Abstract:
This invention relates to a blood testing apparatus comprising a device for withdrawing blood containing a pricking element, a membrane-type testing means, defining a measuring field, an evaluating device comprising an electronic evaluation system and a display device forming a complete system which can be manipulated as a single piece of apparatus. The aim of the invention is to develop said apparatus in such a way that it is user friendly. The invention is characterized in that a plurality of testing means can be inserted into the apparatus and brought successively to a work position to carry out several measurements wherein said testing means can cooperate together with the evaluating device. The blood withdrawing device also comprises a plurality of pricking elements and each respective testing means is positioned in a work position, wherein a pricking element is pushed through the testing means and pricks the skin surface of the user. The pricking position associated with the work position is disposed in such a position on the device that the blood withdrawn from the surface of the skin can impinge upon the testing means.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/432,061 filed May 19, 2003, which is a §3.71 filing of PCT/EP01/13514 filed Nov. 21, 2001, which applications are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a blood testing apparatus for determining an analyte, such as fructosamine, lactate, cholesterol, specifically glucose, from minimal quantities amounts of blood extracted immediately prior from a user. 
         [0003]    The invention deals with blood testing apparatus of the kind that are configured with a membrane-like test means defining a field of measurement, said test means being wetted with the minimal amount of blood extracted and including test reagents, having an evaluation device comprising electronics working optically, preferably using reflectance analysis, or electronically and having a display device, where the aforementioned components form a complete system which can be manipulated as a single apparatus. 
         [0004]    A diagnostic apparatus of this type is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,398. This blood glucose monitoring apparatus comprises a housing structure with a push-rod arrangement to actuate a lancing element and having an evaluation device and a display device. For each measurement, a replaceable unit must be positioned in the housing structure, comprising the lancet and a test means to be wetted with blood in the form of a test strip. This replaceable unit is discarded after each use. 
         [0005]    Using this as the point of departure, the object of the present invention is to further develop a blood testing apparatus which has fewer components to be manipulated individually and is thus easier to operate and more user friendly. 
         [0006]    A blood testing apparatus known from EP 0 449 525 A1 similarly comprises an integral release device for a lancing element. Before each use, a new lancing element has to be manually inserted into the release device as part of the blood extraction device and then a test strip has to be inserted into the apparatus. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,445 shows a complete system for a glucose measuring apparatus in the aforesaid sense. But before each measurement a new replaceable unit of lancing element and test means has to be assembled to a body and removed afterwards. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,492 shows a similar device. According to this publication, a disposable unit comprises a capillary tube on the upper end of which a test strip is provided which is exposed to the minimal quantity of blood extracted. The capillary tube is configured at its lower end with a lancing element. Again, before and after each measurement a new disposable unit of the type just described must be installed or removed. According to a further embodiment, a transverse slot is provided in the area of the face of the apparatus facing the user, through which a porous test membrane with a carrier can be inserted, which is then penetrated by the lancing element in the lancing procedure. 
         [0009]    According to one embodiment, U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,941 shows a complete system in the aforesaid sense, where a cartridge with unused strip-like test means is inserted into a housing and a suitable test means can then brought into a suitable operating position by means of a driver. Through a triggering device, which forms part of the blood extraction device, a lancet contained in a suitable test strip is urged outward by mean of a pushrod to pierce the surface of the user&#39;s skin so that capillary blood can be obtained for analysis. More detailed information on how the analysis is performed cannot be obtained from this publication. According to a further embodiment described in this publication, a cylindrical disposable attachment or insert is described which has a lancet and a tablet-shaped test membrane with an opening for the lancing device. This attachment or insert is then inserted into a recess of a pushrod arrangement which forces the lancing element outward to extract blood. Once again, before and after each test procedure the disposable unit must be installed or removed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The object, explained at the beginning, to create a user-friendly improvement of a blood testing apparatus of this type which ensures a safe supply of blood for the test means with the smallest possible quantity of blood, is achieved wider the invention through a plurality of test means which can be inserted into the apparatus and brought into an operating position to perform several measurements in succession where they can interact with the evaluation device, through the blood extraction device similarly having a plurality of lancets, and when a suitable test means is positioned in the operating position, a lancet can be thrust through the test means and can pierce the surface of the user&#39;s skin which is positioned in a lancing position aligned with the operation position so that blood emanating from the skin can impinge directly on the test means. 
         [0011]    Under the invention, installation or removal before and after each test, measurement or analysis procedure is to be avoided. For this reason, a plurality of test means and preferably a number of lancing elements corresponding exactly to number of test means is furnished in the blood testing apparatus, which can be brought into the operating position in succession and then interact with the blood extraction device when it is actuated or released. A lancing element located in the operating position is driven through the membrane-like test means and pierces the surface of a user&#39;s skin, so that the minimal quantity of blood obtained directly wets the membrane-like test means without having to penetrate capillary tubes or slots, which in turn require quantities of blood. Any number of switching and driving means powered mechanically or by an electric motor are conceivable to move the test or lancing means to the operating position and to actuate the lancing means. The number of test means, which are preferably handled as a unit, and advantageously of the lancing means as well, is preferably 5 to 75, and specifically 14-28. The numbers 14 and 28 correspond to a 2 or 4-week rhythm if one analysis is made per day. 
         [0012]    After the evaluation and display of the result of the analysis, or of the blood glucose level, the specific test means is moved from its operating position and the next succeeding test means is brought into the operation position preferably immediately. 
         [0013]    The lancing element could be withdrawn from the test means again before this process. It proves to be advantageous if the lancing element remains in the test means following the lancing procedure and can be removed with it from the operating, position to position a new test means. The lancing element can also be retracted far enough so that it does not project beyond a finger rest area in the apparatus. However, this is not absolutely necessary. 
         [0014]    In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, it is conceivable that the lancing element is connected to the membrane-like test means before the lancing procedure and can be inserted with it into the apparatus and moved to the operating position The lancing element can already be inserted into the test means or be stuck through it. 
         [0015]    Following a lancing and measurement procedure, spent lancing elements and test means can be ejected individually or together, or they can be taken to a storage and disposal position. 
         [0016]    In a further aspect of the invention, the test means are disposed on a carrier which is movable, preferably rotatable, with respect to a housing base and inserted with the carrier into the housing base of the apparatus. The test means can then be brought in succession to the operating position by rotating the carrier or moved from the operating position to a storage and disposal position. 
         [0017]    The test means are advantageously so disposed on the carrier that their specific surface normal runs in a radial direction with respect to the rotatable carrier. Furthermore, the carrier preferably has an annular configuration and is carried rotatably about the center of the ring. 
         [0018]    Protection against dirt, contamination and the effects of humidity is preferably provided. The carrier can be configured advantageously as a closed cartridge. The carrier can then have apertures which can be closed or withdrawn in the manner of a window or diaphragm to interact with the drive mechanism and allow the lancing element to extend to perform the lancing procedure or allow blood to reach the test means. As further protection, particularly against humidity, the test means can alternatively or additionally be encased in foil covers which can be removed in the operating position. 
         [0019]    The blood extraction device is advantageously housed inside the annulus with the several lancing elements. It is conceivable that a release device, which is known in the art and described in the aforementioned publications, is housed within the annulus. For example, a pushrod-like driver arrangement is implemented, which operates on the side of a lancing element away from the body when located in the operating position such that the lancing element pierces the skin surface of a user. It would also be conceivable that a specific lancing element in the operating position is held in a wedging arrangement between the opposably movable jaws of the driving organ, so that by moving the driving organ forward and back the lancing element can be extended to the outside of the apparatus and retracted again. In any case, the drive unit of the blood extraction device, which thrusts a specific lancing element through the membrane-like test means into the skin surface of a user, forms a part of the housing or base apparatus as does the evaluation and display device The membrane-like test means and the lancing elements, on the other hand, represent disposable elements which are inserted in a predetermined configuration, such as being located on a carrier, into the housing base. 
         [0020]    It proves furthermore to be advantageous if, as already mentioned, the lancing, elements, on a rotatable carrier, preferably on the same carrier as the test means, are inserted into the blood testing apparatus. By rotating the carrier or carriers, a specific lancing element is similarly brought into the operating position, namely into a position where it is struck by the driving organ of the blood extraction device or is gripped in a wedging arrangement and can be moved suddenly to perform the lancing procedure. 
         [0021]    It proves to be of overall advantage if the blood testing apparatus has a basically circular disc-shaped outer contour, as it can thus be gripped and held comfortably in the user&#39;s hands. 
         [0022]    In a further aspect of this inventive idea, the apparatus has oppositely located a lancing position for positioning the skin surface to be pierced and a release position o trigger the lancing procedure by manually actuating a release button. 
         [0023]    The apparatus is advantageously held by a user holding the apparatus with two fingers at the lancing position and at the release button. The release button has an advantageous ergonomic shape for grasping by the thumb of a user. It preferably has a pressure point which must be overcome in order to initiate the lancing operation. For safety reasons, it proves to be advantageous if the lancing operation can only initiated when both fingers have taken up their correct position. This could be implemented through contact sensors or through a pressure point mechanism. 
         [0024]    It must be pointed out that instead of a needle or lancet-shaped lancing element, which is moved preferably suddenly in the direction of the skin surface of a user to perform the lancing procedure in a manner known in the art, for example, by releasing a spring-tensioned driving device, a laser beam can also be used. The required source of laser light is among the non-disposable system components of the blood testing apparatus. With this solution as well, a specific test means can be furnished with an opening through the laser beam can pass. 
         [0025]    In accordance with a further inventive aspect, the blood testing apparatus can be configured in the style of a wrist watch, that is to say it can have a housing base modeled after a wrist watch casing. A viewing side of the blood testing apparatus can then have a face as with a familiar watch, or a digital display. The digital display can be configured to display time and/or additional functions and to display data or information gathered by the blood testing apparatus as needed. 
         [0026]    It can prove further advantageous if the blood testing apparatus has a removable, preferably upwardly pivotable, cover which has access to the interior of the blood testing apparatus, specifically to insert or replace the carrier for the test means and/or lancing elements. In the design of the external appearance of the blood testing apparatus in the style of a wrist watch, or even in the style of a pocket watch, it can prove advantageous if the removable or upwardly pivotable cover simultaneously comprises the face or some other time display device which is raised or pivoted upward with the cover. 
         [0027]    In accordance with another inventive aspect, the cover when opened can reveal a view of a display device in the blood testing apparatus, which can be located either on the inward facing side of the raised cover or is revealed by the removal or upward pivoting of the cover. It can further prove to advantageous if a second removable or upwardly pivotable cover is furnished under the first removable or upwardly pivotable cover, which second cover permits or closes off access to the interior of the blood testing apparatus. This second cover could then contain the display device for the blood testing apparatus on its outer side, which can serve simultaneously as a time display. To read the data and information gathered by the blood testing apparatus, the first cover is opened so that a user can view the display device on the exposed viewing side of the second cover, or on the inner side of the first cover. The second cover is opened only to replace the test means or lancing elements. 
         [0028]    In an aspect of the blood testing apparatus in the style of a wrist watch casing, it proves advantageous if a finger rest is furnished at the “6 o&#39;clock” or “12 o&#39;clock” position to perform the lancing process to draw a minimal amount of blood, or in the respective areas where the watch strap attaches. This permits convenient operability, which also has a positive effect on good wetting function, since the particular test means (when the test means are arranged essentially perpendicular to the radial direction) is aligned horizontally when the blood is extracted, which promotes even wetting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0029]    Additional features, details and advantages of the invention can be found in the appended claims and the drawing and the description to follow of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic arrangement of a first aspect of a blood testing apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  shows a sectional view of the blood testing apparatus from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of a second aspect of a blood testing apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of the carrier for test means and lancing elements of the apparatus from  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  shows an isometric view of the assembled blood testing apparatus from  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  shows an isometric view of a third aspect of a blood testing apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  shows an isometric view of the blood testing apparatus from  FIG. 6  with the first cover raised; 
           [0037]      FIG. 8  shows an isometric view of the blood testing apparatus from  FIG. 7  with the first and second covers raised and 
           [0038]      FIG. 9  shows an isometric view corresponding to  FIG. 8  of a fourth aspect of the blood testing apparatus in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a schematic view of a blood testing system in accordance with the invention, where  FIG. 1  represents a view into the interior with the cover removed and  FIG. 2  represents a schematic sectional view. The blood testing apparatus in the form of a blood glucose measuring apparatus, identified as a whole with the reference numeral  2 , comprises a housing base  4  and a removable cover  6 . A blood extraction device  8  with a drive mechanism  10  and a lancing element in the form of a needle is accommodated in the interior of the housing base  4 . The blood extraction device  8  interacts with a release button  14  on the narrow outer side of the disc-shaped housing base  4 . The drive mechanism comprises a driving spring, and a return spring  16 ,  18 , both of which are indicated only schematically. Through mechanical coupling and control means  20 , pressing the release button  14  and overcoming a pressure point mechanism  22  releases the drive mechanism  10 , so that under the pre-load of the driving spring  16  a plunger  24  moves radially outward at speed, wedging the lancing element  12  between jaws  26  and driving it radially outward and immediately afterward retracting it again slightly under the effect of the return spring  18 . The lancing element  12  penetrates forward briefly across the finger rest  28  lying radially opposite the release button on the outside of the housing base  4 , which defines a lancing position, and briefly pierces the skin surface of a user with predetermined speed and depth of penetration to allow a minimal quantity of blood to escape. 
         [0040]    As the lancing element  12  moves outward at speed, a membrane-like test means  30 , which is located in a manner to be described in greater detail in the immediate vicinity behind the finger rest  28 , is penetrated by the lancing element  12 . The blood emanating from the skin surface then directly wets the outwardly facing surface of the membrane-like test means  30 , which is furnished with reagents. 
         [0041]    As can be seen from the Figures, a plurality of test means  30  is furnished with the lancing elements allocated to each of the test means  30 . The test means  30  and the lancing elements  12  are located on an annular carrier  32 , for example, eight or ten pairs of test means  30  and lancing elements  12  are located around the circumference or partial circumference of the annular carrier  32 . With the cover  6  removed, the carrier  32  can be inserted into a locating device  34  of complementary shape which can be rotated around the center of the ring. Embodiments would also be conceivable in which the cover  6  does not need to be removed in order to insert the carrier  32 , but which have a recess open to the top to insert a cassette-type closed carrier  32 . This provides protection against dirt, contamination and the effects of humidity. The carrier  32  can have available apertures which can be closed and withdrawn like a window or diaphragm in order to interact with the drive mechanism and allow the lancing means to extend to the outside to perform the lancing procedure or to allow blood to reach the test means. As further protection, specifically against humidity, the test means could alternatively or additionally be covered with foil wrappers which can be removed in the operating position. 
         [0042]    As can be seen from the Figures, the membrane-like test means  30  are disposed such that they are disposed with their surface normal in the radial direction with respect to the center of the ring. By actuating a sliding button  36  on the outside of the housing base  4 , the locating device  34 , and with it the carrier  32  positioned in it and held frictionally in place, are rotated into a discrete further angular position, so that the pairs of test means  30  and lancing elements  12  are brought in succession into an operating position in which the lancing element  12  can interact with the drive mechanism  10 . In this way the blood glucose measuring apparatus is prepared by insertion of the preferably cassette-type carrier  32  with a number, for example, of ten test means  30  and lancing elements  12  for ten measurements. Following a measurement, the button  36  only has to be actuated to bring the next pair of test means  30  and lancing element  12  into the operating position. Additional installation and removal steps before and after a particular measuring procedure are not required. Spent test means  30  and test elements are brought in a clockwise direction with the carrier  32  to a storage or disposal position, which follows the operating position. It would also be conceivable to furnish an ejection mechanism which ejects a particular spent pair for disposal, which is regarded as less preferred since proper disposal must take place immediately. The protected arrangement of the spent pairs inside the cassette-type carrier  32  is preferred instead. After the predetermined number of tests are performed, the cassette-type-like carrier  32  is removed and disposed of and replaced with a new one. 
         [0043]    Because the lancing element  12  penetrates the membrane-like test means  30  in the lancing process, preferably in its center, the test means  30  is ensured of being positioned in 
         [0044]    immediate proximity to the point of penetration on the skin surface of the user. The blood emanating there is immediately and, most importantly, evenly deposited on the test area of the test means  30 , even when only small quantities of blood are available. 
         [0045]    In the aspect shown, the lancing elements  12  are disposed on the carrier  32  such that they perforate the center of the test means  30  when the drive mechanism  10  acts against them. To achieve this, it can prove to be advantageous if the lancing elements  12  are disposed in such a way on the carrier  12  that the point has penetrated into the accompanying test means  30 , at least partially in the direction of their thickness. This acts as an aid to positioning. A continuous guide opening can also be furnished in the test means  30 . The diameter of the guide opening should preferably be smaller than the outside diameter of the lancing element  12  to prevent blood from penetrating through a gap between the outer surface of the lancing element  12  and the guide opening toward the back side of the test means  30 . 
         [0046]    An evaluation device  38  known in the art is also furnished in the interior of the glucose measuring apparatus. An optical, preferably reflectance analysis init, is indicated schematically in  FIG. 2 . The evaluation device  38  can comprise a light source  40  and a sensor  42  for the reflectance measurement of the change of color of the back side of the membrane-like test means  30 , where the analysis reaction  38  of the glucose contained in the blood sample with the test or proof reagents takes place (enzymatic redox reaction). The principles of an optical analysis device are described, for example, in EP-A-0 654 659 and EP-A-0 475 692. 
         [0047]    In the case where the electrochemical measurement principle is applied, the optical evaluation device is dispensed with. The enzymatic redox reaction is quantified instead through the detection of electrical current or voltage at an electrode (described, for example, in EP-A-0 552 223). 
         [0048]    The evaluation device  38  comprises in a known way electronics for analysis which interact with a display device  44  which indicates, for example, in the form of an LCD display the test result, perhaps the blood glucose content. By means of the evaluation device, additional evaluation and display functions and comparisons with previously stored measurement or evaluation data could be performed, saved if necessary and their result displayed. 
         [0049]    The blood testing apparatus under the invention thus represents a complete system which does not require the separate manipulation of test strips or lancets during the blood glucose measurement. By inserting the cassette-type carrier  32  with test means  30  and lancing elements  12 , the apparatus is prepared for a specific number of measurements, for which no additional installation or removal steps or the separate manipulation of additional aids is required. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 3 to 5  show a second aspect of the blood testing apparatus under the invention, where components identical to the first aspect are identified with the same reference numeral. In accordance with this aspect, the blood testing apparatus has a housing base  4  modeled after or approximating the basic shape of a wrist watch casing, where the dimensions, specifically the depth of the housing base  4 , can be enlarged compared with traditional wrist watch casings. Further indicated are installation areas  45  for a specifically flexible pin of a normal watch strap. A dome-shaped centering means  46  is depicted in the interior of the housing base  4 , which appears cuboid in plan view but which has two segmental side sections  48  which are configured concentric to an axis of rotation  50  and provide a positioning aid when inserting a carrier  32  for test means  30  and lancing elements  12 . Further, a servo motor  52  (not shown in detail) is housed in the centering means  46 . 
         [0051]    The servo motor  52  can serve to move the carrier  32  to move a spent test means  30  from an operating position to a disposal position and simultaneously to position a still unused test means  30  in the operating position. It is not entirely excluded that the servo motor  52  can also serve to power the only schematically represented drive mechanism  10 . The drive coupling of the servo motor  52  with the carrier  32  could, for example, be formed through a pinion gear, crown wheel, bevel gear or miter gear connection between a rotatingly driven wheel of the servo motor  52  and correspondingly configured, specifically sprocket-shaped matching gear means or the carrier  32 . 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the carrier  32  is configured in the shape of an annular disc-shaped cassette  54 . The cassette comprises a lower housing section  56  with an annular disc-shaped floor section  58  with a circular access opening  60  and with circumferential wall section  62  running cylindrically on the outer periphery. The test means  30  are furnished in appropriate recesses  64  in the circumferential wall section  62  in a concentric arrangement around the axis of rotation  50 . A similarly shaped upper housing section  68 , which comprises a number of radially aligned lancing elements  12  corresponding to the number of test means  30 , can be inserted into the lower housing section  56 . Spring means  69  can also be seen, specifically in the form of closed loops, which hold the lancing elements  12 . When the skin surface of a user is pierced, these spring elements  69  are tensioned and are able to retract the particular lancing element  12  again following the penetration through the drive mechanism  10 . This arrangement of lancing elements  12  is located radially outside the aforementioned opening  60  and thus radially outside the dome-shaped centering means  46 , which simultaneously comprises the drive mechanism  10  which is disposed radially inside the arrangement of lancing elements  12 . The lower housing section  56  and the upper housing section  68  inserted into it are joined together so that they cannot turn and can be rotated in common as a carrier  32  around the axis  50  to bring test means  30  and lancing elements  12  into the operating position, or shift them from the operating position to a disposal position. 
         [0053]    The button  36  schematically represented in  FIG. 3  is linked to the drive mechanism  10  to actuate it. The control rod  66  suggested there running radially runs either above or below the carrier  32 . As mentioned, the actuation of the drive mechanism  10  could also be achieved with a motor, preferably electrically controlled. 
         [0054]    Finally the blood testing apparatus comprises a cover  6  which can be modeled after the face of an electronic watch and can have a display device  44 , for example, in the form of an LCD display. This cover then forms the viewing side of the blood testing apparatus, as can be seen from  FIG. 5 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 6  shows an isometric view corresponding to  FIG. 5  of a blood testing apparatus with a watch face  68  on the viewing side of a pivotally articulated cover  6 . It should also be mentioned that a finger rest  28  is furnished at the “6 o&#39;clock” position with reference to the face  68 , which forms the operating position in which the skin surface is briefly penetrated by the lancing element  12  when the drive mechanism  10  is released. This arrangement proves to be advantageous insofar as the user (standing) can place the hand on the stomach when performing the lancing procedure and then position the thumb of the other hand on the finger rest  28 . When the lancing process is triggered in this position, the membrane-like test means  30  is disposed essentially horizontally and the minimal amount of blood can wet the test means following gravity. 
         [0056]      FIG. 7  shows the blood testing apparatus from  FIG. 6  with the first cover  6  pivoted up so that the view of the upper side of a second cover  7  is uncovered where, in accordance with this embodiment, the display device  44  for the blood testing apparatus is located. The display device  44  for the blood testing apparatus is thus separated spatially from the face  68  or the display unit for time. Naturally, the display device  44  could also serve to display time. 
         [0057]      FIG. 8  shows the blood testing apparatus from  FIG. 7  with the second cover  70  likewise raised so that access to the housing base  4  for inserting and removing a carrier cartridge is possible. 
         [0058]    Finally,  FIG. 9  shows an isometric view corresponding to  FIG. 8  of a further embodiment, according to which the display device  44  for blood analysis is furnished on the inner side of the first cover  6 . 
         [0059]    While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to certain particular embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations, changes, modifications, substitutions, deletions, or additions of procedures and protocols may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Expected variations or differences in the results are contemplated in accordance with the objects and practices of the present invention. It is intended, therefore, that the invention be defined by the scope of the claims which follow and that such claims be interpreted as broadly as is reasonable.