Linear, cartridge-based glucose measurement system

• US 9,417,229 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Brown, Daniel, Mathelier, Martin Antoine, Jung, Sung-Kwon
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRCHA, MATTHEW D
• Application Number:
  US14/366,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20150004059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/04 Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/04 Closures and closing means
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0858 Side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48778 Containers specially adapted therefor, e.g. for dry storage

Abstract

A test sensor container (400) is designed for use with an analyte measuring system (40). The test sensor container (100) may include a cartridge (200) including a plurality of stacked individual compartments (202) connected to one another in an accordion-style fashion. Each individual compartment (202) is collapsible from an expanded to a collapsed condition and is dimensioned to hold a test sensor (6) when in the expanded condition. The test sensor container further includes at least one foil cover (116) sealing the plurality of compartments (102, 202).

Claims

1. A test sensor container for use with an analyte measuring system, comprising:

a cartridge including a plurality of stacked individual compartments connected to one another in an accordion-style fashion, each individual compartment being collapsible from an expanded condition to a collapsed condition and dimensioned to hold a test sensor when in the expanded condition, each individual compartment further comprising two folding lines oriented diagonally relative to each other and a third folding line crossing the two folding lines at the same point;

at least one foil cover sealing the plurality of compartments; and

an ejection mechanism configured to break the at least one foil cover to open only one compartment at a time without opening the remaining compartments of the plurality of compartments.

2. The test sensor container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one foil cover comprises a single foil cover.

3. The test sensor container according to claim 1, further comprising a desiccant material inside each of the plurality of compartments.

4. The test sensor container according to claim 1, wherein each individual compartment of the plurality of compartments is connected to a directly adjacent individual compartment of the plurality of compartments along a longitudinal axis.

5. The test sensor container according to claim 1, wherein the test sensor container has a channel configured and dimensioned to receive the cartridge only when each compartment of the plurality of compartments is in the collapsed condition.

6. The test sensor container according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprises a cartridge housing at one end.

7. The test sensor container according to claim 6, wherein the cartridge housing comprises a rigid material and is configured to support at least some of the plurality of compartments.

8. The test sensor container according to claim 1, wherein each individual compartment in the collapsed condition has a flattened configuration.

9. An analyte meter, comprising the test sensor container according to claim 1, wherein each individual compartment of the plurality of compartments is adapted to move into the collapsed condition in successive order in response to removal of a test sensor therefrom.

10. An analyte meter, comprising:

the test sensor container of claim 1 contained in a housing having a bottom portion defining an internal cavity configured and dimensioned to hold the cartridge.

11. The analyte meter according to claim 10, further comprising a top portion pivotally coupled to the bottom portion.

12. The analyte meter according to claim 10, further comprising a top portion, the top portion having a first slot and the bottom portion having a second slot aligned with the first slot, the first and second slots forming a test sensor port configured to allow a test sensor to be ejected therefrom.

13. The analyte meter according to claim 10, further comprising a display unit for displaying information relevant to an analyte measurement.

14. The analyte meter according to claim 10, further comprising at least one button for ejecting a test sensor stored in the cartridge.

15. The analyte meter according to claim 10, further comprising an indexing lever for displacing a plurality of test sensors stored in the cartridge.

16. The analyte meter according to claim 10, wherein the cartridge includes 25 to 75 stacked individual compartments.