Portable measuring system having a moisture-proof assembly space

• US 8,231,548 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Hoenes, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Becker, Charles
• Application Number:
  US12/355,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20090182244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,290 Days
• Field of Search: 600/573, 600/583, 606/181
• US Class Current: 600/583
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150305 Packages specially adapted for piercing devices or blood sampling devices kits for diabetes A61M5/003; packaging in general B65D
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150526 Curved or bent needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15163 Characterized by propelling the piercing element in an axial direction relative to the disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15176 Stocking means comprising cap, cover, sheath or protection for aseptic stocking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48778 Containers specially adapted therefor, e.g. for dry storage

Abstract

A portable measuring system which analyzes a liquid sample for at least one analyte. The portable measuring system has a substantially moisture-proof housing with an internal atmosphere. The housing prevents moisture from the air and water vapor from penetrating into the housing. The portable measuring system also has at least one test element support inserted into the internal atmosphere of the housing. The test element support is equipped with a retaining structure and a test element that is supported by the retaining structure. The test element support is designed such that, after insertion into the internal atmosphere, the test element is exposed to the internal atmosphere. A release mechanism is also provided which can convey at least one test element into an application position within the internal atmosphere of the housing. In this application position, the liquid sample can be applied to the test element.

Claims

1. A portable measuring system used for analyzing a liquid sample for at least one analyte contained therein, comprising:

a substantially moisture-proof housing having an internal atmosphere, the housing substantially preventing moisture from penetrating into the internal atmosphere;

a test element support that is insertable into the internal atmosphere, the test element support having a retaining structure and a plurality of test elements supported by the retaining structure, the test element support configured such that, after insertion into the internal atmosphere, the test elements are all exposed to the same internal atmosphere;

an application opening through which liquid sample is applied to a test element defined in the housing and having a sealing element disposed proximate the application opening, the sealing element comprising a sealing lip, a sealing ring, a sealing slide, an application flap, a movable sealing element, or a two-component plastic structure with at least one rigid and at least one flexible housing component; and

wherein, the liquid sample is applied through the application opening to the test elements within the internal atmosphere and the sealing element seals the application opening before and after the application of liquid sample.

2. The portable measuring system of claim 1, further comprising a release mechanism configured to convey the test elements into an application position within the internal atmosphere, wherein test elements positioned in the application position are accessible to the liquid sample.

3. The portable measuring system of claim 1, further comprising a desiccant in the internal atmosphere of the housing.

4. The portable measuring system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure-equalizer for substantially preventing penetration of moisture when a pressure of the internal atmosphere changes relative to the air pressure outside the internal atmosphere.

5. The portable measuring system of claim 1, further comprising a flexible volume-modifying element.

6. The portable measuring system of claim 5, wherein the flexible volume-modifying element comprises a pressure-equalizing membrane.

7. The portable measuring system of claim 1, further comprising a moisture sensor or temperature sensor for measuring the moisture or temperature of the internal atmosphere.

8. The portable measuring system of claim 7, further comprising a warning system for emitting a warning to a user if at least one of the following values exceeds one or more predefined threshold values:

the moisture of the internal atmosphere;

the temperature of the internal atmosphere of the housing.

9. The portable measuring system of claim 8, further comprising a climate integrator that takes account of time, moisture and temperature.

10. The portable measuring system of claim 1, wherein the retaining structure has a retaining rotor or drum that is rotatable in the housing.

11. The portable measuring system of claim 1, further comprising a desiccant connected to the test element support.

12. The portable measuring system of claim 1, further comprising an electronic evaluation device for determining the presence or the concentration of the at least one analyte.

13. The portable measuring system of claim 1, further comprising an integrated lancet system for perforating an area of skin.

14. The portable measuring system of claim 13, wherein the integrated lancet system is received in the housing.

15. The portable measuring system of claim 13, wherein the integrated lancet system has a plurality of disposable lancets.

16. The portable measuring system of claim 1, wherein the test elements have a reagent layer which changes at least one property thereof upon contact with the analyte to be detected, further wherein, when the test element support is inserted into the internal atmosphere, the reagent layer of each test element is exposed to the internal atmosphere.

22. The portable measuring system of claim 1, further comprising a moisture sensor or temperature sensor for measuring the moisture or temperature of the internal atmosphere, and a warning system for emitting a warning to a user if the moisture of the internal atmosphere or the temperature of the internal atmosphere of the housing exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

17. A portable measuring system for analyzing a liquid sample for at least one analyte contained therein, comprising:

a substantially moisture-proof housing having an internal atmosphere, the housing having an application opening through which liquid sample is applied to a test element, an openable sealing element disposed proximate the application opening;

a test element support that is removably insertable into the housing, the test element support having a retaining structure and a plurality of test elements supported by the retaining structure, the test elements being exposed to the same internal atmosphere when the test element support is positioned in the housing; and

a release mechanism which conveys the test elements into an application position within the housing, the application position being located near the application opening, wherein test elements positioned in the application position are accessible to the liquid sample and the liquid sample is applied through the application opening to the test elements within the housing, wherein the sealing element seals the application opening before and after the application of liquid sample.

18. The portable measuring system of claim 17, wherein the openable sealing element comprises a sealing lip, a sealing ring, a sealing slide, an application flap, a movable sealing element, or a two-component plastic structure with at least one rigid and at least one flexible housing component.

19. The portable measuring system of claim 17, further comprising a desiccant disposed in the housing.

20. The portable measuring system of claim 17, further comprising a pressure-equalizer for substantially preventing penetration of moisture when a pressure of the internal atmosphere changes relative to the air pressure outside the internal atmosphere.

21. The portable measuring system of claim 17, further comprising a pressure-equalizing membrane.

23. The portable measuring system of claim 17, wherein the retaining structure comprises a rotatable rotor or drum.