Patent ID: 7946171
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: A61B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An analysis device for analyzing a medically significant component of a sample, comprising a housing having an interior and having a measuring unit and a processor each provided in the interior, the measuring unit being configured to perform an analysis on the sample, the processor comprising software configured for processing measured values ascertained by the measuring unit and for preparing data from the measured values, wherein the housing comprises: at least first, second and third housing parts which integrally define the housing when the housing parts are mated altogether, the first and second housing parts generally defining the interior of the housing when mated together in a generally mated orientation either with or without the third housing part, the first and second housing parts capable of being unmated without damage when mated together without the third housing part, the third housing part comprising a lock element configured for locking the first and second housing parts of the housing in the generally mated orientation by producing a generally fixed mechanical connection between the first and second housing parts which connection is irreversible without damage to at least one of the first, second and third housing parts, the lock element comprising a plurality of catch hooks each configured for insertion into corresponding receptacle openings, each opening being either finitely provided in one or both of the first and second housing parts or cooperatively defined by the first and second housing parts being in the generally mated orientation, wherein the housing has an externally integrated structure when the first, second and third housing parts are mated altogether such that the locking function of the lock element is not generally apparent to a user of the analysis device and each of the first, second and third housing parts define at least a portion of the externally integrated structure; wherein the analysis device is generally functional for its basic purpose when the first and second housing parts are in a generally mated orientation without the third housing part, such that during manufacture of the analysis device at least one functionality check may be performed on the analysis device being assembled except for the lock element of the third housing part and any of flaws and errors that are presented from said at least one functionality check may be corrected or repaired without damage to any housing parts from unmating the first and second housing parts in order to perform the correction or repair.