Importance

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Abstract

A sensor dispensing instrument (20) includes a sensor magazine (26) that contains a plurality of blood glucose sensors (38) disposed in sensor slots (30A-J). Each of the sensor slots (30A-J) is in fluid communication with a desiccant cavity (50A-J) in which desiccant material is disposed. The front and rear walls (34, 32) of the sensor magazine (26) are sealed with burst foils (40, 42) so as to seal the sensor slots (30A-J) and the desiccant cavities (36A-J). The sensor instrument (20) has an outer housing (22) with a laterally extending magazine opening (24) adapted to receive the sensor magazine (26). A pivot rod (28) is moved through the magazine (26) and is locked into an operating position. The magazine (26) is rotated on the pivot rod (28) until a detent arm (48) on the instrument housing (22) engages a detent groove (50A-J) on the magazine (26) to position the magazine (26) in a sensor feeding position. Once so positioned, a sensor push rod (54) is pushed forward resulting in the push rod (54) piercing the rear burst foil (42) and engaging a sensor (38) in one of the sensor slots (30A-J) to thereby push the sensor (38) out through the front burst foil (40) and into a testing position. While in this testing position, the sensor (38) can be placed in a blood sample that needs to be analyzed. Once the test is completed, the push rod (54) is advanced forward further to thereby eject the used sensor (38) from the sensor handling instrument (20). The push rod (54) then is retracted to a standby position and the sensor magazine (26) is rotated until the detent arm (48) engages another detent groove (50A-J) so that another sensor slot (30A-J) is in alignment with the push rod (54).

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First Claim