Test media cassette for bodily fluid testing device
View Patent ↗A bodily fluid sampling device includes a piercing device and a sensor enclosed in a housing. A cassette, which contains test media, is positioned proximal to the sensor so that the sensor is able to analyze a bodily fluid sample collected on the test media. The cassette includes a supply portion from which unused test media is supplied and a storage portion in which contaminated test media is stored after exposure to the bodily fluid. The cassette is adapted to collect a series of bodily fluid samples without requiring disposal of the test media.
1. A cassette, comprising:
a test tape having a plurality of test sections to test a plurality of body fluid samples;
a cover protecting the test tape prior to use, wherein the cover is a layer over the test tape; and
an exposure device configured to permit access to a test section of the test tape covered by the cover.
2. The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the exposure device includes a cover reel configured to wind the cover therearound to peel the cover from the test tape.
3. The cassette of claim 2 , further comprising:
a supply reel comprising the test tape prior to use; and
a take-up reel comprising the test tape after use.
4. The cassette of claim 1 , wherein:
the cover includes a plurality of blister packs covering the test sections; and
the exposure device includes a cutting device configured to pierce the blister packs to expose the test sections.
5. The cassette of claim 1 , wherein:
the cover includes a seal membrane; and
the exposure device includes a piercing device configured to pierce the seal membrane.
6. The cassette of claim 3 , further comprising:
an outer cover including
an unexposed media supply portion, wherein the supply reel is located inside the unexposed media supply portion,
an exposed media storage portion, wherein the take-up reel is located inside the exposed media storage portion, and
a testing portion located between the unexposed media supply portion and the exposed media storage portion.
7. The cassette of claim 3 , further comprising a peel tab configured to peel the cover from the test tape.
8. The cassette of claim 7 , further comprising guides configured to guide the test tape between the supply reel and the take-up reel.
9. The cassette of claim 3 , wherein:
the supply reel has a supply gear;
the cover reel has a cover gear; and
the supply gear and the cover gear are intermeshed to synchronize rotation of the supply reel and the cover reel.
10. The cassette of claim 1 , further comprising:
a supply reel comprising the test tape prior to use; and
a take-up reel comprising the test tape after use.
11. The cassette of claim 10 , further comprising:
an outer cover including
an unexposed media supply portion, wherein the supply reel is located inside the unexposed media supply portion,
an exposed media storage portion, wherein the take-up reel is located inside the exposed media storage portion, and
a testing portion located between the unexposed media supply portion and the exposed media storage portion.
12. The cassette of claim 4 , wherein the test tape has a piercing device hole between adjacent test sections.
13. The cassette of claim 4 , wherein the blister pack is a plastic film.
14. The cassette of claim 4 , wherein the test sections include test media that is semitransparent or transparent to allow optical analysis of the body fluid samples.
15. The cassette of claim 5 , wherein each of the test sections has a vacuum passageway and a test pad positioned between the seal membrane and the vacuum passageway.
16. A cassette, comprising:
a test tape having a plurality of test sections to test a plurality of body fluid samples;
a cover configured to protect the test tape prior to use; and
an exposure device configured to permit access to a test section of the test tape covered by the cover, wherein the exposure device includes a cover reel configured to wind the cover therearound to peel the cover from the test tape.
17. The cassette of claim 16 , further comprising:
a supply reel comprising the test tape prior to use; and
a take-up reel comprising the test tape after use.
18. The cassette of claim 17 , further comprising:
an outer cover including
an unexposed media supply portion, wherein the supply reel is located inside the unexposed media supply portion,
an exposed media storage portion, wherein the take-up reel is located inside the exposed media storage portion, and
a testing portion located between the unexposed media supply portion and the exposed media storage portion.
19. The cassette of claim 17 , wherein:
the supply reel has a supply gear;
the cover reel has a cover gear; and
the supply gear and the cover gear are intermeshed to synchronize rotation of the supply reel and the cover reel.
20. The cassette of claim 17 , further comprising guides configured to guide the test tape between the supply reel and the take-up reel.
21. The cassette of claim 16 , further comprising a peel tab configured to peel the cover from the test tape.
22. A cassette, comprising:
a test tape having a plurality of test sections to test a plurality of body fluid samples;
a cover configured to protect the test tape prior to use, wherein the cover includes a plurality of blister packs for covering the test sections; and
an exposure device configured to permit access to a test section of the test tape covered by the cover, wherein the exposure device includes a cutting device configured to pierce the blister packs to expose the test sections.
23. The cassette of claim 22 , further comprising:
a supply reel comprising the test tape prior to use; and
a take-up reel comprising the test tape after use.
24. The cassette of claim 23 , further comprising:
an outer cover including
an unexposed media supply portion, wherein the supply reel is located inside the unexposed media supply portion,
an exposed media storage portion, wherein the take-up reel is located inside the exposed media storage portion, and
a testing portion located between the unexposed media supply portion and the exposed media storage portion.
25. The cassette of claim 22 , wherein the test tape has a piercing device hole between adjacent test sections.
26. The cassette of claim 22 , wherein the blister pack is a plastic film.
27. The cassette of claim 22 , wherein the test sections include test media that is semitransparent or transparent to allow optical analysis of the body fluid samples.
28. A cassette, comprising:
a test tape having a plurality of test sections to test a plurality of body fluid samples;
a cover configured to protect the test tape prior to use, wherein the cover includes a seal membrane; and
an exposure device configured to permit access to a test section of the test tape covered by the cover, wherein the exposure device includes a piercing device configured to pierce the seal membrane.
29. The cassette of claim 28 , wherein each of the test sections has a vacuum passageway and a test pad positioned between the seal membrane and the vacuum passageway.