Test Strip Ejector Sled Guide Rail Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing test strip ejection systems in medical devices often cause damage to electrical contacts due to interference or sliding contact during insertion and can result in racking or rotation of the test strip, leading to misalignment and inefficient ejection.
Innovation Solution
A test strip ejector system with guide rails and divider walls that retain a sled in continuous sliding contact, using a mechanism assembly to position the sled for loading and ejection, ensuring direct contact with the test strip and minimizing racking through a biasing member for automatic return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pushing member with projection part is used to eject the test strip, then the test strip can be ejected from the device, but the projection part may rack or rotate the test strip causing misalignment and binding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guide rails that constrain the pushing member's motion to a precise linear path, adding dimensional control (restricting movement to one dimension) to prevent racking and rotation of the test strip during ejection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sled as an intermediary component between the pushing member and the test strip. The sled travels along guide rails and directly contacts the test strip, mediating the ejection force to prevent misalignment while the pushing member remains constrained by the guide rails
2Speed
If a braking system is added to slow down the sensor exit speed, then the ejection velocity can be controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rails provide self-service by inherently controlling the pushing member's motion path and velocity through their geometric design, eliminating the need for separate braking mechanisms to control ejection speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the dynamic interaction between the pushing member constrained by guide rails and the sled to naturally control ejection velocity, allowing the system to self-regulate speed through mechanical constraints rather than active braking control
3Ease of operation
If the electrical contacts of the test strip are contacted during insertion, then the strip can be loaded into the device, but the electrical contacts or meter contacts can be damaged or misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The sled acts as an intermediary that contacts the test strip during insertion and ejection, preventing direct contact between the user's insertion motion and the electrical contacts, thereby protecting the contacts from damage or misalignment
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rails provide beforehand cushioning by constraining the pushing member's motion path prior to contact with the test strip, preventing any lateral or rotational forces that could misalign the electrical contacts during the loading process
Data Source
AI summary
A system for receiving and ejecting a fluid testing device test strip includes a strip connector having first and second guide rails, and divider walls each having a channel. A sled has first and second legs connected to a cross member. Each leg has a contact leg extending inwardly from a chamfered end. The first and second legs when positioned parallel to the guide rails have the contact leg captured in the divider wall channels retaining the sled in sliding contact with the guide rails for motions in loading and ejection directions. A mechanism assembly is movably connected to the fluid testing device. The cross member is coupled so operation in a first direction displaces the sled in the loading direction positioning the sled in a test strip test position, and opposite operation positions the contact legs in direct contact with and ejects the test strip.