Lancing mechanism

• US 20010056284A1
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Brenneman, Allen J., Purcell, D. Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 6,607,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/181
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15128 comprising 2D- or 3D-shaped elements, e.g. cams, curved guide rails or threads comprising tooth-shaped elements A61B5/15132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15194 fully automatically retracted, i.e. the retraction does not require a deliberate action by the user, e.g. by terminating the contact with the patient's skin

Abstract

A lancing mechanism for puncturing skin is provided. The lancing mechanism comprises a lance having a penetration end which is adapted to puncture skin. The penetration end of the lance is movable from a first position to a second position during a forward stroke and between the second position and the first position during a return stroke. A forcing plunger applies a force to the lance to move the lance from the first position to the second during the forward stroke. The forcing plunger is adapted to engage the lance during the forward stroke to move the penetration end of the lance from the first position to the second position and to disengage the lance when the penetration end of the lance approaches the second position. A first resilient member coupled to the lance moves the first end of the lance from the second position to the first position during the return stroke.

Claims

1. A lancing mechanism for puncturing skin, comprising:

a lance having a penetration end being adapted to puncture skin, the penetration end of the lance being movable from a first position to a second position during a forward stroke, the penetration end of the lance being movable between the second position and the first position during a return stroke;

a forcing plunger being adapted to apply a force to the lance to move the lance from the first position to the second during the forward stroke, the forcing plunger being adapted to engage the lance during the forward stroke to move the penetration end of the lance from the first position to the second position, the forcing plunger being adapted to disengage the lance when the penetration end of the lance approaches the second position; and

a first resilient member coupled to the lance being adapted to move the first end of the lance from the second position to the first position during the return stroke.

2. The lancing mechanism of

claim 1

further comprising a housing wherein the forcing plunger, the lance, and the first resilient member are disposed within the housing, the housing having an aperture disposed therein, the penetration end of the lance being bounded by the housing when in the first position, the penetration end of the lance extending through the aperture when in the second position.

3. The lancing mechanism of

claim 2

farther comprising a linkage having a first end and a second end disposed within the housing between the forcing plunger and the lance, the linkage being adapted to couple the forcing plunger to the lance during the forward stroke, the second end of the linkage being pivotally coupled to the lance, the first end of the linkage being adapted to engage the forcing plunger during the forward stroke and to disengage the forcing plunger during the return stoke.

4. The lancing mechanism of

claim 3

wherein the forcing plunger has a rounded end and the first end of the linkage is generally C-shaped.

5. The lancing mechanism of

claim 4

wherein the generally C-shaped first end of the linkage has a lip, the lip being adapted to engage the rounded end of the forcing plunger.

6. The lancing mechanism of

claim 5

wherein the forcing plunger is movable from a pre-firing position to a post-firing position when applying the force to the lance, the mechanism further comprising a second resilient member being adapted to move the forcing plunger from the pre-firing position to the post-firing position.

7. The lancing mechanism of

claim 6

wherein the lip is adapted to disengage the rounded end of the forcing plunger as the forcing plunger nears the post-firing position.

8. The lancing mechanism of

claim 6

wherein the second resilient member is a compression spring.

9. The lancing mechanism of

claim 6

further comprising a trigger being adapted to release the forcing plunger from the pre-firing position

10. The lancing mechanism of

claim 1

in combination with a blood glucose testing device.

11. The lancing mechanism of

claim 1

wherein the first resilient member is a compression spring.

12. A lancing mechanism for puncturing skin in order to obtain a sample of blood, the mechanism comprising:

a housing;

a lance disposed within the housing, the lance having a penetration end being adapted to puncture skin, the lance being moveable in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the lance, the penetration end of the lance being movable from a first position to a second position during a forward stroke, the penetration end of the lance being movable between the second position and the first position during a return stroke;

a forcing plunger disposed within the housing such that a longitudinal axis of the forcing plunger is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lance, the forcing plunger being movable in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the forcing plunger from a pre-firing position to a post-firing position, the forcing plunger having a first end and a second end,

a first resilient member being adapted to move the forcing plunger from the pre-firing position to the post-firing position;

a linkage member having a first end and a second end, the second end of the lance being pivotally coupled to the lance, the first end of the linkage member being adapted to engage the forcing plunger during the forward stroke to move the penetration end from the first position to the second position, the first end of the linkage member moving in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the forcing plunger during the forward stoke, the second end of the linkage member moving in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lance during the forward stroke, the first end of the linkage member being adapted to disengage the forcing plunger during the return stoke; and

a second resilient member being adapted to move the penetration end from the second position to the first position during the return stroke.

13. The lancing mechanism of

claim 12

wherein the first resilient member is a compression spring.

14. The lancing mechanism of

claim 12

wherein the second resilient member is a compression spring

15. The lancing mechanism of

claim 12

in combination with a blood glucose testing device.

16. The lancing mechanism of

claim 12

further comprising a trigger being adapted to release the forcing plunger from the pre-firing position.

17. The lancing mechanism of

claim 12

wherein the first end of the forcing plunger is generally rounded and the first end of the linkage is generally C-shaped.

18. The lancing mechanism of

claim 17

wherein the generally C-shaped first end of the linkage has a lip, the lip being adapted to engage the generally rounded first end of the forcing plunger.

19. The lancing mechanism of

claim 18

wherein the lip is adapted to disengage the rounded end of the forcing plunger as the forcing plunger nears the post-firing position.

20. A method for lancing a user'"'"'s skin to obtain a sample of blood with a lancing mechanism, the lancing mechanism including a forcing plunger, a linkage having a first and a second end, and a lance, the first end of the linkage being pivotally coupled to the lance, the method comprising:

propelling the forcing plunger from a pre-firing position to a post-firing position with a first resilient member;

engaging the linkage pivotally coupled to a lance with the forcing plunger;

moving the lance from a first position to a second position with the forcing plunger engaged to the linkage during a forward stroke of the lance; and

disengaging the forcing plunger from the linkage.

21. The method of

claim 20

further comprising moving the lance from the second position to the first position with a second resilient member.

22. The method of

claim 21

further comprising moving the forcing plunger from the post-firing position to the pre-firing position with a slider.

23. The method of

claim 22

further comprising maintaining the forcing plunger in the pre-firing position with a trigger.