Mechanical mechanism for a sensor-dispensing instrument

Abstract

A sensor dispensing instrument adapted to handle a sensor pack containing a plurality of sensors and to perform a test using one of the sensors. The sensor dispensing instrument includes an outer housing and a mechanical mechanism contained therein for rotating the sensor pack and ejecting one of the sensors from the sensor pack and through a sensor slot on the housing. The mechanical mechanism of the sensor dispensing instrument is operated by first moving a disk drive pusher in a first direction to rotate the sensor pack, and then moving the disk drive pusher in a second direction to eject a sensor from the sensor cavity and through the sensor slot.

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       30 . A sensor-dispensing instrument adapted to handle a sensor pack containing a plurality of sensors, the sensor-dispensing instrument further adapted to perform a test using one of the plurality of sensors, the sensor-dispensing instrument comprising: 
 a handle that includes a standby position, testing position, and an extended position;    a circuit board assembly including at least one contact on a bottom surface thereof;    a cover mechanism including at least one finger, the at least one finger being adapted to contact the at least one bottom surface contact of the circuit board assembly; and    a pusher assembly including a ramp contact,    wherein movement of the handle to the extended position causes the ramp contact to move the at least one finger into contact with the at least one bottom surface contact,    wherein movement of the handle to the extended position electronically turns the sensor-dispensing instrument to an ON state.    
   
   
       31 . The instrument of  claim 30  wherein movement of the handle from the standby position to the extended position electronically turns the sensor-dispensing instrument to an ON state.  
   
   
       32 . The instrument of  claim 30  wherein movement of the handle from the testing position to the extended position electronically turns the sensor-dispensing instrument to an ON state.  
   
   
       33 . The instrument of  claim 30  wherein the circuit board assembly includes a plurality of contacts on the bottom surface thereof.  
   
   
       34 . The instrument of  claim 33  wherein the at least one finger is a plurality of fingers, each of the plurality of fingers being adapted to contact a respective one of the plurality of bottom surface contacts of the circuit board assembly.  
   
   
       35 . The instrument of  claim 30  wherein the number of the at least one finger and the number of the at least one bottom surface contact are the same.  
   
   
       36 . The instrument of  claim 30  wherein the at least one finger is a plurality of fingers.  
   
   
       37 . The instrument of  claim 30  wherein the sensor-dispensing instrument is a blood glucose meter.  
   
   
       38 . A method of using a sensor-dispensing instrument, the sensor-dispensing instrument adapted to handle a sensor pack containing a plurality of sensors, the sensor-dispensing instrument further adapted to perform a test using one of the plurality of sensors, the method comprising the acts of: 
 providing a sensor-dispensing instrument comprising a handle, a circuit board assembly, a cover mechanism and a pusher assembly, the handle including a standby position, testing position, and an extended position, the circuit board assembly including at least one contact on a bottom surface thereof, the cover mechanism including at least one finger, the pusher assembly including a ramp contact; and    moving the handle to the extended position such that the ramp contact moves the at least one finger into contact with the at least one bottom surface contact,    wherein movement of the handle to the extended position electronically turns the sensor-dispensing instrument to an ON state.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein movement of the handle from the standby position to the extended position electronically turns the sensor-dispensing instrument to an ON state.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein movement of the handle from the testing position to the extended position electronically turns the sensor-dispensing instrument to an ON state.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the circuit board assembly includes a plurality of contacts on the bottom surface thereof.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the at least one finger is a plurality of fingers, each of the plurality of fingers being adapted to contact a respective one of the plurality of bottom surface contacts of the circuit board assembly.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the number of the at least one finger and the number of the at least one bottom surface contact are the same.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the at least one finger is a plurality of fingers.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the sensor-dispensing instrument is a blood glucose meter.