Replaceable multistrip cartridge and biosensor meter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10073051-B2
Application number	US-201615175856-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2016
Priority date	May 31, 2012
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

A blood glucose monitor includes a can, a replaceable sensor cartridge that includes a frame, an upper spring disposed between the frame and the can, a case for housing the can and sealing the frame, a lower spring disposed between the can and the case, and a meter housing for sealing an upper portion of the frame. The can is capable of accepting the replaceable sensor cartridge. The frame of the removable cartridge has at least at least two walls defining a chamber for accepting a plurality of biosensors, and a bottom portion defining an opening and at least one sealing flange. The frame can further include a desiccant material capable of reducing humidity within the frame. The frame may be dimensioned such that an interference fit constrains the plurality of biosensors prior to inserting the frame within a blood glucose monitor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A blood glucose monitor comprising:
a replaceable sensor cartridge comprising:
a frame having at least two walls defining a chamber for accepting a plurality of biosensors, the frame having a bottom portion defining an opening and at least one sealing flange, the frame further including a desiccant material capable of reducing humidity within the frame, wherein the frame is dimensioned such that an interference fit constrains the plurality of biosensors;

a can capable of receiving the replaceable sensor cartridge;
an upper spring disposed between the frame and the can;
a case for housing the can and sealing the frame;
a lower spring disposed between the can and the case; and
a meter housing for sealing an upper portion of the frame.

2. The blood glucose monitor of claim 1 , wherein the upper spring is received in the opening in the bottom portion of the frame.

3. The blood glucose monitor of claim 1 , wherein the lower spring has a spring force higher than that of the upper spring.

4. The blood glucose monitor of claim 1 , wherein the meter housing and the replaceable sensor cartridge define a segregating slot there between to allow deployment of only a single one of the plurality of biosensors.

5. The blood glucose monitor of claim 4 , further comprising a pusher to advance a single one of the plurality of biosensors through the segregating slot.

6. The blood glucose monitor of claim 1 , further comprising a pusher to advance a single one of the plurality of biosensors.

7. A replaceable sensor cartridge comprising:
a frame having a desiccant material capable of reducing humidity within the frame and configured to house a plurality of biosensors; and
a strip picker configured and arranged to slide along a top portion of the frame in a forward stroke to deploy a top biosensor from the plurality of biosensors and in a reverse stroke to return the strip picker to a home position, the strip picker including a flexible tab stop for providing a ratchet action along the top portion of the frame such that the strip picker cannot return to the home position until a full forward stroke is completed.

8. The replaceable sensor cartridge of claim 7 , wherein the frame includes a plurality of ratchet teeth and a pocket at each end of the plurality of ratchet teeth, the frame configured to mate with the flexible tab stop and to reverse movement of the strip picker only in response to completion of a full forward or reverse stroke.

9. The replaceable sensor cartridge of claim 7 , wherein the strip picker is configured to deploy a first edge of the top biosensor from the plurality of biosensors through an exit channel of the frame and leave a second opposite edge of the top biosensor within the exit channel.

10. The replaceable sensor cartridge of claim 7 , further comprising an anti-jamming feedback feature.

11. The replaceable sensor cartridge of claim 10 , wherein the anti-jamming feedback feature provides tactile feedback when the strip picker is at an end of the forward or reverse stroke.

12. A blood glucose monitor comprising:
the replaceable sensor cartridge of claim 7 ; and
a rotating block configured to reorient a deployed top sensor from a first position to a second position.

13. The blood glucose monitor of claim 12 , further comprising a lid for covering the top portion of the frame of the replaceable sensor cartridge, the lid coupled to the rotating block and having a cutout configured to allow reorientation of the deployed top sensor from the first position to the second position.

14. A blood glucose monitor comprising:
a replaceable sensor cartridge comprising:
a frame having a desiccant material capable of reducing humidity within the frame and configured to house a plurality of biosensors, and
a strip picker configured and arranged to slide along a top portion of the frame in a forward stroke to deploy a top biosensor from the plurality of biosensors and in a reverse stroke to return the strip picker to a home position, the strip picker providing a ratchet action along the top portion of the frame such that the strip picker cannot return to the home position until a full forward stroke is completed; and

electrodes for contacting one of the plurality of biosensors; wherein:
the strip picker is configured and arranged to slide along a top portion of the frame in a reverse stroke to return a deployed top biosensor to the home position such that the deployed top biosensor is in contact with the electrodes.

15. The blood glucose monitor of claim 14 , wherein the strip picker of the replaceable sensor cartridge includes a flexible pawl for providing the ratchet action.

16. The replaceable sensor cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the frame includes a plurality of ratchet teeth and a parallel smooth track, the frame configured to mate with the flexible pawl of the strip picker to allow the forward stroke along the ratchet teeth and to guide the reverse stroke along the smooth track only in response to completion of the full forward stroke.

17. A blood glucose monitor comprising:
a replaceable sensor cartridge comprising:
a frame having a desiccant material capable of reducing humidity within the frame and configured to house a plurality of biosensors, and
a strip picker configured and arranged to slide along a top portion of the frame in a forward stroke to deploy a top biosensor from the plurality of biosensors and in a reverse stroke to return the strip picker to a home position, the strip picker providing a ratchet action along the top portion of the frame such that the strip picker cannot return to the home position until a full forward stroke is completed;

a first hinge disposed on one side of the replaceable cartridge and a second hinge disposed on an opposite side of the replaceable cartridge; and
a lid coupleable to either the first hinge or the second hinge for pivoting over either the first hinge or the second hinge.

18. The blood glucose monitor of claim 17 , wherein the strip picker of the replaceable sensor cartridge includes a flexible pawl for providing the ratchet action.

19. A replaceable sensor cartridge comprising:
a frame having a desiccant material capable of reducing humidity within the frame and configured to house a plurality of biosensors;
a strip picker configured and arranged to slide along a top portion of the frame in a forward stroke to deploy a top biosensor from the plurality of biosensors and in a reverse stroke to return the strip picker to a home position, the strip picker providing a ratchet action along the top portion of the frame such that the strip picker cannot return to the home position until a full forward stroke is completed; and
an anti-jamming feedback feature that provides a snapping sound when the strip picker is at an end of the forward or reverse stroke.

20. A replaceable sensor cartridge comprising:
a frame having a desiccant material capable of reducing humidity within the frame and configured to house a plurality of biosensors;
a strip picker configured and arranged to slide along a top portion of the frame in a forward stroke to deploy a top biosensor from the plurality of biosensors and in a reverse stroke to return the strip picker to a home position, the strip picker providing a ratchet action along the top portion of the frame such that the strip picker cannot return to the home position until a full forward stroke is completed; and
an anti-jamming feedback feature that includes a depression disposed on the frame.

Assignees

• Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings Ag

Inventors

• Reynolds Jeffery S
• Sams Robert S
• Yao Simin
• Prais Eugene
• Botta Michael A
• Charlton Steven C
• Kokic Mirza

Classifications

• A61B5/151

  Devices} specially adapted for taking samples of capillary blood, e.g. by lancets {, needles or blades · CPC title

• G01N27/3273

  Devices therefor, e.g. test element readers, circuitry (details not specific to biochemical electrodes G01N33/4875) · CPC title

• A61B5/150358

  Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent · CPC title

• A61B5/14532

  for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement · CPC title

• A61B2562/0295

  Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 · CPC title