Detachable test sensor container having a system for reducing coding errors

• US 7,858,046 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Zhong, Weiping
• Primary Examiner(s): Sines; Brian J
• Application Number:
  US11/899,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20080066529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 221/92, 422/50, 422/102
• US Class Current: 422/400
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• 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 436/11 Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

A test sensor container that releasably attaches to a testing device for testing an analyte concentration in a fluid sample. The test sensor container comprises a housing, a connector and an opening formed in the housing. The housing contains a plurality of test sensors. The opening formed in the housing receives a test sensor having the fluid sample to be tested by the testing device. The opening includes at least two contact springs for contacting the test sensor to be tested.

Claims

1. A test sensor container adapted for use with a testing device for testing an analyte concentration in a fluid sample, the test sensor container comprising:

a housing for handling a plurality of test sensors, the housing including a lid;

a spring having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the lid, the second end contacting at least one of the plurality of test sensors in the housing, the second end adapted to move the at least one of the plurality of test sensors out of the housing, one at a time, when the lid is opened by a user.

2. The test sensor container of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for assisting in moving the at least one of the plurality of test sensors in a direction toward the lid of the housing to facilitate the removal of the at least one test sensor.

3. The test sensor container of claim 1, wherein the second end of the spring includes a rubber object for contacting the at least one of the plurality of test sensors.

4. The test sensor container of claim 1, wherein the second end of the spring includes a hook for contacting the at least one of the plurality of test sensors.

5. The test sensor container of claim 1, further comprising at least one connector connected to the housing, the at least one connector adapted to releasably connect the housing to the testing device.

6. The test sensor container of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an opening configured to receive a test sensor having the fluid sample to be tested by the testing device, the opening having at least two contact springs adapted to electrically couple the test sensor with the testing device.

7. The test sensor container of claim 6, wherein the at least two contact springs are located at a predetermined distance in the opening of the test sensor container.

8. The test sensor container of claim 6, wherein each of the test sensors includes at least two electrodes, the at least two contact springs being arranged to contact the at least two electrodes of the test sensor when the test sensor is received in the opening of the housing.

9. The test sensor container of claim 8, wherein the at least two contact springs contact the at least two electrodes based on a predetermined pattern or design.

10. The test sensor container of claim 6, wherein the opening is adapted to receive a test sensor having a specific shape.

11. The test sensor container of claim 1, further comprising a counter for counting when at least one of the plurality of test sensors has been removed from the housing, wherein the testing device operates only when the counter reads that at least one of the test sensors has been removed.