Back to results
US 2011/0253736 A1Published application
Analyte test strip vial
AssigneeAbbott Diabetes Care Inc.
InventorsFrank David Fujimoto, Craig W. Sharp, Philip Justus Wunderle, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An analyte test strip vial having a restrictor to dispense analyte test strips in a controlled manner. In general, the restrictor includes one or more openings (e.g., central and/or arc-shaped openings) that are appropriately sized to facilitate the dispensing of a manageable number of analyte test strips from the vial container. The restrictor may also include one or more surface features (e.g., tabs, cavities, and/or tapered surfaces) to facilitate in the removal of analyte test strips, and the matting and/or removal of the restrictor from the vial container.
Claims33
A vial adapted for dispensing analyte test strips in a controlled manner, comprising:
- a cylindrical container for holding a plurality of analyte test strips, the container having a base, a cylindrical wall with an interior surface, an interior shoulder along the interior surface, and an open end;
- a cap coupled to the container for closing the open end of the container;
- and
- an insert sized to fit within the open end of the container and mate with the interior shoulder of the container, wherein the insert includes an outer ring, a circular interior body portion concentrically aligned within the outer ring, and a plurality of bridge structures linking the outer ring to the interior body portion so as to create a plurality of arc-shaped openings between the outer ring and the interior body portion.
1 more element
A vial adapted for dispensing analyte test strips in a controlled manner, comprising:
- a cylindrical container for holding a plurality of analyte test strips, the container having a base, a cylindrical wall with an interior surface, an interior shoulder along the interior surface, a desiccant bound to the interior surface of the container, and an open end;
- a cap hinged to the container for closing the open end of the container with a snap-fit engagement;
- and
- an cylindrical insert sized to fit within the open end of the container and mate with the interior shoulder of the container, wherein the insert includes
- an annular outer ring, wherein the annular outer ring includes tapered edges, a plurality of uniformly spaced cavities on an exterior surface of the annular outer ring, and a plurality of uniformly spaced tabs extending from the exterior surface of the annular outer ring,
- a multifaceted, circular interior body concentrically aligned within the annular outer ring, wherein the circular interior body includes a generally circular central opening having a plurality of uniformly spaced teeth structures about an edge of the central opening, wherein each of the plurality of teeth structures is spaced between about 0.020 inches and about 0.045 inches from an adjacent one of the plurality of teeth structures, and wherein opposing teeth structures are distanced between about 0.227 inches and about 0.273 inches from one another, and
- a plurality of bridge structures linking the annular outer ring to the circular interior body so as to create a plurality of arc-shaped exit ports.
4 more elements
A vial adapted for dispensing analyte test strips in a controlled manner, comprising:
- a cylindrical container for holding a plurality of analyte test strips, the container having a base, a cylindrical wall with an interior surface, an interior shoulder along the interior surface, and an open end;
- a cap coupled to the container for closing the open end of the container;
- and
- an insert sized to fit within the open end of the container and mate with the interior surface of the container, wherein the insert includes an opening sized to withdraw a plurality of analyte test strips from the container, and a plate attached to a surface of the insert and covering a portion of the opening in the insert so as to limit the number of analyte test strips that can be withdrawn from the container.
1 more element
A vial adapted for dispensing analyte test strips in a controlled manner, comprising:
- a cylindrical container for holding a plurality of analyte test strips, the container having a base, a cylindrical wall with an interior surface, an interior shoulder along the interior surface, and an open end;
- a cap coupled to the container for closing the open end of the container;
- and
- a cylindrical insert sized to fit within the open end of the container and mate with the interior shoulder of the container, wherein the insert includes a central opening defined by a saw-tooth edge.
1 more element
A strip vial restricting element, comprising
- an outer ring;
- a circular interior body portion concentrically aligned within the outer ring;
- and
- a plurality of bridge structures linking the outer ring to the interior body portion so as to create a plurality of arc-shaped openings between the outer ring and the interior body portion.
1 more element
An analyte test strip vial insert, comprising:
- a cylindrical body portion;
- an opening sized to withdraw a plurality of analyte test strips from an analyte test strip vial;
- and
- a plate attached to a surface of the cylindrical body portion and covering a portion of the opening so as to limit the number of analyte test strips that can be withdrawn from the vial.
1 more element
A strip vial restricting element, comprising:
- a cylindrical body portion;
- and
- a central opening defined by a saw-tooth edge.
An insert for an analyte test strip vial, comprising:
- an annular outer ring, wherein the annular outer ring includes tapered edges, a plurality of uniformly spaced cavities on an exterior surface of the annular outer ring, and a plurality of uniformly spaced tabs extending from the exterior surface of the annular outer ring;
- a multifaceted, circular interior body concentrically aligned within the annular outer ring, wherein the circular interior body includes a generally circular central opening having a plurality of uniformly spaced teeth structures about an edge of the central opening, wherein each of the plurality of teeth structures is spaced between about 0.020 inches and about 0.045 inches from an adjacent one of the plurality of teeth structures, and wherein opposing teeth structures are distanced between about 0.227 inches and about 0.273 inches from one another;
- and
- a plurality of bridge structures linking the annular outer ring to the circular interior body so as to create a plurality of arc-shaped exit ports.
1 more element
An insert for an analyte test strip vial, comprising:
- an annular outer ring, wherein the annular outer ring includes tapered edges, a plurality of uniformly spaced cavities on an exterior surface of the annular outer ring, and a plurality of uniformly spaced tabs extending from the exterior surface of the annular outer ring;
- a multifaceted, circular interior body concentrically aligned within the annular outer ring, wherein the circular interior body includes a generally circular central opening having a plurality of uniformly spaced teeth structures about an edge of the central opening;
- and
- a plurality of bridge structures linking the annular outer ring to the circular interior body so as to create a plurality of arc-shaped exit ports.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.