Abstract:
A substantially moisture-proof, airtight dispenser for both storing and dispensing several flattened articles such as diagnostic test strips. The inventive dispenser includes a novel pivotable housing that a user need merely grab and squeeze to eject a test strip. Independent movement of the user&#39;s fingers to push a button or turn a knob is unnecessary to dispense a strip, which makes the present invention well suited for diabetics suffering from nerve damage in their extremities and other complications resulting from the disease. The invention includes a novel flexible arm member and pusher head that engage and push an article from the dispenser as the two parts of the housing are pivoted together. The articles are dispensed through an exit that is configured with a novel flexible seal that maintains the dispenser substantially airtight. Several inventive seal embodiments and methods of making the same are disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to dispensers and more particularly to dispensers for flattened articles such as test strips. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Test strips or biosensors for measuring the presence or concentrations of selected analytes in test samples are well known. Typically, several of the test strips are packaged and stored in a disposable vial having a lid that snaps off or unscrews to open. Desiccant material is normally packaged within the vial to maintain the test strips dry. To conduct a test, the user must open the vial and remove a test strip. The strip is then typically inserted into a meter and a fluid sample (normally whole blood) is deposited onto it. The meter then measures the concentration of analyte using photometric or electrochemical methods. When the test is finished, the strip is removed from the meter and discarded. 
     Test strips are used by diabetics to measure the level of glucose in their blood, which for most diabetics needs to be done three to four times per day, sometimes more frequently. Unfortunately, many diabetics develop complications from having the disease, such as impaired vision, loss of hand-eye coordination, and loss of sensitivity and dexterity of the fingers and toes. These complications of the disease can make opening a test strip vial, extracting a single test strip and manipulating the test strip quite difficult. 
     Equally undesirably, opening a conventional vial of test strips exposes the strips to moisture in the atmosphere and causes the reagents contained in them to degrade much more quickly than if the vial remained sealed. This exposure significantly reduces shelf life. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a substantially moisture-proof, airtight dispenser for both storing and dispensing several diagnostic test strips. The inventive dispenser need merely be grabbed by the user and squeezed, thereby ejecting a test strip. Independent movement of the user&#39;s fingers to push a button or turn a knob is unnecessary to dispense a strip, which makes the present invention well suited for diabetics suffering from nerve damage in their extremities and other complications resulting from the disease. 
     In one form thereof, the present invention provides a dispenser for flattened articles. The dispenser includes a housing pivotably connected to a trigger. The housing carries a stack of the articles and the trigger includes an actuation member that engages the uppermost article from the stack and pushes it at least partially out of the dispenser as the trigger and the housing are pivoted together. Either the housing or the trigger defines a receptacle and the other at least partially nests within the receptacle as the housing and the trigger are pivoted together. 
     In a preferred form, the articles are test strips and the trigger defines the receptacle, such that the housing nests within the trigger as the dispenser is squeezed and a strip is dispensed. The actuation member comprises a novel flexible arm member that flexes upon pivoting movement of the trigger relative to the housing. A pusher head coupled to the arm member is positioned over the stack of articles, and when the trigger and housing are pivoted together, the pusher head is forced downward to frictionally engage the top surface of the uppermost test strip and push it from the dispenser. A spring member biases the trigger and housing apart, so that when the user releases the dispenser after dispensing a strip, it returns to its original or “home” position. 
     In a further preferred form, the housing and trigger are pivotably connected at bottom portions thereof, such that the nesting occurs mostly at the top of the dispenser. In this configuration, the trigger includes an arcuate inner wall at the top of the dispenser and the housing has a corresponding arcuate outer wall. This allows the housing to nest within the trigger as the two parts are pivoted together. While these two arcuate walls may define somewhat different radii, they at least approximate concentric segments when the trigger and the main housing are pivoted together. 
     In another preferred form, the inventive dispenser includes a “passive lock” which locks the housing and trigger in the home position and prevents accidental dispensing. The force required to overcome the passive lock is of course greater than the biasing force of the spring, but it is not so great that it prevents the user from squeezing the dispenser and ejecting a test strip. 
     In another form, the present invention provides a method for forming a substantially airtight seal for a dispenser. In this novel method, a housing is provided which has an opening through which flattened articles are dispensed. A flexible seal is formed, in preferred embodiments by injection molding, with two resilient members having a gap therebetween. After initially forming the seal, it is reconfigured such that the two resilient members are contacting one another and are biased together. The flexible seal is then installed in the opening of the housing. 
     One advantage of the inventive dispenser is that the diabetic need merely grab it and squeeze it to eject a test strip. The dispenser fits conveniently into the palm of the user and the user-actuable parts that dispense a strip are preferably as large as the dispenser itself. Thus, dispensing a strip with the present invention requires a squeezing action in which all of the fingers essentially work together, thereby avoiding the need for nimble fingers. This is especially advantageous to diabetics who have lost finger sensation and dexterity and thus have trouble manipulating the small dials, caps and sliders present in traditional dispensers. 
     An additional advantage of the present invention is that the diabetic can place the dispenser on a flat surface while squeezing the trigger to eject a test strip. That is, the configuration of the dispenser enables the user to leverage the dispenser against the flat surface while squeezing it, thus reducing the amount of force required to dispense a test strip. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it maintains the test strips in a substantially moisture-proof environment. Similarly, unlike traditional vials, the present invention prevents the user from touching and thus contaminating the strips before they are used. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is that the test strips are dispensed one at a time and presented in the same manner each time a test strip is dispensed. Unlike traditional vials, the present invention avoids the need for the user to pick a strip out of the vial. This is especially advantageous to diabetics who have trouble manipulating the small test strips and vials provided in traditional dispensers. Thus, the overall testing time for users is reduced because the user can quickly remove a test strip after dispensing. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it uses mostly plastic parts such that it can be mass-produced cost-effectively. The dispenser can therefore be manufactured and sold as a disposable item. 
     Still another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a substantially airtight seal through which the strips are dispensed. The seal is improved by inverting it or turning it inside out after manufacturing. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the substantially airtight seal just noted is “self closing.” That is, after a test strip is dispensed through the seal, the resilient members of the seal return to their original positions in which they are biased together. Advantageously, this avoids the problem of users forgetting to close the dispenser, as often happens with traditional vials. 
     Yet another advantage of certain embodiments of the present invention is that the dispenser can hold the test strip in a position in which the meter insertion end is extended from the dispenser while the user inserts the extended end of the strip into a meter. Thus, the user does not need to touch the test strip to insert it into a test meter, which avoids the user touching and thus contaminating the strips before they are used. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other advantages of the present invention, and the manner of obtaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of an article dispenser in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the home and dispensed positions of the dispenser; 
         FIGS. 1   a  and  2   a  are perspective views of an alternate embodiment of an article dispenser in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the home and dispensed positions of the dispenser; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view in partial cross section of the dispenser shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , illustrating the interior components of the dispenser; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are an enlarged fragmentary perspective view and a sectional view, respectively, of a seal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a dispenser body or cassette in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7   a - 7   d  are side sectional views that illustrate the movement of the dispenser of an embodiment of the present invention from the home position to the dispense position and then back; 
         FIG. 8   a  is an exploded perspective view with portions broken away of the dispenser of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 8   b  is an enlarged fragmentary view of a locking mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8   c  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the connection of a flexible arm member to a trigger; 
         FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  are enlarged fragmentary perspective views illustrating a lip seal cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  are enlarged fragmentary perspective views in partial cross section illustrating a platform and a lip seal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  are enlarged fragmentary perspective views in partial cross section illustrating a lip seal and a reconfigured lip seal, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  are enlarged fragmentary perspective views in partial cross section illustrating a lip seal and a reconfigured lip seal, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating a cap in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view in partial cross section illustrating a cap and an exit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 15   a - 15   c  are enlarged fragmentary perspective views in partial cross section illustrating a flexible seal, a reconfigured flexible seal, and a reconfigured flexible seal with an article exiting the seal, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a side sectional view illustrating the movement of the dispenser of an embodiment of the present invention from the home position to an optional detent position; and 
         FIGS. 17   a - 17   c  are perspective views illustrating a method of using the article dispenser in accordance with the present invention with a meter that reads the articles that are dispensed. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the specific embodiments illustrated herein and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described processes or devices, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein, are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an article dispenser  20  for dispensing flattened articles such as biosensors or test strips is shown having a main housing  22  pivotably connected to a trigger or rear housing  24 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a “home” position whereas  FIG. 2  illustrates a “dispensed” position for dispenser  20 . Dispenser  20  includes front grip section  26  and rear grip section  28 , which, when pivoted together as shown in  FIG. 2  and explained in detail below, causes an article  30  to be pushed at least partially out of exit  32 . In the illustrated embodiment, article  30  is a test strip, e.g., an Accu-Chek® brand glucose test strip that is commercially available from the assignee of the present invention. However, it should be understood that the teachings of the dispenser disclosed herein may be employed for dispensers of other flattened articles. As shown in  FIG. 3 , main housing  22  carries a stack  34  of test strips  30  to be successively dispensed from dispenser  20 , as explained below. Housing  22  includes a window  36  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) for viewing the quantity of articles  30  remaining in stack  34 . Window  36  may be formed of any number of clear materials, e.g., clear polypropylene. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, housing  22  and trigger  24  are formed of polypropylene and polystyrene, respectively, but it should be readily appreciated that many other plastics, composites or other materials may be used. Grip section  26  includes protruding ribs  38  that are preferably formed of a thermoplastic elastomer such as Santoprene®, available from Advanced Elastomer Systems, Akron, Ohio. Exit  32  includes flaps  40  that define a lip seal  42 . Flaps  40  are also made from Santoprene® and are integrally formed with ribs  38  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , trigger  24  and housing  22  are pivotably connected at bottom portions  44  and  46 , respectively, which results in housing  22  nesting within trigger  24  mainly at the top of dispenser  20 . The bottom portions of the trigger and housing do not significantly nest together, which allows cassette  84  ( FIG. 4 ) to be secured to the bottom of housing  22  without interference from trigger  24  when the two are pivoted together during dispensing. As shown in  FIG. 4 , housing  22  includes cylindrical posts  48  extending laterally therefrom that are rotatably received in corresponding cylindrical openings  50  in trigger  24 . The inside surface of trigger  24  is formed with slots  52  that lead to openings  50 , which aids assembly of dispenser  20  by allowing posts  48  to slide through slots  52 . While the illustrated embodiment includes posts  48  formed on housing  22  and openings  50  on trigger  24 , the situation could be reversed. Further, other means for making the pivotal connection between housing  22  and trigger  24 , e.g., a hinge, could be substituted for the posts and openings. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , since the pivotal connection is made at bottom portions  44  and  46 , most of the movement of trigger  24  and housing  22  relative to one another occurs toward the top of dispenser  20 . Trigger  24  has a profile that substantially matches that of housing  22  but is slightly larger, such that the inner surface of trigger  24  defines a receptacle for housing  22 . As shown more clearly in  FIG. 3 , trigger  24  defines an arcuate inner wall  54  that has an arcuate profile similar to that of outer wall  56  defined by housing  22 . Thus, when trigger  24  and housing  22  are pivoted toward one another, housing  22  partially nests within trigger  24  while an article  30  is expelled partially from dispenser  20  as shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 7   c , inner wall  54  and outer wall  56  approximate concentric segments when trigger  24  and housing  22  are pivoted together. 
     While in the preferred embodiment the trigger forms the receptacle, the inventive pivoting housing principle could be employed if the situation were reversed. As shown in  FIGS. 1   a  and  2   a , trigger  24   a  partially nests within a receptacle defined by main housing  22   a  as the two parts are pivoted together, and a test strip  30  is expelled partially from container  20   a . Other variations of the novel housing of the present invention would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. As noted above, one advantage of this novel pivoting housing is that the actuable parts of the housing that cause a strip to be dispensed can be made as large as the dispenser itself. Thus, dispensing a strip with dispenser  20  or  20   a  requires only an overall squeeze of the hand, and which does not require individual movement of the fingers. As noted above, this is especially advantageous to diabetics who have lost finger sensation and dexterity and thus have trouble manipulating the small dials, caps and sliders present in prior art dispensers. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a torsion spring  62  has upstanding legs  64  and  66  which push against the interior of trigger  24  and housing  22 , respectively, biasing the dispenser in the home position shown in  FIG. 1 . Spring  62  is held in place by means of channels  68  formed by spring retaining plates  70  and  72  formed in trigger  24  and which channels  68  captively hold legs  64 . One of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize many alternative spring mechanisms that could be configured and substituted for the torsion spring  62  of the illustrated embodiment. 
     To prevent spring  62  from biasing trigger  24  and housing  22  beyond the home position and to prevent removal of trigger  24  by a user, trigger  24  includes a flange  58  that mates with an upstanding ridge  60 . The inventive housing also includes a locking mechanism or “passive lock” that provides sufficient force to prevent the user from accidentally dispensing an article but not too much force to prevent intended dispensing. That is, the passive lock requires a greater force to overcome than that provided by spring  62 . With reference to  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , trigger  24  defines a home cavity or recess  72  that receives an ear or protrusion  74  formed on back plate  76  ( FIG. 4 ). When the user squeezes the dispenser, ear  74  must push past wall  78  ( FIG. 8   b ) in order to move trigger  24  and housing  22  together. On the return stroke, ear  74  is guided by inclined recess  80  such that it smoothly traverses wall  78  and then snaps into place into cavity  12  from only the force of spring  62 . It has been found that a depth of about 0.5 mm for cavity  72  provides a passive lock that provides sufficient force to prevent accidental dispensing. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  6 , a cassette  84  that carries stack  34  of test strips  30  is disposed within housing  22 . The cassette is preferably made from a three-phase polymer that has moisture-absorbing properties, such as Active-Pak®, available from Capital Specialty Plastics, Auburn, Ala., 2AP®, available from Südchemie Performance Packaging Europe, Choisy le Roi, France, and Flotech® “S”, available from Grace Davison, Worms, Germany. As noted above, the reagent materials contained in many test strips degrade when exposed to moisture, and housing them in a desiccant material such as cassette  84  helps address this issue. 
     The major components of cassette  84  include back plate  76 , which is illustrated in  FIG. 4 , and hollow body  86 , top cap  88 , pressure pad  90 , pressure pad springs  92  and flexible arm member  94 , which are illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Pressure pad  90  carries the stack of test strips  34  and is movable vertically with respect to hollow body  86 . Specifically, pressure pad  90  includes protrusions  96  that are slidingly received in guide slots  98 . Two additional protrusions (not shown) extend from the back of pressure pad  90  and are slidingly received into guide slots  100  shown in  FIG. 6 . The protrusions and guide slots maintain the pressure pad aligned as it advances upward as test strips are dispensed. Once the protrusions reach the top end of the slots, further upward movement of pressure pad  90  is prevented, which would occur when the dispenser is empty. When test strips  30  are present in dispenser  20 , upward movement of pressure pad  90  is limited by the uppermost strip abutting against shelves  104  formed in top cap  88 . Similarly, the lowermost vertical position of pressure pad  90  occurs when the protrusions reach the bottom of the slots, which occurs when the cassette is filled to capacity with test strips. Cassette  84  preferably holds a range from five to one-hundred fifty of the test strips  34 . In the illustrated embodiment, cassette  84  holds fifty test strips. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 6 , body  86  includes cylindrical spring retention posts  102  on which are received springs  92 . Springs  92  extend into cylinders  106  formed in pressure pad  90 , and their spring force biases the pressure pad upward as strips are dispensed. Top cap  88  is attached to hollow body  86  by means of anchor stanchions  112  that fit into slots  114 . An opening  89  ( FIG. 4 ) is formed between top cap  88  and hollow body  86  to allow a strip to exit the cassette. In the illustrated embodiment, the top cap is formed from polypropylene, although many other materials would be suitable. Spring fingers  116  provide pressure to seat the cassette subassembly in housing  22  as can be seen with reference to  FIG. 7   a . A toe clip  118  extending from the bottom of body  86  guides the cassette in place during assembly and fits under front rail  120  ( FIG. 3 ) to hold the front of the cassette body  86  in the housing  22 . Retention boss  122  retains the lower back half of the cassette subassembly in the housing  22 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4 , during assembly of dispenser  20 , ribs  82  temporarily hold cassette  84  in place within housing  22 . Back plate  76  is then welded to the main housing  22  and holds the cassette body  86  within housing  22 , which means main housing  22  is essentially sealed from the ambient. The seal is only broken when aperture  124  in back plate  76  is unsealed while a test strip is being dispensed through lip seal  42 . However, as shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , flexible arm member  94  includes a sealing member  126  that engages a sealing surface  128  when dispenser  20  is in the home position. Sealing member  126  has an “umbrella” type geometry that circumscribes the flexible arm member and that flexes to conform to the conical recess shape of sealing member  128 , thereby forming a tight seal. Sealing member  126  is preferably formed from Santoprene®. When the trigger  24  is squeezed, arm member  94  is actuated and the seal is temporarily broken until dispenser  20  returns to the home position. 
     In an alternate embodiment (not shown), sealing member  126  is attached to sealing surface  128 , such that it stays in place when dispenser  20  is in the home and the dispensed positions. In this embodiment, the sealing member  126  is configured such that flexible arm member  94  passes through the sealing member  126  when the trigger  24  is squeezed. Sealing member  126  circumscribes the flexible arm member  94  but allows arm member  94  to slide through sealing member  126 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , flexible arm member  94  is connected on one end to trigger housing  24  by means of clip fingers  130  that wrap around retention member  132 . Ears  134  press against angled sides  135  of trigger housing  24  and prevent clips  130  from disengaging during operation of the dispenser. On its other end, the flexible arm member terminates in a pusher head  136  that is positioned above the test strips and is slidably disposed in groove  138 . More particularly, pusher head  136  includes cams  140  and posts  142  extending into grooves  138 . The cams, posts and grooves comprise part of a guiding mechanism that moves the pusher head up and down as it reciprocates, as described in more detail below. The pusher head also includes resilient fingers or engagement members  144  that frictionally engage the top surface of the top test strip and slide it out of the dispenser, as discussed in more detail below. 
     Pusher head  136  is preferably integrally formed with the remainder of flexible arm member  94  and is hingedly connected thereto by a “working hinge”  146 . The working hinge provides stronger resistance than a normal “living hinge” but will still flex, allowing the pusher head to pivot or rotate down onto and up and away from the test strips. In the illustrated embodiment, the flexible arm member  94  is formed from polypropylene, but one of ordinary skill in the art could substitute many other flexible materials. 
     When not in use, the inventive dispenser is positioned in the “home” position depicted in  FIGS. 1   a  and  7   a . As the user begins to squeeze trigger  24  and housing  22  together, he or she must first overcome the “passive lock” described above. Thereafter, trigger  24  and housing  22  can be squeezed together against the force of spring  62 , thereby defining a dispense stroke. Since flexible arm member  94  is coupled to trigger  24 , the pivoting movement of the dispenser parts actuates the arm member and causes it to slide through aperture  124 . The seal made by umbrella seal  126  is thus broken. Advantageously, however, arm member  94  has a profile that substantially matches that of aperture  124  such that arm member  94  engages the periphery of aperture  124  as it passes through it. A quasi-seal between arm member  94  and aperture  124  thus remains as arm member  94  slides through aperture  124 . In other words, even though seal  126  moves away from aperture  124  when the dispenser is activated, because there is a close fit between arm member  94  and aperture  124 , the seal there between is not significantly compromised. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , this initial movement of the arm member causes pusher head  136  to pivot about cams  140  from a disengaged station spaced away from the stack of strips to an engaged station in which fingers  144  frictionally engage the top test strip. In other words, cams  140  define a pivot axis and the sliding movement in the direction of arrow  150  of arm member  94  as shown in  FIG. 7   b  is translated through working hinge  146  and produces a moment about cams  140 . This in turn causes pusher head  136  to pivot down as shown by arrow  152 . At the same time, the pusher head slides to the right as shown and the top strip displaces flaps  40  of lip seal  42  as it exits the dispenser. Lip seal  42  maintains a quasi-seal even as strip  30  passes through it. Test strips  30  can be arranged in cassette  84  such that a dosing end or a meter insertion end of the test strip  30  exits first as the pusher head slides to the right. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7   b , groove  138  defines an inclined portion  148  at an end thereof. At the end of the dispense stroke, posts  142  are engaged by inclined portion  148 , such that pusher head  136  pivots upward and away from the top test strip of the stack, as shown in  FIG. 7   c . This upward pivoting occurs despite there being a moment about cams  140  through the end of the dispense stroke. Advantageously, since pusher head  136  is pivoted away from the top test strip, the top strip can be easily pulled from dispenser  20  against only a slight frictional force produced by lip seal  42 . The flexible arm member flexes into a substantially straight configuration at the end of the dispense stroke as shown in  FIG. 7   c . The bending or straightening of arm member  94  is due to the fact that the end of arm member  94  that is coupled to trigger  24  moves upward relative to housing  22  as the housing and trigger are squeezed together. 
     As the user loosens his or her grip and allows spring  62  to return trigger  24  and housing  22  to the home position, an opposite moment is created about cams  140  as shown in  FIG. 7   d . On the return stroke, the sliding movement in the direction of arrow  156  of arm member  94  as shown in  FIG. 7   d  is translated through working hinge  146  and produces a moment about cams  140  which maintains the pusher head  136  in the disengaged position. Advantageously, even if the user loosens his or her grip before pulling the top strip completely from the dispenser, the pusher head will not engage this top strip on the return stroke. That is, the top strip will not retract on the return stroke simply because the user fails to pull it from the dispenser before releasing the trigger and housing. 
     It should be appreciated that after the strip is dispensed and the dispenser has returned to the home position, lip seal  42  has automatically returned to its sealed or closed position on its own volition, thereby making it unnecessary for the user to remember to close the dispenser. 
     Optionally, the dispenser  20  can be integrated with a test meter that reads the test strips. The meter can also receive data from the test strip  30  and/or dispenser  20  and interpret the data. Dispenser  20  can be configured with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that stores information about the strips such as lot number, expiration date, type of test strip, among other information. The meter can be configured with an RFID reader which sends a signal to the RFID tag when the dispenser is brought within close proximity of the meter. The meter can thus receive the data that is stored on the RFID tag. RFID technology is known in the art and need not be described in further detail herein. 
     In the illustrated embodiment in  FIGS. 9   a - 9   b , housing  22  includes a lip seal cover  190  for covering the exit  32 . Lip seal cover  190  has an inner surface  192  that defines a receptacle that receives protruding lip  194  of exit  32  by a friction fit engagement. As shown, the lip seal cover  190  is hingedly connected to housing  22 . However, other means for making the connection between lip seal cover  190  and exit  32 , e.g., a snap-on connection, could be substituted for the hinge connection. When the dispenser is in use, the lip seal cover  190  is pivoted away from the exit  32  by the user applying a finger or thumb to tab  196 , which exposes the flaps  40  of lip seal  42 , as shown in  FIG. 9   a . When the dispenser is not in use, the lip seal cover  190  is positioned over the exit  32  to cover the flaps  40  of lip seal  42  as shown in  FIG. 9   b . Lip seal cover  190  may be formed of any number of materials such as plastics, composites, metals and the like. Advantageously, lip seal cover  190  acts as a dust cover for exit  32  and protects exit  32  from contact damage by items such as keys, coins, cosmetic containers, and the like when the dispenser is carried in a pocket or container having such items. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 10   a - 10   b , housing  22  includes a platform  230  inserted between flaps  40  of lip seal  42  and integrally attached to the housing  22 . The platform  230  is sized to fit within the lip seal  42  as shown in  FIG. 10   a . When the dispenser is not in use, the platform  230  inserted between the flaps  40  acts as a plug and forms an airtight seal with the flaps  40 . As shown in  FIG. 10   b , when dispensing the first test strip  30  from the dispenser, the test strip  30  displaces or biases the top flap outwardly as it exits the dispenser. Thereafter, top flap  40  will remain in an outward position, but remains nonetheless biased against platform  230 . The platform  230  provides a surface that the test strip  30  can ride on or slide over as the test strip  30  passes through the lip seal  42 . It should be appreciated that the dispenser could be configured to dispense test strips between the bottom flap and the platform or the top flap and the platform. Platform  230  may be formed of any number of materials such as plastics, composites, metals or other materials. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11   a - 11   b , housing  22  includes an exit  330  that can be reconfigured to form an airtight seal. To achieve manufacturing efficiency, it is desirable to form seal  346  in a single step, e.g., by injection molding. It is further desirable to form ribs  38  ( FIG. 2 ) integrally with seal  346 . One of the drawbacks of injection molding is that discontinuities such as lip seal  42  require a part in the mold that separates flaps  342  and  344  that are to be formed with the mold. If the seal  346  is to be integrally formed, it will thus include a small gap such as gap  348  illustrated in  FIG. 11   a  between the two flaps. 
     As formed, seal  346  depicted in  FIG. 11   a  is unsuitable because it is not air-tight. Recognizing that a gap will be present in the originally molded part, the seal  346  shown in  FIG. 11   a  is designed so that it can be “inverted” or “reconfigured” after initially being molded to form an airtight seal in which the two flaps not only contact one another, but are biased together. Specifically, bottom flap  344  is angled to the left or inwardly of the dispenser and includes a nub  350  that points to the left or inside of the dispenser. Flap  342  is preferably angled opposite to flap  344  and also includes a nub  352  that points outwardly or to the right as shown in  FIG. 11   a . However, after molding, the flexible seal  346  can be reconfigured by inverting the position of the flaps such that flap  342  and flap  344  are biased against each other to form an airtight seal as shown in  FIG. 11   b . For example, in  FIG. 11   a , a force can be applied to the top flap  342  to push the top flap  342  to the left and over the bottom flap  344  and/or a force can be applied to the bottom flap  344  to push the bottom flap  344  to the right and under the top flap  342 . Alternatively, the airtight seal shown in  FIG. 11   b  can be formed by ejecting the first test strip from dispenser  20 , during which the test strip will push flap  344  to the right, past flap  342 . When the test strip is fully removed from the dispenser, the configuration shown in  FIG. 11   b  will be achieved. 
     Since flap  342  as molded tends to point to the right and flap  346  as molded tends to point to the left, inverting the seal to the configuration shown in  FIG. 11   b  creates an advantageously airtight seal in which the flaps are pressed against one another. As shown reconfigured in  FIG. 11   b , the top flap  342  is displaced to the left of bottom flap  344 . Further, the top flap  342  and the bottom flap  344  are biased together as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 11   b . When dispensing a test strip, the test strip displaces or biases apart the bottom flap  344  from the top flap  342  as it passes between the flaps and exits the dispenser. As described with reference to other embodiments, seal  346  can be formed from Santoprene® or another elastic material that allows top flap  342  and bottom flap  344  to flex or bend. Additionally, the flexible seal  346  can be covered with a cap (see  FIG. 9   a ). 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 12   a - 12   b , housing  22  includes an exit  430  that can be reconfigured to form an airtight seal. As shown in  FIG. 12   a , exit  430  as molded includes top flap  442  and bottom flap  444  that form a flexible seal  446 . The bottom flap  444  is positioned initially to the left of top flap  442 . In this configuration, top flap  442  and bottom flap  444  are substantially in the same position as when the flexible seal  446  was formed or molded. The flexible seal  446  can be reconfigured by inverting the positions of the flaps such that flap  442  and flap  444  are biased against each other. For example, a force can be applied to the bottom flap  444  shown in  FIG. 12   a  to push or pull it to the right and under the top flap  442 . 
     As shown reconfigured in  FIG. 12   b , the top flap  442  is displaced to the left of bottom flap  444 . Further, the top flap  442  and the bottom flap  444  are biased together as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 12   b . When dispensing a test strip, the test strip displaces or biases apart the bottom flap  444  from the top flap  442  as it passes between the flaps to exit the dispenser. Top flap  442  and bottom flap  444  can be formed from Santoprene® or another elastic material that allows top flap  442  and bottom flap  444  to flex or bend. Further, top flap  442  and/or bottom flap  444  can be integrally formed with ribs  38  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Additionally, the flexible seal  446  can be covered with a cap (see  FIG. 9   a ). 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 13-14 , housing  22  includes a cap  530  for covering exit  532 . Cap  530  has an outer periphery that substantially matches that of exit  532  but is slightly smaller, such that cap  530  fits snugly within the periphery defined by exit  532 . Cap  530  includes an opening  536  from which test strips  30  are dispensed. Cap  530  may be formed of any number of materials such as plastics, composites, metals or other materials. Cap  530 , like lip seal cover  190 , also acts as a dust cover for exit  532  and protects exit  532  from contact damage by foreign objects. 
     Exit  532  includes flaps  540  that form a flexible seal  542  as shown in  FIG. 14 . Further, biasing members  534  are wedged between the housing  22  and the flaps  540  to reconfigure the flexible seal  542  as shown in  FIG. 14  such that the biasing members  534  bias the flaps  540  together to form an airtight seal. That is, as cap  530  is installed into dispenser  20 , wedge-shaped biasing members  534  are inserted between the housing  22  and seal  542  such that biasing members  534  squeeze the flaps  540  together. As shown, biasing members  534  are integrally formed with cap  530 . When dispensing a test strip, the test strip displaces or biases apart the flaps  540  as it passes between the flaps  540  to exit the dispenser through opening  536 . Flaps  540  can be formed of Santoprene® or another elastic material that allows the flaps  540  to flex or bend. Also, it should be appreciated that the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9   a - 9   b  can also be configured to include biasing members that squeeze the flaps together. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 15   a - 15   c , housing  22  includes an exit  630  that can be reconfigured to form a substantially or completely airtight “duckbill” seal. Exit  630  is shaped as a duckbill with walls  640  that form an elongated channel  644 , as illustrated in  FIG. 15   a . The walls  640  point to the left in  FIG. 15   a . In this configuration, walls  640  are substantially in the same position as when the flexible seal  642  was formed or molded. As described elsewhere, since the seal  642  is preferably integrally formed by injection molding, the walls  640  define a gap  646  therebetween when the part leaves the mold from which it is made. However, the gap  646  can be eliminated by inverting or turning the duckbill seal  642  inside out, as can be appreciated by comparing  FIGS. 15   a  and  15   b . The curved or profiled outer sides  648  of walls  640  shown in  FIG. 15   a  become the inner walls of the seal shown in  FIG. 15   b , in which the walls  640  are biased together and form an air-tight seal, as indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 15   b . The profiled shape of walls  640  shown in  FIG. 15   a  enhances the bias between walls  640  when the seal  642  is turned inside out to form the structure shown in  FIG. 15   b.    
     When dispensing test strip  30  as shown in  FIG. 15   c , the test strip  30  displaces or pushes apart the top wall from the bottom wall as it passes between the walls  640  to exit the dispenser. Walls  640  can be formed from Santoprene® or another elastic material that allows the walls  640  to flex or bend. Further, walls  640  can be integrally formed with ribs  38  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). In addition, the flexible seal  642  can be covered with a cap (see  FIG. 9   a ). 
     In certain embodiments, the dispenser can be configured to facilitate inserting a strip into a meter without the need for the user to have to touch a strip. For example, in  FIG. 16 , the stack of test strips is loaded into the dispenser such that the “meter insertion end” of the test strips exits the dispenser first upon dispensing. (This is opposite to that shown in  FIG. 2 .) Further, the dispenser is configured with an additional “detent” position between the home and dispense positions described above, which is used to hold the test strip in place after the end of it has extended from the dispenser. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 16 , groove  138  defines a notch or detent  147  such that posts  142  engage the detent  147  as the pusher head  136  slides to the right as the user squeezes the trigger and housing together. The detent  147  is positioned such that the posts  142  are guided into it as the dispenser is actuated. This happens after test strip  30  has passed partially through lip seal  42  and has a portion thereof extending from the dispenser as shown. The user experiences a tactile sensation when the forward movement of pusher head  136  stops as the posts  142  engage the detent  147 . In this detent position, the fingers  144  remain frictionally engaged with the top test strip. The fingers  144  captively hold the test strip  30  such that the meter insertion end of the test strip  30  extends from the exit  32  of the dispenser. 
     In this intermediate or detent position, the user can “dock” dispenser  20  to a test meter to receive the test strip  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 17   a - 17   c , test meter  700  has an opening  702  to receive the meter insertion end  33  of test strip  30 . In  FIG. 17   a , the user has squeezed trigger  24  and housing  22  together in the direction of arrows  704  to overcome the “passive lock” described above and has continued to squeeze trigger  24  and housing  22  together to the detent position. The detent position is signaled to the user through a tactile sensation produced by posts  142  engaging detent  147 , at which point the forward movement of pusher head  136  stops. In this embodiment, the meter insertion end  33  of the test strip  30  extends from exit  32  of dispenser  20  and fingers  144  remain frictionally engaged with the test strip. 
     The user then aligns the end  33  of the test strip  30  with the opening  702  and moves the dispenser in the direction of arrow  706  in  FIG. 17   b  so that the meter insertion end of the test strip is inserted into opening  702  of test meter  700 . Preferably, the test meter  700  engages and captively holds the end of the test strip after it is inserted to the required depth. 
     At this point, the meter and dispenser are in close proximity. If the dispenser is configured with the optional RFID tag noted above, and meter  700  includes an RFID reader, the meter will download data from the RFID tag. Such data may include calibration data, expiration date and the like for the strips housed in dispenser  20 . In many traditional test strip vials, this information is included in a memory chip that is packaged with the vial. The memory chip must be inserted into the meter by the user before using the strips in a given vial. The RFID tag disclosed herein can avoid the need for these memory chips and the need for the user to have to insert them into the meter. 
     After the dispenser and meter are “docked” as shown in  FIG. 17   b , the user then “releases” the test strip from the dispenser. With reference to  FIG. 17   c , this is done by fully squeezing the trigger  24  and the housing  22  together in the direction of arrows  708  to arrive at the “dispensed” position described above with respect to other embodiments. In the dispensed position, the fingers lift from the strip, thus releasing it. The dispenser can then be pulled away from the meter as shown by arrow  710  while leaving test strip  30  inserted in opening  702  of test meter  700 , as shown in  FIG. 17   c . A dosing end  35  is thus protruding from the meter and is ready to receive a fluid sample. 
     While a preferred embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention has been disclosed hereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, as noted above, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.