MXPA99003742A - Storage containerfor analytical test elements - Google Patents

Abstract

Each chamber (3) fixes analytical agents inside. Preferred Features:A narrowing of the chamber is sufficient for fixation, e.g. caused by internal prominences of the walls. One of the two or more openings is permeable to the agent. Another opening permits a plunger to displace it. Each chamber has a guidance groove for the plunger (17). On surfaces of the vessel (1) closed with film, projections are provided, to prevent direct contact between film and flat support surfaces below. A similar system, storing numbers of analytical agents is claimed. The agents are used to analyze fluids. One or more such vessels are accepted in a measuring instrument, or a storage system optionally containing a drying agent.

Description

STORAGE CONTAINER FOR ANALYTICAL DEVICES DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a storage container made of a rigid material for two or more analytical devices in which these devices can be individually accommodated in chambers which are located with respect to each other in a regular geometric arrangement wherein each of the chambers has at least two openings which are sealed by a sheet. The invention also relates to a system for storing analytical devices containing a storage container according to the invention and two or more analytical devices. Rapid tests linked to carrier have been established in specialized laboratories for the chemical and biochemical analysis of solid and liquid sample materials and also in particular for use in permanent laboratories abroad. Despite the often complex reactions involving sensitive reagents, such rapid carrier-linked tests that rely on specially developed dye chemistry are simple and uncomplicated and can even be carried out by a lay person. The most prominent example of rapid tests linked to REF .: 29926 carrier are the test strips to determine the blood glucose content in diabetics. Single or multi-zone test strips for urinalysis and various indicator papers are also known. Since there are other forms of rapid tests attached to a carrier, in addition to rapid tests in the form of a strip (test strips), they are generally referred to as "analytical test elements". Rapid tests attached to chemical carriers are usually packaged in multiple ways for sale to the end user. The rapid test is usually in a first package which directly surrounds it (primary packaging) which in turn is surrounded in an additional package (external packaging, secondary packaging) which, in addition to the primary packaging, usually contains handling instructions for rapid tests in the form of inserts in the package. The primary packaging is designed to meet the essential functions of maintaining the function of the chemical and biochemical components of the test element during a prolonged period of storage. These functions are, above all, protection for the influence of light rays, protection of the entry of atmospheric humidity, dirt, germs and dust as well as protection for mechanical damage of the test elements. One of the most common forms of primary packaging is to offer test items that have been loosely loaded into aluminum or plastic tubes which are sealed by a plug that is pressed or screwed. The functions of the primary packaging mentioned above are satisfied satisfactorily by these tube packings. These seem to be out of fashion due to the complicated manual removal of individual test items from the primary packaging reason why alternative packaging concepts have been developed. In addition to the aforementioned properties, this additionally allows the test elements to be individually and automatically removed from the package and are directly available for a measuring instrument which measures and subsequently evaluates the test results. EP-A 0 622 119 discloses storage systems made of rigid, vapor-tight and water-tight materials for strip-like test elements in which the test elements are stored individually in sealed chambers with sheet (individual sealing). The chambers for the test strips - which is another term for the test elements similar to strips - are in the form of tubes with a rectangular cross-section and which are oriented one in relation to the other in a geometric and regular manner which it results in the storage system being in the form of an essentially rectangular feeder or an articulated box that has parallel chambers that are close to each other or in line, or in the form of an elongated cylinder or a flat circular disk with chambers grouped radially around a central axis. The test elements can be removed from the storage system either manually or by a mechanical device and the test elements that remain in the storage container continue to be protected by the individual seal. Furthermore, EP-A-0 622 119 describes the possibility of providing desiccants for the test strips such as silica gels and molecular sieves inside the chambers in order to absorb residual moisture that results from the manufacturing process for the strips. of test which has penetrated the cameras despite the sealing and use of materials that are impermeable to water vapor. A data carrier can be attached to one of the outer sides of the storage system such as, for example, a legible type label, a bar code label or a magnetic strip on which it is stored and specific data can be requested of the lot and optionally additional information about the test elements in the system. Some of the storage containers for test elements described in EP-A 0 622 119 are suitable for use in appropriately designed measuring systems consisting essentially of a measuring instrument, a storage container and test elements.

EP-A 0 732 590 and US 5,489,414 disclose round, disc-shaped storage containers for test items which are suitable for use in compact measuring instruments, for example, for self-monitoring of blood sugar by diabetics. In this case, the test elements are disposed radially in a plane about the center of the disc and are sealed individually against dust and hermetically against moisture in ampoules such as those known for individually packaged tablets. A separate blister for a desiccant is provided for each test element in the storage container according to EP-A 0 732 590 and the desiccant ampoule and the ampoule of the test element are joined to ensure effective desiccation of the ampule of the test element. The cylindrical test element feeders made of plastic in an injection molding process are known from US 5,510,266 and EP-A 0 738 666 in which the individual test elements are arranged similar to cartridges, in a cylinder type revolver in continuous chambers that extend from the base of the cylinder to the opposite surface of cover. As previously described above for EP-A 0622 119, the test elements in this case are individually sealed in parallel, elongated, tube-like chambers arranged radially about a central longitudinal axis for which the circular base and the cover surfaces of the cylindrical storage container are sealed with sheets such as an aluminum foil. In order to remove the test elements from the feeder, one of the sealing sheets is punctured with a plunger and the test element that is to be removed is pushed out of its chamber through the sealed hollow sheet and thus So much becomes available for its proposed use. Similarly to EP-A 0 732 590 each chamber of the test element is provided with a separate desiccant chamber which is attached to the chamber of the test element by means of a channel so that the chamber of the test element can be reliably dehumidified by the desiccant. The test element feeders from the documents US 5,510,266 and EP-A 0 738 666 are also primarily designed for use in compact measuring instruments. The storage containers described in the prior art have the disadvantage that the test elements are not optimally protected against environmental influences and in particular mechanical influences. The blister packages for the test elements described in EP-A 0 732 590 and US 5,489,414 are manufactured. from relatively thin plastic sheets and by their nature provide only inadequate protection of the test elements against mechanical damage, for example by unintentional pressing or folding of the package or case. The storage containers of test elements of documents 5,510,266 and EP-A 0 738 666 provide better protection in this case since they are made of rigid solid materials which at least offer more resistance to pressure and bending stresses compared to blister type packaging. However, the mechanical weaknesses of the type of packaging in the form of the drum described in US 5,510,266 and EP-A 0 738 666 are the sealing sheets which seal the base and cover surfaces of the cylindrical drum in order to that in this way sealed test element chambers are produced. These sealing sheets are usually made of thin sheets such as aluminum sheets so that they can be easily punched out when the test elements are removed and easily damaged when the package is dropped unintentionally or not carefully placed on a support. Since the light openings in the sealing foil can allow the penetration of dust, germs and atmospheric humidity to the test element chambers, this can result in serious damage to the test elements that must be protected by the packing. A further disadvantage of the storage containers described in the prior art is that the automatic removal of the test elements, for example with the help of a plunger, often leads to an inclination of the test elements in their chamber. Consequently, these systems are not reliable enough to provide evidence. The described disadvantages of the packaging concepts for the test elements also apply essentially to other analytical devices such as lancets or sampling elements. Although these latter devices usually do not contain sensitive reagents that must be protected against environmental influences, in these cases, attention must also be paid to the sterile conditions in the storage container chamber so that the stored elements do not become unusable before a prolonged storage. The object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact storage container for analytical devices, i.e., test elements, sampling elements and lancets that can be manufactured cheaply and in large quantities and which can be reliably protected. the analytical devices located therein against harmful environmental influences such as light, humidity or mechanical influences. Furthermore, it is possible to integrate the storage container into an analytical system comprising a compact measuring instrument, the storage container and the test elements and allowing a reliable removal, that is, without failure of the analytical devices. The invention relates to a storage container made of a rigid material for two or more analytical devices containing separate chambers in each of which at least one device can be accommodated therein, the chambers are in a regular geometric arrangement in one relationship with the other and each of the chambers has at least two opposite openings each sealed by a sheet wherein each chamber has a means for fixing the position of the analytical device in the chamber. It is understood that the term "analytical devices" includes analytical test elements, cuvettes, pipettes or lancets. Preferably they are analytical test elements or lancets and, in a particularly preferred way, analytical test elements. The analytical test elements in the sense used here are test strips that can be evaluated visually or optically by means of an apparatus, electrochemical sensors, etc. Since such analytical devices are described comprehensively in the prior art and are familiar to a person familiar with the art in a multitude of modalities, a detailed description is unnecessary here. For example, reference is made to the following documents: German patent application file number 197 53 847.9, EP-A 0 138 152, EP-A 0 821 234; EP-A 0 821 233, EP-A 0 630 609, EP-A 0 565 970 and WO 97/02487. The shape, functions and materials of the storage container according to the invention correspond mainly to the prior art. Mention is made in particular of EP-A-0 622 119, EP-A-0 738 666 and US 5,510,266. Here explicit reference is made to these documents. The storage container according to the invention has the shape, particularly preferably, of an essentially cylindrical elongated drum in which the chambers for retaining the analytical devices are placed radially around the longitudinal axis. The height of the drum depends essentially on the length of the analytical devices that must be accommodated. The base and cover surfaces of the cylindrical container contain the openings of the chambers which seal firmly with a sheet. All the openings of a surface are preferably sealed individually and independently of one another but, nevertheless, using a single piece of sheet. The individual and independent sealing ensures when a chamber is opened, the sealing sheets for the remaining chambers are not damaged.

The main body of the storage container according to the invention is preferably manufactured from a rigid injection moldable plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The sheet for sealing the openings of the chamber, which is also referred to as the sealing sheet, is preferably made of aluminum or an aluminum-plastic laminate and is firmly attached to the main plastic body of the storage container by known processes such as welding or glued. The sealing sheet is preferably fixed to the injection molded body by means of a hot-melt adhesive. In order to prevent sticky remnants from protruding into the chambers of the device or protruding from the rim of the storage container, areas for receiving remnants of adhesive in a preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention can be provided on individual edges. or on all affected edges. For example, a circumferential recess may be present on all affected edges to receive the remnants of adhesive. In a preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, an individual desiccant storage is provided for each chamber for the analytical devices which is preferably accommodated in a separate desiccant chamber. In principle, all desiccants obtainable as solids or pasty masses can be used as desiccants, in particular silica gel, molecular sieves and similar materials. The desiccant chamber is sized according to the amount of desiccant that is required to dry the chamber of the device. The desiccant chamber and the device chamber are in contact allowing gas exchange. Preferably they are connected to each other by a channel which allows the exchange of air between the chambers and therefore the drying of the chamber of the device. The size and geometry of the channel are preferably such that the desiccant, for example silica gel and molecular sieve, can not enter the chamber of the device. If necessary, the size of the desiccant particles should be chosen accordingly. Preferably the desiccant chamber contains two openings, one of which is used to fill the chamber with desiccant (feed inlet) and the other provides contact that allows gas exchange with the chamber for the analytical device (channel opening) . While the channel opening must remain open at all times in order to allow desiccation of the device chamber, the desiccant chamber power inlet may be sealed after being charged with the desiccant. This can prevent unintentional leakage of the desiccant from the chamber, for example, in subsequent manufacture or the filling steps of the storage container according to the invention. The desiccant chamber feeding inlet is preferably sealed by covering, for example, cardboard / paper, plastic or metal foil. In addition, it is preferable to cover the feeding inlet with a plastic or an adhesive plug. The desiccant chamber feeding inlet is preferably sealed and particularly corked injection molding material from the flange area of the opening with the help of a suitable tool, i.e., is pushed into the opening and therefore forms a cover for the opening. A difference with the known storage containers for analytical devices in the prior art, which is essential for the invention is that, a means is provided for fixing the position of the analytical device in the chamber, in each of the chambers which serves to retain an individual analytical device. The fixation of the analytical device in the chamber surprisingly becomes advantageous since it avoids the damage to the thin sheet which returns to the individual seal to the chamber and therefore prevents the penetration of moisture, dust, dirt and germs. When the storage container is dropped, agitated or accidentally knocked, the sealing sheet can be punctured by the analytical device in the storage container described in the prior art in which the analytical devices are loose and therefore They can move inside the cameras. With these containers, it is not possible to ensure a reliable seal of the individual chambers during the manufacture, storage, transport and use of the storage container and therefore the analytical devices in the chambers can not be reliably protected. The introduction according to the invention of a means for fixing the position of the analytical devices within the respective chamber solves the problem. The fixation of the analytical device in its chamber largely prevents accidental perforation of the sealed sheet of the chamber by the analytical device. Different designs according to the invention are possible as a means to fix the analytical devices in a fixed position in a chamber. In addition to fixing the position of the analytical devices in the chamber in a stable manner, this means that the analytical device should be allowed to be easily loaded into the chamber and removed from it when required for use. A preferred means for attaching analytical devices in a fixed position in the chamber has been shown to be a partial narrowing of the chamber preferably in that region of the chamber which is opposite the removal opening for the analytical device. The constriction can be continuous, for example, conical or gradual, and the analytical device can be fixed from one or several sides. The narrowing of the camera can be related to the wall or walls of the camera over its entire surface. However, it is also possible for the chamber to have one or more elevations on the wall of the chamber or the walls of the narrowing chamber which are oriented towards the interior of the chamber. The elevations can be shaped identically or differently and, for example, they can be present in the form of domes, bars, protruding parts, flanges or the like. The elevations in the wall of the chamber have the effect that the analytical element is only partially touched in order to fix it in its position in the chamber and therefore an optimization of the forces which result in the fixation is allowed. According to the invention, it has become apparent that it is particularly preferable to fix the analytical devices in the chamber by means of a partially conical narrowing of the wall of the chamber as well as by means of one or more elevations in the wall of the chamber . Three ridges, preferably in a particular manner, serve as elevations which are located on two opposite chamber walls and which slightly bend the analytical device in the chamber and therefore fix it in its position by means of the bending tension that is generated . The bend should of course not damage the analytical device or impede its operation in the analytical device. Furthermore, it has become evident that it is preferable according to the invention that in each chamber in the storage container according to the invention only one of at least two apertures in the chamber is suitable for loading and removing the analytical devices. Therefore, only one of the two openings is large enough to remove the analytical device through it or to insert the analytical device into the chamber when it is loaded. This property of the opening is abbreviated in the following as "penetrable by analytical devices". In storage containers of the prior art (in particular in EP-A 0 738 666 and US 5, 510, 266) the openings in the lower surface as well as the openings in the covering surface can be penetrated in the analytical devices contained in the storage container. When the storage container is loaded with the analytical devices according to the prior art, first a surface of the storage container is sealed with a sheet and subsequently several analytical devices are loaded into the chambers provided therefor. Finally, the surface that is still open is also sealed with a thin sheet. The disadvantages of this method is that the first sheet can be damaged when the cameras are loaded with the analytical devices and that two manufacturing steps are necessary to seal the cameras. In the preferred storage container according to the invention in which, in each case, only one of at least two openings of the chamber can be penetrated by the analytical devices, they do not present themselves at such a disadvantage. The chambers can be loaded with analytical devices before one of the openings is sealed by a sealing sheet since one of the openings in the chamber can not be penetrated by the analytical devices and can therefore serve as the lower part of the chamber. the camera on which the analytical device inserted is located. Therefore, the risk of damaging the sheet, which should not exist at this stage of the process, is minimized. In addition, the process of sealing the chambers by the sheets can be carried out on both sides of the opening simultaneously. In addition, the sealing foil which is attached to that side of the storage container according to the invention on which are located the openings of the chamber that can not be penetrated by the analytical devices, can not be damaged or pierced basically from the interior by the analytical device present in the chamber, which increases the reliability of the storage container according to the invention.

The removal of the analytical devices from the storage container according to the invention is obtained by pushing the analytical device out of the chamber preferably with the help of a plunger. For the preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention on which one of the two openings of the chamber can not be penetrated by the analytical device, it is preferable that this opening can be penetrated by a plunger which can push the device analytical out of the storage container. It is especially preferred that each chamber has a guide groove for the plunger. This keeps the plunger and the analytical device located in the chamber during the ejection process in accurately defined relative positions and therefore prevents the plunger and the analytical element from tilting or sliding past one another. Since the sheets which serve to seal the openings of the chambers of the storage container according to the invention must be detachable from the chamber when the analytical device is removed from the chamber, they are naturally a potential mechanical weak point of the container. storage according to the invention. Therefore, the choice of material and thickness of the sheet is limited by the fact that it must be possible to tear the sealing sheet with the aid of the analytical device in the chamber when the plunger presses against the analytical device. In addition, the analytical device should not be damaged when the sheet is torn. In order to protect these sealing sheets when, for example, the storage container is placed on a flat support which has been rotated according to the invention, it is advantageous to provide elevations on the surfaces of the storage containers which are sealed with foils which avoid direct contact between the foil and support it when the storage container is placed on a flat support. These elevations can be designed as a peripheral circumferential thin rim around the outer periphery of the storage container according to the invention. The elevations in the center of the surfaces of the storage container according to the invention sealed with foil have also been shown to be advantageous. The elevation can have any desired shape, for example ridges or a plurality of knobs distributed regularly. The height of the elevation depends essentially on the thickness of the sealing sheet used. In order to be effective according to the invention, the elevation must have at least the thickness of the sealing sheet plus the thickness of an adhesive layer which may also be present to fix the sealing sheet to the storage container of according to the invention. However, the elevation preferably protrudes at least 300 to 400 μm beyond the surface of the sealing sheet. The elevations are preferably not covered with the sealing sheet but rather the areas over which the elevations are present and which are left free. In this case, sealing sheets are preferably used which are provided with appropriate cut-outs before they are mounted on the main body of the storage container. The mounting of such sealing sheets of course requires exact positioning of the sealing sheet in relation to the main body of the storage container. It has been shown to be particularly advantageous when at least one of the surfaces of the storage container according to the invention which is provided with a sealing foil, is not flat but rather is shaped like a cone pointing inwards. This is preferably the surface from which the analytical devices are pushed out of their chamber when the plunger is applied. Of course, the opposite surface of both surfaces which are sealed with a sheet can have this characteristic. The advantage of the conical shape of the surface is that the sealing sheet is protected against accidental damage since only the outer edge can rest on a flat surface. In addition, the force which is necessary to tear the sheet is reduced by this geometry. The cone is preferably inclined at an angle of Io to 45 ° in relation to the flat surface, particularly preferably from 1 ° to 10 ° and very particularly preferably 5 °. Appropriate means can be provided in or on the storage container for retaining the storage container according to the invention in a measuring instrument and for automatic removal of individual analytical devices. In this regard, it seems important above all to be able to place exactly the storage container in relation to the functional components of a measuring instrument and especially in relation to the plunger in order to remove the device. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the storage container according to the invention contains a central hole in which a matching guide pin of the measuring instrument can be coupled. In addition, a notch or a gear ring may be present in the hole or separate from the hole into which the corresponding raid device of the measuring instrument may be coupled in order to move the storage vessel to a favorable extraction position. In a corresponding measuring instrument, a guide pin engages in the central hole of the storage container which keeps the storage container in the correct position to remove the devices. For example, a drive gear ring can be located on the rim of the central hole into which a correspondingly shaped dockable component can be coupled when the storage container is used in a measuring instrument and with the help of which it can be made turn the storage container on the measuring instrument. The rotation of the storage container in the measuring instrument allows the storage container to move to corresponding predefined positions which allows the test elements to be removed from the measuring instrument with the height of a plunger and return to the elements of test available for measurement processes. A further subject matter of the invention is a system for storing analytical devices containing a storage container according to the invention and two or more analytical devices. The system according to the invention contains a storage container according to the invention as described above. At least two, and preferably 10 to 20, analytical devices are located in the storage container, each of which is individually sealed in the chamber. Analytical devices are preferably test elements particularly for analysis of liquids, for example diagnostic test strips or lancets, and especially test elements are preferred. Of course, it is also possible according to the invention to accommodate various types of analytical devices, each in its own chambers, for example test elements and lancets. Furthermore, the system according to the invention can contain a compact measuring instrument which can hold the storage container according to the invention with the analytical devices contained therein, preferably the test elements, and which is capable of removing the analytical devices of the storage container. In this process, the analytical devices become available to the measuring instrument in order to carry out the desired analysis. Finally, a subject matter of the invention is a system for storing analytical devices containing one or more storage containers according to the invention and two or more analytical devices in each storage container in which are contained the storage containers in a container or case. In order to further protect the analytical devices and the storage containers according to the invention from the damage of environmental influences especially humidity, light and mechanical stress, these can be packed in a surrounding container, for example, a metal or plastic tube. that can be sealed with a stopper. This container which surrounds the storage container or the containers may preferably contain an additional desiccant and therefore the storage stability of the analytical devices which are located in the storage containers according to the invention is increased. The advantages of the invention can be summarized as follows .- - Fixed analytical devices in the chambers of the storage container that protects the sealing sheet against accidental mechanical stresses such as when dropped, hit or shaken. Fixation of the analytical devices in the chambers of the storage containers which leads to an exact positioning of the devices in relation to a plunger with the help of which they can be pushed out of the chamber. This prevents the plunger from sliding past the device when it is pushed out of the storage container. The attachment of the analytical devices to the chambers of the storage container also serves as a guide for the devices when they are pushed out of the storage container. This reduces the risk of devices leaning in this process.

Since the opposite chamber openings are preferably designed differently and therefore can only be penetrated by the analytical devices on one side, the sealing sheet on the surface can not be penetrated by the devices and is not endangered by the contents of the chamber when the container falls, hits or shakes; furthermore, manufacturing is simplified since both surfaces which contain apertures of the chambers can be sealed in one operation step. The special design of those surfaces of the storage container according to the invention which are sealed with a sealing sheet prevent damage to the sheet when the storage container is placed on a flat surface. A special design is understood among others which means that the elevations are provided on the surfaces and / or the surfaces are conical and point inwards. A protective sealing foil also contributes to the protection of the analytical devices in the chambers of the storage container. In addition, the main body of the storage container according to the invention can be produced inexpensively by injection molding a plastic.

The invention will be further diluted by the following drawings. Figure 1 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention. Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of the circular base surface (cover) of the preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention from Figure 1, in which the sealing sheet has been completely removed. Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of the circular base surface (lower part) of the preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention from figure 1, in which the sealing sheet has been completely removed. Figure 4 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention of Figure 1. Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-section through a preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention. invention of Figure 1. Figure 6 schematically shows an enlarging portion of a test element chamber as shown in Figure 2, in a top view.

Figure 7 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a further preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention. Figure 8 shows a partly schematic enlargement of a cross section along the line BB 'through two chambers of the embodiment of the storage container according to the invention shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 schematically shows a preferred system according to the invention containing three storage containers for test elements according to the invention. with the invention and a container for these storage containers in the form of a tube that can be sealed with a stopper. The numbers in the figures indicate: 1. storage container 2. test element 3. test element chamber 4. conical beveled top side of storage container 1. sealing sheet of upper side 4. 6. elevation on the side top (4) conical beveling of the storage container 1 7. desiccant chamber 8. flat bottom side of the storage container 1 9. elevation on the underside 8 plane of the storage container 1 10. central hole with a driving gear ring . 11. sealing plate for the lower side 8 12. opening for a piston 13. opening for removing the test element 14. opening for loading the desiccant 15. chamber wall of the chamber 3 of the Test element 16. Narrowing of chamber 3 of test element 17. Guide groove for plunger 18. Lift similar to flange on wall 15 of chamber 19. Lancet 20. Lancet chamber 21. Lancet body 22. container in the form of a tube for three storage containers 1. 23. cap for the container 22 in the form of a tube Figure 1 shows a particularly preferred embodiment of the storage container (1) according to the invention in a side view, which, in this case, is used to store analytical test elements. The storage container (1) is essentially in the form of a cylindrical drum which has an upper side (4) beveled conically circular, and a bottom side (8) essentially flat. The upper side (4) in this case is that side from which the test elements can be removed. The lower side (8) is that side through which a plunger can penetrate into the storage container (1) to push out the test elements. The storage container (1) that is preferably shown is made of a rigid injection moldable plastic such as polyethylene? Polypropylene. The upper side (4) conically bevelled and the flat bottom side (8) is provided with sealing foils (5, 11) to protect the analytical test elements contained in the storage container (1) . These sealing sheets (5, 11) can be glued or welded onto the injection molded main body of the storage container (1). Elevations (6, 9) are provided on the underside (8) of the storage container (1) as well as on the upper side (4) to protect the sealing sheets (5, 11). These elevations (6, 9) are preferably a component of the main injection molded body of the storage container (1). They ensure that the sealing sheets (5, 11) are not damaged when the storage container (1) is placed on a flat support. The sealing sheets (5, 11) have cutouts in the region of the elevations (6, 9) so that the elevations (6, 9), are not covered by the sealing sheets (5, 11). Figure 2 shows a top view of a top side (4) conically bevelled from the storage container (1). A plurality of chambers (3) of test elements can be clearly seen which are arranged radially around the elevation (6) of the upper side (4) conically bevelled of the storage container (1). The chambers (3) of test elements contain the opening for removing the test elements (13) on the side facing the upper side (4) bevelled conically in the storage container (1). Means are provided for fixing these test elements in the chamber of (3) test elements inside the test element chamber (3). On the one hand a narrowing (16) of the chamber (3) of the test elements is present which can fix a test element present in the chamber from two opposite sides. On the other hand, the elevations (18) similar to reinforcements or flanges are located inside the wall (15) of the chamber of each chamber (3) of test elements. In addition, the wall (15) of the chamber contains a guide groove (17) for a plunger. Figure 3 shows a top view of the flat bottom side (8) of the storage container (1), whereby in this case the sealing sheet is also removed as in figure 2. In this view, the openings (12) for a plunger and the opening (14) for filling with desiccant are visible around a central hole (10) with a drive gear wheel which is surrounded by a lift (9). An opening (12) is provided on that side of the chamber (3) of the test element which is oriented towards the flat bottom side (8) which can be used to push the test elements out of the chamber (3) of the test elements. The openings (12) for the plunger are connected to the guide groove (17) for the plunger. The desiccant chambers are connected to the chambers of the test element via a channel that is not visible in figure 3. The dimension of the channel is selected so that the individual particles of the desiccant can not pass from the desiccant chamber to the chamber of the test element. However, of course a gas exchange must be ensured between the desiccant chamber and the chamber of the test element. Figure 4 shows a schematic longitudinal section along line B-B 'of the preferred storage container (1) of Figure 2 according to the invention. The cross section in particular illustrates the position and shape of the chamber (3) of the test element, a desiccant chamber (7) as well as the central hole (10) with a drive gear wheel. In addition, the cross section of Figure 4 clearly shows that the upper side (4) of the storage container (1) is conically beveled. In addition, a test element (2) is schematically shown in order to illustrate its position in the chamber (3) of the test element. The test element (2) can be removed from the storage container (1) upwards out of the opening (13) and through the sealing sheet (5) on the upper side (4) by a plunger which perforates the sheet of sealing (11) on the lower side (8) and enters the opening (12) provided in the chamber (3) of the test element. The position of the test element (2) is fixed in the container (1) of storage by a constriction (16) as well as by similar elevations to flanges or reinforcements in the wall (15) of the chamber in the chamber (3) of the test element. This mainly avoids an accidental perforation of the sealing sheet (5) on the upper side of the storage container (1). The sealing sheet (11) on the lower side (8) of the storage container (1) is protected from perforation by the test element (2) insofar as the bottom (8) of the storage container (1) it only contains an opening (12) for a plunger in the area of the chamber (3) of the test element through which the test element (2) can not pass. The central hole (10) is designed to hold the storage container (1) in a measuring instrument. A guide pin engages in the central hole (10) in a corresponding measuring instrument which keeps the storage container (1) in the correct position. The elevation (6) on the conical upper side (4) of the storage container (1) also serves to stabilize the position of the storage container (1) in the measuring instrument according to the function described before protection of the sealing sheet (5) on the upper side (4) of the storage container (1). For example, the elevation (6) can be coupled there in a coinciding depression or recess. A drive gear ring is located at the lower edge of the central hole (10) into which a correspondingly shaped coupling component can be coupled when the storage container (1) is inserted into a measuring instrument and with the aid of the which can rotate the storage container (1) in the measuring instrument. The storage container (1) can be put into predefined positions corresponding to rotating the storage container (1) in the measuring instrument so that the test elements can be removed from the measuring instrument with the help of a plunger and the Test elements can be made available for the measurement process. In the particularly preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention described herein, a desiccant chamber (7) which can be filled by means of an opening (14) with a common desiccant such as silica gel or molecular sieve. it is located diametrically opposite to each of the chambers (3) of test elements. Each desiccant chamber (7) is placed directly adjacent to a test element chamber (3) and is connected thereto by means of a channel which allows air exchange between the desiccant chamber and the chamber (3) of the test element. A cross-section along the line AA 'of the preferred storage vessel (1) particularly according to the invention of Figure 1 is shown in Figure 5. This figure shows in a particularly clear manner the elevations (18) similar to flanges or reinforcements in the wall (15) of the chamber (3) of the test element. Each camera (3) of the test element is provided with three such elevations.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged detailed section of at least one element chamber (3), as shown in figure 2, in which the test element (2) is fixed in position with the help of elevations (18) similar to reinforcements in the wall (15) of the chamber (3) of the test element. The elevations (18) similar to reinforcements of the wall (15) of the chamber (3) of the test element ensure that the test element (2) is bent slightly in order to be fixed in the chamber (3) of the test element. Test based on this bending stress. The constrictions (16) of the chamber (3) of the test element serve to additionally fix the test element (2). The chamber (3) of the test element is loaded with the test element (2) by inserting a test element (2) into the chamber (3). Figure 7 shows a schematic longitudinal section for a further preferred embodiment of the storage container (1) according to the invention. In contrast to the modalities previously described, the embodiment shown in figure 7 contains a lancet (19) as an analytical device which is accommodated in a lancet chamber (20). The lancet (19) is partially surrounded by a lancet body (21) made of plastic. As shown in Figure 8, the storage container (1) according to the invention can also contain a lancet chamber (20) in addition to a test element chamber (3). The chamber (3) of the test element and the lancet chamber (20) can be placed geometrically in a manner similar to the geometrical arrangement of the chamber (3) of the test element and the desiccant chamber (7), as shown in FIG. shows, for example, in figure 5. Furthermore, in principle it is possible to provide desiccant chambers in addition to the chambers (3) of the test elements and the lancet chambers (20) which, for example, are in a contact allowing the exchange of gas with one of the chambers (3) of the test element in each case by means of a channel. However, it is also possible that separate desiccating chambers are not available in a particularly preferred embodiment shown in Figure 8. For example, it is possible to fabricate interior walls of the chambers (3) of test elements of a plastic containing desiccant. It is also possible to manufacture the lancet body (21) from a plastic containing desiccant. In the latter case, it is necessary to allow gas exchange between, in each case, a chamber (3) of the test element and the lancet chamber (20), for example by means of a connection channel. A preferred system according to the invention is shown, schematically in Figure 9 which, in this preferred case, is constituted of three preferred storage containers (1) according to the invention and a tube-like container (22), so that it can be sealed with a plug (23). The system shown in Figure 9 serves to protect the storage containers (1) according to the invention, for example, during storage and transport to the end user. The tube-like container (22) is preferably made of a stable light or moisture impermeable plastic or a metal, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene or aluminum. The plug (23) is preferably also made of one such material. In the form shown the plug (23) is simply pressed on the tube (22) therefore it seals it tightly. Of course, the tube (22) can also be sealed by a screw cap or an articulated closure. An additional desiccant can be provided in the tube-like container (22) to stabilize the test elements contained in the storage containers (1), which either fit into the bottom of the tube-like container (22) or into the container. the plug (23). It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects or products to which it refers.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, it is claimed as property contained in the following reiviridicaciones: 1. A storage container made of a rigid material for two or more analytical devices containing separate chambers in each of which can be accommodated at most a device, the storage container is characterized in that the chambers are in a regular geometric arrangement one in relation to the other and each of the chambers has at least two opposite openings, each sealed by a sheet, wherein each chamber it has a means to fix the position of the analytical devices in the camera. The storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the partial constriction of the chamber serves as a means to fix the analytical devices. The storage container according to claim 2, characterized in that the chamber has one or more elevations in the wall of the chamber which protrude inside the interior of the chamber for constriction. The storage container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the analytical devices can pass through only one of at least two openings in each chamber. The storage container according to claim 4, characterized in that one of at least two openings of each chamber through which the analytical devices can not pass allows the passage of a plunger which can push the analytical devices of the storage container. The storage container according to claim 5, characterized in that each chamber contains a guide groove for the plunger. The storage container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that elevations are present on the surfaces of the storage container that are sealed with sheets which prevent direct contact between the sheet and the support when the container Storage is placed on a flat support. 8. A system for storing analytical devices characterized in that it contains a storage container according to one of claims 1 to 7 and two or more analytical devices. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the analytical devices are test elements for liquid analysis. 10. The system according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it additionally contains a measuring instrument which is suitable for retaining one or more storage containers as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7. 11. The system for storing devices analytes containing one or more storage containers, according to one of claims 1 to 7, and two or more analytical devices by storage containers in which the storage containers are contained in a container. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that the container for the storage containers contains a desiccant.