Cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016120451-A1
Application number	US-201614994800-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 13, 2016
Priority date	Mar 7, 2012
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cartridge for insertion into a meter comprises: a plurality of cartridge brackets disposed on an inner wall of the cartridge; a spindle mounted so as to be rotatable within the cartridge and movable longitudinally in first and second directions within the cartridge; and a plurality of testing members each arranged to be supported temporarily by at least one of the plurality of cartridge brackets, each of the testing members including a hole through which the spindle is located, the spindle having a plurality of spindle brackets disposed on an outer surface thereof, each spindle bracket being movable between first and second positions wherein in the first position the spindle bracket's distal end is at a first distance radially from the longitudinal axis of the spindle and wherein in the second position the spindle bracket's distal end is at a greater distance radially from the longitudinal axis of the spindle, and wherein when a given one of the spindle brackets is in the second position its distal end is located against a surface of one of the testing members so as to prevent movement of the testing member in the second longitudinal direction relative to the spindle. When the spindle advances in the second longitudinal direction relative to the cartridge, the spindle brackets are configured to move from the second to the first position so as to allow the spindle brackets to move past the testing members in the second longitudinal direction relative to the testing members, the spindle brackets being configured to return to the second position after moving past the testing members such that each spindle bracket is located against a surface of a different one of the testing members to the testing member against which it was originally located and such that the spindle brackets communicate force from the spindle to the testing members in the first longitudinal direction to move the testing members in the first longitudinal direction as the spindle is moved in the first longitudinal direction.

First claim

1 .- 15 . (canceled)

16 . An apparatus, comprising:
a cartridge having a cavity; a plurality of cartridge brackets coupled to an inner wall of the cartridge, wherein the plurality of cartridge brackets have the form of protrusions that extend into the cavity of the cartridge; a spindle mounted within the cartridge and movable longitudinally in a first direction and a second direction within the cartridge; a plurality of spindle brackets coupled to the spindle, wherein the plurality of spindle brackets have the form of protrusions that extend into the cavity of the cartridge; and wherein the plurality of cartridge brackets are configured to move in the first direction in response to the spindle moving in the first direction and configured to resist movement in the second direction in response to the spindle moving in the second direction, and wherein the plurality of spindle brackets are configured to move in a first direction in response to the spindle moving in the second direction and configured to resist movement in a second direction in response to the spindle moving in the first direction.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the spindle is rotatable.

18 . The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising: a plurality of testing members each arranged to be supported temporarily by at least one of the plurality of cartridge brackets.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of testing members includes a hole through which the spindle is located.

20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein at least a distal end of each cartridge bracket may be configured to deform towards the inner wall of the cartridge so as to allow movement of the plurality of testing members in the first direction with respect to the cartridge.

21 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein, when the spindle moves in the second direction, a distal end of each of the plurality of cartridge brackets is located against a lower surface of one of the plurality of testing members so as to prevent movement of the testing member in the second direction relative to the spindle.

22 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein when the spindle moves in the second direction, the plurality of spindle brackets are configured to move past the plurality of testing members in the second direction relative to the plurality of testing members.

23 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein after moving past the plurality of testing members, each of the plurality of spindle brackets is located against a lower surface of a different one of the plurality of testing members and such that the plurality of spindle brackets communicate force from the spindle to the testing members in the first direction to move the testing members in the first direction as the spindle is moved in the first direction.

24 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the cartridge comprises a biasing arrangement configured to bias the spindle in the first direction.

25 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the cartridge comprises a spindle advancing arrangement for advancing the spindle in the second longitudinal direction relative to the cartridge.

26 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the spindle has a lateral protrusion at a first end thereof and wherein the spindle advancing arrangement comprises a ramp having a helical surface portion configured to be engaged by the lateral protrusion of the spindle such that rotation of the spindle causes the protrusion to ascend the ramp.

27 . The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the ramp comprises a flat surface portion at a lower end of the ramp.

28 . The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the start of the flat surface portion of the ramp adjoins the end of the helical surface portion of the ramp with a step.

29 . The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of recesses in the spindle, wherein each of the plurality of spindle brackets are configured to rotate into one of the plurality of recesses in the spindle in order to move each of the plurality of spindle brackets in the first direction.

30 . The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of recesses in the inner wall of the cartridge, wherein the plurality of cartridge brackets are configured to rotate into one of the plurality of recesses in the inner wall of the cartridge so as to allow movement of the plurality of testing members in a first longitudinal direction with respect to the cartridge.

31 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the spindle comprises a longitudinal recess configured to receive a drive shaft for rotating the spindle.

32 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the spindle further comprises a drive dog configured to engage with each of the plurality of testing members in turn to facilitate rotation of each testing member.

33 . The apparatus of claim 32 , further comprising a recess in the spindle, wherein the drive dog is configured to rotate into the recess in the spindle so as to allow rotational movement and longitudinal movement of the plurality of testing members with respect to the drive dog or wherein the drive dog is flexible and resilient and configured to deform towards the spindle so as to allow rotational movement and longitudinal movement of the plurality of testing members with respect to the drive dog.

34 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein each testing member is arranged to be supported temporarily by four cartridge brackets spaced at equal angular intervals.

35 . A system comprising:
a blood glucose meter configured to perform a blood glucose analysis, the blood glucose meter comprising a housing that forms a base, a left side face, a right side face and a rear face and a lid part that forms a portion of a top surface, wherein an aperture is provided in the housing; and an apparatus according to claim 16 received within the housing, wherein the lid part is disposed above the cartridge.

Assignees

• Sanofi Aventis Deutschland

Inventors

• Richter Frank
• Macarthur Ross
• WOLSELEY-HEXT Elizabeth Verity
• Cowan Joseph David
• Smith Lee Thomas
• Mills David John

Classifications

• G01N33/66

  involving blood sugars, e.g. galactose · CPC title

• A61B5/150305

  Packages specially adapted for piercing devices or blood sampling devices · CPC title

• A61B5/150358

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

• A61B5/15174 Primary

  Piercing elements stocked in the form of a stack or pile · CPC title

• A61B5/150412

  Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin (blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442) · CPC title