Contact connector assembly for a sensor-dispensing instrument
First Claim
1. A contact connector assembly adapted to be used in a sensor-dispensing instrument that contains a plurality of electrochemical test sensors, the contact connector assembly comprising:
- at least four electrical contacts;
a housing connector forming at least one housing opening, the at least one housing opening being adapted to receive the at least four electrical contacts;
a base connector being coupled to the housing connector so as to form a sensor-receiving opening adapted to receive one of the plurality of test sensors, at least one of the base connector and the housing connector being adapted to move between a first position and a second position; and
a moveable mechanism coupled to at least one of the housing connector and the base connector, the moveable mechanism being adapted to move at least one of the base connector or the housing connector between the first position and the second position,wherein the housing connector and the base connector are adapted to be coupled in a first position such they are adapted to hold one of the plurality of test sensors and the housing connector and the base connector are adapted to be coupled in a second position such that they allow the test sensor to be removed therefrom.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A contact connector assembly, which is adapted to be used in a sensor-dispensing instrument that contains electrochemical test sensors, comprises at least four electrical contacts, a housing connector, a base connector and a moveable mechanism. The housing connector forms a housing opening that is adapted to receive the at least four electrical contacts. The base connector is coupled to the housing connector and forms a sensor-receiving opening. The base or housing connector is adapted to move between first and second positions. The moveable mechanism is coupled to the housing or base connector. The moveable mechanism is adapted to move the base or housing connector between the first and second positions. The housing and base connectors are adapted to be coupled in a first position such that they are adapted to hold one of the test sensors. The housing and base connectors are adapted to be coupled in a second position such that they allow the test sensor to be removed therefrom.
30 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A contact connector assembly adapted to be used in a sensor-dispensing instrument that contains a plurality of electrochemical test sensors, the contact connector assembly comprising:
-
at least four electrical contacts; a housing connector forming at least one housing opening, the at least one housing opening being adapted to receive the at least four electrical contacts; a base connector being coupled to the housing connector so as to form a sensor-receiving opening adapted to receive one of the plurality of test sensors, at least one of the base connector and the housing connector being adapted to move between a first position and a second position; and a moveable mechanism coupled to at least one of the housing connector and the base connector, the moveable mechanism being adapted to move at least one of the base connector or the housing connector between the first position and the second position, wherein the housing connector and the base connector are adapted to be coupled in a first position such they are adapted to hold one of the plurality of test sensors and the housing connector and the base connector are adapted to be coupled in a second position such that they allow the test sensor to be removed therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A sensor-dispensing instrument adapted to determine an analyte concentration, the sensor-dispensing instrument comprising:
-
a plurality of electrochemical test sensors; a cartridge containing the plurality of electrochemical test sensors; and a contact connector assembly including at least four electrical contacts, a housing connector that forms at least one housing opening, a base connector being coupled to the housing connector so as to form a sensor-receiving opening adapted to receive one of the plurality of test sensors, and a moveable mechanism coupled to at least one of the housing connector and the base connector, the at least one housing opening being adapted to receive the at least four electrical contacts, at least one of base connector and the housing connector being adapted to move between a first position and a second position, the moveable mechanism being adapted to move at least one of the base connector and the housing connector between the first position and the second position, wherein the housing connector and the base connector are adapted to be coupled in a first position such they are adapted to hold one of the plurality of test sensors and the one of the plurality of test sensors is adapted to contact the at least four electrical contacts to assist in determining the analyte concentration, wherein the housing connector and the base connector are adapted to be coupled in a second position such that they allow the test sensor to be removed therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method of using a sensor-dispensing instrument to determine an analyte concentration, the method comprising the acts of:
-
providing a sensor-dispensing instrument including a plurality of electrochemical test sensors, a cartridge containing the plurality of electrochemical test sensors and a contact connector assembly, the contact connector assembly including at least four electrical contacts, a housing connector that forms at least one housing opening, a base connector being coupled to the housing connector so as to form a sensor-receiving opening adapted to receive one of the plurality of test sensors, and a moveable mechanism coupled to at least one of the housing connector and the base connector, the at least one housing opening being adapted to receive the at least four electrical contacts, placing at least one of the base connector and the housing connector in a first position; repositioning one of the plurality of test sensors from the cartridge to the sensor-receiving opening such that the one of the plurality of test sensors contacts the at least four electrical contacts to assist in determining the analyte concentration; moving at least one of the base connector and the housing connector to a second position from the first position via the moveable mechanism; placing a fluid with at least one analyte on the one of the plurality of test sensors; and determining the concentration of the at least one analyte. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification