Cap-linked test strip carrier for vial augmentation

• US 8,236,254 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Myles, Christopher, Bulala, Cherie
• Primary Examiner(s): SAKELARIS, SALLY A
• Application Number:
  US12/465,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20100290956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 422/401
• US Class Current: 422/401
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/825 Recoil-type retainer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/110833 Utilizing a moving indicator strip or tape

Abstract

The present disclosure provides test strip carriers for insertion into test strip vials and methods of making the same. Also provided are test strip vials including test strip carriers, and systems including test strip vials, test strip carriers and analytical test strips. The test strip carriers of the present disclosure are capable of engaging with the caps of test strip vials and thereby facilitating the retrieval of one or more test strips from the test strip vials upon opening of the test strip vials.

Claims

1. A test strip carrier for insertion into a test strip vial, wherein the test strip vial comprises a cap hingedly coupled to the test strip vial, the test strip carrier comprising:

a first end configured for insertion into the test strip vial and defining a test strip basket, the test strip basket comprising a base and a wall;

a second end configured to snapedly engage with and fit within the cap; and

a flexible connector connecting the first end to the second end, wherein the test strip carrier is configured such that when the first end is inserted into the test strip vial and the second end engages the cap, opening of the cap raises the test strip basket from a first position to a second position within the test strip vial, and wherein the second end stays engaged with the cap upon opening of the cap.

2. The test strip carrier of claim 1, wherein the wall is an annular wall.

3. The test strip carrier of claim 1, wherein the second end is at least substantially disk shaped.

4. The test strip carrier of claim 1, wherein the test strip carrier is formed from a single piece of flexible material.

5. The test strip carrier of claim 4, wherein the flexible material is a polymer.

6. The test strip carrier of claim 5, wherein the polymer is a plastic.

7. The test strip carrier of claim 1, wherein the second end is attached via an adhesive to the cap.

8. A system comprising:

a test strip vial, wherein the test strip vial comprises a cap hingedly coupled to the test strip vial;

a test strip carrier, wherein the test strip carrier comprises a first end configured for insertion into the test strip vial and defining a test strip basket, the test strip basket comprising;

a base and a wall;

a second end configured to snapedly engage with and fit within the cap; and

a flexible connector connecting the first end to the second end; and

a plurality of test strips disposed in the test strip basket, wherein the test strip carrier is configured such that when the first end is inserted into the test strip vial and the second end engages the cap, opening of the cap raises the test strip basket from a first position to a second position within the test strip vial, and wherein the second end stays engaged with the cap upon opening of the cap.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wall is an annular wall.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the second end is at least substantially disk shaped.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the test strip carrier is formed from a single piece of flexible material.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the flexible material is a polymer.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the polymer is a plastic.

14. A test strip vial comprising:

a cap hingedly coupled to the test strip vial;

a test strip carrier, wherein the test strip carrier comprises a first end inserted into the test strip vial, wherein the first end defines a test strip basket comprising a base and a wall;

a second end snapedly engaged with and fitting within the cap; and

a flexible connector connecting the first end to the second end, wherein opening the cap raises the test strip carrier from a first position to a second position within the test strip vial, and wherein the second end stays engaged with the cap upon opening the cap.

15. The test strip vial of claim 14, wherein the wall is an annular wall.

16. The test strip vial of claim 14, wherein the second end is at least substantially disk shaped.

17. The test strip vial of claim 14, wherein the test strip carrier is formed from a single piece of flexible material.

18. The test strip vial of claim 17 wherein the flexible material is a polymer.

19. The test strip vial of claim 18, wherein the polymer is a plastic.

20. The test strip vial of claim 14, wherein the test strip vial comprises a plurality of analytical test strips disposed in the test strip basket.

21. The test strip vial of claim 14, wherein the second end is attached via an adhesive to the cap.

22. A method of making a test strip carrier for insertion into a test strip vial having a cap hingedly coupled thereto, the method comprising:

cutting a test strip carrier pattern from a sheet of flexible material;

folding the test strip carrier pattern to form a test strip carrier, the test strip carrier comprising;

a first end configured for insertion into the test strip vial and defining a test strip basket, the test strip basket comprising a base and a wall;

a second end snapedly engaged with and fitting within the cap; and

a flexible connector connecting the first end to the second end, wherein the test strip carrier is configured such that when the first end is inserted into the test strip vial and the second end engages the cap, opening of the cap raises the test strip carrier from a first position to a second position within the test strip vial, and wherein the second end stays engaged with the cap upon opening of the cap.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the wall is an annular wall.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the test strip carrier pattern comprises a first engagement slit and a second engagement slit, and wherein the annular wall is formed by engaging the first engagement slit with the second engagement slit.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the second end is configured to snapedly engage the cap.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the second end is at least substantially disk shaped.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the flexible material is a polymer.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the polymer is a plastic.