Method for producing a magazine by injection molding, and a magazine for an analysis device

• US 8,591,837 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2011
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Frey, Stephan-Michael, List, Hans, Rittinghaus, Andrea, Schwede, Maik
• Primary Examiner(s): Hyun, Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/085,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20110250093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 356/244, 356/246, 422401-407, 422/500, 422/502, 422/547, 422/548, 422/551, 422/554, 422/556
• US Class Current: 422/554
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150297 for piercing devices, i.e. devices ready to be used for lancing or piercing for piercing elements A61B5/150282, for driving devices A61B5/15029
• 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 5/15107 Piercing being assisted by a triggering mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15115 Driving means for propelling the piercing element to pierce the skin, e.g. comprising mechanisms based on shape memory alloys, magnetism, solenoids, piezoelectric effect, biased elements, resilient elements, vacuum or compressed fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15146 Devices loaded with multiple lancets simultaneously, e.g. for serial firing without reloading, for example by use of stocking means. multiple simultaneous cutting or piercing A61B5/150977
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0025 Preventing defects on the moulded article, e.g. weld lines, shrinkage marks preventing defects on the preformed parts or layers B29C45/14836
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0046 Details relating to the filling pattern or flow paths or flow characteristics of moulding material in the mould cavity

Abstract

Method for the injection-molding production of a magazine having a plurality of chambers, separated by partition walls, including an outer wall formed by an outer wall of the magazine. The method uses a casting mold having an outer wall channel corresponding to the outer wall of the magazine, and partition wall channels corresponding to the partition walls, and a gate opening. A plurality of partition wall channels extend from the gate opening to the outer wall channel. The method comprises injecting a plastic compound into the gate opening. The plastic compound flows from the gate point to the partition wall channels into the outer wall channel. The plastic compound streams have a differing flow speed in alternating partition wall channels so a joint line, which is aligned with a partition wall channel, forms on the outer side of the outer wall channel.

Claims

1. A monolithic magazine for an analysis device having a plurality of chambers and an integral outer wall,

the plurality of chambers being positioned adjacent to one another and each of the plurality of chambers having a chamber outer wall, which is part of the integral outer wall of the magazine,

each of the plurality of chambers having two adjacent partition walls,

the magazine being produced using injection-molding methods,

the integral outer wall of the magazine being transparent in the area of the chamber outer walls,

the magazine having joint lines on the integral outer wall, the joint lines being positioned outside a middle of the chamber outer wall, which extends between the two adjacent partition walls;

wherein the two adjacent partition walls of each chamber comprise different thicknesses.

2. The magazine according to claim 1, wherein the joint lines are aligned with the partition walls of the chambers.

3. The magazine according to claim 1, wherein the magazine is a drum magazine.

4. The magazine according to claim 1, wherein the entire magazine is transparent.

5. The magazine according to claim 1, wherein the chambers are suitable for receiving analysis elements having an optically analyzable test zone, an optically measurable change occurring on the test zone as a reaction of a bodily fluid with a reagent of the analysis elements, wherein the chamber outer wall is operable to allow measurement of the change through the integral outer wall using a photoelectric measuring unit.

6. The magazine according to claim 1, wherein the magazine is made by an injection molding process using a casting mold having an outer wall channel, which corresponds to the outer wall of the magazine, and partition wall channels, which correspond to the partition walls, and having a gate opening, a plurality of partition wall channels extending from the gate opening to the outer wall channel;

the process comprising;

injecting a plastic compound, which is transparent at least after curing, into the gate opening,

causing the plastic compound to flow as a plastic compound stream from the gate point through the partition wall channels into the outer wall channel in such a manner that the plastic compound streams have a differing flow speed in alternating rotational channels,

flowing together of the plastic compound streams in the outer wall channel in such a manner that a joint line forms on the outer side of the outer wall channel, which is positioned so that it is not positioned in the center between two adjacent partition wall channels.