Sensor dispensing instrument
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor dispensing instrument comprising:
- an outer housing having a sensor slot through which one of a plurality of test sensors is disposed to conduct a test;
a mechanism generally disposed within the outer housing, the mechanism including an ejecting mechanism to eject one of the sensors through the sensor slot and an actuation member for actuating the ejecting mechanism, the actuation member being moveable between a testing position and a standby position;
an electronics assembly generally disposed in the outer housing, the electronic assembly adapted to perform the test and display test results;
a sensor actuator generally disposed adjacent to the sensor slot, the sensor actuator adapted to engage with a sensor disposed in the sensor slot in response to the actuation member being in the testing position, to connect to contacts on the sensor, and to transmit electrical signals between the sensor and the electronics assembly; and
a sensor release generally disposed on a surface of the outer housing, the sensor release being adapted to move the actuation member from the testing position to the standby position to disengage the sensor actuator from the sensor disposed in the sensor slot, wherein the actuation member, the sensor actuator, and the sensor release are distinct and separate components.
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Abstract
A sensor dispensing instrument adapted to handle a sensor pack containing a plurality of sensors and to perform a test using one of the sensors. The sensor dispensing instrument includes an outer housing and a mechanical mechanism contained therein for rotating the sensor pack and ejecting one of the sensors from the sensor pack and through a sensor slot on the housing. The sensor dispensing instrument also includes a sensor actuator to engage with a sensor disposed in the sensor slot, and a sensor release that is movable to disengage the sensor actuator from the sensor disposed in the sensor slot and permit the discharge of the sensor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sensor dispensing instrument comprising:
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an outer housing having a sensor slot through which one of a plurality of test sensors is disposed to conduct a test; a mechanism generally disposed within the outer housing, the mechanism including an ejecting mechanism to eject one of the sensors through the sensor slot and an actuation member for actuating the ejecting mechanism, the actuation member being moveable between a testing position and a standby position; an electronics assembly generally disposed in the outer housing, the electronic assembly adapted to perform the test and display test results; a sensor actuator generally disposed adjacent to the sensor slot, the sensor actuator adapted to engage with a sensor disposed in the sensor slot in response to the actuation member being in the testing position, to connect to contacts on the sensor, and to transmit electrical signals between the sensor and the electronics assembly; and a sensor release generally disposed on a surface of the outer housing, the sensor release being adapted to move the actuation member from the testing position to the standby position to disengage the sensor actuator from the sensor disposed in the sensor slot, wherein the actuation member, the sensor actuator, and the sensor release are distinct and separate components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating a sensor dispensing instrument, the method comprising:
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a) moving an actuation member to engage an ejection mechanism; b) ejecting one of a plurality of sensors such that the ejected sensor is disposed through a sensor slot in an outer housing of the sensor dispensing instrument; c) engaging the sensor disposed through the sensor slot with a sensor actuator, the sensor actuator being within the housing and generally adjacent to the sensor slot; d) performing a test by using the sensor disposed in the sensor slot; and e) activating a sensor release to move the actuation member from a testing position to a standby position to cause the sensor actuator to disengage the sensor disposed through the sensor slot, wherein the actuation member, the sensor actuator, and the sensor release are distinct and separate components. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A sensor dispensing instrument, comprising:
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an outer housing having a sensor slot configured to receive one of a plurality of test sensors therethrough to conduct a test; an ejecting mechanism generally disposed within the outer housing, the ejecting mechanism adapted to eject one of the plurality of test sensors through the sensor slot; an actuation member generally disposed within the outer housing, the actuation member being moveable to engage the ejecting mechanism to cause the ejecting mechanism to eject one of the plurality of test sensors through the sensor slot, the actuation member being moveable at least between a testing position and a standby position; a sensor actuator generally disposed adjacent to the sensor slot, the sensor actuator configured to engage a test sensor disposed in the sensor slot and to connect to electrical contacts on the test sensor in response to the actuation member being in the testing position; and a sensor release generally disposed on a surface of the outer housing, the sensor release being configured to move the actuation member from the testing position to the standby position to cause the sensor actuator to disengage the test sensor disposed in the sensor slot, wherein the actuation member, the sensor actuator, and the sensor release are distinct and separate components. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification