Tape magazine for a hand-held device

Abstract

The present invention concerns a tape magazine especially for a hand-held device for analysing a body fluid with a test tape that can be unwound from a storage unit and wound onto a waste unit where the waste unit can be driven in order to wind forward the test tape. The invention provides that a lock which keeps the test tape under tension is integrated in the tape magazine at least on the storage unit. The present invention also concerns a hand-held device with such a tape magazine. The present invention also concerns a hand-held device with a mechanical drive for the test tape and a disposable hand-held device with polymer-based electronic components.

1 : Tape magazine apparatus for a hand-held device for analysing a body fluid, the apparatus comprising: 
 a test tape,    a storage unit formed for unused test tape,    a waste unit formed for used test tape and to be driven in order to move forward the test tape from the storage unit, and    an integrated brake that is formed to hold the test tape under tension between the storage and waste units.    
     
     
         2 : The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the brake is formed to apply a force to the storage unit.  
     
     
         3 : The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the brake is formed to exert a direct braking force on the test tape.  
     
     
         4 : The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the brake is formed to act on a reel body for the test tape.  
     
     
         5 : The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the brake is formed to exert a constant braking force on the storage unit.  
     
     
         6 : The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the brake is formed as a frictional element.  
     
     
         7 : The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the brake comprises a leaf spring.  
     
     
         8 : The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the brake is formed by a seal at an opening of the storage unit for the test tape.  
     
     
         9 : The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the brake is formed to act on the storage unit with a variable braking force.  
     
     
         10 : The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein variable braking force depends on the diameter of a tape spool of the storage unit.  
     
     
         11 : The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the variable braking force depends on the tape tensile force upon movement of the test tape.  
     
     
         12 : The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the brake has a lever loaded with a braking force via a spring.  
     
     
         13 : The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the lever has a roller at one end and the test tape is deflected over the roller.  
     
     
         14 : The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the brake has a compensation mechanism that is loaded with a force that changes depending on the diameter of a supply spool of the storage unit.  
     
     
         15 : The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the compensation mechanism is formed by a spring-loaded rocker arm which touches the circumference of the supply spool.  
     
     
         16 : The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the storage unit has a first housing wall and the waste unit has a second housing wall that forms an overlapping area with the first wall, the overlapping area defining an opening formed to carry through the test tape.  
     
     
         17 : The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the integrated brake includes a seal positioned in the opening.  
     
     
         18 : A hand-held device for analysing a body fluid with a replaceable tape magazine according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         19 : A tape magazine apparatus for analysing a body fluid comprising: 
 a test tape,    a reel body for unused test tape and a reel body for used test tape, at least one reel body being driven in order to forward the test tape, and    a hand-operated transport mechanism provided as a tape drive.    
     
     
         20 : The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the transport mechanism has a lever for the hand operation that is coupled to at least one reel body.  
     
     
         21 : The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the transport mechanism has a ratchet that engages in steps or teeth formed in at least one reel body.  
     
     
         22 : The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein a test tape feed is synchronized by a perforation.  
     
     
         23 : The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the transport mechanism is formed to convert mechanical into electrical energy in order to supply energy to a device electronics.  
     
     
         24 : The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the magazine forms a hand-held single-use article.  
     
     
         25 : A hand-held device for analysing a body fluid comprising 
 a tape magazine,    an analytical test tape located in the tape magazine, and    device electronics based upon integrated polymer circuits.    
     
     
         26 : Hand-held device according to  claim 25 , wherein the device electronics comprise a sensor unit, an evaluation unit and a display unit.  
     
     
         27 : Hand-held device according to  claim 25 , wherein the device electronics have a photo-optic detection system.  
     
     
         28 : Hand-held device according to  claim 35 , wherein the device electronics includes LEDs or an electrochemical detection system.  
     
     
         29 : Hand-held device according to  claim 25 , wherein the tape magazine includes a housing and at least a portion of the device electronics is applied to the housing.  
     
     
         30 : Hand-held device according to  claim 29 , wherein at least a portion of the device electronics is printed onto the housing.  
     
     
         31 : Hand-held device according to  claim 25 , wherein the device electronics comprise at least one storage capacitor.  
     
     
         32 : Hand-held device according to  claim 25 , wherein the device electronics comprise at least one storage element.  
     
     
         33 : Hand-held device according to  claim 25 , wherein the device electronics comprise photovoltaic cells.  
     
     
         34 : Hand-held device according to  claim 25 , wherein electrochemical sensor components are mounted on the test tape and are connected to the device electronics at a measuring position.  
     
     
         35 : Hand-held device according to  claim 25 , wherein the tape magazine together with the device electronics forms a disposable unit.  
     
     
         36 : A method of dispensing a test tape for an analysis of body fluid, the method comprising: 
 providing a test magazine including a test tape, a storage unit formed for unused test tape, a waste unit formed for used test tape and to be driven in order to move forward the test tape from the storage unit, and an integrated brake,    applying a brake force with the integrated brake to hold the test tape under tension between the storage and waste units,    actuating the test tape with a tensile force sufficient to move the test tape from the storage unit toward the waste unit.    
     
     
         37 : The method of  claim 36  wherein the brake force is modulating so that the test tape tension remains generally constant during use of the test tape.  
     
     
         38 : The method of  claim 36  wherein the brake force is applied to the storage unit.  
     
     
         39 : The method of  claim 36  wherein brake force is applied directly on the test tape.  
     
     
         40 : The method of  claim 36  wherein the brake force acts on a reel body for the test tape.  
     
     
         41 : The method of  claim 36  wherein the brake is formed as a frictional element.  
     
     
         42 : The method of  claim 36  wherein the brake is a leaf spring.  
     
     
         43 : The method of  claim 36  wherein the brake is formed by a seal at an opening for the test tape.  
     
     
         44 : The method of  claim 36  wherein the brake force is variable and acts on the storage unit.  
     
     
         45 : The method of  claim 44  wherein the brake force depends on the diameter of a tape spool of the storage unit.