Blood transfer assembly

Claim 2

A blood transfer apparatus comprising a base for supporting, a test strip carrying a reagent for reacting with a medically significant component in blood to produce a visual indication on such a test strip of the concentration of such a component in blood, funnel means for forming a blood droplet from a pricked finger, and means for pivotally connecting the funnel means to the base for pivotal movement between a test orientation engaging a test strip supported on the base in a blood droplet-receiving position and a release orientation away from a test strip supported on the base.

Claim 3

The blood transfer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base includes at least one stationary wall for aligning a test strip supported on the base in a predetermined position when the funnel means is in its test orientation so that a portion of such a test strip is disposed underneath the funnel means to receive a blood droplet therefrom.

Claim 4

The blood transfer apparatus claim 1 wherein the funnel means includes means for dispensing a blood droplet and a separate projection for engaging a test strip supported on the base when the funnel means is in its test orientation to retain such a test strip against the base in the blood droplet-receiving position undereath the dispensing means, the projection permitting removal and replacement of a test strip when the funnel means is in its release orientation in spaced-apart relation to the base.

Claim 5

The blood transfer apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for dispensing a blood droplet includes a transfer surface for conducting blood toward a test strip supported on the base when the funnel means is in its test orientation, the transfer surface including an upper edge across which a pricked finger is drawn to deposit blood onto the transfer surface and a lower edge terminating at a point so that blood flowing across the transfer surface forms into a uniformly sized droplet at the point owing to gravity and the surface tension of blood.

Claim 6

The blood transfer apparatus of claim 4 wherein said point is situated in spaced-apart aligned relation to a test strip supported on the base when the funnel means is in its test orientation to position a droplet falling from the point in alignment with such a test strip so that a falling droplet is deposited thereon for analysis of a medically significant component thereof.

Claim 7

The blood transfer apparatus of claim 4 wherein the funnel means further includes an upper concave surface with a curved contour corresponding generally to the exterior shape of a portion of a finger, and the upper concave surface and the transfer surface intersect to define said upper edge.

Claim 8

The blood transfer apparatus of claim 4 wherein the base includes a photoemitter and a photodetector situated in spaced-apart relation so that a falling blood droplet from the point interrupts a current of light from the photoemitter to the photodetector and thereby provides a signal that droplet formation and deposit is complete.

Claim 9

A blood transfer apparatus for forming a blood droplet from a pricked finger and for positioning said droplet for analysis of a medically significant component thereof, the apparatus comprising a droplet-forming portion comprising a first surface across which blood flows under the influence of gravity, the first surface including first and second vertically spaced-apart upper and lower edges, the lower edge terminating at a point and the upper edge having an upward concave contour corresponding generally to the cross section of a finger, across which upper edge a finger is drawn to deposit blood on the first surface, a base comprising means providing a second surface disposed directly beneath the point to receive a droplet formed as blood flows across the first surface toward the point where, owing to gravity and the surface tension of blood, the blood forms into a uniformly sized droplet which falls onto the second surface, said means providing the second surface comprising means for holding a test strip carrying a reagent for reacting with a medically significant component of blood to produce a visual indication on such a test strip of the concentration of such a component in blood, and means for pivotally connecting the droplet-forming portion to the base, the droplet-forming portion being pivotable between a first blood droplet forming and positioning orientation engaging a test strip supported on the base and a second test strip removal and replacement orientation with respect to the base.

Claim 10

A blood transfer apparatus for forming a blood droplet from a pricked finger and for positioning said droplet for analysis of a medically significant component thereof, the apparatus comprising a droplet-forming portion comprising a first surface across which blood flows under the influence of gravity, the first surface including first and second vertically spaced-apart upper and lower edges, the lower edge terminating at a point and the upper edge having an upward concave contour corresponding generally to the cross section of a finger, across which upper edge a finger is drawn to deposit blood on the first surface, a base comprising means providing a second surface disposed directly beneath the point to receive a droplet formed as blood flows across the first surface toward the point where, owing to gravity and the surface tension of blood, the blood forms into a uniformly sized droplet which falls onto the second surface, said means providing the second surface comprising means for holding a test strip carrying a reagent for reacting with a medically significant component of blood to produce a visual indication on such a test strip of the concentration of such a component in blood, and means for pivotally connecting the droplet-forming portion to the base, the droplet-forming portion being pivotable between a first blood droplet forming and positioning orientation engaging a test strip supported on the base and a second test strip removal and replacement orientation with respect to the base.

Claim 11

The blood transfer apparatus of claim 8 wherein the droplet-forming portion further comprises means for engaging a test strip when the droplet-forming portion is in the blood droplet forming and positioning orientation.

Claim 12

The blood transfer apparatus of claim 9 wherein the base is provided with a photoemitter and photodetector positioned on the base so that a blood droplet falling from the point onto the second surface will interrupt a current of light from the photoemitter to the photodetector and thereby provide a signal that droplet formation and positioning is complete.