Fluid testing sensor for use in dispensing instrument

• US 5,660,791 A
• Filed: 06/06/1996
• Issued: 08/26/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Noell, John O., Musho, Matthew K., Whitson, Robert C., Brenneman, Allen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Application Number:
  US08/659,360
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/64, 422/66, 422/99, 422/104, 422/58, 422/61, 436/43, 436/44, 436/46, 436/48, 436/165, 436/174, 436/808, 436/810
• US Class Current: 422/401
• 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: Y10T 436/110833 Utilizing a moving indicator strip or tape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide

Abstract

A sensor for use in a sensor dispensing instrument so that fluids can be tested when the sensor is ejected from within a sensor cavity of a sensor pack sealed by a foil. The sensor has a generally flat, rectangular shape, is formed by a base and a lid, and has perpendicularly extending longitudinal and transverse axes. A notch in a rear end of the sensor is engaged by a knife blade within the sensor dispensing instrument as the sensor is being ejected through the foil. A front testing edge of the lid overhangs a front testing edge of the base of the sensor. One side edge of the sensor adjacent the front edges of the base and lid is beveled at about a 25° angle. The front base edge extends from the beveled side portion across the entire remaining width of the sensor at an angle of approximately 10° with respect to the transverse axis. A portion of the front lid edge extends from the beveled side portion across a significant portion of the width of the sensor at an angle of about 15° with respect to the transverse axis. The other portion of the front lid edge extends at an angle of about 25° with respect to the transverse axis so that a relatively pointed tip at the side edge opposite from the beveled side portion is formed to pierce the foil as the sensor is being ejected from the cavity.

Claims

1. A testing element to be ejected from within a cavity of a package sealed by a foil enclosure and that has a longitudinal axis extending from a rear end of said element to a front end of said element, said element comprising:

a first portion of said element extending along said longitudinal axis and having a lead cutting edge for severing said foil enclosure; and

a second portion of said element extending along said longitudinal axis and having a trail edge, said lead cutting edge extending adjacent to and forwardly of said trail edge along said longitudinal axis so that said lead cutting edge overhangs said trail edge and punctures said foil enclosure as said element is being ejected from within said cavity.

2. A testing element as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first portion and said second portion are generally flat pieces mated together to form said element.

3. A testing element as set forth in claim 1 wherein said element has a transverse axis extending perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis between opposed side edges of said element and said lead cutting edge and said trail edge are biased at non-parallel angles with respect to said transverse axis and to each other.

4. A testing element as set forth in claim 3 wherein said lead cutting edge is biased at an angle of approximately 10 degrees with respect to said transverse axis.

5. A testing element as set forth in claim 3 wherein said lead cutting edge has a first edge portion biased at an angle of approximately 15 degrees with respect to said transverse axis and a second edge portion biased at an angle of approximately 25 degrees with respect to said transverse axis.

6. A testing element as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first edge portion forms a significant portion of said lead cutting edge so that said second edge portion forms a pointed tip at one side edge of said element that punctures said foil as said element is being ejected from said cavity.

7. A testing element as set forth in claim 3 wherein one of said side edges is beveled adjacent said lead cutting edge and said trail edge.

8. A testing element as set forth in claim 3 wherein said one of said side edges is beveled at an angle of approximately 25 degrees with respect to said longitudinal axis.

9. A testing element to be ejected from within a cavity sealed by a foil and that has a longitudinal axis extending from a rear end of said element to a front end of said element and a transverse axis extending perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis between opposed side edges of said element, said element comprising:

a base portion extending along said longitudinal axis of said element and having a front base edge; and

a lid portion mated with said base portion, extending along said longitudinal axis of said element, and having a front lid cutting edge, said front lid cutting edge and said front base edge are biased with respect to said transverse axis and with respect to each other such that said front lid cutting edge has a pointed portion that severs said foil as said element is being ejected from said cavity without a shard of said foil being separated from said foil.

10. A testing element as set forth in claim 9 wherein said front base edge is biased at an angle of approximately 10 degrees with respect to said transverse axis.

11. A testing element as set forth in claim 9 wherein said front lid cutting edge has a first lid edge portion biased at an angle of approximately 15 degrees with respect to said transverse axis and a second lid edge portion biased at an angle of approximately 25 degrees with respect to said transverse axis.

12. A testing element as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first lid edge portion forms a significant portion of said front lid edge so that said second lid edge portion forms a pointed tip at one side edge of said element.

13. A testing element as set forth in claim 9 wherein one of said side edges is beveled adjacent said front base edge and said front lid cutting edge.

14. A testing element as set forth in claim 13 wherein said one of said side edges is beveled at an angle of approximately 25 degrees with respect to said longitudinal axis.

15. A fluid testing sensor to be ejected from within a cavity of a sensor pack sealed by a foil and that has a longitudinal axis extending from a rear end of said sensor to a front end of said sensor and a transverse axis extending perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis between opposed side edges of said sensor, said sensor comprising:

a first surface of said sensor extending from said rear end to said front end and having a first front severing edge along said front end of said sensor for severing said foil; and

a second surface of said sensor extending from said rear end to adjacent said front end and having a second front edge adjacent said front end of said sensor such that said first front severing edge extends adjacent to and forwardly of said second front edge along said longitudinal axis with said first front severing edge overhanging said second front edge, said second front edge extending at an angle of approximately 10 degrees with respect to said transverse axis and said first front severing edge has a first edge portion extending at an angle of approximately 15 degrees with respect to said transverse axis and having a second edge portion extending at an angle of approximately 25 degrees with respect to said transverse axis.

16. A fluid testing sensor as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first edge portion forms a significant portion of said first front severing edge so that said second edge portion forms a pointed tip at one side edge of said sensor that punctures said foil as said element is being ejected from said cavity.

17. A fluid testing sensor as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first front severing edge is at least 10 thousandths of an inch forward of said second front edge.