HK1176266B - Ribbon magazine having a backturn preventer and integrated ribbon release - Google Patents

Description

Tape cassette with rewind lock and integrated tape release

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cartridge for use in an analytical test instrument and to an analytical test instrument. Analytical test instruments and cartridges of this type are used in particular in the field of medical diagnostics for generating and/or collecting and/or analyzing samples of body fluids. The analysis of the sample may in particular be a qualitative or quantitative analysis of a sample of a body fluid with respect to one or more analytes. These analytes are for example metabolites. Without limiting the other possible fields of use, such analytes may be, for example, blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, coagulum or similar analytes.

Background

A large number of test instruments are known from the field of medical technology, in particular from the field of analytics, which test instruments require analytical aids. For example, puncturing devices or analytical test devices are known, in which a plurality of lancets can be used one after the other for the puncturing device, and in which a plurality of test elements for detecting at least one analyte in a sample of a body fluid can be provided one after the other for the analytical test device.

In addition to test instruments having roller magazines or similar preparation devices for providing analytical aids, magazine instruments (Bandger ä te) are increasingly used recently for providing analytical aids by means of one or more carrier tapes. Thus, for example, DE 2803345C 2 describes a lancing device for extracting blood, which comprises a tape cassette. With this needling device, the individual needles are arranged one behind the other on a tape. DE 19819407 a1 describes in a similar manner a blood glucose meter with a cassette for test strips. Since february 2009, the first blood glucose meter using a test strip-cassette appeared on the market with the Accu-Check Mobile (slender portable) type tester by Roche Diagnostics GmbH (Roche Diagnostics ltd).

The advantage of the magazine solution, now either for lancets or for test elements, is that a relatively large number of analytical aids, such as test elements and/or piercing elements, which can be present in the form of a coil in a relatively small magazine, are usually provided. However, the problem is generally posed here that the belt is, in practice, comparatively difficult to handle, compared with a rigid carrier element. In particular, therefore, in the case of tape storage devices, additional technical measures are required to be able to guide the tapes in a sequential manner and, for example, to prevent the tapes from unwinding uncontrollably.

So-called rewind locks for tape cassettes are known from the prior art, which can secure the carrier tape, in particular when the cassette is removed from the test apparatus. This prevents the test element and/or the lancing element which have been consumed from being exposed again, in order to avoid the risk of the user and/or other components of the analytical test device accidentally becoming contaminated with liquid samples, or in order to prevent injury to the user.

Thus, for example, in WO 2006/059232 a1, a test apparatus with a test sensor disk magazine is described. The disk magazine has a rewind lock which is only active in the removed state of the magazine, whereas it is spanned in the loaded state.

A diagnostic test strip-cassette is described in WO 2008/022999 a 1. The test strip cartridge has a rotation safety device with a locking toothing, which should prevent the test strip from being unintentionally unwound. This latch functions when operating independently of the instrument.

A blood glucose measuring system with a test strip cassette is described in EP 1690496B 1. The pawl makes it possible for the take-up reel, i.e. the take-up reel for the consumed tape section of the test tape, to rotate only in one direction. This detent function is active in the inserted state of the cartridge.

A piercing aid is described in WO 2003/071940 a 1. The piercing aid has a piercing needle magazine with an integrated reversing closure. This back locking should in particular avoid the reuse of previously used lancets.

In WO 03/088835 a2 a system based on a micro-sampler of stored tape is described. A rewind lock is also provided in the system. The ratchet mechanism allows belt transport to occur only in the forward direction. In this way, it is ensured that an inserted cassette is prevented from being inadvertently reversed.

A combined drive for a sample extraction system designed for extracting a liquid sample is known from EP 2039293 a 1. The sample extraction system has a coupling element for coupling to an analytic aid and a drive unit for driving the movement of the coupling element. The drive unit furthermore has a coupling device with at least one rotation-direction-sensitive element, wherein the coupling device is designed to couple the energy converter in a first rotation direction to a first system function and to couple the energy converter in a second rotation direction to a second system function.

However, there are actually some technical challenges that arise with known test instruments based on the use of tape cassettes. In particular, test devices exist for which a reciprocating movement is carried out in at least one application position using analytical aids located there. Such a reciprocating movement can be, for example, a piercing movement which is carried out rapidly and/or a sampling movement which is carried out slowly. For example, a puncture needle can be used to puncture a skin section of a user and/or a liquid sample of a body fluid can be taken in the application position by means of the test element. However, a problem with such a reciprocating movement of the analytical aids of the storage tape is a tape release (bandfreiganbe). For example, a tensioned carrier band is only conditionally suitable for puncture procedures or blood removal procedures. Moving the carrier tape in a reciprocating motion; during the reciprocating movement, a kind of belt release enables a deflection of the carrier belt and thereby avoids an excessive twisting, permanent deformation or even tearing of the carrier belt.

In WO 2009/030359 a1 a puncturing system with a lancet carrier tape is described, which puncturing system carries a plurality of lancets. The piercing drive moves the lancet placed in the piercing position in a piercing direction with the section of the lancet carrier tape carrying the lancet in a piercing movement. At least one component of the transport mechanism, which is arranged downstream of the puncturing position in the transport direction, is moved after the lancet has been placed in the puncturing position before or during the puncturing movement of the lancet. It is also proposed that the winding mechanism on the inserted cassette performs a retraction step for retracting the carrier tape from the take-up reel for a corresponding piercing movement.

It is therefore generally stated that stored lancets, test elements or microsamplers generally require a back-locking mechanism in order to provide the necessary hygiene and safety to the user when handling the medical product. For analytical aids for storage of the tape, these rewind locks can in principle be used. However, a disadvantage of these known systems is the fact that: i.e. the presence of a rewind lock in many cases contradicts the requirement for release of the tape, i.e. the opposite unwinding of the tape during a reciprocating linear movement, such as piercing or sampling. However, the tape release in many cases requires a reversal of the carrier tape already wound on the take-up reel, since otherwise the actuators of the test system, such as the lancet gripper, are subjected to different loads. The consequences are, for example, oblique penetration, sliding of the lancet in the holder, blocking of the penetration actuator or the like.

Tape release is required in many cases to give sufficient latitude to the carrier tape to be deflected during piercing. However, most of the solutions known from the prior art do not respond to the presence of a rewind lock for this purpose. The active reversing movement of the take-up reel drive is in many cases not sufficient if the rewind lock of the magazine does not support this function or provides other alternatives for the tape release.

In particular, for test instruments and tape cassettes with permanently acting integrated rewind locks, a targeted conflict with the reciprocating linear movement of the test element can be ascertained. An integrated rewind lock is generally understood here to mean a rewind lock which is integrated into the magazine and thus can prevent a rewind without the drive of the test instrument being necessary for this purpose. On the one hand, such an integrated rewind lock is desirable in many cases, since it also prevents the carrier tape from being undesirably unwound from the take-up reel for the magazine that is separate from the test apparatus. On the other hand, however, there is precisely a need for a linear reciprocating movement in which the carrier tape is unwound uniformly from the supply reel and from the take-up reel, for example, in order to be able to achieve a stress-free linear reciprocating movement of the test element.

The solutions known from the prior art, such as the solution disclosed in WO 2006/059232 a1, in which the back-locking mechanism is eliminated when the cartridge is inserted into the test apparatus, are partially technically very cumbersome. In addition, such release often results in the released tape material hanging loosely after piercing and possibly falling out of the tape guide. A correspondingly troublesome control of the take-up reel drive can compensate for this situation.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge and an analytical test device which at least largely avoid the disadvantages of the known cartridges and analytical test devices. In particular, the conflict of the above-described object between the rewind lock and the release of the tape should be resolved in a technically simple manner.

This object is achieved by the invention with the features of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention which can be implemented individually or in combination are described in the dependent claims.

In a first aspect of the invention, a cartridge for use in an analytical test meter is presented. A cartridge is understood here to mean a device which can receive and provide a plurality of analytical aids. As will be explained in more detail below, the cartridge can be designed in particular as a tape cassette, for example as a tape cassette (bandkasette), and can generally have a cartridge housing, for example.

An analytical test device generally refers to a device which can perform at least one medical function, in particular an analytical and/or diagnostic function. In particular, the analytical test meter may perform one or more of the following functions: generating a sample of the body fluid, in particular by perforation of a skin portion of the user; detecting at least one analyte in a sample of a body fluid, in particular detecting glucose and/or cholesterol and/or triglycerides and/or detecting coagulum; in particular, samples of body fluids are collected by capillary action.

The magazine is configured as a replaceable magazine. This means that the cartridge can be removed by the user from the analytical test meter for placing a new, unconsumed cartridge into the analytical test meter. For example, the analytical test device can have a receptacle for this purpose, into which a cartridge can be inserted or inserted, for example after opening the housing of the test device. The cartridge is thus not permanently connected to the analytical test device. For example, the cartridge itself may have no or only a low-profile actuator, so that the above-mentioned medical functions can be performed only in cooperation with an analytical test device which may have such an actuator. Furthermore, the cartridge housing of the cartridge can have, for example, corresponding guides, grooves, fixing elements or positioning aids for reversibly inserting the cartridge into the analytical test device and/or reversibly attaching the cartridge to the analytical test device.

The magazine has a plurality of analytical aids on a carrier tape. An analytic aid is understood here to mean an aid which can be used for at least one medical function of the analytic test instrument. In particular, a sample generating function and/or a sample collecting function and/or an analysis function may be provided. Accordingly, the analytical aids may have one or more of the following analytical aids: a lancet, i.e. any element for piercing and/or cutting or in general for perforating a skin portion of a user; an element, in particular a capillary and/or a capillary gap, for receiving and transporting a sample of a body fluid of a user; a test element having at least one detection chemical for detecting at least one analyte in a body fluid. The detection chemical may for example be a material which, in the presence of the at least one analyte to be detected, changes at least one property which can be detected physically and/or chemically. Such detection chemicals are known from the prior art. For example, the test element can be an electrochemical and/or optical test element. For example, the test element can comprise at least one test field. The analytic cartridge can be designed such that it provides only one analytic aid. Alternatively, a plurality of analytical aids can also be provided, for example alternately. Or may be integrated analytical aids that unify several of the mentioned functions. Thus, for example, microsamplers are known which contain a needle function and a capillary function and can likewise be used as analytical aids within the scope of the invention. It is also possible to integrate lancets with test elements, optionally for example with additional capillaries.

A carrier tape is generally understood to mean a continuous carrier, by means of which analytic aids can be provided one after the other. In addition to simple tapes, such as paper tapes, plastic tapes, multi-layer laminated tapes or the like, other types of continuous carriers, such as endless chains or the like, are also conceivable. For example, the analytical aids can be arranged on the carrier strip and/or integrated into the carrier strip and/or connected to the carrier strip in another way. The analytical aids can be arranged, for example, equidistantly on the carrier strip. Thus, for example, lancets can be arranged on the carrier tape and/or test elements can be arranged on the carrier tape, for example in the form of test zones.

The analytic aid can be provided in at least one application position of the magazine by means of the carrier tape. An application position is understood here to mean a position in which at least one function of the analytical test instrument interacts with the analytical auxiliary device in this application position. For example, this application position can be a position in which the puncturing movement and/or the sample collection movement is carried out by means of a lancet. Alternatively or additionally, the application position can also be a position in which a sampling movement is carried out. For example, in order to perform this function, an actuator of the analytical test device can be provided, as will be described in more detail below.

For example, the analytic magazine and the analytic test instrument can be designed such that the analytic aids are provided in succession in the at least one application position by means of the carrier tape. A plurality of application positions can also be provided, such as an application position for receiving a sample and an application position for analyzing a sample. For example, the carrier tape can be wound further, so that a fresh, previously unused analytical aid can be provided in the application position of the magazine.

Furthermore, the magazine has at least one supply reel for receiving a region of the carrier tape with unconsumed analytic aids; and at least one take-up reel for receiving a region of the carrier tape with the consumed analytical auxiliary component. The analytical test device can thus be designed to drive the take-up reel and/or the supply reel by means of the transport mechanism in such a way that the carrier tape is correspondingly wound on in such a way that fresh, unconsumed analytical aids are provided in the application position. Preferably, the analytical test device therefore comprises a drive which can drive the take-up reel in particular in a rotary motion, in particular in a step-by-step or pulsating manner (getakte drehbebewurging). This further transport of the carrier tape is also referred to below generally as "winding". The carrier tape is movable in a winding direction from the supply reel towards the take-up reel.

Furthermore, the magazine has a rewind lock for the take-up reel. The rewind lock, which may be fully or partially integrated into the magazine, may be understood as a device that prevents the rewind of the take-up reel, i.e., at least prevents a movement of the carrier tape counter to the spooling direction, in order to prevent the used, i.e., used, analytical aid from being able to be moved back into the application position. It is therefore not necessary to construct the rewind lock in such a way that: so that it prevents a complete reversal of the take-up reel, but it can allow, or even facilitate, a slight reversal as will be explained in more detail below. However, this reversal cannot be effected to such an extent that the already used analytical aids are returned into the application position. Alternatively, the rewind lock can also be designed such that it prevents a complete rewind.

As will be explained in more detail below, the rewind lock is an integral part of the cartridge, which represents an advantage of the cartridge according to the invention, since the integration of the rewind lock into the cartridge makes it possible: in this way, in a used and removed magazine, for example in a used tape magazine, reverse unwinding of already used analytical aids can be reliably ruled out, as can undesired and uncontrolled unwinding of the tape.

Furthermore, the magazine has a tape release device which is designed to provide a take-up reel tape reserve of the carrier tape on the side of the application position facing the take-up reel. The side of the application position facing the take-up reel can thus be understood as a part of the carrier tape which has already passed the application position in the winding direction and has thus moved to the take-up reel or has been wound up on the take-up reel.

The take-up reel tape reserve can in particular effect a reciprocating linear movement or a reciprocating movement of the analytic aid in the application position, either alone or in cooperation with a tape reserve on the side of the application position facing the supply reel. The tape reserve is thus generally understood to mean a tape section which enables a reciprocating movement of the analytic aid, including the part of the carrier tape connected to the analytic aid, without applying significant stresses to the carrier tape which could lead to a deformation of the carrier tape or even to a tearing thereof. The belt reserve is thus a belt section which can provide the reciprocating movement with the additionally required carrier belt. The tape reserve on the take-up reel side of the application location is generally referred to herein as a take-up reel tape reserve, and the optional additional tape reserve on the supply reel side of the application location is referred to herein as a supply reel tape reserve.

Accordingly, the magazine can be arranged in particular such that a supply reel tape reserve of the carrier tape can be provided additionally on the side of the application position facing the supply reel, which can comprise the supply reel itself. The magazine is preferably arranged such that the supply reel tape reserve substantially corresponds to the take-up reel tape reserve. "substantially" is to be understood here to mean that the belt stores z are exactly identical, but deviations of not more than 30%, in particular not more than 20%, and particularly preferably not more than 10%, can also be tolerated within the scope of this concept.

The magazine can thus be arranged, for example, in such a way that the entire tape reserve, which can be formed from the take-up reel tape reserve and optionally from the supply reel tape reserve, is preferably of symmetrical design and preferably uniformly formed from both tape reserves. For example, the actuator and/or the gripper can be uniformly loaded. In this way, for example, skewed and/or inclined reciprocating linear movements, for example inclined piercing, can be at least partially avoided.

On the side of the application position facing the supply reel, the supply reel itself can provide a supply reel tape reserve, since the supply reel is already capable of tape release, since for such tape release the supply reel is rotated in its usual direction of rotation that occurs when the stepping is continued.

A "reciprocating linear movement" is to be understood here in general as a movement of the analytical aid in the application position, which movement occurs in the analytical test instrument when the analytical aid is used as a function. For example, the analytical aid can be fixed by means of at least one gripper in the application position, for example, during the reciprocating linear movement. For example, the reciprocating linear movement can be a piercing movement and/or a sampling movement. The lancet can be used for a reciprocating linear movement in the form of a piercing movement, for example, by means of a gripper of the analytical test instrument. Such a reciprocating linear movement then comprises a rapid forward movement, for example with a peak speed of 2 to 5m/s, in which a perforation of the skin portion occurs, followed by a backward movement. During the backward movement, the sample can also be received, for example, by means of a capillary gap. Alternatively, the reciprocating linear movement in the form of a sampling movement can comprise a forward movement of the test field towards a wound and/or a sample on the skin surface of the user, in which forward movement the test field or the test element is briefly brought into contact with the liquid sample, so that the liquid sample is applied to the test field. This sampling movement can be performed slowly, for example, at a peak speed of less than 1m/s, for example, at a speed of 0.01 to 0.5 m/s. For this purpose, for example, grippers and/or other types of actuators can also be used.

The reciprocating linear movement of the analytic aid in the application position can generally have, for example, a maximum lift, which can be fixedly predefined or can also be designed to be adjustable. The take-up reel tape reserve can in particular be the maximum lift of 0.2 to 0.8, preferably 0.5. In principle, however, the take-up reel tape reserve can in principle have all values between zero and maximum lift, depending on the design of the reel. This is usually only dependent on the type of the belt guide relative to the lift direction and can be explained, for example, in the limit value research. The reciprocating linear movement is usually hardly effective if the carrier strip extends, for example, perpendicularly to the lift direction. The required take-up reel-tape reserve can be obtained almost from the tape skew. However, if the tape extends substantially parallel to the reciprocating linear motion, then typically each reel side must provide a full lift length as a tape reserve. The value of 0.5 for the maximum lift estimated above therefore represents an average value which is frequently encountered in practice. The maximum lift can be, for example, 0.5 to 10mm, in particular 1 to 8mm, and preferably 3 to 6 mm.

Furthermore, the tape release device can be arranged in such a way that the take-up reel tape reserve is completely or at least partially received again after the reciprocating linear movement of the analytic aid. For this purpose, the tape release device may comprise, for example, a tape store (Bandreservoir), from which a take-up reel tape reserve for the reciprocating linear movement can be taken out and to which the take-up reel tape reserve can be fed again after the reciprocating linear movement. This belt store can be configured, for example, as explained in more detail below, in the form of at least one movably mounted deflecting element. However, other types of tape storage devices are also conceivable, in particular such storage devices: they can variably design the length of the section of the carrier tape received between the application position and the take-up reel in order to be able to provide the take-up reel tape reserve. Alternatively or additionally, however, the tape release device can also be integrated completely or partially into the take-up reel, as will be explained in more detail below. In a further embodiment of the tape release device, which is additionally designed to receive the take-up reel tape reserve after the reciprocating linear movement of the analytic aid, the design can additionally also provide that: preventing the tape from being tangled by the surplus tape after the reciprocating linear motion, which may result in the carrier tape being caught, slipped, or tangled.

Preferably, the tape release device is arranged only on the take-up reel side of the application position, i.e. on the side facing the take-up reel as seen from the application position. Such a tape release device is preferably not provided between the application position and the supply reel on the side facing the supply reel. The supply reel preferably acts as a tape release device itself here and provides the necessary supply reel tape reserve, for example when sufficient tensile stress is applied to the carrier tape, for example during tape transport and/or during a reciprocating linear movement, so that an additional tape release device can preferably be dispensed with on the side of the application position facing the supply reel. In other words, it is possible to preferably only make the supply reel function as a tape release on the supply reel side of the application position, wherein a tape release is provided on the take-up reel side, which tape release can be arranged in particular between the application position and the take-up reel and/or in the take-up reel itself. This embodiment offers the advantage over the known tape guide that an additional tape release, which is generally not technically effective in any way, can be dispensed with on the supply reel side, which can be used for technical simplification, reduction of production costs and reduction of installation space. In addition, the tape can be kept under sufficient stress at all times in this way, and an undesired release of the tape by additional tape release means between the application position and the supply reel, which release could always lead to an uncontrolled unwinding of the tape on the supply reel side, can be avoided.

In particular, the magazine can be designed such that the analytic aids in the application position can be fixed by at least one fixing device, in particular at least one gripper. The fixing means may be wholly or partially an integral part of the cartridge, but may also be wholly or partially contained in an analytical test instrument which uses and/or includes the cartridge.

In a preferred case, no tape release means are provided between the application position and the supply reel on the supply reel side of the application position facing the supply reel, and at least one tape release means is provided only on the take-up reel side of the application position, for example between the application position and the take-up reel and/or in the take-up reel, in particular in the above-mentioned preferred case, but in principle also in other cases it is particularly preferred if the analytical auxiliary device provided for use in each case is or can be fixed in the direction of transport in the application position. This can be done, for example, by a gripper, such as the aforementioned gripper and/or other fastening means, which can be designed to temporarily fasten the analytic aid in the application position in such a way that further movement in the conveying direction is prevented. This fixing can take place, for example, at intervals required for the sampling and/or lancet movement and optionally before and/or after this movement at predefined intervals. The release can then take place, for example by opening the gripper and/or other type of fastening means again, so that further transport can take place. Such a fixing can be effected, for example, by interaction with a drive of the analytical aid, for example with a lancet drive for carrying out a lancet movement and/or a drive of the test element for carrying out a sampling movement, wherein, for example, the drive can comprise the above-described gripper and/or the above-described fixing device.

When the tape is subjected to a displacement movement without the analytical aid being fixed, the necessary tape release can generally be effected unilaterally from the supply reel, since this supply reel generally has a lower back tension or pull-back force, for example due to a one-way clutch (Freilauf). An uneven distribution of force can occur on the analytical aid, which can lead to an oblique offset of the aid. Furthermore, the forcibly required tape release may not be wound by the take-up reel-side tape release, since the take-up reel-side tape release is usually not automatically shifted together inwards during the shifting process. This results in at least a short-term loosening of the tape, which can only be eliminated by the subsequent winding process of the take-up reel. However, this involves the permanent risk that the belt slips out of its guide after the displacement and thus becomes unusable. A symmetrical release of the tape can thus generally only be achieved by the fixing of the analytic aids during the displacement.

As explained above, the rewind lock is arranged such that it prevents at least to a large extent the take-up reel from being rewound, when a relatively large amount of the carrier tape with the already consumed analytical aids is moved in a direction opposite to the winding direction. However, the rewinding can be performed with a small interval as a width in the direction opposite to the winding direction, for example with the following interval as a width: this interval is significantly smaller than the spacing between the analytic aids on the carrier tape, for example less than 0.8 of this spacing, in particular less than 0.5 of this spacing, and preferably less than 0.3 of this spacing or even less than 0.2 of this spacing, and as will be explained in more detail below, such rewinding can even be expected for the purpose of tape release.

The rewind lock is preferably a permanently acting rewind lock, i.e., a rewind lock that is functional not only for cartridges that are located outside the analytical test instrument, but also for cartridges that are inserted into the analytical test instrument. This means, in particular, that the rewind lock is preferably not designed to be crossed or eliminated when the cartridge is loaded into the analytical test device.

The rewind lock may comprise, in particular, one or more of the rewind locks described below. The rewind lock can therefore comprise, in particular, at least one element that is sensitive to the direction of rotation. In particular, a rotation-direction-sensitive element can be included in connection with the take-up reel. An element that is sensitive to the direction of rotation is understood here to mean an element that enables rotation in one direction and at least largely prevents rotation in the other direction. "at least largely prevent" is to be understood here as meaning a prevent, which is preferably a complete prevent, but which may also include slight reversals, for example in the form of a dead angle, which may also be reversed in this case by the magnitude of the dead angle. Such dead angles can even be used in a targeted manner, as will be explained below, for providing the take-up reel tape reserve.

Alternatively or additionally, the rewind lock has at least one-way clutch, in particular at least one-way clutch connected to the take-up reel. A one-way clutch is understood here in general to mean a device which, in a drive with a drive train, decouples a part of the drive train from a rotational movement when the load ratio or the load situation changes. In particular, the one-way clutch can be a special design of the element sensitive to the direction of rotation. One-way clutches are known from the prior art in various embodiments and may include, for example, pawl one-way clutches, coil springs, clamping bodies and/or clamping roller one-way clutches or other types of one-way clutches.

Alternatively or additionally, the rewind lock may also comprise at least one ratchet. A ratchet is also understood to mean an element having one or more pawls which can engage in a corresponding counterpart so that a movement in one direction is possible, while a movement in the other direction is prevented. In particular, the ratchet wheel can be connected to the take-up reel. The one-way clutch described above may, for example, be a special case of such a ratchet or may be configured as a ratchet. In general, the rotation-direction-sensitive element can comprise, in particular, at least one pawl, in particular a pawl connected to the take-up reel and/or a pawl connected to the cartridge housing. A design consisting of a plurality of pawls may also be provided. The pawl can effect linear drive or also rotational drive in one direction and prevent rotational drive in the other direction.

As a further alternative or in addition, the rewind lock can also comprise at least one rewind lock which acts on the carrier tape. The rewind lock can thus for example comprise a rotation-direction-dependent brake acting on the carrier tape. Such a rotation-dependent brake brakes the carrier tape when moving counter to the winding direction and, conversely, enables a movement in the winding direction. The braking during the movement counter to the winding direction can be initiated directly or only after a structurally induced or predetermined braking distance. The action can be effected directly on the carrier strip or indirectly, for example, by: the carrier tape is not braked directly, but rather one or more analytical aids connected to this carrier tape.

In particular, a rotation-direction-dependent brake can be realized by means of at least one roll. For example, a roll gap can be inserted between a roll and a counter-element, for example a second roll. For example, the at least one roll and/or the at least one twin roll can be designed such that it has a deformable roll material. The roller gap can be moved in the winding direction, while the roller is locked when moving counter to the winding direction, as a result of which deformation of the roller material occurs, whereby the roller gap narrows and the carrier tape is braked. In particular, the at least one roll may thus be a rubber roll.

As a further alternative or in addition, at least one spring-loaded element acting on the carrier tape can also be used. For example, spring-loaded flaps can act on the carrier tape and/or on one or more of the analytical aids connected to the carrier tape. The spring-loaded element can, for example, be placed at an angle on the carrier tape, so that the analytical aid can pass the spring-loaded element in the winding direction, whereas, in contrast, the analytical aid snaps onto the spring-loaded element counter to the winding direction and can cause the carrier tape to brake. The spring-loaded element can thus be designed in particular as an asymmetrical spring-loaded element which rests on the carrier tape and allows the carrier tape and/or the analytical aid to pass in the winding direction, but prevents or at least limits the passage of the analytical aid counter to the winding direction. The spring-loaded element can be designed as a rigid structure or can also be deformed, in which case deformation can occur, for example, when the carrier tape and/or the analytical aid are moved counter to the winding direction. The deformation can be used to generate a braking effect as a result of the increased force effect on the carrier tape and/or the analytic aids. The spring load is understood here to mean the load exerted on the element by a separate spring, or alternatively or additionally also an element which itself has at least partially elastic properties, so that the element itself can exert a spring action. The spring-loaded element may in particular comprise at least one spring-loaded flap.

As a further alternative or in addition, the rewind lock may also comprise at least one sealing lip acting on the carrier tape. The sealing lip can also be designed as a special case of the spring-loaded element described above, so that the sealing lip can have, for example, two spring-loaded elements which act on the carrier tape and/or the analytical aid from opposite sides. A sealing lip is understood here to mean an element which can provide a gap through which the carrier tape of the analytic aid is guided. Here, lips which are deformable or variable in their position on both sides of the gap act on the carrier tape and/or the analytical aids. The lip may also have properties that are at least partially deformable, for example plastic and/or elastic properties. With regard to the effect of such a deformable property, reference may be made to the above description of the effect of the deformable spring-loaded element. The sealing lip should also be designed such that the carrier tape and/or the analytical aid can be passed through the sealing lip in the winding direction of the carrier tape, but the passage through the sealing gap counter to the winding direction is prevented or at least limited. For example, if an analytic aid hits the sealing lip, a braking action occurs. Alternatively or additionally, the braking action can be implemented such that, when the carrier tape passes through the gap of the sealing lip counter to the winding direction, the sealing lip is deformed such that the gap narrows, so that a force or an increased force is exerted on the carrier tape and/or the analytic aid.

Furthermore, the analytic cartridge may optionally have at least one detent. This brake can be designed to brake the rewinding of the take-up reel and/or the forward winding of the supply reel. For a possible embodiment of such an alternative brake, reference may be made, for example, to US 2006/0240403 a 1. However, other designs are also conceivable. It is particularly preferred that the brake does not act directly on the carrier tape, although it can also do so, but on the supply reel and/or take-up reel and/or on an element rotating together with the supply reel and/or take-up reel.

The tape release may be constructed in different ways for achieving the functions described above. The strap release device can thus be integrated at least partially into the rewind lock, for example, and/or can be designed at least partially as a separate component, which is designed separately from the rewind lock. A hybrid of these alternatives, i.e. a version in which the belt release is partially integrated into the rewind lock and is partially formed separately and independently of the rewind lock, is also conceivable.

In a first embodiment, the strap release device is at least partially, preferably completely, integrated into the rewind lock. This means that the strap release and the rewind lock can be constructed at least partially as the same component.

This can be achieved in particular by: so that the functioning of the rewind lock depends on the position of the carrier tape. For example, when the carrier tape is moved counter to the spooling direction, the locking or at least the braking function of the rewind lock can depend on how the absolute position of the carrier tape, the absolute position of the analytic aid, the relative position of the carrier tape with respect to the rewind lock, the relative position of the analytic aid and/or of a specific analytic aid with respect to the rewind lock, the rotational angle of the take-up reel or the rotational angle of the supply reel is currently adjusted. The position of the carrier tape can thus comprise, for example, an absolute position, a relative position, a rotation angle of the supply reel or a rotation angle of the take-up reel.

The rewind lock can accordingly be designed to at least largely prevent or at least limit a movement of the carrier tape counter to the spooling direction in a plurality of locking positions, wherein between the locking positions the carrier tape can be moved counter to the spooling direction at least largely until a next locking position is reached, wherein the take-up reel tape reserve or at least a part of the take-up reel tape reserve is released when the carrier tape is moved counter to the spooling direction.

The plurality of latching positions, which may also comprise enlarged latching regions, may be realized in different ways. The rewind lock can thus comprise, for example, at least one rotation-direction-sensitive element, in particular a rotation-direction-sensitive element connected to the take-up reel. The element should be able to effect rotation in one direction and at least largely prevent rotation in the other direction. With regard to possible embodiments of the rotation direction sensitive element, reference is made to the above description. The expression "at least largely prevent" may also include, for example, the provision of a dead angle, in which case a reversal in the closing direction can also take place with the magnitude of this dead angle. The rotation-direction-sensitive element can therefore have a dead angle and can be reversed to the extent of this dead angle, wherein the magazine is designed to release the take-up reel tape reserve during the reversal.

Alternatively or additionally, the rewind lock may have at least one spring-loaded element acting on the carrier element, in particular a spring-loaded flap and/or at least one sealing lip. Reference is accordingly made to the above description of possible embodiments of elements of this type. The analytic aid can pass the spring-loaded element when the carrier tape is moved in the spooling direction, whereas the analytic aid and/or the carrier tape can lock onto the mentioned element or at least be braked when the carrier tape is moved counter to the spooling direction. The following positions of the carrier tape can thus accordingly be latching positions: in this position, when the carrier tape is moved counter to the winding direction, an analytic aid comes into contact with the spring-loaded element and/or the sealing lip acting on the carrier tape. If, on the other hand, the analytical aid is in another position, the rewinding can accordingly take place counter to the winding direction by the extent of a length of the carrier tape until the next analytical aid strikes the spring-loaded element. This tape length can be used as take-up reel-tape reserve.

As an alternative or in addition, the reversing lock can also have at least one roller, in particular at least one double roller. The carrier strip can be guided through a gap defined by the rollers. The roller can, as already described above, undergo a deformation when the carrier strip is moved counter to the winding direction, wherein the gap is narrowed by the deformation and further movement of the carrier strip is at least made difficult. In this case, the rewind lock and the tape release are at least partially the same component.

The strap release may also be constructed at least partially independently of the rewind lock. This means that the strap release device is at least not completely designed as the same component as the rewind lock, and preferably as a separate component. This can also be achieved in different ways.

The belt release device can thus have, for example, a movably mounted belt deflection mechanism. One such movably mounted belt steering mechanism may be, for example, a so-called "dancer" or a dancer of the type: the dancer has a deflection roller which is connected to the carrier tape and is mounted so as to be movable and is acted upon by a force by at least one spring element. The movably mounted tape deflecting device can be arranged in particular between the application position and the take-up reel. The belt deflection device may in particular have at least one movably mounted and spring-loaded roller, in particular a "dancer roller" as defined above.

The movably mounted belt deflection means can be designed in particular to be able to assume at least three positions. In particular, a rest position with a maximum deflection of the movably supported belt deflection means, i.e. a maximum deflection of the carrier belt, can be provided. Furthermore, belt transport positions with a moderate offset can be provided. A medium offset is not necessarily to be understood here as a geometric and/or arithmetic mean value, but rather somewhere between a maximum and a minimum offset. This tape transport position can be occupied, for example, by the movably supported tape deflecting device during the further advance of the magazine, in particular during the winding of the carrier tape in the winding direction. Furthermore, a lift position (Hubposition) can be set, that is to say a position in which: this position can be occupied by the movably supported belt deflection means during the reciprocating linear movement and has a minimal offset. In addition to these locations, other locations may be present and occupied.

In a further aspect of the invention, an analytical test device is proposed, which has at least one magazine according to one or more of the above-described embodiments. The analytical test meter is designed to enable replacement of the cartridge. The analytical test device also has a drive for driving the carrier tape, in particular the take-up reel. Furthermore, the analytical test device is designed to execute a reciprocating movement by means of the analytical aid in the application position. For example, the analytical test device can have for this purpose at least one actuator which, together with the analytical aid in the application position, carries out the reciprocating movement, in particular the piercing movement and/or the sampling movement. For example, this actuator can have at least one gripper for gripping the analytical aid and/or a tappet by means of which the reciprocating movement can be carried out.

The take-up reel tape reserve is released by the tape release device, which can be controlled, in particular, by the analytical test instrument. The analytical test device can thus have, for example, at least one sensor for detecting the position of the carrier tape. The position can be, for example, the absolute position of the carrier strip (for example, the absolute position of at least one position marking of the carrier strip) and/or a relative position, for example, the relative position occupied by a specific or a plurality of analytic aids relative to the measuring point, as described above. Such a sensor can be designed, for example, in such a way that the arrival of an analytic aid at a specific measurement location can be detected optically, electrically, mechanically or acoustically. But other detection means are possible. Accordingly, the at least one sensor may have a corresponding sensor element for detecting such an arrival. Accordingly, the analytical test device may additionally have a control mechanism which is designed to adjust the take-up reel tape reserve as a function of the identified position of the carrier tape. For example, the control device may comprise at least one electronic component, in particular at least one data processing device. But may also be a simpler control mechanism such as a simple electronic trigger capable of a release. The "adjustment" of the take-up reel tape reserve can be understood, for example, to mean that the carrier tape continues to be wound, for example, by a predetermined amount, after the detection of the arrival at the specific measuring position of the analytic aid.

This can be combined, for example, with the above description of the design of the magazine for which a plurality of latching positions are provided. In particular, the magazine can be arranged as described above such that the function of the rewind lock depends on the position of the carrier tape, wherein the rewind lock is designed to prevent a movement of the carrier tape counter to the spooling direction in a plurality of locking positions, and conversely, between the locking positions, a movement of the carrier tape counter to the spooling direction is enabled until the next locking position is reached. The take-up reel tape reserve is then released when the carrier tape is moved counter to the winding direction. If such a design of the magazine is provided, the control device can be designed to continue the transport of the carrier tape when the predefined locking position is reached, with the take-up reel tape reserve or a value at least approximately corresponding to the take-up reel tape reserve being able to be reached, in particular to facilitate such a further transport. This makes it possible to transport the carrier tape past the locking position with the take-up reel tape reserve exactly as large as possible, so that rewinding can take place until the locking position is reached again, as a result of which the take-up reel tape reserve is made available.

The design according to the invention of the magazine and analytical test device has a number of advantages over known magazines and analytical test devices. These advantages can be achieved in particular if, in order to achieve a tape release, the rewind lock in the magazine should not be bridged or eliminated mechanically for the magazine inserted into the analytical test apparatus. By means of the solution proposed above, at least a small take-up reel tape reserve can be provided in the magazine, for example in the magazine housing. This take-up reel tape reserve can, for example, as explained above, correspond approximately to half the maximum stroke of the reciprocating linear movement or reciprocating movement which the tape executes, for example, during piercing and/or in other types of reciprocating linear movements.

The optional supply reel tape reserve can be removed from the supply reel, in particular for reasons of symmetry, in order, for example, to apply a load to the lancet gripper as uniformly as possible. The entire tape release can thus preferably be divided into the tape reserve outlined above, which is provided by means of the tape release device, on the take-up reel side as seen from the application position, and on the supply reel side.

Full tape release = take-up reel-tape reserve + supply reel-tape reserve ≈ 2 · take-up reel-tape reserve.

A typical reciprocating linear movement is in the range between 3mm and 6mm, which thus also corresponds approximately to the total tape release required. The take-up reel tape reserve, which is preferably provided on the take-up reel side by the tape release device outlined above, is thus preferably between 1.5 and 3 mm.

The supply reel tape reserve on the supply reel side can be realized technically easily, since the supply reel usually has a one-way clutch and is subject to a tensile stress F that exceeds a minimum_minThe carrier tape with the unconsumed analytical aid is usually released automatically. This principle is already used in normal tape transport, in which the take-up reel drive usually applies such a tensile stress F_min. In the case of a piercing process, the minimum tensile stress must be achieved by a corresponding actuator for unwinding the supply reel tape reserve on the supply reel side from the supply reel. For example, the actuator may include a gripper mechanism and/or a piercing drive. On the other hand, on one side of the take-up reel, this situation is less favorable for the magazine according to the prior art, as explained above. The drive of the take-up reel is normally inactive and thus the rewind of the take-up reel is locked as a result of the rewind lock. With the aid of the solution according to the invention described above, a take-up reel tape reserve can be provided despite the integrated rewind lock; furthermore, the problem and thus the conflict of objectives described at the outset are solved easily and without major technical complexity by means of this solution.

In particular, a permanently integrated rewind lock can thereby be realized in the magazine, in particular in the tape cassette. The rewind lock can prevent the magazine from inadvertently being unwound from the take-up reel after the user has removed the magazine from the analytical test device, for example. The rewind lock can thus be permanently activated.

Brief description of the drawings

Additional features and details of the invention are obtained from the following description of the preferred embodiments. The embodiments are schematically shown in the drawings. The same reference numerals here denote identical or functionally identical elements or elements which correspond to one another with regard to their function. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The drawings show the following in detail:

FIG. 1 is one embodiment of a strap release integrated into a rewind latch in the form of a latch that depends on the angle of rotation;

FIG. 2 is one embodiment of a tape release integrated into the rewind lock in the form of a spring-loaded flapper;

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a band release integrated into a rewind lock with a sealing lip;

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a belt release integrated into a rewind lock with two rubber rollers;

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of an alternative brake; and is

Fig. 6A to 6C show an exemplary embodiment of a belt release device in the form of a dancer, which is formed separately from the reversing lock.

Detailed Description

Different embodiments of a cutout of cartridge 110 in a tester for analytical properties (only outlined in the figures, reference numeral 112) are shown in fig. 1 to 6C. The magazine 110 is configured in this embodiment as a cassette and may, for example, have a magazine housing 114 which is only partially outlined in the figures. The magazine 110 is designed as a replaceable magazine and can be replaced accordingly.

The magazine 110 has a carrier strip 116 provided with a plurality of analytic aids 118. For example, the analytical aids 118 can be test elements, such as test elements having at least one test field, and/or needles or microsamplers. A design with different types of analytical aids 118, such as lancets and test elements, is also conceivable.

The section of the carrier tape 116 provided with the now unused analytic aids 118 is wound onto a supply reel or a finished reel (Gutwickel) 120 (see, for example, fig. 5 to 6C, not shown in the remaining figures), and the section with the used analytic aids 118 is wound onto a take-up reel or a contaminated reel (schlechtwinckel) 122. The analytical test instrument 112 has, for example, a drive 124, which is only indicated in the drawing, which drive 124 acts on the take-up reel 122, so that the carrier tape 116 can be wound up through the magazine 110 in a winding direction 126.

The winding is carried out in steps such that the analytic aids 118 can be provided in succession in the application or application position 128 (outlined in fig. 5 to 6C). In this application position 128, the housing of the analytical test meter 112 and/or the cartridge housing 114 has a break 130, through which break 130 the analytical aids 118 in the application position 128 can interact with the sample outside the analytical test meter 112 and/or with the skin of the user. If the analytical aid 118 is a lancet, this interaction can be, for example, a lancet movement in the form of a forward movement into the skin of the user, followed optionally by a return movement. In the return movement, the lancet, if provided with a capillary, also optionally receives the sample by capillary action. If the analytical aid 118 is, for example, a test element with at least one test field, the interaction mentioned can be a forward movement in which the sample-receiving region of the test element and/or the test field itself is brought into contact with a sample of a body fluid, for example, on the skin surface of a user, for applying the sample to the test element. The test element can likewise have at least one capillary, for example for conducting the sample from the application or sample application position to the test field and/or other types of detection chemicals.

To ensure this interaction, the analytical test instrument 112 preferably has at least one actuator 132 in the exemplary embodiment shown. The actuator 132, which is only outlined in fig. 5 and 6A to 6C, is designed to perform a reciprocating rectilinear motion, symbolically indicated in the figures by reference numeral 134 (see fig. 5 and 6C). Such reciprocating linear motion 134 is thus a motion towards the skin surface of the user. The reciprocating linear movement 134 can in turn be adapted to the type of analytical aid 118. Such a reciprocating linear motion may be, for example, a relatively fast reciprocating linear motion having a speed of several meters per second, as long as the analytical aid 118 comprises a lancet. In this case, the reciprocating linear movement is designed as a piercing movement, optionally accompanied or followed by a sample receiving movement by the capillary in the backward movement of the reciprocating linear movement. If the analytical aid 118 comprises a test element, the reciprocating linear movement is generally a sample receiving movement, which is typically carried out slowly, for example at a speed of less than 1 meter per second. Accordingly, the actuator 132 can be designed, wherein a plurality of such actuators 132 can also be provided. Thus, the actuator 132 can be configured, for example, as a piercing plunger for carrying out the lancet movement. Alternatively, the actuator 132 can also be designed as a slow sample-receiving plunger for guiding the test element, for example, to the skin surface of the user and returning it.

The take-up reel 122 is in the embodiment shown provided with a rewind lock 136 which is only outlined. This rewind lock 136 is thus integrated into the magazine 110 and preferably functions permanently, i.e. this rewind lock 136 is not bridged or eliminated or weakened when the magazine 110 is loaded into the analytical test instrument 112. Such a rewind lock is known in principle from the prior art. For example, elements sensitive to the direction of rotation, such as a ratchet wheel, a one-way clutch (Freil ä ufe) or the like, can be used for this purpose. These elements enable the take-up reel 122 to be rotated in a winding direction 138, which is indicated in fig. 1, the carrier tape 116 being moved in the winding direction 126 in the winding direction 138. Whereas rotation of the take-up reel 122 in the opposite direction is at least largely prevented. In contrast to known sample extraction systems, however, it is provided within the scope of the invention that the at least one rewind lock 136 is integrated into the magazine 110. In this way, the magazine 110 can be removed from the instrument, for example, the sample extraction system, even after at least partial use, wherein a return unwinding (rackabiklung) can be reliably prevented and, accordingly, reuse of already used analytical aids 118 or undesired unwinding of the carrier tape 116 can be prevented. For such a magazine 110 with a rewind lock 136, the problems described above arise, so that a tape release has to be carried out in the reciprocating linear movement 136. This tape release takes into account that for the maximum lift of the reciprocating linear motion 134, an additional amount of carrier tape 116 is required, which is also referred to as tape release (Bandfreigabe). For reasons of symmetry, this additional quantity should likewise be taken off from the supply reel 120 and from the take-up reel 122 or from a section of the carrier tape 116 between the application position 128 and the supply reel 120 or take-up reel 122. In the following, no distinction is made between these possibilities and the supply reel tape reserve from the side of the application position 128 facing the supply reel 120 is referred to as tape reserve G and the take-up reel tape reserve from the side of the application position 128 facing the take-up reel 122 is referred to as tape reserve S. Then preferably it should apply:

total tape release = tape reserve S + tape reserve G ≈ 2 · tape reserve S.

As already described above, a typical reciprocating linear movement 134 is in the range between 3 and 6mm for maximum lift. Accordingly, approximately 3 to 6mm should be provided on the carrier tape 116 as tape release, so that the take-up reel tape reserve of the take-up reel should typically be 1.5 to 3 mm. The supply reel tape reserve of the supply reel can be realized comparatively easily, since the supply reel 120 is already wound in its discharge direction when releasing this tape reserve G, which is disadvantageous on the side of the take-up reel. The drive 124 of the take-up reel 122 is normally inoperative during the reciprocating linear movement 134, and thus the reverse rotation of the take-up reel 122 is locked in many cases. Although it is possible to reverse the drive 124 actively for the purpose of such a tape release, this is technically complicated and is therefore preferably not realized within the scope of the invention. Such an active reversal of the drive 124 can still be realized within the scope of the invention. In addition, as an alternative or in addition, the drive 124 can also be decoupled from the take-up reel 122, for example, by a two-part spring-mounted take-up reel which, under the influence of the force of the drive of the actuator 132, allows at least a small reversal step counter to the winding direction 138. A third possible embodiment of the belt release, which can be used as an alternative or in addition, can, as explained in more detail above, comprise a movably mounted belt deflection mechanism, which is explained below with reference to fig. 6A to 6C and is also referred to as "dancer roll (T ä nzer)". Such dancers are known, for example, from tape recorders and can compensate for different tensions in the carrier tape 116.

However, these solutions are based on a tape cassette for which, despite the effective rewind lock 136, the take-up reel 122 is provided with a corresponding movement for releasing the take-up reel tape reserve of the take-up reel 122.

For this purpose, different variants are proposed, which are explained below with the aid of fig. 1 to 6C. In all cases, the magazine 110 has a tape release 142. This tape release 142 is designed to provide a take-up reel-tape reserve (tape reserve S) of the take-up reel 122 during the reciprocating linear movement 134. The embodiments shown in fig. 1 to 6C can in principle be divided into two different groups which can also be combined with one another. Fig. 1 to 4 therefore show embodiments for which the strap release 142 is integrated into the rewind lock 136 or is at least partially the same component as this rewind lock 136. Fig. 6A to 6C show a variant in which a separate belt release 142 is provided, which is designed independently of the rewind lock 136.

Preferably, the tape release device 142 is provided only on the take-up reel side, as viewed from the application position 128, whereas preferably no such tape release device 142, in particular no movably supported tape deflection means 140, is provided on the supply reel side, i.e. in the supply reel 120 and/or on the tape section of the carrier tape 116 between the supply reel 120 and the application position 128.

In fig. 1, as a first embodiment of the belt release 142, a locking device 144 is provided, which is dependent on the angle of rotation. This rotation-angle-dependent latch is a rewind latch 136 which is effective only for a specific rotation angle and has a slip ratio (Schlupf) between them. This slip must be dimensioned to be sufficient to be able to provide the band reserve S. This is depicted in fig. 1, in which case ratchet teeth 146 are provided on the take-up reel 122. In this case, the ratchet teeth 146 are exactly one-quarter turn apart, so that the slip is maximum 90 degrees in the illustrated embodiment. Other spacings are contemplated. The slip should be dimensioned such that the band reserve S is smaller than the distance between adjacent analytic aids 118. This preferred embodiment is also suitable for other embodiments of the invention, so that in general the tape reserve S is preferably smaller than the distance between adjacent analytical aids 118, so that an already used analytical aid 118 is prevented from being wound back again into the application position 128 by the tape release 142.

The ratchet teeth 146 can, for example, cooperate with one or more pawls 148. The pawls may also be resiliently supported as depicted in fig. 1. The pawl 148 can be assigned, for example, to a cartridge housing 114 and the ratchet teeth 146 can be assigned to the take-up reel 122. An opposite design may also be considered. If the carrier tape 116 is wound up until just before the next available ratchet tooth 146, the slip can be used for tape release in the reverse rotation of the take-up reel 122 against the winding direction 138 until the previous ratchet tooth 146 is locked. For this purpose, for example, the drive 124 can be reversed during this time and/or the drive 124 can be decoupled from the take-up reel 122.

In general, in this embodiment or in other embodiments as well, the analytical test instrument 112 may include a control mechanism 150, which is only depicted in fig. 1, for example. This control mechanism 150 may, for example, comprise a control logic circuit (Steuerlogik). The control mechanism 150 may be coupled to the ratchet function of the tape release 142, for example. For example, at least one sensor 152, which is illustrated in fig. 1 and can also be provided in the remaining exemplary embodiments, can be provided. The signal of this sensor 152 can be transmitted, for example, to the control unit 150. In this way, for example, the angle of inclination α of the pawl 148, for example of the pawl lever, can be detected and used, for example, for a trigger signal for a delayed deactivation function of the drive 124. If, for example, a ratchet tooth 146 is reached, the drive 124 can be rotated further by a predetermined angle, which may correspond to the belt release S. In this case, the winding is continued at this angle, which can also be designed variably, for example in order to take into account different degrees of filling of the take-up reel 122 and thus to take into account different angles of rotation for the conversion into unwound carrier tape 116. As an alternative or in addition to the detection of the angle of the pawl 148, a large number of other measured variables can also be recorded. For example, an acoustic sensor can be used to apply a click of the ratchet to such a control mechanism. Alternatively or additionally, an optical sensor may also be used, for example.

The control of the tape release 142 is generally effected in this embodiment exclusively by the angle of rotation of the take-up reel 122. As explained above, different take-up reel tape reserves therefore occur depending on the circumference of the already wound-up tape material of the carrier tape 116. This disadvantage may also be encountered, for example, by the fact that the slip must be matched to a minimum angular diameter (Winkeldurchmesser), which corresponds to the state of the cartridges 110 that have not yet been used. Alternatively, as described above, the adjusted slip can also be adapted in this or also in other embodiments to the degree of use of the magazine 110, in order to take account of different degrees of winding.

A second principle of implementing the tape release 142 is shown in fig. 2. This embodiment again shows a strap release 142 that is at least partially integrated into the rewind lock 136. Also this embodiment shows that the rewind lock 136 need not be constructed on the take-up reel 122. Fig. 2 therefore shows, instead of the locking element 144 as a function of the angle of rotation, the fact that the analytical aid 118, for example a lancet, can generate mechanical resistance due to its thickness can also be used. Accordingly, as a rewind lock 136 in fig. 2, a spring-loaded flap 154 is provided on the entry side of the take-up reel 122. This flap is relaxed in the winding direction 126 and allows the analytical aids 118 to pass through. The spring-loaded flap 154 rests on the carrier tape 116 in the closed state. In the backward direction, i.e., when the carrier tape 116 is moved counter to the winding direction 126, the flap thus acts as a stop against which the analytical aids 118, for example lancets, placed on the carrier tape 116 cannot be overcome or which at least represents a significant resistance.

The control mechanism 150 may in turn be designed to couple with the function of the spring-loaded shutter 154. For example, a sensor 152 can be provided, which is not shown in fig. 2, but uses the oscillation of the spring-loaded flap 154 as a trigger signal for a delayed stop function for the drive 124. After the spring-loaded flap 154 has been set in motion or closed again, the winding can then be continued by a predetermined value, which in turn can correspond substantially to the tape reserve S.

The function of the spring-loaded shutter 154 in fig. 2 can also be utilized by other spring-loaded elements, including elements that are inherently resilient. Fig. 3 therefore shows an embodiment similar to that according to fig. 2, in which, instead of the spring-loaded flap 154, a flexible sealing lip 155 is used on the entry side of the take-up reel 122. This sealing lip 155 is relaxed in the winding direction 126 and allows the analytical aids 118, such as lancets and/or test elements, to pass through. In the opposite direction, however, the sealing lip 155 is mechanically plastically and/or preferably elastically deformed and thus increases the friction of the carrier tape 116 within a few millimeters in such a way that the reversing reel drive 124 is stopped. The stop action can thus be performed by two mechanisms, which can also be used in combination. On the one hand, the analytic aid 118, which is moved in the rearward direction, therefore strikes the sealing lip 155 purely mechanically, in a manner similar to the striking in fig. 2 on the spring-loaded flap 154. Alternatively or additionally, however, the carrier element 116 itself can also be locked, for example by moving the sealing lip 155 counter to its opening direction and deforming it, as described above, so that the friction forces acting on the carrier strip 116 are increased.

The design illustrated in fig. 2 and 3 and also in the following fig. 4 has the advantage that the tape reserve S can be formed independently of the current reel diameter, i.e. independently of the degree of winding on the take-up reel 122. In order to increase the friction force, only the actually traveled belt distance is decisive in fig. 3.

As a further alternative embodiment to fig. 1 to 3, fig. 4 shows a magazine constructed as a magazine with a double rubber roller 156. The carrier tape 116 is guided through a roller gap 158 between the rubber rollers 156. The rubber roller 156 is arranged such that it rotates only in the winding direction 126 and is locked in the opposite direction. The flexible rubber material allows the analytical aid 118, such as a lancet, to pass in the winding direction 126. However, when the take-up reel 122 is reversed, i.e., when the carrier tape 116 is fed in the opposite direction to the winding direction 126, the locked rubber thickens or increases and rapidly serves to generate an increasing frictional force. Whereby the reel drive 124 stops after a few millimetres.

Fig. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a magazine 110 and an analytical test device 112 according to the invention, which can also be combined with the other exemplary embodiments. Cartridge 110 in this exemplary embodiment may, for example, be of similar design to cartridge 110 in the exemplary embodiment according to fig. 1 to 4. In principle, the embodiment according to fig. 6 or other embodiments can also be considered. Accordingly, the magazine 110 has at least one rewind lock 136, which rewind lock 136 is not shown in detail in fig. 5 and can be formed, for example, as one or more of the embodiments of the rewind lock 136 described above and below. For example, magazine 110 may be designed as the magazine shown in fig. 1 and may comprise a rewind lock 136 integrated into take-up reel 122. Alternatively or additionally, however, other designs of the rewind lock 136 and/or other components of the magazine 110 are also possible.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 5, the magazine 110 additionally comprises one or more detents 160. These brakes 160 can, for example, act on the carrier tape 116 on the take-up reel 122, on the take-up reel 122 itself or on the supply reel 120 or the carrier tape 116 on the supply reel 120. Combinations of the mentioned schemes are also conceivable. The embodiment thus also comprises a magazine 110, for which magazine 110 the carrier tape 116 is additionally secured by an integrated detent 160. However, the brake 160 is preferably completely or partially formed separately from the rewind lock 136, which is not shown in detail in fig. 5. The brake 160 may also apply some resistance to reverse rotation, such as to the take-up reel 122. But this resistance should be easily overcome by means of preferably small force consumption. The brake 160 can thus, for example, exert a damping characteristic on the cartridges 110 and/or the carrier tape 116 and/or can prevent the carrier tape 116 from being unwound excessively.

The brake 160 applies a frictional force to the carrier tape 116 and/or to one or both of the reels 120, 122. This frictional force suppresses excessive unwinding of the tape material. If the brake 160 acts on the two reels 120, 122, the reduced friction also exerts this positive damping effect on the two reels 120, 122.

The exemplary embodiments shown in fig. 1 to 5 show that the tape release 142 integrated into the rewind lock 136 can be realized, for example, in the form of a ratchet, a lock dependent on the angle of rotation, a friction-rotation lock, or in the form of an element whose friction acting on the carrier tape 116 and/or on one or both of the reels 120, 122 depends on the direction of rotation and/or the direction of transport of the carrier tape 116. Fig. 6A to 6C show an embodiment for which the strap release 142 can be implemented independently of the rewind lock 136. As already explained above, this embodiment is a magazine 110 with a movably supported belt deflection mechanism 140, which belt deflection mechanism 140 is also referred to below as "dancer roller". In a modification of the principle for realizing an instrument-side tape release, which has already been described above, it is thus also possible to integrate at least one dancer into the magazine 110, preferably into the magazine. This dancer 140 is preferably arranged only on the take-up reel side of the magazine 110, i.e. on the side of the carrier tape 116 facing the take-up reel 122, viewed from the application position 128. This dancer 140 causes a variable bend in the belt direction of the carrier belt 116. The spring force of the spring element 162 is preferably applied to the dancer 140. The spring element 162 may also function as a return spring. The spring element 162 can thus always exert a force on the dancer 140 in order to return it into its original position. This home position is shown in fig. 6A and shows the rest position with the greatest deflection of the dancer 140.

A tensile force is exerted on the carrier tape 116 and the dancers 140 by the transport process of the carrier tape 116 shown in fig. 6B, which tensile force causes the dancers 140 to be deflected partially inward against the force of the spring elements 162. This is shown in fig. 6B. A position of the dancer 140 is referred to here, which position may also be referred to as the belt transport position and in which the dancer 140 has a moderate offset. Whereby the tensile stress on the carrier tape 116 remains constant. At the end of the transport process, the reel motor is stopped and a new analytical aid 118 is in the application position 128. For example, a new lancet can be gripped by a lancet gripper of the actuator 132, which is not shown here, for example by: a new lancet is placed against a stop of the actuator 132 or its gripper. Thereby maintaining the tensile stress and the dancer 140 maintains the deflected state.

Finally, fig. 6C shows a situation during the reciprocating linear movement 134. Such a reciprocating linear movement may be, for example, a piercing movement or a sampling movement. In this reciprocating linear movement 134, an additional tensile force is exerted on the carrier tape 116 by the deflection thereof and thus also on the dancer 140. The dancer 140 is further deflected inward and assumes a raised and lowered position with minimal deflection, i.e. one of the following: not below this offset throughout the remainder of the process. Where the dancer 140 releases the tape reserve S. The spring constant should preferably be designed such that the dancer 140 is deflected at least approximately by half for normal tensile stress, i.e., for example by a deflection of not more than 20%, preferably not more than 10%, and particularly preferably not more than 5% of the deflection by half.

A great advantage of the embodiment according to fig. 6A to 6C is that the drive 124, for example a reel motor, does not have to perform a reversing movement. This embodiment additionally solves the problem of belt loosening after the reciprocating linear movement 134, since the maximally deflected dancers 140 catch again this belt loosening by the restoring force of their spring elements 162.

The test meter 112 with the analyzability of the magazine 110 according to fig. 6A to 6C has a number of advantages with respect to WO 2009/030359 a1 already described above. In contrast to known rewind locks that are unlocked when magazine 110 is loaded into analytical test instrument 112, a permanently functioning rewind lock 136 can therefore be realized here in particular.

In the exemplary embodiment according to fig. 6A to 6C, an asymmetrical design of the tape release 142 is also preferably realized in the form of a dancer 140. In WO 2009/030359 a1, a movably supported belt deflection mechanism is provided both on the supply reel side and on the take-up reel side of the magazine, in order to ensure a symmetrical deflection of the belt material. In practice, however, this sometimes results in the dancer 140 not being able to compensate for the additional slack in the tape of the supply reel after the reciprocating linear movement 134. Furthermore, WO 2009/030359 a1 teaches, as an alternative to the tape release, an active reversal step of the drive 124 during the piercing movement, but as a result of this, the problem of complete tape loosening occurs after the piercing movement. In contrast, in the proposed exemplary embodiment of the invention according to fig. 6A to 6C, the tape release 142 is preferably arranged exclusively on the take-up reel side, whereas no additional tape release 142 is arranged on the supply reel side, apart from the supply reel 120 itself. The dancer 140 solves the above described problems in a smart way. The dancer roller is thus already partially deflected inward by the belt transport, as can be seen in fig. 6B. During the reciprocating linear movement 134, for example during piercing, the carrier tape 116 is preferably fixed in the actuator 132, for example in a holder of a gripper. In this way, the two reel sides can be observed independently of one another. On the supply reel side, preferably the one-way clutch of the supply reel 120 is activated and the tape reserve G is released accordingly. On the take-up reel side, the dancer 140 is also deflected further inward and the necessary tape reserve S is produced here. After the piercing process or the reciprocating linear movement 134 has ended, the carrier tape 116 is preferably decoupled from the actuator 132, for example from the gripper and/or the support of the actuator 132, and the dancer 140 can relax completely (see fig. 6A) and in turn receive the complete tape release.

In summary, the embodiments in fig. 1 to 6C thus illustrate methods for providing a sufficient tape reserve S on the take-up reel side despite the presence of the rewind lock 136 in the magazine 110. The embodiment variant shown in fig. 6A to 6C in particular is a particularly advantageous variant, since it does not require a reversing reel motor 124 and therefore requires a less complex design of the analytical test instrument 112. Furthermore, this embodiment makes it possible to obtain a tape release on the take-up reel side after the reciprocating linear movement 134 and thus to optimize the tape guidance. The embodiment with the brake 160 in fig. 5 is also preferred, which can also be combined with other embodiments, since it prevents the carrier web 116 from being unwound too far, in particular during or after the reciprocating linear movement 134.

List of reference numerals:

110 magazine

112 analytic tester

114 Cartridge case

116 Carrier strip

118 analytic aids

120 supply reel

122 take-up reel

124 driving device

126 direction of winding

128 application location

130 fracture

132 actuator

134 reciprocating linear motion

136 rewind lock

138 direction of winding

140 movably supported belt steering mechanism

142 strip release

144 latch dependent on the angle of rotation

146 ratchet teeth

148 pawl

150 control mechanism

152 sensor

154 spring loaded trap door

155 sealing lip

156 rubber roller

158 roll gap

160 brake

162 spring element

Claims (31)

1. Magazine (110) for use in an analytical test instrument (112), wherein the magazine (110) is designed as an exchangeable magazine (110), wherein the magazine (110) comprises a plurality of analytical aids (118) on a carrier tape (116), wherein the analytical aids (118) can be provided in at least one application position (128) of the magazine (110) by means of the carrier tape (116), wherein the magazine (110) additionally has at least one supply reel (120) for receiving a region of the carrier tape (116) with unconsumed analytical aids (118), wherein the magazine (110) additionally has at least one take-up reel (122) for receiving a region of the carrier tape (116) with consumed analytical aids (118), wherein the carrier tape (116) can be moved in a winding direction (126) from the supply reel (120) toward the take-up reel (122), wherein the magazine (110) has a rewind lock (136) for the take-up reel (122), wherein the magazine (110) additionally has a tape release device (142), wherein the tape release device (142) is designed to provide a take-up reel tape reserve of the carrier tape (116) only on the side of the application position (128) facing the take-up reel (122).

2. The magazine (110) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the tape release means (142) are arranged only on a side of the application position (128) facing the take-up reel (122).

3. The cartridge (110) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the analytical aid (118) is fixable in the application position (128) by means of at least one fixing device.

4. The magazine (110) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the reciprocating movement (134) of the analytical aid (118) in the application position (128) has a maximum lift, wherein the take-up reel tape reserve is 0.2 to 0.8 of the maximum lift.

5. The magazine (110) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the tape release device (142) is additionally designed to at least partially receive the take-up reel tape reserve again after the reciprocating movement (134) of the analytical aid (118).

6. The magazine (110) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rewind lock (136) is a permanently acting rewind lock (136).

7. The magazine (110) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the backlock (136) comprises at least one of the following backlocks (136): a rotation-direction-sensitive element (144), wherein the rotation-direction-sensitive element (144) enables a rotation in one direction and at least largely prevents a rotation in the other direction; a one-way clutch; a ratchet (144); a pawl (148); a rotation direction sensitive brake acting on the carrier tape (116); a spring-loaded element (154) acting on the carrier tape (116); a spring-loaded shutter (154) acting on the carrier tape (116); a sealing lip (155) acting on the carrier tape (116).

8. The magazine (110) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the magazine (110) additionally has at least one brake (160), wherein the brake (160) is designed to limit the backward winding of the take-up reel (122) and/or the forward winding of the supply reel (120).

9. The magazine (110) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the tape release means (142) is at least partially integrated into the rewind lock (136).

10. The magazine (110) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the function of the rewind lock (136) is dependent on the position of the carrier tape (116), wherein the rewind lock (136) is designed to prevent a movement of the carrier tape (116) counter to the spooling direction (126) in a plurality of locking positions, wherein between the locking positions the carrier tape (116) can be moved counter to the spooling direction (126) until a next locking position is reached, wherein the take-up reel tape reserve is at least partially released when the carrier tape (116) moves counter to the spooling direction (126).

11. The magazine (110) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rewind lock (136) has a rotation-direction-sensitive element (144), wherein the rotation-direction-sensitive element (144) enables a rotation in one direction and at least largely prevents a rotation in the other direction; wherein the rotation-direction-sensitive element (144) has a dead angle and can be rotated in the reverse direction, wherein the magazine (110) is designed to release the take-up reel tape reserve upon reversal.

12. The magazine (110) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rewind lock (136) has at least one spring-loaded element acting on the carrier tape (116) and/or a sealing lip (155), wherein the analytic aid (118) can pass the spring-loaded element and/or the sealing lip (155) when the carrier tape (116) is moved in the spooling direction (126), wherein the analytic aid (118) and/or the carrier tape (116) locks onto the spring-loaded element and/or onto the sealing lip (155) when the carrier tape (116) is moved counter to the spooling direction (126).

13. The magazine (110) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the reversing lock (136) has at least one roller (156), wherein the carrier tape (116) is guided through a gap defined by the roller (156), wherein the roller (156) is designed to undergo a deformation when the carrier tape (116) is moved counter to the winding direction (126), wherein the gap is narrowed by the deformation and further movement of the carrier tape (116) is at least made difficult.

14. The magazine (110) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the tape release means (142) are arranged at least partially independently of the rewind lock (136).

15. The magazine (110) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the tape release device (142) has a movably supported tape diverting mechanism (140), wherein the movably supported tape diverting mechanism (140) is arranged between the application position (128) and the take-up reel (122).

16. The magazine (110) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the analytical aid (118) can be fixed in the application position (128) by means of at least one gripper.

17. The magazine (110) according to claim 4, wherein the maximum lift is 2mm to 10 mm.

18. The magazine (110) according to claim 4, wherein the maximum lift is 3mm to 6 mm.

19. The magazine (110) according to claim 4, wherein said take-up reel-tape reserve is 0.5 of said maximum lift.

20. The magazine (110) as set forth in claim 7 wherein said rotation direction sensitive element (144) is connected to said take-up reel (122).

21. The magazine (110) according to claim 7, wherein the one-way clutch is connected to the take-up reel (122).

22. The magazine (110) as set forth in claim 7 wherein said ratchet wheel (144) is connected to said take-up reel (122).

23. The magazine (110) of claim 7, wherein the pawl (148) is coupled to the take-up reel (122).

24. The magazine (110) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the stopper is a roller (156) and/or a sealing lip (155).

25. The magazine (110) as set forth in claim 11 wherein said rotational direction sensitive element (144) is connected to said take-up reel (122).

26. The cartridge (110) of claim 12, wherein the spring-loaded element is a spring-loaded flap (154).

27. The magazine (110) according to claim 13, wherein the rewind lock (136) has a double roller.

28. Analytical test device (112) comprising at least one magazine (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the analytical test device (112) is designed to be able to replace the magazine (110), wherein the analytical test device (112) has a drive (124) for driving the carrier tape (116), wherein the analytical test device (112) is additionally provided to carry out a reciprocating movement (134) by means of the analytical aid (118) in the application position (128).

29. The analytical test instrument (112) according to the preceding claim, wherein the analytical test instrument (112) additionally has at least one sensor (152) for detecting a position of the carrier tape (116), wherein the analytical test instrument (112) additionally has a control mechanism (150), wherein the control mechanism (150) is designed to adjust the take-up reel tape reserve in accordance with the detected position of the carrier tape (116).

30. The analytical test meter (112) according to the preceding claim, in which the magazine (110) is arranged such that, such that the functionality of the rewind lock (136) is dependent on the position of the carrier tape (116), wherein the rewind lock (136) is designed to prevent a movement of the carrier tape (116) counter to the spooling direction (126) in a plurality of locking positions, wherein the carrier tape (116) can be moved counter to a winding direction (126) between the locking positions until a next locking position is reached, wherein the take-up reel tape reserve is released when the carrier tape (116) is moved counter to a winding direction (126), wherein the control mechanism (150) is designed to be able to continue the transport of the carrier tape (116) with the take-up reel tape reserve when a predefined locking position is reached.

31. The analytical test meter (112) according to claim 28, wherein the analytical test meter (112) is configured to perform a piercing movement and/or a sampling movement.