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Tape magazine for a hand-held deviceRelated Patent Categories: Chemistry: Molecular Biology And Microbiology, Measuring Or Testing Process Involving Enzymes Or Micro-organisms; Composition Or Test Strip Therefore; Processes Of Forming Such Composition Or Test StripTape magazine for a hand-held device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060240403, Tape magazine for a hand-held device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority to German Patent Application 10 2005 013 685.0 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The invention The invention concerns a tape magazine for a hand-held device for examining a body fluid comprising a test tape, a storage unit for unused test tape and a waste unit for used test tape where the waste unit is driven in order to wind forward the test tape. BACKGROUND [0003] In such tape magazines an unused section of test tape is pulled from a supply reel and guided over a receiving device where it takes up a sample of body fluid. Afterwards the section of test tape which is now used is wound onto a waste reel. A detection device which measures the sample and transfers the result of the measurement to an evaluation device is attached to the receiving unit. [0004] Such tape magazines are preferably used in blood sugar measuring instruments for diabetics who depend on a continuous monitoring of their blood sugar values. The test tape allows a blood sugar test to be carried out inside the instrument after applying capillary blood for example from a finger pad. For this purpose a plurality of test sections or test fields are arranged consecutively on the test tape. An unused section of tape is moved into an active position by advancing the tape. Then the capillary blood is applied and analysed. In order to simply dose very small amounts of blood and to position the test tape as exactly as possible relative to the detection device, the test tape is guided over a deflecting head inside the instrument. In this process there is a risk of erroneous measurements if the test tape slips off the deflecting head. For a successful measurement the test tape must remain at a well-defined position and rest against it evenly while maintaining a predetermined distance to the detection unit. This is necessary for at least as long as it takes to complete the measurement. Another challenge is that the test tape is very sensitive to contamination. Hence the unused area of the test tape should be spatially separated from the used area and also be screened from external influences which could impair the function of the test tape. Hence a direct drive coupling between the storage unit and the waste unit is very difficult. [0005] Furthermore the hand-held devices of the prior art are designed for continuous use whereas the tape magazine is replaced. The hand-held devices are therefore relatively large and quite laborious to manufacture not least due to the complicated instrument technology. SUMMARY [0006] Hence an embodiment of the present invention is formed to provide a tape magazine which prevents malfunctioning due to slack tape. [0007] An embodiment of the present invention is further is formed to provide a hand-held device which is compact and has a favourable design for manufacturing. [0008] The combination of features stated in each of the independent patent claims is proposed. Embodiments and further developments of the invention are derived from the dependent claims. [0009] The present invention provides a tape magazine apparatus for a hand-held device for analysing a body fluid. The apparatus comprises a test tape, a storage unit formed for unused test tape, a waste unit formed for used test tape and to be driven in order to move forward the test tape from the storage unit, and an integrated brake that is formed to hold the test tape under tension between the storage and waste units. [0010] The present invention provides a tape magazine apparatus for analysing a body fluid comprising. The apparatus comprises a test tape, a reel body for unused test tape and a reel body for used test tape, at least one reel body being driven in order to forward the test tape, and a hand-operated transport mechanism provided as a tape drive. [0011] The present invention further provides a hand-held device for analysing a body fluid. The device comprises a tape magazine, an analytical test tape located in the tape magazine, and device electronics based upon integrated polymer circuits. [0012] Further, the present invention provides a method of dispensing a test tape for an analysis of body fluid. The method comprises providing a test magazine including a test tape, a storage unit formed for unused test tape, a waste unit formed for used test tape and to be driven in order to move forward the test tape from the storage unit, and an integrated brake, applying a brake force with the integrated brake to hold the test tape under tension between the storage and waste units, and actuating the test tape with a tensile force sufficient to move the test tape from the storage unit toward the waste unit. [0013] Accordingly it is proposed that a brake that holds the test tape under tension is integrated into the tape magazine. This enables the required minimum tape tension to be maintained since the waste unit drive transports the test tape against this tension so that it is not pulled too far away from the storage unit or unintentionally wound off. This allows the test tape to be deflected at a well-defined position relative to the detection unit. In this process the minimum tape tension also prevents unintentional lateral displacement. The tape drive force should in any case be of a sufficient magnitude to overcome the effect of the braking means. [0014] In particular, a braking force is applied to the storage unit which keeps the test tape under tension. This in particular prevents used test tape from being unintentionally wound off towards the application site. It also prevents areas of the test tape that have already been contaminated with blood from being pulled out of the tape magazine again which is an important hygienic advantage. [0015] The braking means can exert a braking force directly on the test tape. Alternatively the braking means can act on a reel body for the test tape such that the test tape is indirectly braked. In the latter case no allowance has to be made for changes in the diameter of the tape spool. Furthermore, this does not apply additional mechanical stress to the test tape. [0016] A simple embodiment provides that the braking means exert a constant braking force on the storage unit. This can be achieved by designing the braking means as a frictional element which in particular have a leaf spring as a frictional element. The braking means are formed by a seal which seals the storage unit at an opening for the test tape. [0017] In a somewhat more elaborate embodiment the braking means act on the storage unit with a variable braking force. This enables the force required to pull out the test tape to increase to a lesser extent as the diameter of the supply spool decreases compared to the simple embodiment described above. In this connection it should be taken into consideration that the supply spool has a certain bearing friction which has to be overcome by the drive. Accordingly it is necessary to apply a torque which results from the momentary radius of the waste spool and the applied force to reel off the tape from the supply spool. Thus when the radius of the supply spool decreases with time, this force must increase. If the braking force decreases as a function of the tape tension, the overall increase in force can be kept lower. [0018] An embodiment provides that the braking means have a deflector lever which is loaded with a braking force via a spring where the deflector lever deflects the test tape over a roller. As the tape tensile force decreases the deflector lever is unloaded. The deflector lever can for example be loaded with a leaf spring or pressure spring to exert the braking force and acts as a brake on a spool housing for the test tape. [0019] Another improvement envisages that the braking force is not only modulated by the tape tension but also by the current spool diameter with the aid of a compensation mechanism so that the tape tension remains almost constant. [0020] This object can be achieved with a compensation mechanism which has a spring-loaded rocker arm which probes the circumference of the tape spool wherein the spring loading decreases as the diameter of the tape spool decreases and the braking force is correspondingly reduced. Hence the tape tensile force remains constant. Continue reading about Tape magazine for a hand-held device... Full patent description for Tape magazine for a hand-held device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Tape magazine for a hand-held device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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