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Test strip ejector for medical device

  • US 9,638,660 B2
  • Filed: 02/19/2014
  • Issued: 05/02/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A test strip ejector system for receiving and ejecting a test strip of an analysis device, the system comprising:

  • a plurality of guide rails attached to a component board, the plurality of guide rails including at least a first guide rail and a second guide rail, the first and second guide rails being the outermost guide rails of the plurality of guide rails, each of the first and second guide rails including an upper surface, an internal face, and an external face opposite the internal face, the internal faces of the first and second guide rails facing one another to define a rail cavity that is disposed between the first and second guide rails, and the external faces of the first and second guide rails facing away from the rail cavity in opposite directions;

    a sled having opposed first and second body ends and having multiple opposed legs configured to partially capture there between the first and second guide rails, each of the legs positioned externally to and retained in sliding continuous contact with one of the first or second guide rails limiting sled motion to each of a loading direction and an ejection direction;

    a member movably connected to the analysis device, the sled coupled to the member such that member movement in a first direction displaces the sled in the loading direction to position the sled in a test strip test position, and opposite member movement in a second direction operates to displace the sled in the ejection direction away from the test strip test position to eject the test strip from the analysis device by sled travel toward a test strip ejection position; and

    each of the legs having a planar leg face disposed in sliding contact with the upper surface of one of the guide rails and an inner shape selected to contact and at least partially capture the external face of one of the guide rails, thereby limiting displacement of the sled to only sliding motion in either the loading direction or the ejection direction;

    wherein the first and second guide rails are not bounded by any other guide rails in a direction that is transverse to the loading direction and the ejection direction;

    wherein the multiple opposed legs includes at least first and second legs on a first side of a sled longitudinal axis and at least third and fourth legs on a second side of the sled longitudinal axis;

    wherein the sled includes opposed first and second contact legs which are substantially rigid and integrally connected to the sled, the first and second contact legs positioned between the first and second legs and the third and fourth legs;

    wherein the first and second contact legs are positioned within the rail cavity defined between the first and second guide rails, the test strip when positioned within rail cavity directly contacting the first and second contact legs.

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