Measuring device for the electrical measurement of test strips

• US 6,200,442 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LRE Technology Partner GmbH
• Original Assignee: LRE Technology Partner GmbH
• Inventors: Markart, Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, T.
• Application Number:
  US09/218,326
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 204/400, 422/82.01, 324/446, 324/450
• US Class Current: 204/400
• 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

Abstract

In a measuring device for measuring the concentration of a substance in a liquid applied to the test field of a test strip having two first electrical contacts at its forward end connected to the test field, a conductor plate inside of the device carries a measuring and evaluation circuit and also has formed on it two second electrical contacts which two second electrical contacts, when the forward end of the test strip is inserted into the device through an insertion slot, are brought into contact with the two first contacts on the test strip to connect the test field of the test strip in circuit with the measuring and evaluation circuit of the conductor plate.

Claims

1. A measuring device for electrically measuring test strips (18) for determining the concentration of substances in liquids with each test strip (18) having a test field (24) to be moistened by a liquid to be investigated, from which test field two electrodes (26) lead to first contact elements (28) on the test strip, the measuring device (10) having a test strip receiver (30) in which are arranged two second contact elements (42) for contacting the first contact elements (28), which two second contact elements are connected with a measuring and evaluation circuit of the measuring device (10), characterized in that the two second contact elements are formed respectively by two contact paths (38) on a conductor plate (32) located in the measuring device (10) and carrying the measuring and evaluation circuits the conductor plate (32) having a first surface facing the two electrodes (26) of a test strip (18) when the test strip is received in the test strip receiver (30) and the contact paths (38) which form the second contact elements being in engagement with and fixed to the first surface of the conductor plate so that the second contact elements are not movable, resiliently or otherwise, relative to the conductor plate.

2. A measuring device, according to claim 1, further characterized in that the two contact paths (38) extend around the forward end of the conductor plate (32) which forward end is directed toward the insertion opening (20) of the test strip receiver (30).

3. A measuring device, according to claim 1, further characterized in that on the two contact paths (38) bumps are provided which form the two second contact elements (42).

4. A measuring device, according to claim 1, further characterized in that a section of the conductor plate (32) carrying the two contact paths (38) is cutaway to form two spring arms (34) each carrying a respective one of the control paths.

5. A measuring device, according to claim 1, further characterized in that in the area of the test strip receiver (30) opposite to the contact path (38) carrying conductor plate (32) a pressure piece (46) is provided for pressing the test strip (18) onto the contact elements (42).

6. A measuring device, according to claim 5, further characterized in that the pressure piece (46) is releasably insertable into the measuring device (10).

7. A measuring device, according to claim 6, further characterized in that the pressure piece (46) is snappable into the measuring device (10).

8. A measuring device, according to claim 5, further characterized in that the pressure piece (46) is biased by at least one spring element (52) in the direction toward the conductor plate (32).

9. A measuring device, according to claim 5, further characterized in that the pressure piece (46) has guide elements (56) for the test strip (18).

10. A measuring device, according to claim 5, further characterized in that the pressure piece (56) has an abutment (58) limiting the insertion path of the test strip (18) in the insertion direction.

11. A measuring device, according to claim 5, further characterized in that the pressure piece (46) is plate shaped and has definite projections (50) for supporting the test strip (18).

12. A measuring device, according to claim 5, further characterized in that the pressure piece (46) is shiftable out of the pressing position to release the test strip (18).

13. A measuring device, according to claim 5, further characterized in that the side of the pressure piece (46) facing the conductor plate carries an electrical conducting bridge for short-circuiting the two contact paths to one another when no test strip is inserted in the device.

14. A measuring device, according to claim 5, further characterized in that the pressure piece is formed from a leaf spring extending into the test strip receiver (30), the pressure portion of which has at least an electrical conducting upper surface and is so sized that it short-circuits the two contact paths (38) when no test strip is inserted in the device.

15. A measuring device, according to claim 1, further characterized in that the conductor plate (32) near the conductor paths (38) but outside the insertion path of the test strip (18) is provided with a third contact element (60) connected to the measuring and evaluation circuit.

16. A measuring device, according to claim 1, further characterized in that the test strip receiver (30) is sealed from the remainder of the measuring device by a liquid tight cover (40).

17. A measuring device, according to claim 1, further characterized in that two lateral guide elements (56) for the test strip (18) are located in the test strip receiver (30).