# US 9,872,646 B2 · Method for producing a membrane ring or test strip ring and ring magazine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,872,646 B2 - Document ID: US9872646B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/596,915 - Filed: 2015-01-14 - Published: 2015-05-21 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-05 - Assignees: Roche Diabetes Care, Inc. - Applicants: Roche Diabetes Care, Inc. - Inventors: Herbert Harttig - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872646B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/150358: {Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent} - A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement} - A61B 5/150022: {for capillary blood or interstitial fluid} - A61B 5/150274: {Manufacture or production processes or steps for blood sampling devices} - A61B 5/151: {Devices} specially adapted for taking samples of capillary blood, e.g. by lancets {, needles or blades} - A61B 5/15148: {Constructional features of stocking means, e.g. strip, roll, disc, cartridge, belt or tube} - A61B 5/15151: {Each piercing element being stocked in a separate isolated compartment} - A61B 5/15161: {Characterized by propelling the piercing element in a radial direction relative to the disc} - A61B 5/157: {Devices} characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood - B01L 3/5023: {with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis} - G01N 33/4875: {Details of handling test elements, e.g. dispensing or storage, not specific to a particular test method (test-elements per se B01L, automatic analysers G01N35/00, in-vivo analysis on the human body for medical diagnosis A61B)} - A61B 5/15176: {Stocking means comprising cap, cover, sheath or protection for aseptic stocking} - A61B 2562/0295: Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 - B01L 2200/04: Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs - B01L 2300/0663: Whole sensors - B01L 2300/0803: Disc shape - B01L 2300/0825: Test strips - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method for producing a membrane ring or test strip ring for a diagnostic test device includes an elongate strip that is divided into segments by cuts running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the strip, where the cuts are made only as far as a residual width of the strip so that a material bridge remains intact between the segments adjacent to the cuts (24). The strip is closed by bringing its ends together to form a ring where the cut edges of the cuts running towards the material bridges each enclose an acute angle (α). The ring is inserted into a support structure as a membrane ring or test strip ring for the test device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing a diagnostic test device for examining body fluids, the method comprising the steps of: a) forming a starting material from one of a foil coated with a reactive test chemistry and a membrane that is at least partially permeable to body fluid to filter the body fluid passing through the membrane; b) cutting an elongate strip of the starting material into segments, such that the elongate strip includes two ends and the segments are divided by cuts running transversely to a longitudinal direction of the elongate strip, wherein the cuts are made to maintain a material bridge between the segments adjacent to the cuts; c) closing the elongate strip by bringing the ends together to form a ring, wherein cut edges of each of the cuts running towards the material bridges diverge from adjacent cuts and enclose an acute angle; d) providing a support structure for the diagnostic test device, the support structure having a disc-shaped housing that includes a plurality of chambers; e) inserting the ring into the disc-shaped housing so that each of the segments is allocated to a respective one of the chambers of the housing; and wherein the elongate strip is cut to a residual width of 0.1 to 1.0 mm that remains as the material bridge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the elongate strip is uniformly cut into from a longitudinal edge of the elongate strip such that the material bridges remain at an opposite longitudinal edge of the elongate strip. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the elongate strip is cut from opposing longitudinal edges of the elongate strip while retaining the material bridge between cuts extending from the opposing longitudinal edges. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the cuts are made using a cutting or punching tool or by laser cutting. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising twisting the cut strip lengthwise before closing the elongate strip to form the ring so that the segments are tilted at a continuously increasing angle relative to a tilt axis running through the material bridges. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, further comprising successively placing the segments down on a flat ring surface to bring the segments from a tilted position into a mutually overlapping position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the ring is configured so that the material bridges span a circle wherein the ends of the elongate strip make contact on the circle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein adjacent ones of the segments are placed to form overlaps during ring formation, wherein the overlaps extend from an inner side of the ring to the respective material bridge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein adjacent segments are joined to one another at the overlap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the adjacent segments are joined at the overlap under the action of heat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the adjacent segments are welded at the overlap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the adjacent segments are joined at the overlap under the action of pressure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the adjacent segments are glued at the overlap. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the segments are mutually joined while the ring is at the same time attached to the support structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the segments are arranged as disposables in a ring magazine and each segment is configured to provide a single test for examining the body fluid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the cuts are made in the elongate strip at right angles from a longitudinal edge of the elongate strip, wherein the cut edges of the cuts run in pairs parallel to a common cut line. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reactive test chemistry is for an analyte in the body fluid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the elongate strip is provided from a flat starting material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the elongate strip is provided from a tape-shaped starting material. ### Claim 20 A method for producing a diagnostic test device for examining body fluids, the method comprising the steps of: a) forming a starting material from one of a foil coated with a reactive test chemistry and a membrane that is at least partially permeable to body fluid to filter the body fluid passing through the membrane; b) cutting an elongate strip of the starting material into segments, such that the elongate strip includes two ends and the segments are divided by cuts running transversely to a longitudinal direction of the elongate strip, wherein the cuts are made to maintain a material bridge between the segments adjacent to the cuts and wherein the elongate strip is cut to maintain a residual width of between 2% and 20% of a width of the elongate strip as the material bridge; c) closing the elongate strip by bringing the ends together to form a ring, wherein cut edges of each of the cuts running towards the material bridges diverge from adjacent cuts and enclose an acute angle; d) providing a support structure for the diagnostic test device, the support structure having a disc-shaped housing that includes a plurality of chambers; and e) inserting the ring into the disc-shaped housing so that each of the segments is allocated to a respective one of the chambers of the housing. ### Claim 21 A ring magazine for a diagnostic test device for examining body fluids, comprising: a support structure and a ring inserted in the support structure; wherein the ring includes an elongate strip of starting material cut into segments divided by cuts running transversely to a longitudinal direction of the elongate strip; wherein the cuts are made to maintain a material bridge between the segments adjacent to the cuts and the elongate strip is closed by bringing opposite ends of the elongate strip together to form the ring; wherein the cuts running transversely to a longitudinal direction of the elongate strip extend through between 80% to 98% of the elongate strip to maintain the material bridge; wherein cut edges of each of the cuts running towards the material bridges diverge from adjacent cuts and enclose an acute angle; and wherein the support structure includes a plurality of test chambers and each of the segments is allocated to a respective one of the test chambers of the support structure to provide a filter or a detection element configured for a single test for examining the body fluid. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The ring magazine according to claim 21, wherein the support structure has a plurality of openings for the transfer of body fluid and the openings are each covered by a respective one of the segments of the ring. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The ring magazine according to claim 21, wherein the support structure has a disc-shaped housing including the test chambers arranged in a ring shape. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The ring magazine according to claim 21, wherein the segments each have an application site for taking up body fluid. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The ring magazine according to claim 21, wherein the ring is placed as a filter in front of a ring-shaped detection element. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The ring magazine according to claim 21, wherein the support structure is configured for insertion into a housing of a diagnostic test device. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the elongate strip is uniformly cut into from a longitudinal edge of the elongate strip such that the material bridges remain at an opposite longitudinal edge of the elongate strip. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the elongate strip is cut from opposing longitudinal edges of the elongate strip while retaining the material bridge between cuts extending from the opposing longitudinal edges. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the cuts are made using a cutting or punching tool or by laser cutting. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, further comprising twisting the cut strip lengthwise before closing the elongate strip to form the ring so that the segments are tilted at a continuously increasing angle relative to a tilt axis running through the material bridges. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method according to claim 30, further comprising successively placing the segments down on a flat ring surface to bring the segments from a tilted position into a mutually overlapping position. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the ring is configured so that the material bridges span a circle wherein the ends of the elongate strip make contact on the circle. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein adjacent ones of the segments are placed to form overlaps during ring formation, wherein the overlaps extend from an inner side of the ring to the respective material bridge. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method according to claim 33, wherein adjacent segments are joined to one another at the overlap. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method according to claim 34, wherein the adjacent segments are joined at the overlap under the action of heat. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method according to claim 35, wherein the adjacent segments are welded at the overlap. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The method according to claim 34, wherein the adjacent segments are joined at the overlap under the action of pressure. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method according to claim 37, wherein the adjacent segments are glued at the overlap. ### Claim 39 (depends on 34) The method according to claim 34, wherein the segments are mutually joined while the ring is at the same time attached to the support structure. ### Claim 40 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the segments are arranged as disposables in a ring magazine and each segment is configured to provide a single test for examining the body fluid. ### Claim 41 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the cuts are made in the elongate strip at right angles from a longitudinal edge of the elongate strip, wherein the cut edges of the cuts run in pairs parallel to a common cut line. ### Claim 42 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the reactive test chemistry is for an analyte in the body fluid. ### Claim 43 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the elongate strip is provided from a flat starting material. ### Claim 44 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the elongate strip is provided from a tape-shaped starting material.