Analyte sensor container systems with sensor elevator and storage methods

• US 8,684,172 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Yao, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, LUAN KIM
• Application Number:
  US13/130,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20110247949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 206/204, 206/438, 206/528, 206/538, 206/540, 206/817, 206/825, 534/71, 220/529, 221/244, 221/296, 422/401, 422/405
• US Class Current: 206/204
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/162 the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/264 for absorbing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0038 moved by a spring-like mechanism B65D83/005, B65D83/0817, B65D83/0858 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0858 the articles being automatically urged towards the dispensing aperture, e.g. spring-loaded B65D83/0864 takes precedence

Abstract

An analyte sensor container system is provided for storing and dispensing analyte sensors. The analyte sensor container system includes a container body having a moveable member received therein. The moveable member may have one or more compartments with one or more analyte sensors supported thereon and a lid hinged to the container body. An elevator mechanism causes relative movement between the container body and moveable member upon opening and closing the lid. As such, the one or more analyte sensors are readily accessible to a user when the lid is opened, and retract into the container body upon lid closure. Methods of storing analyte sensors are provided as are numerous other aspects.

Claims

1. An analyte sensor container system, comprising:

a container body;

a moveable member slidably received in the container body and supporting at least one analyte sensor, wherein the container body includes at least one stop to limit an upward motion of the moveable member relative to the container body;

a lid hinged to the container body, the lid including a lip adapted to provide a substantially air-tight seal against a peripheral surface of the container body; and

an elevator mechanism adapted to elevate the moveable member and the at least one analyte sensor relative to the container body upon opening the lid wherein the elevator mechanism includes an elevator post that projects from the moveable member that is configured to contact the lid while opening and closing the lid.

2. The analyte sensor container system of claim 1 wherein the elevator mechanism includes a spring coupled between the container body and the moveable member.

3. The analyte sensor container system of claim 1 wherein the post includes a rounded end adapted to engage the lid.

4. The analyte sensor container system of claim 1 wherein the elevator mechanism includes a spring that contacts a bottom of the moveable member and a bottom of the container body.

5. The analyte sensor container system of claim 1 wherein the lid is hinged to the container body by a bridge of molded material.

6. The analyte sensor container system of claim 1, further comprising a tab extending from the lid.

7. The analyte sensor container system of claim 1 wherein the elevator mechanism is operative between an open position and a closed position wherein in the closed position the at least one analyte sensor is entirely housed within the container body with the lid closed.

8. The analyte sensor container system of claim 1 wherein the moveable member includes a plurality of compartments each containing at least one analyte sensor.

9. The analyte sensor container system of claim 1 wherein the container body includes a lid stop to which the lid abuts upon closure.

10. The analyte sensor container system of claim 1 wherein a depth of at least one compartment in the moveable member is less than a length of the at least one analyte sensor.

11. The analyte sensor container system of claim 1 wherein a desiccant material is provided in communication with a resealable chamber formed by the container body and the lid.

12. An analyte sensor container system, comprising:

a container body including a recess;

a moveable member slidably received in the recess, the moveable member including a plurality of compartments each containing at least one analyte sensor, wherein the container body includes at least one stop to limit an upward motion of the moveable member relative to the container body;

a lid hinged to the container body the lid including a lip configured to provide a substantially air-tight seal against a peripheral surface of the container body; and

an elevator mechanism including a spring biasing the moveable member and an elevator post contacting the lid wherein the elevator mechanism is adapted to elevate the moveable member and the analyte sensors relative to the container body upon opening the lid.

13. A method of storing analyte sensors, comprising the steps of:

providing a container having a container body and a hinged lid, the container body including an elevator mechanism including a moveable member slidably moveable in the container body, the elevator mechanism including an elevator post that projects from the moveable member that is configured to contact the hinged lid while opening and closing the hinged lid;

supporting one or more analyte sensors on the moveable member, wherein the container body includes at least one stop to limit an upward motion of the moveable member relative to the container body; and

closing the lid, the lid having a lip to engage a container peripheral surface of the container body providing a substantially air-tight seal and thereby resultantly causing the moveable member to move into the container body and retract the one or more analyte sensors relative to the container body.

14. The method of storing analyte sensors of claim 13 wherein the closing of the lid causes flexure of a spring coupled between the moveable member and the container body.

15. The method of storing analyte sensors of claim 13 wherein one or more compartments are formed in the moveable member.