Integrated Blood Glucose Meter Strip Cartridge Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing integrated blood glucose measuring devices have complex structures and operation methods, leading to inefficient supply and discharge of test strips, which can result in degradation and reduced measurement accuracy.

Innovation Solution

An integrated blood glucose measuring device with a strip cartridge that allows test strips to be supplied and discharged one by one using a manipulation knob's linear movement in two stages, ensuring the sealing function is maintained, thus protecting the strips and enhancing measurement accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate strip storage case is used, then test strips can be stored, but the device structure becomes complex and operation becomes inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest strip storageVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the strip storage case and blood glucose meter into a single integrated device. The strip cartridge is inserted into the meter housing, merging two previously separate components (storage case and measurement device) into one unified system, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining storage functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated device performs multiple functions: it stores multiple test strips in the cartridge and simultaneously measures blood glucose. The single device replaces the need for separate storage and measurement equipment, providing multi-functionality that reduces the number of components the user must manage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If the strip cartridge is opened frequently, then test strips can be accessed, but the sealing function deteriorates and test strips degrade

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest strip accessVSAvoidsealing function
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device opens the strip cartridge only when a test strip is actually needed for measurement. The strip supply mechanism is designed to advance the next strip only after the previous one has been used, ensuring the cartridge remains sealed during storage periods and opening it only at the moment of use, thereby preserving the sealing function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The strip supply mechanism automatically advances to the next test strip after the current one is removed, without requiring manual intervention to open the cartridge. The system self-manages the strip supply process while maintaining the sealed environment, opening the cartridge only when necessary and closing it automatically afterward

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If test strips are not discharged accurately, then measurement efficiency decreases, but the device structure becomes simpler

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest strip supply accuracyVSAvoidstrip discharge mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The strip discharge process is divided into two distinct stages: first, the strip is pushed to the discharge position; second, the strip is fully ejected from the device. This segmentation of the discharge action into separate mechanical steps enables precise control over strip positioning and ejection, improving supply accuracy through a structured two-phase mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3533395B1Integrated blood glucose measuring device
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 I SENS INC
  • EP3533395B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3533395B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3533395B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an integrated blood glucose measuring device. The present invention provides an integrated blood glucose measuring device which can accommodate a strip cartridge storing a plurality of test strips therein, and is configured to supply and discharge the test strips one-by-one from the strip cartridge by a method that involves moving a manipulation knob linearly in two separate stages. Thus, the integrated blood glucose measuring device has a simple operating method and structure, and can accurately perform the supplying and discharging of the test strips. Also, by ensuring that a supply opening of the strip cartridge is only open when operating the manipulation knob, the sealing function with respect to the strip cartridge can be stably maintained, thereby preventing the test strips from degrading even when used for a long time, and thereby the accuracy of blood glucose measurement results can be enhanced.