Test sensor cartridges and sensor-dispensing instruments

1. A sensor-dispensing instrument comprising:

a cartridge including a cartridge housing, a plurality of test sensors, a mechanical mechanism and a pusher assembly, the cartridge housing forming at least one cartridge opening therethrough, the plurality of test sensors being stacked in the cartridge housing, the plurality of test sensors being adapted to assist in testing at least one analyte, the mechanical mechanism being adapted to urge the plurality of test sensors in a first direction, one of the plurality of test sensors being positioned for extraction from the cartridge, the pusher assembly being adapted to push one of the plurality of test sensors from the cartridge, the pusher assembly including a ferromagnetic material or a magnet;

an instrument housing forming a dispensing outlet and being adapted to receive the cartridge;

a lid being moveable between a closed position and an open position such that the lid seals at least one of the dispensing outlet and the cartridge opening in the closed position; and

a slider comprising a ferromagnetic material or a magnet, the slider being adapted to be magnetically coupled to the pusher assembly of the cartridge, the slider being adapted to slide from a first position to a second position,

wherein during the movement of the slider from the first position to the second position, the pusher assembly contacts one of the plurality of test sensors and pushes it at least partially through the dispensing opening,

wherein at least one of the pusher assembly or the slider comprises a magnet.

2. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors is electrochemical sensors.

3. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors is optical sensors.

4. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the pusher assembly and the slider include a magnet.

5. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the pusher assembly comprises a ferromagnetic material and the slider comprises a magnet.

6. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the pusher assembly comprises a magnet and the slider comprises a ferromagnetic material.

7. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the lid is moved between an open position and a closed position via a hinge.

8. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 7 , wherein during the movement of the slider from the first position to the second position, the slider contacts the lid and moves the lid from a closed position to an open position.

9. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the lid is adapted to slide between an open position and a closed position.

10. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 9 , wherein the lid is adapted to manually slide between the open position and the closed position.

11. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 9 , wherein the lid is adapted to automatically slide between the open position and the closed position.

12. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a seal located generally around the periphery of the dispensing opening.

13. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a first end and a second end, the lid being moveable between a closed position and an open position via a hinge located near the first end such that the lid seals the opening in the closed position, the lid including a projection located near the second end, the projection extending generally downwardly into an interior of the cartridge.

14. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 13 , wherein the projection forms at least one detent to assist in further sealing the cartridge.

15. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the lid seals the dispensing outlet in the closed position.

16. The sensor-dispensing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the lid seals the cartridge opening in the closed position.