Dispensing container and storage container for analytical disposables

• US 7,670,562 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Sacherer, Klaus-Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin; Walter D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mui; Christine T
• Application Number:
  US10/988,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20050118071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,933 Days
• Field of Search: 422/102, 422/64, 422/50, 422/99, 422/63, 422/100, 206/449
• US Class Current: 422/562
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack

Abstract

The invention generally relates to a dispensing container for analytical disposables. In particular test elements, for the storage and removal of one disposable each from a storage container provided in the form of a drum cartridge.

Claims

1. A dispensing container for storage and removal of analytical disposables, the dispensing container comprising:

a storage container comprising multiple chambers configured to sealably store one analytical disposable in each, wherein the chambers are in a regular geometric arrangement with respect to each other and wherein each chamber comprises at least first and second openings, the first opening comprising an insertion opening configured for insertion of a driver, the second opening comprising a removal opening through which removal of the analytical disposable from the chamber is achieved;

a storage container-receiving chamber for receiving the storage container;

a lid for sealably closing the storage container-receiving chamber; and

a removal means configured to be actuated by movement of the lid for the removal of analytical disposables from the storage container;

wherein upon movement of the lid the removal means advances the storage container to a position for the removal of a next analytical disposable, and

wherein the removal means is operatively connected to the driver and is configured to cause the driver to push the analytical disposable at least partly from its chamber through the removal opening upon opening of the lid such that the analytical disposable can be grasped by a user.

2. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the storage container is advanced upon each actuation of the lid by one subdivision of the regular geometric arrangement.

3. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the removal means advances the storage container to a position for the removal of the next disposable when the lid is closed.

4. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the lid is attached to the dispensing container by means of a joint such that it is capable of pivoting.

5. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the removal means comprises an actuation part, which is capable of moving inside the dispensing container and is pushed against a spring in a direction towards the inside of the dispensing container when the lid is closed, and is pushed by the spring in a direction out of the dispensing container when the lid is opened, whereby the storage container is advanced by moving the actuation part of the removal means.

6. The dispensing container according to claim 5, wherein a projection is positioned on the lid such that the projection pushes against the spring in a direction towards the inside of the dispensing container when the lid is closed.

7. The dispensing container according to claim 6, wherein the projection is positioned in the middle of the lid.

8. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing container and the storage container are cylindrical in shape and in that the regular geometric arrangement is a rotation-symmetrical arrangement of the chambers of the storage container about a longitudinal axis of the storage container.

9. The dispensing container according to claim 5, wherein the actuation part is arranged in an elongated hole of the storage container.

10. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the storage container has a regular geometric arrangement with from about 10 to about 100 subdivisions.

11. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the lid is round and seals the dispensing container on one of its front surfaces.

12. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the removal means advances the storage container into the position for the removal of the next analytical disposable by rotating the storage container about its longitudinal axis.

13. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the removal means comprises positioning elements for locking the storage container in a position for removal of the analytical disposable.

14. The dispensing container according to claim 13, wherein the positioning elements comprise retaining clips for engaging the storage container.

15. The dispensing container according to claim 14, wherein the retaining clips comprise a locking surface and a gliding surface, wherein the guiding surface is arranged opposite to the locking surface in the direction of the circumference of the dispensing container, whereby the gliding surface is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the storage container.

16. The dispensing container according to claim 1, further comprising a cover to cover the storage container, wherein the cover has an opening such that it is above the removal opening of a chamber of the storage container.

17. The dispensing container according to claim 16, wherein the cover is transparent.

18. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the storage container inserted into the dispensing container is replaceable.

19. The dispensing container claim 5, wherein the removal means further comprises a support means for the storage container.

20. The dispensing container according to claim 19, wherein the support means locks the actuation part in place.

21. The dispensing container according to claim 19, wherein the support means comprises a support sleeve, in which a driver pin of the actuation part can move.

22. The dispensing container according claim 5, wherein the storage container can be fixed in place relative to the actuation part and the actuation part is advanced by the removal means of the dispensing container for the removal of the next disposable.

23. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the storage container inserted into the dispensing container can be refilled with the analytical disposables.

24. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the chambers of the storage container are each sealed by foil, which is punctured by the driver during the removal of the analytical disposable.

25. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein a desiccant insert is inserted in the dispensing container on the front end of the dispensing container opposite from the lid.

26. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the removal means pushes the analytical disposable with the driver from its chamber to the extent that an end of the analytical disposable that can be grasped by the user protrudes from the removal opening by about 4 to about 20 mm for grasping.

27. The dispensing container according to claim 26, wherein the end of the analytical disposable protrudes from the removal opening by about 4.5 to about 10 mm for grasping.

28. The dispensing container according to claim 10, wherein the regular geometric arrangement comprises from about 15 to about 50 subdivisions.

29. The dispensing container according to claim 28, wherein the regular geometric arrangement comprises from about 20 to about 30 subdivisions.