# US 10,871,483 B2 · Bottled glucose sensor with no handling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,483 B2 - Document ID: US10871483B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/177,425 - Filed: 2018-10-31 - Published: 2019-03-07 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-13 - Assignees: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG - Applicants: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG - Inventors: Steven C. Charlton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871483B2 ## CPC - G01N 33/48757: {Test elements dispensed from a stack} - C12Q 1/005: {involving specific analytes or enzymes (including groups of enzymes, e.g. oxydases; C12Q1/004 takes precedence)} - C12Q 1/54: involving glucose or galactose - G01N 21/8483: {Investigating reagent band (test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04)} - G01N 33/52: Use of compounds or compositions for colorimetric, spectrophotometric or fluorometric investigation, e.g. use of reagent paper {and including single- and multilayer analytical elements (immunological elements G01N33/54386; involving labelled immunochemicals G01N33/58; for haemoglobin or occult blood G01N33/72)} - G01N 33/5438: {Electrodes} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES ## Abstract A device and system for automatic handling of a sensor strip by a part of a meter that includes a sensor strip having a first section, a second section, and an intermediate section. The sensor strip includes at least a first opening about a first end thereof and a second opening about a second end thereof. A meter part includes a pair of pivoting catches configured to engage and grasp a sensor strip from a container containing a plurality of sensor strips. The sensor strip may thus be removed from a container for testing without need for manual handling of the strip by a user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for retrieving a sensor strip from a container using a meter, the method comprising: providing a plurality of sensor strips in a container, each one of the plurality of sensor strips having an opening in a first location or in a second different location, the plurality of sensor strips arranged such that one of the plurality of sensor strips having an opening in the first location is adjacent one of the plurality of sensor strips having an opening in the second different location; and providing a meter portion comprising an upper catch and a lower catch, the meter portion configured to be inserted into the container and to contact a topmost sensor strip of the plurality of sensor strips, wherein the meter portion is configured to grasp the topmost sensor strip with the upper catch provided the topmost sensor strip has the opening in the first position or with the lower catch provided the topmost sensor strip has the opening in the second different position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the upper catch with an upper hook configured to engage the opening in the first position and providing the lower catch with a lower hook configured to engage the opening in the second different position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising bending upward a left section and a right section relative to an intermediate section of each one of the plurality of sensor strips prior to the providing the plurality of sensor strips in a container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising forming the opening in the left section or the right section of each one of the plurality of sensor strips prior to the providing the plurality of sensor strips in a container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising applying reagent to the intermediate section of each one of the plurality of sensor strips prior to the providing the plurality of sensor strips in a container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising providing each one of the plurality of sensor strips with a raised section prior to the providing the plurality of sensor strips in a container, wherein the opening in the first location or in the second different location is between the raised section and the intermediate section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing each one of the plurality of sensor strips with a raised section prior to the providing the plurality of sensor strips in a container. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein each one of the plurality of sensor strips has an edge and the opening in the first location or in the second different location is between the edge and the raised section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the opening in each one of the plurality of sensor strips comprises two openings arranged in a first configuration or in a second different configuration, the plurality of sensor strips arranged such that one of the plurality of sensor strips having the two openings arranged in the first configuration is adjacent one of the plurality of sensor strips having the two openings arranged in the second different configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the upper catch comprises a pair of upper catches and the lower catch comprises a pair of lower catches, the meter portion configured to grasp the topmost sensor strip with the pair of upper catches provided the topmost sensor strip has the two openings in the first configuration or with the pair of lower catches provided the topmost sensor strip has the two openings in the second different configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising providing an upper bias element coupling the pair of upper catches to one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a lower bias element coupling the pair of lower catches to one another. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the meter portion with a meter body, a read-head, and a housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a third bias element coupling the meter body to the read-head. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the meter portion with an upper cam in contact with the upper catch in an initial rest position of the meter portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the meter portion with a lower cam in contact with the lower catch in the initial rest position of the meter portion. ### Claim 17 A method for retrieving a sensor strip from a container using a meter, the method comprising: providing a plurality of sensor strips in a container, each one of the plurality of sensor strips having an opening in a first location or in a second different location, the plurality of sensor strips arranged such that one of the plurality of sensor strips having an opening in the first location is adjacent one of the plurality of sensor strips having an opening in the second different location; providing a meter portion comprising an upper catch and a lower catch; inserting the meter portion into the container; contacting a topmost sensor strip of the plurality of sensor strips with the meter portion; and grasping the topmost sensor strip with the upper catch engaged in the opening in the first position or with the lower catch engaged in the opening in the second different position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the contacting comprises contacting a topmost sensor strip of the plurality of sensor strips with an upper arm of the upper catch and an upper arm of the lower catch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the grasping comprises grasping the topmost sensor strip with a hook extending from an upper arm of the upper catch or with a hook extending from an upper arm of the lower catch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising locking a meter body of the meter portion to a housing of the meter portion to maintain attachment of the topmost sensor strip to a read-head of the meter portion.