Needle for body fluid tester

• US 20030060784A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integ Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Integ Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hilgers, Michael Edward, Schmidt, Bruno J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,802,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/272
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/008 Interstitial fluid

Abstract

An apparatus for collecting a body fluid for testing for an analyte includes a needle for penetrating a patient'"'"'s skin to access the fluid within the skin. The needle has a hollow body extending from a first end to a second end. An interior surface of the body defines a fluid pathway extending between the ends. The second end is positioned to deposit fluid for testing. The first end has a beveled face on a front side of the body. The beveled face terminates at a penetration tip with the beveled face having an opening in communication with the fluid pathway. The penetration tip is burnished to a rounded shape and bent to facilitate low pain and rapid fluid collection.

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting a body fluid for testing for an analyte contained within said body fluid, said apparatus comprising:

a needle for penetrating a patient'"'"'s skin to access said fluid within said skin;

said needle having a hollow body extending from a first end to a second end with a fluid pathway extending between said ends;

said second end positioned to deposit fluid for subsequent testing;

said first end configured to penetrate said skin and including a beveled face on a front side of said body with said beveled face terminating at a penetration tip with said beveled face having an opening in communication with said fluid pathway;

said body having a linear axis adjacent said first end; and

said first end including a bend formed on said front side for at least a forward portion of said beveled face to be deflected toward said front side with said tip disposed above said axis.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bend is positioned on said beveled face.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said beveled face is deflected for said penetration tip to be positioned protruding beyond a plane of said body at said front side.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said beveled face extends through a transverse dimension of said body for said penetration tip to define a point on a back side of said body;

said bend positioned at a location on said beveled face for said tip to be displaced from said back side and toward said front side.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said body is substantially tubular and said beveled face is a flat surface at an angle to said body prior to said bend.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein an interior surface of said body defines said fluid pathway, said apparatus further comprising:

said beveled face intersecting with an exterior surface of said body to define an outer peripheral edge and said beveled face intersecting with said interior surface to define an inner peripheral edge defining said opening;

said outer peripheral edge shaped to present a rounded edge.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said inner peripheral edge is shaped to present a rounded edge.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the needle is restrained for the tip to penetrate into and not through the dermis.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first end is set at an angle to said axis between about 20°

and 40°

.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first end is set at an angle to said axis of about 30°

.

11. A method for collecting a sample of body fluid from a skin layer of a patient, said method comprising:

selecting a needle having a hollow body extending from a first end to a second end with a fluid pathway extending between said ends, said second end positioned to deposit fluid for testing, said first end configured to penetrate said skin and including a beveled face on a front side of said body with said beveled face terminating at a penetration tip with said beveled face having an opening in communication with said fluid pathway, said body having a linear axis adjacent said first end, and said first end including a bend formed on said front side for at least a forward portion of said beveled face to be deflected toward said front side and with said tip disposed above said axis; and

penetrating said tip into said skin layer to collect said body fluid in said needle.