Liquid Dispensing Tip With Reservoir

Abstract

The present invention includes devices for containing and dispensing liquid solutions. The devices of the invention increase ease of sample volume control and, hence, application thereof while minimizing any sample spillage or fluid migration up the side of the dispensing tip. Furthermore, the devices provide ensure adequate sample volume.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The invention relates to devices for containing and dispensing liquids.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]In many medical and laboratory applications, it is necessary to provide or administer a single or precisely measured dose of a liquid agent, such as a medication or reagent. One such application in which precise amounts of reagent fluid are required is in the patient use of systems for measuring a bodily analyte in a physiological fluid. Such systems typically include test strips containing a reagent material to which a physiological sample is applied. Meters are configured to receive such test strips and determine the analyte concentration of the sample. Prior to the use of such meters and test strips, they are typically checked by methods in which a monitoring agent, often called a control solution is used to test the accuracy and efficacy of the test strips.[0003]Control solutions are often packaged in a plastic or glass container with a dispensing...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0052]There are many advantages provided by the present invention, including the increased ease of sample volume control and hence application thereof giving the user added confidence in the control solution testing procedure. It is also an aim of the dispensing tip of the present invention to minimize any sample spillage or fluid migration up the side of the dispensing tip by only providing a volume of control solution that is close to the required volume. Furthermore the volume of fluid is retained at least momentarily localized in the expanded region of the dispensing tip to help ensure adequate sample volume each time a control solution test is performed.

Problems solved by technology

It is generally difficult to accurately control the amount of control solution dispensed from such containers.

Although advancements are rapidly being made in the development of systems and devices for measuring analyte concentrations, there has been limited advancement in the area of control solution containment and dispensing for use with these advanced systems and devices.

However, such containers are less accurate at dispensing smaller volumes required by today's more advanced test strips that use less than one microliter.

As the sample volume requirement of some commercially available test strips reaches sub-microliter level, an excess amount of control solution may be delivered by the existing tapered dispensing tips, creating inconvenience and annoyance to the user.

It can be difficult to aim a large droplet precisely onto the reaction zone of a test strip while also holding the bottle of control solution under pressure.

Because the strip cannot absorb the excess control solution dispensed, the excess spills.

This is particularly problematic because control solutions are typically red in color to realistically mimic blood.

Images