality of desiccant cavities (36A-J).

19. A sensor magazine (26) as set forth in claim 16 wherein said dispensing instrument (20) includes a feed means (54) that is adapted to pierce said first foil means (42), enter into one of said sensor slots (30A-J) and engage said sensor (38) in said sensor slot (30A-J) forcing said sensor (38) to pierce through said second foil means (40) into a testing position.

20. A sensor magazine (26) as set forth in claim 19 wherein said said first and second foil means (42, 40) are in planes generally transverse to the direction in which said sensor (38) is forced as said sensor (38) pierces said second foil means (40).

21. A method of handling a plurality of fluid sensors (38) comprising:

installing a sensor magazine (26) into a magazine opening (24) in a housing (22) of a sensor dispensing instrument (20), said sensor magazine (26) having a plurality of sensor slots (30A-J), each of which sensor slots (30A-J) is adapted to accommodate one of said plurality of fluid sensors (38);

pivoting said sensor magazine (26) so that one of said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) is in alignment with said feed means (54);

actuating a feed actuator means (58) to advance a feed means (54) through said sensor slot (30A-J) in alignment with said feed means (54) so that said sensor (38) in said sensor slot (30A-J) is placed into a testing position; and

further actuating said feed actuator means (58) so that said feed means (54) is further advanced to eject said sensor from said instrument (20).

22. A method of handling a plurality of fluid sensors (38) as set forth in claim 21 wherein said sensor magazine (26) includes first and second walls (32, 34) with each of said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) extending from said first wall (32) to said second wall (34) and including first foil means (42) covering said first wall (32) and a second foil means (40) covering said second wall (34) such that said plurality of sensor slots (30A-J) are sealed between said first and second foil means (42, 40) and wherein said feed means (54) pierces said first foil means (42) as said feed means (54) is advanced into said sensor slot (30A-J) and said sensor (38) pierces said second foil means (40) as said feed means (54) advances said sensor (38) into said testing position.

23. A method of handling a plurality of fluid sensors (38) as set forth in claim 21 wherein said sensor magazine (26) is pivoted until a detent arm (48) extending into said magazine opening (24) becomes lodged in one of plurality of latch grooves (50A-J) in an outer periphery (52) of said sensor magazine (26), each of which latch grooves (50A-J) corresponds to one of said sensor slots (30A-J).