Stickpack-type packaging for a test strip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12383175-B2
Application number	US-202318399924-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2023
Priority date	May 4, 2018
Publication date	Aug 12, 2025
Grant date	Aug 12, 2025

Abstract

The application concerns a stickpack-type packaging comprising an elongate foil tube having two transverse sealing joints, such that a tightly closed fill space is provided in the foil tube for storing a product. It is proposed that a single disposable test strip is arranged in the fill space, wherein the test strip has a chemistry pad for detecting an analyte in a sample, and the chemistry pad is arranged at a distance at least from one of the transverse sealing joints.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for producing a stickpack-type packaging containing a test strip having a first end and a second end, a heat sensitive chemistry pad being located adjacent the first end, comprising:
a) forming an elongate foil tube having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end;
b) sealing the first longitudinal end of the elongate foil tube by a first heat-sealed transverse joint, thereby providing an open fill space for receiving the test strip;
c) after step b), introducing the test strip into the open fill space with the first end being inserted first and being received adjacent the first longitudinal end; and
d) after step c), sealing the second longitudinal end of the elongate foil tube by a second heat-sealed transverse joint, thereby closing the open fill space containing the test strip,
wherein the heat sensitive chemistry pad is arranged in the packaging closer to the first heat-sealed transverse joint than to the second heat-sealed transverse joint.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the heat sensitive chemistry pad is located in a middle section of the test strip.

3. A method for producing a stickpack-type packaging containing a test strip, the method comprising:
a) forming an elongate foil tube having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end;
b) sealing the first longitudinal end of the foil tube by a first heat-sealed transverse joint, thereby providing an open fill space for receiving the test strip;
c) after step b), introducing the test strip into the open fill space; and
d) after step c), sealing the second longitudinal end of the elongate foil tube by a second heat-sealed transverse joint, thereby closing the open fill space containing the test strip,
wherein the test strip has a first end and a second end, the test strip having a heat sensitive chemistry pad for detecting an analyte in a sample, the heat sensitive chemistry pad being closer to the first end than to the second end, the first end of the test strip being introduced into the open fill space first, the heat sensitive chemistry pad being located in the fill space closer to the first longitudinal end than to the second longitudinal end.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the heat sensitive chemistry pad is arranged closer to the first heat-sealed transverse joint than to the second heat-sealed transverse joint.

5. The method of claim 3 , and further comprising purging the open fill space with dry gas before introducing the test strip into the open fill space.

6. The method of claim 3 , and further comprising drying the test strip before introducing it into the open fill space.

7. The method of claim 6 , and further comprising purging the open fill space with dry gas before introducing the test strip into the open fill space.

8. The method according to claim 3 , wherein step a) comprises forming the elongate foil tube by a method selected from the group consisting of:
i) joining opposed longitudinal edges of a flexible flat web;
ii) providing two congruent pieces of a flexible flat web on top of each other and joining their paired longitudinal edges by respective longitudinal sealing joints, and
iii) cutting a section from an extruded tube material.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein forming the elongate foil tube comprises joining opposed longitudinal edges of a flexible flat web.

10. The method of claim 9 in which joining the opposed longitudinal edges comprises joining the edges by a heat-sealed longitudinal joint.

11. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the foil tube is provided with an adhesive area or a rubber lining on its outer surface for placing a used test strip thereon.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein step (b) comprises tearing the foil tube at a pre-weakened or tooth-shaped tear section.

13. A method for using a stickpack-type packaging comprising:
a) providing a stickpack-type packaging obtained by the method according to claim 3 ;
b) withdrawing the test strip from the packaging by tearing the foil tube;
c) applying a sample to the chemistry pad; and
d) comparing a color of the chemistry pad resulting from a reaction with the analyte to one or more reference colors in order to evaluate a test result.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising the elongate foil tube having an outer surface comprising an imprint of the one or more reference colors, wherein the comparison of the color is made optically by a mobile device including a digital camera.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein step c) comprises applying a body fluid to the chemistry pad.

16. A method for packaging a test strip, the method comprising:
a) forming an elongate foil tube having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end;
b) sealing the first longitudinal end of the foil tube by a first heat-sealed transverse joint, thereby providing an open fill space for receiving the test strip;
c) after step b), introducing the test strip into the open fill space, the test strip having a first end and a second end, the test strip comprising a heat sensitive chemistry pad located on the test strip closer to the first end than to the second end, the test strip being introduced into the open fill space with the first end being inserted first and being positioned in the fill space with the first end being closer to the first longitudinal end than to the second longitudinal end; and
d) after step c), sealing the second longitudinal end of the elongate foil tube by a second heat-sealed transverse joint, thereby closing the open fill space containing the test strip.

17. The method of claim 16 in which the heat sensitive chemistry pad is located adjacent to the first end of the test strip.

18. The method of claim 16 in which the heat sensitive chemistry pad is located in a middle section of the test strip.

19. The method of claim 16 in which forming of the second heat-sealed transverse joint is accomplished under conditions which could cause damage to the heat sensitive chemistry pad if the first end of the test strip was not inserted first.

20. The method of claim 16 in which forming of the second heat-sealed transverse joint is accomplished at a temperature of 110° to 200° C.

21. A method for packaging a test strip, the method comprising:
a) forming an elongate foil tube having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end;
b) sealing the first longitudinal end of the foil tube by a first heat-sealed transverse joint, thereby providing an open fill space for receiving the test strip;
c) after step b), introducing the test strip into the open fill space, the test strip being arranged in the fill space with the heat sensitive chemistry pad a distance from the second longitudinal end to prevent damage upon sealing the second longitudinal end; and
d) after step c), sealing the second longitudinal end of the elongate foil tube by a second heat-sealed transverse joint, thereby closing the open fill space containing the test strip.

22. The method of claim 21 in which the heat sensitive chemistry pad is located in a middle section of the test strip.

Assignees

• Roche Diabetes Care Inc

Inventors

• Ahl Axel

Classifications

• B65D75/5827

  Tear-lines provided in a wall portion (B65D75/5805, B65D75/5816 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D75/44

  Individual packages cut from webs or tubes · CPC title

• B65D75/12 Primary

  with the ends of the tube closed by flattening and heat-sealing · CPC title

• B65B61/025

  for applying, e.g. printing, code or date marks on material prior to packaging · CPC title

• B65B61/002

  for drying glued or sealed packages · CPC title