Test element storage container

• US 6,378,702 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics GmbH (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics GmbH (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Kintzig, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US09/724,445
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 206/456, 206/556, 206/804, 206/817
• US Class Current: 206/456
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00089 Magazines
• 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 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/817 Follower

Abstract

The invention concerns a moisture-impermeable, tightly sealable storage container for use with a plurality of test elements. The storage container includes a housing sized to hold the test elements, a guide element, a spacer positioned between the guide element and a first test element to be withdrawn, and a transport mechanism for the test elements, the transport mechanism being positioned in the housing.

Claims

1. A moisture-impermeable, tightly sealable storage container for use with a plurality of test elements, wherein the storage container comprises

a housing sized to hold the test elements,

a guide element,

a spacer positioned between the guide element and a first test element to be withdrawn, and

a transport mechanism for the test elements, the transport mechanism being positioned in the housing.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the guide element includes a coding.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the coding is a bar code.

4. The container of claim 2, wherein the coding is a ROM component.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the housing is formed to include a body defining an opening and the container further comprises a flap extending across the opening.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the housing includes a boundary surface that is removable from the body.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a body and a boundary surface that is removable from the body.

8. The container of claim 7, further comprising a locking mechanism that is formed to couple the boundary surface to the body of the container.

9. The container of claim 7, wherein the transport mechanism is attached to the boundary surface.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein the transport mechanism includes a spring.

11. The container of claim 1, further comprising a desiccant positioned in the housing.

12. The container of claim 1, further comprising a flap coupled to the housing and formed for movement between an opened position and a closed position.

13. The container of claim 1, wherein the housing is designed as a bar-shaped cuboid.

14. A test element storage container comprising:

a housing formed to hold the test elements,

a flap coupled to the housing and formed for movement between an opened position and a closed position,

a guide element located under the flap when the flap is in the closed position,

a spacer formed to create a gap between the guide element and the first test element, and

a transport mechanism for the test elements, the transport mechanism being positioned in the housing.

15. The storage container of claim 14, wherein the guide element includes a coding.

16. The container of claim 15, wherein the coding is a bar code.

17. The container of claim 15, wherein the coding is a ROM component.

18. The container of claim 14, wherein the housing includes a body surrounding the transport mechanism and a boundary surface that is removable from the body.

19. The container of claim 18, further comprising a locking mechanism that is formed to couple the boundary surface to the body.

20. The container of claim 18, wherein the transport mechanism is attached to the boundary surface.

21. The container of claim 14, further comprising a desiccant positioned in the housing.

22. The container of claim 14, wherein the housing includes a flap formed for movement between an opened position and a closed position.

23. The container of claim 14, wherein the housing includes an inner wall that is formed to serve as a guide for the transport mechanism.

24. A test element storage container, the container comprising:

a housing formed to hold the test elements,

a guide element,

a transport mechanism positioned in the housing and formed to cooperate with the housing to apply pressure selectively toward the guide element, and

a flap coupled to the housing, the flap being formed to move between an opened position and a closed position, wherein the flap extends across the guide element when in the closed position.

25. The storage container of claim 24, wherein the transport device includes a spring and a plate coupled to the spring.

26. The storage container of claim 24, wherein the housing includes an inner surface that is formed to guide movement of the spring and plate in the housing.

31. The container of claim 24, wherein the housing is designed as a bar-shaped cuboid.

27. A test element storage container, the container comprising:

a housing formed to hold the test elements,

a guide element including a coding,

a transport mechanism positioned in the housing, and

a flap coupled to the housing, the flap being formed to move between an opened position and a closed position, wherein the flap extends across the guide element when in the closed position.

28. The container of claim 27, wherein the coding is a bar code.

29. The container of claim 27, wherein the coding is a ROM component.

30. A test element storage container, the container comprising:

a housing formed to hold the test elements,

a guide element,

a transport mechanism positioned in the housing,

a flap coupled to the housing, the flap being formed to move between an opened position and a closed position, wherein the flap extends across the guide element when in the closed position, and

a desiccant positioned in the housing.