Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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MEASUREMENT ARRANGEMENT FOR MI~LTIPLE ZONE REMOVABLE
SENSORS INCLUDING AN EJE(~ION SYSTEM FOR SUCH SENSORS
The present invention concerns a measurement arrangement
intended to be associated with a removable sensor including a
plurality of single use active zones. Such a sensor is hereinafter
designated as "multiple zone sensor".
BACKGROUND OF THE INVlENTION
On figures 1 and 2 is shown an electrochemical measurement
arrangement such as described in the patent application FR 92
01331.
On figure 1 is shown partially and in perspective an exploded
view of a multiple zone sensor including an insulating substrate 2
on the surface of which are provided two conductors 4 and 6 serv-
ing to conduct an electrical measurement current. On such
conductors 4 and 6 is provided a coating 8 likewise insulating.
~ oating 8 includes a first series of openings 1 Oa, 1 Ob, 1 0c at
least partially superposed onto the first conductor 4 and a second
series of openings 12a, 12b, 12c at least partially superposed onto
the second conductor 6. At one end 13 of coating 8 is provided at
least one opening 14 serving to disengage an electrical contact area
over each of the two conductors 4 and 6.
It will be noted that conductors 4 and 6 are electrically
insulated from one another and that the first series of openings 10a,
1 Ob, 1 0c is not superposed onto the second conductor 6. Likewise,
the second series of openings 12a, 12b, 12c is not superposed onto
the first conductor 4. Each pair of corresponding openings respect-
ively 10a, 12a, 10b, 12b, 10c and 12c defines an active zone of the
multiple zone removable sensor. The electrochemical operation of
such a multiple zone sensor is substantially identical to that of a
single zone sensor such as described, for' example, in the patent
application WO 92/14836.
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The substance to be analyzed, for example blood, in a possible
application for the measurement of the proportion of glucose
therein is brought into one of the active zones of the multiple zone
sensor. To effect a valid electrochemical measurement, it is necess-
ary that one only of the active zones of the multiple zone sensor be
covered by the substance to be analyzed, the remaining active
zones having necessarily to be unused.
On figure 2 is shown an electrochemical measurement
arrangement designated by the general reference 20 intended to
receive a multiple zone removable sensor 28 of the type of that
described on figure 1.
The electrochemical measurement arrangement 20 includes a
casing 22 in the interior of which is provided electronic
measurement means 24. Additionally, such electrochemical meas~
urement arrangement 20 comprises an advancing mechanism 26
serving to displace the multiple zone sensor 28 introduced into the
interior of casing 22.
Following utilization of an active zone in order to effect an
electrochemical measurement and in order to cut the multiple zone
sensor so as to separate the portion of such sensor including such
used active zone from the remainder of the sensor, there is
provided a cutting arrangement 30.
Such cutting arrangement 30 comprises a push-piece 32 and a
blade 34 fixed to such push-piece 32. The cutting arrangement 30
is arranged in a manner such that the push-piece 32 is adapted to
effect a travel along a direction transversal to the multiple zone
sensor 28 which is sufficiently long to permit blade 34 to traverse
entirely such multiple zone sensor 28. The advancing arrangement
26 includes an exterior push-piece 38 fixed to a movable carriage
40 to which the multiple zone sensor 28 is removably attached.
Movable carriage 40 is adapted to slide along a guide rail 42. Push-
piece 38 is coupled to movable carriage 40 by means of an
intermediate part 44 sliding in a rectilinear opening 46 provided in
casing 22.
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The measurement arrangement 20 shown on figure 2,
although of simple and little burdensome design, exhibits a major
drawback. Effectively, if a user brings the advancing arrangement
26 and the multiple zone removable sensor 28 connected to this
latter into a terminal position, that is to say, in a position where the
movable carriage 40 is located as close as possible to the cutting
arrangement 30 and thereafter such user actuates such cutting
device 30 to cut off the multiple zone removable sensor 28, the
terminal portion 48 of such multiple zone sensor 28 remains in the
interior of casing 22 of the measurement arrangement 20 and it is
no longer possible to extract such terminal portion 48 from casing
22.
A purpose of the present invention is to overcome the draw-
back mentioned hereinbefore in proposing a measurement arrange-
ment enabling bringing out entirely the multiple zone removable
sensor with which it is associated and, in particular, bringing out
the terminal portion of such multiple zone removable sensor in the
case where all the active zones have been separated from such
terminal portion by means of a cutting arrangement.
Another purpose of the invention is to provide such a meas-
urement arrangement enabling bringing out entirely the multiple
zone removable sensor from the casing of such measurement
arrangement without requiring the user to grasp it manually.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Such purposes are attained thanks to the measurement
arrangement according to the invention which include a casing and
a movable connector located in the interior of such casing, such
latter including an orifice for the introduction of a multiple zone
removable sensor intended for such measurement arrangement.
The movable connector and a terminal portion of the multiple zone
removable sensor include respectively complementary securing
means for detachably uniting such movable connector to such
multiple zone removable sensor. Additionally, such measurement
arrangement comprises advancing means for displacing the
multiple zone rerrlovable sensor and the movable connector. Such
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measurement arrangement is characterized in that it also comprises
ejection means serving to eject the terminal portion of the multiple
zone removable sensor out of the casing of such measurement
arrangement.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the
terminal portion of the multiple zone removable sensor is ejected
from the casing by ejection means during a final advancement of
such multiple zone removable sensor effected by the advancing
means provided in such measurement arrangement.
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According to other specific characteristics of the invention, the
ejection means comprise stopping means for stopping the advance
of the movable connector and propelling means serving to propel
the terminal portion of the multiple zone removable sensor out of
the casing of such measurement arrangement.
According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the
propelling means are formed by a first elastic blade or flat spring
secured to the casing and comprising a bent back free end, such
latter serving to exert a propelling force onto a bevelled lateral face
of the multiple zone removable sensor when such bevelled lateral
face is located opposite such free end, said bevelled lateral face
being located between a lateral rear face and a lateral longitudinal
face of such multiple zone removable sensor.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be
described hereinafter with the help of the ~ollowing description
made with reference to the attached drawings given by way of non-
limiting example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
- Figure 1, already described, shows in perspective, an
exploded view of a multiple zone removable sensor;
- figure 2, already described, shows schematically a
measurement arrangement associated with the multiple zone
removable sensor shown on figure 1;
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- figure 3 is a schematic view, partially broken away, of
an embodiment of a measurement arrangement according to the
invention;
- figure 4 is a partially enlarged view of figure 3, but
showing the multiple zone removable sensor associated with such
measurement arrangement in a final measurement position;
- figure S is a cross-section along line V-V of figure 4; : ~
- figure 6 is a partially enlarged view of figure 3, but : -
show-ing the multiple zone removable sensor in an ejection phase
from the casing of the measurement arrangement; :~
- figure 7 is a cross-section view along line VII-VII of ~ :~
figure6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With the help of figures 3 to 7, there will hereinafter be des- ~:
cribed an embodiment of a measurement arrangement according to
the invention.
On figure 3 is shown a measurement arrangement 102
including a casing 104 the upper portion of which has been
partially removed. The measurement arrangement 102 is intended
to be associated with a multiple zone removable sensor 108. In
order to permit displacement of the multiple zone removable sensor
108 introduced into the interior of casing 104, there is provided in
such casing 104 an advancing system including a movable
abutment l 10 associated with an elastic blade or flat spring 112
and a stationary abutment 114 fixed to casing 104.
The movable abutment 1 10 includes two oblong openings 116
and l 18 in which are respectively placed two nipples 120 and 122
projecting from a movable bar 124 guided in a slide way 126. Bar
124 is fixedly coupled to a push-piece (not shown) enabling displac-
ement of the movable abutment 110 from its rest position, in which
it is shown on figure 3, in the direction of orifice 128 serving for the
introduction of the multiple zone removable sensor 108 into the
interior of casing 104.
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There is also provided a return spring 130 coupled at one end
to bar 124 and at the other end to casing 104. Such return spring
130 enables bringing back the movable abutment 110 into its rest
position when it has been displaced by a user in order to bring
about advancement of the multiple zone removable sensor 108 in
the interior of casing 104.
The advancing arrangement is associated with advancement
catches 132 arranged along the multiple zone removable sensor
108. The movable abutment 110 is arranged so that its end 134
fits into one of the advancement catches 132 when the movable
abutment is actuated by a user by means of said push-piece .
There is also provided within casing 104 a positioning spring
138 constituted by an elastic blade or flat spring including at a free
end a hook 142 cooperating with positioning notches 140 provided
along the multiple zone removable sensor 108. Positioning spring
138 associated with the positioning notches defines a plurality of
different measurement positions of the multiple zone removable
sensor 108 relative to casing 104.
It will be noted that the positioning notches 140 are arranged
at substantially regular intervals along the multiple zone removable
sensor 108. Likewise, the advancement catches 132 are arranged
along such multiple zone removable sensor 108 at regular intervals
identical to the regular intervals provided between the positioning
notches 140.
The position of the positioning notches 140 relative to the
advancement catches 132 is determined as a function of the
position of hook 142 of the positioning spring 138, which assures
maintenance of the multiple zone removable sensor 108 in any
measurement position whatsoever, and of the fixed abutment 114
which determines the rest position of the movable abutment 110.
In the case in which the multiple zone removable sensor 108
includes single use active zones 144, it is necessary to cut such
multiple zone removable sensor 108 following each measurement in
order to separate the active zone used for such measurement from
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the other unused active zones. In order to effect this, there is
provided a blade 148 arranged in the cover 106 of the
measurement arrangement 102, such blade 148 undergoing a
rotational motion fixed to that of cover 106. Thus, it is provided
that a user actuates cover 106 in order to cut off the multiple zone
sensor 108 between two consecutive measurements.
The multiple zone sensor 108 is electrically connected to elec-
tronic measurement means (not shown) fixed to casing 104 with the
help of a movable connector 150 comprising a movable carriage
151 guided in a slideway 153 provided within casing 104. Movable
connector 150 further comprises two first electrical contact
elements 152 and 154 serving respectively to establish two
electrical contacts with two respective electrical contact areas 160
and 162 provided on a terminal portion 161 of the multiple zone
removable sensor 108. The movable connector 150 also includes
two second electrical contact elements 164 and 166 collpled electr-
ically and respectively to the first two electrical contact elements
152 and 154.
The two second electrical contact elements 164 and 166 are
constituted for example by two elastic metallic blades arranged in a
manner such that they respectively exert pressure on two fixed
collectors 172 and 174 provided within casing 104. Such two fixed
collectors 172 and 174, constituted in this embodiment by two
continuous metallized tracks, form two sliding electrical contacts in
association with the two respective second electrical contact elem-
ents 164 and 166, thus assuring a reliable electrical connection
between the movable connector 150 coupled electrically to the mul-
tiple zone removable sensor 108 and an electronic measurement
circuit, not shown.
The electrical contacts between the first two electrical contact
elements 152 and 154 and the two respective electrical contact
areas 160 and 162 of the multiple zone removable sensor 108 are
formed by the free ends of the first two electrical contact elements
152 and 154, such free ends being bent back. Accordingly, the
introduction of the multiple zone removable sensor 108 into the
interior casing 104 and its securing to movable connector 150 are
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brought about without damaging the first two electrical contact
elements 1 S2 and 154. Likewise, the arrangement of the electrical
contacts between the movable connector 150 and the multiple zone
removable sensor 108 enable withdrawing this latter from the
measurement arrangement and in particular from the movable
connector 150 without special manipulation of the electrical
contacts other than the application of a force serving to free the
first two electrical contact elements 152 and 154 from the
corresponding electrical contact areas 160 and 162.
In order to detachably secure the multiple zone removable
sensor 108 to the movable connector 150, there is provided a hook
178 associated with an opening 180 provided in the terminal
portion 161 of the multiple ~one removable sensor 108, hook 178
being formed by a bent-back free end of a metallic blade or flat
spring secured to carriage 151.
The arrangement of carriage 151 and slideway 153, in which
it is adapted to slide, is provided in a manner such that hook 178
may undergo a displacement perpendicular to the general plane of
the multiple zone removable sensor 108 as defined by its lower
surface 182.
It will be further noted that the movable carriage 151
includes two guide rails 183 and 184 which cooperate with the slide
way 153 in order to guide the movable carriage 151 within casing
104.
The rneasurement arrangement according to the invention
includes ejection means for the terminal portion 161 of the multiple
zone removable sensor 108. The ejection of such terminal portion
161 b y the e~jection means is brought about during a final advance
of the multiple zone removable sensor 108 effected by the advanc-
ing means described hereinbefore.
The above-mentioned ejection means include initially the
advancement catch 190 provided on a lateral side of carriage 151
situated on the side of the movable abutment 110 relative to such
movable carriage 151. Such advancement catch 190 has as function
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to enable a unitary motion of the movable abutment 110 and the
movable carriage 151 at a time of a final advance of such movable
carriage 151. Thus, during such final advance, the advancing means
are coupled to the movable carriage 151 and not to the multiple
zone removable sensor.
The multiple zone removable sensor 108 includes in its term-
inal portion 161 a bevelled lateral face 192 located between the
rear face 194 and the lateral longitudinal face 196 of such multiple
zone removable sensor 108.
On figures 4 and 5, the movable connector 150 united to the
terminal portion 161 of the multiple zone removable sensor 108 is
shown in a final measurement position, that is to say, in a position
provided for the use of the last active zone 144 shown on figure 4.
In such final measurement position, the movable abutment 110 is
located in its rest position, the end 134 of such movable abutment
being located opposite the advancement notch 190 provided on the
lateral face mentioned above of the movable carriage 151.
In the abovementioned final measurement position, a hook
178 serving to hold the multiple zone removable sensor 108 to the
movable carriage 151 is inserted into the opening 180 provided in
the terminal portion 161 of sensor 108 as in every other
measurement position.
In order to eject the terminal portion 161 of sensor 108
outside of casing 104 of the measurement arrangement 102, mov-
able abutment 110 is placed in operation by a user. When such
user actuates the push-piece previously mentioned, the movable
abutment 110 associated with the elastic blade 1 12 undergoes a
rotation so that the end 134 of such movable abutment 110 is
brought to fit into the advancement catch 190 of the movable
carriage 151. Next, the user, in continuing to actuate the
advancement system, brings about a displacement of the movable
carriage 151 united to the multiple zone removable sensor 108
until these latter are found in the position shown on figures 6 and 7
in which the movable carriage 151 is shown in its terminal position
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and the terminal portion 161 of the sensor 108 is shown in the
ejection phase out of casing 104 of the latter.
During the ejection phase, hoo~ 142 of the positioning spring
138 constituted by an elastic blade the free end of which is bent
back, bears against the bevelled lateral face 192 of the terminal
portion 161 of sensor 108. The arrangement of the positioning
spring 138, in particular its hook 142, and the bevelled lateral face
192 of sensor 108 enable such positioning spring 138 to exert a
propulsion force on the terminal portion 161 of sensor 108.
Together therewith, as shown on figure 7, the movable carriage 151
is stopped by an oblique abutment 198 fixed to the casing 104
located at the end of travel of such movable carriage 151.
The oblique abutment 198 is arranged in a manner such that
hook 178 serving for the securing of the multiple zone removable
sensor 108 to the movable connector 150 is disengaged from the
corresponding opening 180 provided in the terminal portion 161 of
such sensor 108 thanks to an advancing force exerted by the user
of the measurement arrangement according to the invention during
the final advancement here described. It will be noted that hook
178 is connected to an elastic blade 200 secured to the movable
carriage 151.
The oblique abutment 198 thus stops the movable carriage
lS I and consequently the movable connector 150 in order to
permit the positioning spring 138, here used as propulsion means
for the terminal portion 161 of sensor 108, to overcome the
frictional forces resulting from the pressure exerted by the first two
electrical contact elements 152 and 154 of the movable connector
150 on the corresponding electrical contact areas 160 and 162 of
sensor 108.
Thus, during a final advancement effected by a user, sensor
108 is freed from the movable connector 150 by means of the
oblique abutment 198 and is thereafter ejected out of casing 104 by
the positioning spring 138 associated with the bevelled lateral face
192 of the terminal portion 161 of the removable sensor 108.
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With the help of the single push-piece serving for advancing
the multiple zone removable sensor 108 in order to effect various
consecutive measurements, a user can eject the terminal portion
161 of such sensor 108. Accordingly, it is possible to cut off the
multiple zone removable sensor 108 after each measurement
effected with the help of such sensor 108 and finally to eject the
terminal portion 161 of the sensor 108, no longer including any
active zones, out of casing 104 in a manner to be able thereafter to
introduce a new removable sensor in order to effect other
measurements with the help of the measurement arrangement 2
according to the invention.
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