Test Strip Ejector Guide Rails Sled Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical devices for testing and ejecting test strips often suffer from issues such as contact misalignment, damage to electrical contacts, and racking or rotation during insertion and ejection, which can lead to inaccurate readings and device malfunction.

Innovation Solution

A fluid testing medical device with a test strip ejector system featuring first and second guide rails and a sled with opposed leg sets that maintain continuous sliding contact with the rails, an arm rotatably connected to the sled for perpendicular ejection, and an ejection button to displace the sled, ensuring controlled and precise ejection of the test strip.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a pushing member with projection parts is used to eject the test strip, then the test strip can be ejected from the device, but racking and rotation of the pushing member and test strip occur during ejection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetest strip ejectionVSAvoidalignment of pushing member and test strip

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pushing member is divided into multiple projection parts (first projection part and second projection part) that engage with corresponding features on the test strip. This segmentation allows for distributed contact points that prevent racking and rotation while maintaining ejection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A guide structure acts as an intermediary between the pushing member and the test strip, providing geometric constraints that prevent misalignment. The guide ensures that the projection parts maintain proper engagement with the test strip features throughout the ejection motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If a single centrally positioned projection part is used on the pushing member, then the structure is simple, but control of racking is limited and the projection may be off-center during ejection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepushing member structureVSAvoidejection precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of a single projection part, the pushing member incorporates multiple projection parts (first and second projection parts) positioned at different locations. This segmentation provides multiple contact points that work together to prevent racking and maintain precise alignment during ejection, improving reliability without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If clearance is provided between the projection part and pushing member cover, then the pushing member can move freely, but control available to reduce deflection is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepushing member mobilityVSAvoiddeflection control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A guide structure serves as an intermediary that provides geometric constraints to the pushing member during its motion. The guide maintains proper alignment and reduces deflection by providing surface contact that directs the motion path, allowing the pushing member to move freely while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide structure is pre-configured to provide alignment constraints before the ejection action occurs. This preliminary geometric constraint ensures that the pushing member maintains proper alignment throughout its travel, preventing deflection and ensuring precise engagement with the test strip.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If ledges are positioned within the rails, then the strip push members can be guided, but continuous positive contact to limit racking is not provided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguidance of push membersVSAvoidracking prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of positioning ledges within the rails, the invention positions the ledges on the push members themselves, with the rails providing the guiding surfaces. This inversion ensures that the push members maintain continuous positive contact with the rails along their length, providing effective racking prevention while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10352895B2Test strip ejector for medical device

Publication Date: 2019.07.16 ROCHE DIABETES CARE INC

AI summary

A system and method for testing and ejecting a test strip of a fluid testing medical device. The system includes parallel first and second guide rails defining a rail cavity between the guide rails. A sled includes a sled post and opposed first and second side leg sets each having at least one deflectable leg. Each of the deflectable legs is externally slidably engaged to one of the guide rails limiting the sled to only sliding motion in either a loading direction or an opposite ejection direction. An actuator arm is rotatably connected to a mechanism assembly. The sled post is received in an actuator arm slot. Actuator arm rotation in a loading rotational direction displaces the sled in the loading direction in a sliding motion. Subsequent opposite rotation of the actuator arm in an ejection rotational direction displaces the sled in the ejection direction and ejects the test strip.