Steven James Roe

US Patent:

8052926, Nov 8, 2011

Filed:

Jul 25, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/180101

Inventors:

Abner David Joseph - Carmel IN, US
Frank A. Chan - Sunnyvale CA, US
Steven N. Roe - San Mateo CA, US

Assignee:

Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. - Indianapolis IN

International Classification:

A61L 2/00
H01J 27/00
G01N 23/00
A61N 5/00
A61B 10/00
A61B 5/00
B65B 55/02
B65B 9/00
B65B 51/10

US Classification:

422 22, 422 1, 422 24, 422 50, 422410, 422430, 250427, 250432 R, 25045511, 2504921, 600583, 600584, 600566, 600567, 53425, 53450, 53477

Abstract:

An integrated disposable includes a test strip and a lancet packet coupled to the test strip. The lancet packet includes a sterility sheet enclosing at least a portion of a lancet to maintain the sterility of the lancet. The lancet packet and the sterility sheet, in particular, allow the lancet to be sterilized separately from the test strip. The lancet in one form is incorporated into a lancet tape that is sterilized in a continuous, reel-to-reel sterilization process. The lancet tape in one form is sterilized using an electron beam sterilization process. With electron beam sterilization, sterilization is enhanced by irradiating both sides of the tape with electron beams. Sterilization can adversely affect chemical reagents in the test strip. To alleviate this chemistry degradation issue, the lancet packet is attached to the test strip after the lancet is sterilized.