Sensor Clip for Stacked Analyte Test Strip Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional test strip containers are bulky, costly, and inconvenient for storing and dispensing multiple analyte testing sensors, particularly for diabetic patients who need frequent glucose monitoring, as they require individual packaging and complex handling mechanisms, limiting the number of strips and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A low-cost, compact test-sensor clip system with a skeletal frame that holds multiple strips in a small space, allowing for automated handling and foil wrapping with desiccant, reducing material usage and manufacturing costs while providing intuitive and convenient strip dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional test strip containers are designed to store multiple strips, then the quantity of sensors increases, but the device becomes bulky and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple individual compartments, each housing a single test strip. This segmentation allows multiple strips to be stored in an organized manner while keeping each compartment simple and manageable, avoiding the need for complex mechanical dispensing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple test strips are nested within individual compartments that are themselves contained within a larger container structure. This nested arrangement maximizes storage capacity while maintaining a compact overall form factor and simple external structure.
2Reliability
If individual packaging with desiccant is used for each sensor, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual test strips are combined into a single container assembly that provides protective functions for all strips simultaneously. The desiccant and sunlight protection features are integrated at the container level rather than requiring separate packaging for each strip, thereby maintaining reliability while improving manufacturing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The container structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it stores multiple test strips, provides humidity protection through integrated desiccant, and offers sunlight protection through its housing design. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate individual packaging while maintaining the protective benefits.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If hermetically sealed rigid housing is used, then protection from environment is improved, but device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container employs flexible or thin-walled construction that provides sufficient protection from humidity and sunlight without requiring thick, rigid, hermetically sealed housing. This approach reduces material usage and structural complexity while maintaining adequate environmental protection.
Solution Approach 2:
A desiccant material is introduced as an intermediary substance within the container that actively absorbs humidity, providing environmental protection without requiring hermetic sealing. This mediator allows the container to be less complex and less material-intensive while still protecting the test strips from moisture.
4Ease of operation
If mechanical dispensing mechanism is added, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The test strips are designed to be easily removed from the container by the user without requiring complex mechanical assistance. The individual compartments and simple housing structure allow for intuitive, manual access to strips, making the system self-servicing and eliminating the need for elaborate dispensing mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The clip system enables a higher strip capacity in a smaller form factor, reducing per-strip costs, enhancing user convenience, and improving portability, while maintaining reliability and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
foil wrapped in a reagent-grade foil package with a desiccant material
Implementation Method 2
the test strip 'harvests' the body fluid, e.g., fluid is drawn into a capillary channel that transfers the fluid by capillary action to the reagent material
Data Source
AI summary
Sensor clip assemblies, sensor clips, analyte testing systems, and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. A sensor clip assembly is disclosed for storing and dispensing analyte testing sensors. The sensor clip assembly includes numerous test sensors arranged in a stack. Each test sensor is configured to assist in testing an analyte in a fluid sample. The sensor clip assembly also includes a skeletal frame with a top, a bottom, and numerous sides. The top, bottom and sides are interconnected to define an internal chamber within which is stored the stack of test sensors. At least one of the sides includes one or more elongated rails with structural gaps on opposing sides thereof. For some configurations, multiple sides of the skeletal frame comprise at least one or multiple elongated rails, each of which has structural gaps on opposing sides thereof and may be columnar in nature.