Contact connector assembly for a sensor-dispensing instrument

A method of using a sensor-dispensing instrument to determine an analyte concentration, the method comprising the acts of:

• providing a sensor-dispensing instrument including a plurality of electrochemical test sensors, a cartridge containing the plurality of electrochemical test sensors and a contact connector assembly, the contact connector assembly including at least six electrical contacts, a housing connector that forms at least one housing opening, and a base connector being coupled to the housing connector so as to form a sensor-receiving opening adapted to receive one of the plurality of test sensors, the at least one housing opening being adapted to receive the at least four electrical contacts such that the received electrical contacts are staggered with each other;
• repositioning one of the plurality of test sensors from the cartridge to the sensor-receiving opening such that the one of the plurality of test sensors contacts the at least six electrical contacts to assist in determining the analyte concentration;
• moving at least one of the base connector and the housing connector to a second position from the first position;
• placing a fluid with at least one analyte on the one of the plurality of test sensors;
• and
• determining the concentration of the at least one analyte.

A contact connector assembly adapted to be used in a sensor-dispensing instrument that contains a plurality of electrochemical test sensors, the contact connector assembly comprising:

• at least four electrical contacts;
• a housing connector forming at least one housing opening, the at least one housing opening being adapted to receive the at least four electrical contacts;
• a base connector being coupled to the housing connector so as to form a sensor-receiving opening adapted to receive one of the plurality of test sensors, at least one of the base connector and the housing connector being adapted to move between a first position and a second position;
• and
• a moveable mechanism coupled to at least one of the housing connector and the base connector, the moveable mechanism being adapted to move at least one of the base connector or the housing connector between the first position and the second position,
• wherein the housing connector and the base connector are adapted to be coupled in a first position such they are adapted to hold one of the plurality of test sensors and the housing connector and the base connector are adapted to be coupled in a second position such that they allow the test sensor to be removed therefrom.