Patent ID: 8101126

Claim:
A sensor-dispensing instrument adapted to handle a plurality of sensors, the sensor-dispensing instrument further adapted to perform a test using one of the plurality of sensors, the sensor-dispensing instrument comprising: an outer housing having a front end and a rear end, the outer housing further having a sensor slot through which one of the sensors is disposed to conduct the test; an electronics assembly generally disposed in the outer housing, the electronic assembly adapted to perform the test and to display test results; a sensor actuator generally disposed adjacent to the sensor slot, the sensor actuator adapted to engage with a sensor disposed in the sensor slot, to connect to contacts on the sensor, and to transmit electrical signals between the sensor and the electronics assembly; and a sensor release generally disposed on a surface of the outer housing, the sensor release being movable to disengage the sensor actuator from the sensor disposed in the sensor slot, the sensor release activating a sensor-release mechanism having a sensor-release aid arm, a mounting block, and a pivot pin connecting the sensor-release aid arm to the mounting block, the sensor release including one or more portions configured to engage the sensor-release aid arm to cause the sensor-release aid arm to rotate about the pivot pin and to contact the sensor disposed in the sensor slot to cause the sensor to be removed from the sensor slot.