Test system

• US 9,671,387 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2010
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Thoes, Bruno, Hess, Peter, Ihle, Guenter, Koch, Martin, Piegsa, Ralf, Scherer, Joerg, Sacherer, Klaus-Dieter, Miltner, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Wecker, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US12/910,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20110263957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,419 Days
• Field of Search: 422 681, 422 8205, 422401, 422430, 600573, 600347, 600365
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• 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: B01L 2300/0812 Bands; Tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/478 Application in testing analytical test strips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6436 for analysing tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48764 Test tape taken off a spool
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones

Abstract

The invention concerns a test system for carrying out blood sugar tests with a diagnostic tape cassette which comprises a windable analytical test tape for detecting an analyte and a cassette housing accommodating the test tape, and a test device which has a device housing for inserting and removing the tape cassette and a measuring unit for detecting the analyte on the test tape. According to the invention it is proposed that the tape cassette can be detachably fastened by positioning elements on a platform mounted in the device housing and that the measuring unit is rigidly attached on the platform or can be engaged therewith.

Claims

1. A test system for carrying out blood sugar tests, comprising:

a diagnostic tape cassette comprising a windable analytical test tape for detecting an analyte and a cassette housing accommodating the test tape, wherein the cassette housing comprises a plurality of tape cassette positioning elements; and

a test device comprising;

a device housing configured for inserting and removing the tape cassette,

an associated measuring unit for detecting the analyte on the test tape, and

a platform permanently integrated or mounted as a device element in a base of a cassette compartment in the device housing, the platform comprising a rotary drive pin of a tape drive and a plurality of platform positioning elements,

wherein the tape cassette, when inserted into the cassette compartment of the device housing, is detachably fastened to the platform by means of the plurality of platform positioning elements and the rotary drive pin,

wherein the plurality of platform positioning elements comprises one or more raised supports and one or more positioning pins, wherein the one or more raised supports are disposed on a surface of the platform and are configured to provide a tilt-free support for an inserted tape cassette, wherein the one or more positioning pins are disposed on the surface of the platform and are pairable with at least one of the plurality of tape cassette positioning elements and are configured to nullify displacement play, and wherein the displacement play is between 1 mm and 3 mm, and

wherein the measuring unit is fixedly attached on the platform or can be engaged therewith.

2. The test system according to claim 1, wherein the platform is defined by a mechanically self-stable support plate that is held in the device housing by connecting means.

3. The test system according to claim 2, wherein the platform comprises an outsert molding part comprising a metal support and plastic parts formed thereon.

4. The test system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more positioning pins have a cylindrical base and taper towards a free end.

5. The test system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of tape cassette positioning elements comprises at least one oblong hole or round hole for engaging or pairing with at least one positioning pin.

6. The test system according to claim 1, wherein the test device further comprises a housing cover comprising a spring arrangement projecting from an inner side of the housing cover and configured to convey the tape cassette from a loose insertion position into a defined fixed measuring position in the device during insertion of the tape cassette.

15. The test system according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit comprises an optical measuring unit formed by a reflection-photometric measuring head mounted on the platform where the optical path of the measuring head runs crosswise to the direction of tape transport of the tape cassette located in the measuring position.

16. The test system according to claim 1, wherein the tape cassette can be connected to the tape drive of the test device by means of a coupling of the rotary drive pin, and wherein the coupling has form-fit elements that upon insertion of the tape cassette can be brought into a rotationally locked engagement position with one another by a yielding movement.

17. A tape cassette comprising a supply spool and a take-up spool and a tape guide for the defined transport of an analytical test tape between the supply spool and the take-up spool, the tape cassette being designed as a disposable for a test system according to claim 1.

7. A test system for carrying out blood sugar tests with a diagnostic tape cassette, comprising:

the diagnostic tape cassette comprising;

a windable analytical test tape for detecting an analyte,

a take-up spool configured for advancing the analytical test tape from a supply spool, and

a cassette housing accommodating the test tape; and

a test device comprising;

a device housing configured for inserting and removing the diagnostic tape cassette, an associated measuring unit for detecting the analyte on the test tape, and

a platform permanently integrated or mounted as a device element in a base of a cassette compartment in the device housing, the platform comprising a rotary drive pin of a tape drive, wherein at least part of the rotary drive pin is axially spring loaded by at least one coil spring and is configured to engage the take-up spool or the supply spool of the diagnostic tape cassette, and wherein the measuring unit is fixedly attached on the platform or can be engaged therewith, and

wherein when the tape cassette is inserted, it moves from a loose insertion position into a defined fixed measuring position in the device under the action of a spring arrangement comprising at least one compression spring projecting from an inner side of the housing cover that is configured to be compressed in the direction of an insertion axis.

8. The test system according to claim 7, wherein the tape cassette can be inserted into the test device in a uni-axial motion in the direction of the insertion axis.

9. The test system according to claim 7, wherein the spring arrangement can be actuated by closing the housing cover of the test device.

10. The test system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one compression spring projecting from the inner side of the housing cover of the test device is supported on an outer surface of the inserted tape cassette when the housing cover is closed.

11. The test system according to claim 7, wherein the spring arrangement further comprises at least one pressure spring that can be deflected crosswise to the insertion axis to make a clamp connection on an outer surface of the tape cassette.

12. The test system according to claim 11, wherein the at least one pressure spring comprises a leaf spring and is pretensioned by a sloping face on the outer surface of the tape cassette.

13. The test system according to claim 7, wherein the inserted tape cassette is spring-loaded by the spring arrangement at least two spaced apart support points.

14. The test system according to claim 8, wherein the measuring unit engages into a free space of the tape cassette when the tape cassette is inserted into the test device in the direction of the insertion axis.

18. A tape cassette comprising a supply spool and a take-up spool and a tape guide for the defined transport of an analytical test tape between the supply spool and the take-up spool, the tape cassette being designed as a disposable for a test system according to claim 7.