Bottled glucose sensor with no handling
AssigneeBayer HealthCare LLC
InventorSteven C. Charlton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device and system for automatic handling of a sensor strip by a part of meter 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.
Claims20
A meter system for testing an analyte in a fluid sample, the meter comprising:
- a read-head configured for interrogating a reagent section of a sensor strip;
- a housing;
- a pair of stationary catches disposed along the housing, wherein each of the stationary catches comprises a surface defining first and second steps, respectively;
- a pair of pivoting catches pivotably mounted along the stationary catches, wherein each of the pivoting catches comprises:
- a lower arm;
- an upper arm;
- and
- a pivot point disposed between the lower arm and the upper arm;
- wherein each of the lower arms comprises a surface generally complementing the surfaces of the stationary catches and first and second steps defined along the surfaces, respectively, and
- wherein the pivoting catches are configured such that a pivoting of the upper arms toward the housing causes the lower arms to pivot away from the stationary catches and a pivoting of the upper arms away from the housing causes the lower arms to pivot toward the stationary catches;
- a body configured to selectively move in a longitudinal direction of the housing away from and toward the housing, the body comprising first and second slots defined therewithin;
- first and second cam elements pivotably coupled to the body;
- a bias element configured to couple the first and second cam elements to one another such that the first and second cam elements extend away from the body;
- and
- a release button coupled to the bias element such that a first movement of the bias element causes the first and second cam elements to be retracted into the first and second slots, respectively;
- wherein the first and second cam elements are configured, in a first position thereof, to urge the upper arms of the pivoting catches to pivot about the respective pivot points such that the lower arms pivot toward the stationary catches;
- and
- wherein the steps of the stationary and pivoting catches are configured to cooperatively engage a sensor strip therebetween.
A meter for testing an analyte, the meter comprising:
- a read-head configured for interrogating a reagent section of a sensor strip;
- and
- a housing arranged about the read-head, the housing comprising:
- first and second lower catches pivotably mounted on the housing;
- a first bias element coupling the first and second lower catches to one another;
- first and second lower cam elements in engagement with the first and second catches, respectively;
- first and second upper catches pivotably mounted on the housing;
- a second bias element coupling the first and second upper catches to one another;
- first and second upper cam elements in engagement with the first and second upper catches;
- wherein each of the first and second upper catches and the first and second lower catches comprises a projection configured to engage an opening in a sensor strip;
- and
- a third bias element configured to activate the first and second upper cam elements and the first and second lower cam elements to pivot, respectively, the first and second upper catches and the first and second lower catches away from the housing.
A method for retrieving a sensor strip from a container using a meter, the method comprising:
- inserting a meter portion comprising a pair of pivoting catches into the container containing at least one sensor strip comprising first and second openings;
- causing the pivoting catches to pivot toward the at least one sensor strip and engaging the first and second openings;
- and
- grasping the sensor strip via the pivoting catches a the first and second openings, thereby tensioning the sensor strip about a read-head of the meter portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.