Analysis device with exchangeable test element magazine

• US 8,263,019 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2008
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: List, Hans, Frey, Stephan-Michael, Zimmer, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Merkling, Sally
• Application Number:
  US12/054,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20080267822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 422/430, 422/401, 606/181, 606/182
• US Class Current: 422/401
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00039 Transport arrangements specific to flat sample substrates, e.g. pusher blade
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00277 Special precautions to avoid contamination (e.g. enclosures, glove- boxes, sealed sample carriers, disposal of contaminated material)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/193333 In aqueous solution

Abstract

A measurement system is provided which comprises an analysis device with at least one of a measurement function and a sample collection function, and also at least one magazine configured to receive at least one consumer element therein. The magazine comprises a magazine housing having a pair of openings. The magazine is designed as an exchangeable magazine that can be selectively operatively connected to the analysis device. The analysis device further comprises a closure mechanism having at least one sealing element which is designed to convey at least one consumer element from one of the openings. The sealing element is further configured to sealingly close the openings of the magazine when the sealing element is disposed therein.

Claims

1. A measurement system comprising an analysis device configured to perform at least one of a measurement function and a sample collection function, the analysis device further comprising at least one replaceable magazine configured to receive at least one consumer element, the magazine comprising a housing having a pair of openings, the magazine being operatively connected to the analysis device, and the analysis device comprising a closure mechanism having at least one sealing element, wherein the sealing element is configured to push at least one consumer element from one of the openings and at least a part of the sealing element comprises a narrowing cross section in a direction of insertion of the sealing element through the one opening, and wherein the sealing element is further configured to sealingly close the magazine when extending through the openings.

2. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sealing element and the openings are at least partially deformable.

3. The measurement system according to claim 2, wherein the sealing element has a sealing surface, and wherein each opening comprises a seal provided proximal to or within the opening.

4. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises one of a slide and ram.

5. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the closure mechanism is configured to convey the consumer element into a measurement or use position by the analysis device by moving the sealing element from a location within the magazine to contact the consumer element to advance the consumer element and at least a portion of the sealing element out of the magazine.

6. The measurement system according to claim 5, wherein the closure mechanism is further configured to convey the consumer element by means of the sealing element from the measurement or use position to one of a disposal position and a disposal unit in the analysis device.

7. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises an elongated jacket movable within the magazine and having at least one external sealing surface for sealing at least opening of the pair of openings when positioned therein and at least one application channel extending axially within the sealing element.

8. The measurement system according to claim 7, further comprising a tip disposed in the application channel, the tip comprising at least one electrical contact configured to provide operative electrical contact between the analysis device and the consumer element, wherein the consumer element comprises an electrochemical test element.

9. The measurement system according to claim 7, wherein an optical device is disposed in the application channel.

10. The measurement system according to claim 7, wherein a mechanical device is disposed in the application channel, the mechanical device comprising a drive ram configured for actuation of the consumer element, wherein the consumer element comprises a lancet system.

11. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the consumer element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a test element, a sample collection element, and a combined consumer element.

12. The measurement system according to claim 11, wherein the consumer element comprises a test element, the test element comprising one of an electrochemical test strip and an optical test strip.

13. The measurement system according to claim 11, wherein the consumer element comprises a sample collection element, the sample collection element comprising a disposable lancet system.

14. The measurement system according to claim 11, wherein the consumer element comprises a combined consumer element, the combined consumer element comprising a combined lancet system and test element.

15. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein at least a first consumer element is designed as a dummy element.

16. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the analysis device comprises a magazine receiver configured to receive the magazine therein.

17. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the magazine comprises one of a straight-line magazine and a bar magazine, the magazine further comprising a magazine spring disposed therein and configured to impart a biasing force on a stack of a plurality of the consumer elements provided therein.

18. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the magazine comprises a drum magazine.

38. The measuring system of claim 1, wherein the one opening of the pair of openings is smaller than the other of the pair of openings.

19. A measurement system comprising an analysis device configured to perform at least one of a measurement function and a sample collection function, the analysis device further comprising at least one replaceable magazine configured to receive at least one consumer element, the magazine comprising a magazine housing, the magazine being operatively connected to the analysis device, and the analysis device comprising a closure mechanism with at least one sealing element, wherein the sealing element has a plunger which is configured to be pushed through a first opening of the magazine to eject the at least one consumer element from at least one second opening of the magazine, and configured such that when the magazine is in a closed state, the sealing element remains in and sealingly closes the first opening and the at least one second opening, and wherein the first opening is larger in size than the at least one second opening.

20. The measuring system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the plunger and at least one of the first and second openings is at least partially deformable.

21. The measuring system of claim 20, wherein the at least one of the plunger and the at least one opening that is at least partially deformable is elastic.

22. The measuring system of claim 20, wherein the plunger has a sealing surface and the at least one opening has a deformable seal element within or adjacent to the at least one opening.

23. The measuring system of claim 19, wherein at least a part of the plunger has a cross-section that narrows in a direction of insertion of the sealing element into the at least one second opening.

24. The measuring system of claim 19, wherein the closure mechanism is configured to convey the consumer element into a measurement or use position by the analysis device by moving the plunger from a location within the magazine to contact the consumer element to advance the consumer element and at least a portion of the plunger out of the magazine.

25. The measuring system of claim 24, wherein the closure mechanism is further configured to convey the consumer element by means of the plunger from the measuring or application position to one of a disposal position and a disposal unit in the analysis device.

26. The measuring system of claim 19, wherein the plunger comprises an elongated jacket movable within the magazine and having at least one external sealing surface for sealing the at least one opening when positioned therein and at least one application channel extending axially within the plunger.

27. The measuring system of claim 26, further comprising a tip disposed in the application channel, the tip comprising at least one electrical contact configured to provide operative electrical contact between the analysis device and the consumer element, wherein the consumer element comprises an electrochemical test element.

28. The measuring system of claim 26, wherein an optical device is disposed in the application channel.

29. The measuring system of claim 26, wherein a mechanical device is disposed in the application channel, the mechanical device comprising a drive ram configured for actuation of the consumer element, wherein the consumer element comprises a lancet system.

30. The measuring system of claim 19, wherein the consumable element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a test element, a sample collection element, and a combined consumer element.

31. The measurement system according to claim 30, wherein the consumer element comprises a test element, the test element comprising one of an electrochemical test strip and an optical test strip.

32. The measurement system according to claim 30, wherein the consumer element comprises a sample collection element, the sample collection element comprising a disposable lancet system.

33. The measurement system according to claim 30, wherein the consumer element comprises a combined consumer element, the combined consumer element comprising a combined lancet system and test element.

34. The measuring system of claim 19, wherein at least a first consumable element is designed as a dummy element.

35. The measuring system of claim 19, wherein the analysis device comprises a magazine receiver to receive the magazine therein.

36. The measuring system of claim 19, wherein the magazine comprises one of a straight-line magazine and a bar magazine, the magazine further comprising a magazine spring disposed therein configured to impart a biasing force on a stack of a plurality of consumer elements provided in the magazine.

37. The measuring system of claim 19, wherein the magazine comprises a drum magazine.