Method for producing a tape product having diagnostic aids

• US 8,882,951 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Dagenbach, Ralf, Aigl, Daniel, Stubenbord, Peter, Hofstadt, Ronald, Krontal, Andreas, Link, Stefan, Lurg, Klaus, Pflaesterer, Stefan, Trapp, Andreas, Voelschow, Eric, Vetter, Peter, Sprung, Ulf, Ditscher, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Crispino, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoover, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/770,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20110108190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 156/60, 156/230, 156/231, 156/238, 156/285, 264/511, 264/553, 264/571, 425/388, 425/504
• US Class Current: 156/238
• CPC Class Codes: B31D 1/021 Making adhesive labels having a multilayered structure, e.g. provided on carrier webs
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2041/04 Detecting wrong registration, misalignment, deviation, failure
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/025 Electrostatic charges
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/0843 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2535/00 Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses, catheter medical patches B32B2556/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0053 Constructional details of laminating machines comprising rollers; Constructional features of the rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0004 Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting; Cutter details cutting in general B26D; laminating combined with punching or perforating B32B38/04; removing all or part of the layers B32B38/10; cutting in combination with laying up and registration B32B38/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0008 Electrical discharge treatment, e.g. corona, plasma treatment; wave energy or particle radiation heat treatment B32B38/0036
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/18 Handling of layers or the laminate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/1858 using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 39/00 Layout of apparatus or plants, e.g. modular laminating systems
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 41/00 Arrangements for controlling or monitoring lamination processes; Safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/188 the suction means being a vacuum drum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/12 Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with cutting, punching, piercing, severing or tearing

Abstract

A method for producing an analysis tape for fluid samples, in particular body fluids, is proposed. The method comprises providing a laminate tape having a laminate carrier tape and at least one diagnostic functional layer, and cutting the laminate tape in such a way that a diagnostic auxiliary label arises; transferring the diagnostic auxiliary label to a vacuum roller; and transferring the diagnostic auxiliary label to a carrier tape. In general, at least one vacuum roller is used for the transfer of the diagnostic auxiliary label to the carrier tape. The cutting of the diagnostic functional layer is effected in such a way that a free end of the diagnostic functional layer is lifted off from the laminate carrier tape by guiding the laminate carrier tape around a cutting edge with a small radius, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is cut at a predetermined distance from the lifted off free end by means of a cutting device.

Claims

1. A method for producing an analysis tape for fluid samples, in particular body fluids, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

providing a laminate tape having a laminate carrier tape and at least one diagnostic functional layer, and cutting the laminate tape in such a way that a plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels arise;

transferring the diagnostic auxiliary labels to a vacuum roller; and

transferring the diagnostic auxiliary labels to a carrier tape,

wherein at least one vacuum roller is used for the transfer of the diagnostic auxiliary labels to the carrier tape, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is lifted off from the laminate carrier tape by guiding the laminate carrier tape around an edge with a small radius to form a lifted off part of the diagnostic functional layer, wherein a lateral extension of the lifted-off part in a running direction of the lifted-off part is terminated by a free end forming an outermost edge of the diagnostic auxiliary label to next be cut, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is cut at a predetermined distance from the lifted off free end by means of a cutting device to form each diagnostic auxiliary label and to form a subsequent lifted off free end at an outermost edge of a subsequent diagnostic auxiliary label.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diagnostic auxiliary label comprises at least one of the following diagnostic aids:

a diagnostic test field with a test chemical designed to detect one or more analytes in the fluid sample; and

a lancet designed to perforate part of a patient'"'"'s skin in order to generate a fluid sample.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the diagnostic auxiliary label alternately comprises lancets and diagnostic test fields.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the laminate tape, the carrier tape and the vacuum roller are driven by drives wherein the drives are synchronized wholly or in part.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein a cutting device used for cutting the diagnostic functional layer is furthermore synchronized with the drives.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the carrier tape is guided by means of an application roller at the location where the diagnostic auxiliary label is transferred, wherein the carrier tape is guided through a roller gap between the application roller and the vacuum roller.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the application roller is a part of the drive of the carrier tape.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting of the diagnostic functional layer is effected using a CO₂ laser.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifted off free end of the diagnostic functional layer is applied to the vacuum roller.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting is effected by the cutting device in an air gap between the edge and a surface of the vacuum roller.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting of the diagnostic functional layer is effected in such a way that the diagnostic functional layer is converted into diagnostic auxiliary labels in a manner substantially free of losses.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the laminate carrier tape and the carrier tape is charged electrostatically.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in each case exactly one diagnostic auxiliary label is applied simultaneously on the vacuum roller.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is provided with defect markings for marking defective sections of the diagnostic functional layer, wherein sections marked as defective are removed before or after application to the vacuum roller.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the removal of the sections marked as defective is effected by extraction by suction.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the extraction by suction is effected from the vacuum roller.

17. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diagnostic functional layer has a plurality of tracks of diagnostic aids that are arranged parallel in a running direction of the laminate tape, such that the diagnostic auxiliary label that arises when the diagnostic functional layer is cut has a plurality of diagnostic aids.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the carrier tape is cut into sub tapes parallel to a running direction after the application of the diagnostic auxiliary labels.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier tape has reference marks for an optical calibration.

20. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier tape furthermore has positioning marks.

21. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

forming a free end of a second adjacent diagnostic auxiliary label by cutting the diagnostic functional layer at the predetermined distance from the lifted off free end; and

applying the second adjacent diagnostic label to the vacuum roller after transferring the diagnostic auxiliary label to the carrier tape.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the subsequent lifted off free end is transferred to the vacuum roller before the subsequent diagnostic auxiliary label is formed.

22. A method for producing an analysis tape for fluid samples, in particular body fluids, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

providing a laminate tape having a laminate carrier tape and at least one diagnostic functional layer, and cutting the laminate tape in such a way that a plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels arise;

transferring each of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels to a vacuum roller independently of one another; and

transferring at least a portion of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels to a carrier tape,

wherein at least one vacuum roller is used for the transfer of the at least a portion of plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels to the carrier tape, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is lifted off from the laminate carrier tape by guiding the laminate carrier tape around an edge with a small radius to form a lifted off part of the diagnostic functional layer, wherein a lateral extension of the lifted-off part in a running direction of the lifted-off part is terminated by a free end forming an outermost edge of respective ones of the diagnostic auxiliary labels to next be cut, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is cut at a predetermined distance from the lifted off free end by a cutting device to form the respective ones of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels and to form a subsequent lifted off free end at an outermost edge of a subsequent diagnostic auxiliary label.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the subsequent lifted off free end is transferred to the vacuum roller before the subsequent diagnostic auxiliary label is formed.

23. A method for producing an analysis tape for fluid samples, in particular body fluids, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

providing a laminate tape having a laminate carrier tape and at least one diagnostic functional layer, and cutting the laminate tape successively to form a plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels;

transferring successive ones of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels to a vacuum roller in spatial separation from one another on the vacuum roller; and

transferring at least a portion of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels to a carrier tape,

wherein at least one vacuum roller is used for the transfer of the at least a portion of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels to the carrier tape, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is lifted off from the laminate carrier tape by guiding the laminate carrier tape around an edge with a small radius to form a lifted off part of the diagnostic functional layer, wherein a lateral extension of the lifted-off part in a running direction of the lifted-off part is terminated by a free end forming an outermost edge of respective ones of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels to next be cut, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is cut at a predetermined distance from the lifted off free end by a cutting device to form the respective ones of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels and to form a subsequent lifted off free end at an outermost edge of a subsequent diagnostic auxiliary label.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the subsequent lifted off free end is transferred to the vacuum roller before the subsequent diagnostic auxiliary label is formed.

24. A method for producing an analysis tape for fluid samples, in particular body fluids, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

providing a laminate tape having a laminate carrier tape and at least one diagnostic functional layer, and cutting the laminate tape to form a plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels;

transferring each of the diagnostic auxiliary labels to a vacuum roller independently of one another; and

transferring at least a portion of the diagnostic auxiliary labels to a carrier tape,

wherein at least one vacuum roller is used for the transfer of the at least a portion of the diagnostic auxiliary labels independently of one another to the carrier tape, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is lifted off from the laminate carrier tape by guiding the laminate carrier tape around an edge with a small radius to form a lifted off part of the diagnostic functional layer, wherein a lateral extension of the lifted-off part in a running direction of the lifted-off part is terminated by a free end forming an outermost edge of respective ones of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels to next be cut, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is cut at a predetermined distance from the lifted off free end by a cutting device to form the respective ones of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels and to form a subsequent lifted off free end at an outermost edge of a subsequent diagnostic auxiliary label.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the subsequent lifted off free end is transferred to the vacuum roller before the subsequent diagnostic auxiliary label is formed.

25. A method for producing an analysis tape for fluid samples, in particular body fluids, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

providing a laminate tape having a laminate carrier tape and at least one diagnostic functional layer, and cutting the laminate tape to form a plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels;

transferring the successive ones of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels to a vacuum roller; and

transferring at least a portion of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels to a carrier tape,

wherein at least one vacuum roller is used for the transfer of the at least a portion of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels to the carrier tape, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is lifted off from the laminate carrier tape by guiding the laminate carrier tape around an edge with a small radius to form a lifted off part of the diagnostic functional layer, wherein a lateral extension of the lifted-off part in a running direction of the lifted-off part is terminated by a free end forming an outermost edge of respective ones of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels to next be cut that is spatially separated from a preceding diagnostic auxiliary label, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is cut at a predetermined distance from the lifted off free end by a cutting device to form the respective ones of the plurality of diagnostic auxiliary labels and to form a subsequent lifted off free end at an outermost edge of a subsequent diagnostic auxiliary label.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the subsequent lifted off free end is transferred to the vacuum roller before the subsequent diagnostic auxiliary label is formed.