Cartridge With a Wheel for Sealing the Opening

A cartridge comprising:

• a plurality of walls forming at least one cavity therein, the cavity being adapted to contain a plurality of test sensors, the plurality of test sensors being adapted to assist in the determination of a concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample, at least one of the plurality of walls having an opening adapted to allow a test sensor to be dispensed therefrom;
• a dispensing mechanism adapted to dispense a test sensor through the opening, the dispensing mechanism including,
• (i) a gear rack including a first portion and a second portion located generally parallel to one another, the first portion of the gear rack including a first plurality of teeth,
• (ii) a gear including a second plurality of teeth, the second plurality of teeth being adapted to be engaged by the first plurality of teeth upon movement of the gear rack, and
• (iii) a wheel operatively engaged by the gear, the wheel being adapted to dispense the test sensor from the opening and to seal the opening;
• a retention plate located in the at least one cavity, the retention plate being adapted to engage at least one of the plurality of test sensors;
• and
• a spring mechanism adapted to engage the retention plate, the spring mechanism exerting a force on the retention place in the direction of the wheel,
• wherein the spring mechanism and the retention plate force at least one of the test sensors into contact with a portion of the wheel of the dispensing mechanism.

A dispensing mechanism for ejecting a test sensor from a cartridge opening formed in a cartridge containing a plurality of test sensors, the dispensing mechanism comprising:

• a plurality of gears, each of the plurality of gears including a plurality of teeth;
• a wheel operatively engaged by the plurality of gears, the wheel being adapted to dispense the test sensor from the cartridge opening and to seal the cartridge opening;
• and
• a gear rack including a plurality of first portions and a plurality of second portion located generally parallel to one another, at least one of the plurality of first and second portions being located on opposite sides of the wheel, the plurality of second portions of the gear rack each including a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth on the plurality of second portions being adapted to engage the plurality of teeth on the plurality of gears,
• wherein movement of the gear rack in a first direction causes the plurality of gears to rotate causing the wheel to rotate, the rotation of the wheel dispensing the test sensor through the cartridge opening.

A cartridge comprising:

• a plurality of walls forming at least one cavity therein, the cavity being adapted to contain a plurality of test sensors, the plurality of test sensors being adapted to assist in the determination of a concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample, at least one of the plurality of walls having an opening adapted to allow a test sensor to be dispensed therefrom;
• a dispensing mechanism adapted to dispense a test sensor through the opening, the dispensing mechanism including,
• (i) a plurality of gears, each of the plurality of gears including a plurality of teeth,
• (ii) a wheel operatively engaged by the plurality of gears, the wheel being adapted to dispense the test sensor from the cartridge opening and to seal the cartridge opening, and
• (iii) a gear rack including a plurality of first portions and a plurality of second portion located generally parallel to one another, at least one of the plurality of first and second portions being located on opposite sides of the wheel, the plurality of second portions of the gear rack each including a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth on the plurality of second portions being adapted to engage the plurality of teeth on the plurality of gears;
• a retention plate located in the at least one cavity, the retention plate being adapted to engage at least one of the plurality of test sensors;
• and
• a spring mechanism adapted to engage the retention plate, the spring mechanism exerting a force on the retention place in the direction of the wheel,
• wherein the spring mechanism and the retention plate force at least one of the test sensors into contact with a portion of the wheel of the dispensing mechanism.