LANCET NEEDLE ANCHOR METHOD

• US 20040039408A1
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prodigy Diabetes Care LLC
• Original Assignee: Erol Celikoglu, Ramzi Abulhaj
• Inventors: Celikoglu, Erol, Abulhaj, Ramzi F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,723,111 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 5/150183 Depth adjustment mechanism using end caps mounted at the distal end of the sampling device, i.e. the end-caps are adjustably positioned relative to the piercing device housing for example by rotating or screwing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150282 for piercing elements, e.g. blade, lancet, canula, needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150435 Specific design of proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150519 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the single-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150549 Protectors removed by rotational movement, e.g. torsion or screwing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150618 Integrally moulded protectors, e.g. protectors simultaneously moulded together with a further component, e.g. a hub, of the piercing element
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15105 Purely manual piercing, i.e. the user pierces the skin without the assistance of any driving means or driving devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15186 Devices loaded with a single lancet, i.e. a single lancet with or without a casing is loaded into a reusable drive device and then discarded after use; drive devices reloadable for multiple use
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14549 Coating rod-like, wire-like or belt-like articles B29C45/14426 takes precedence

Abstract

A lancet body 15 is molded around a needle or blade, in which the inner end of the needle body which is unsharpened has an L-shape bend at the unsharpened end. The bend, when embedded in the plastic which forms the body of the lancet, secures the needle against removal. The method involves the bending substantially perpendicularly of the unsharpened end of the lancet needle or blade to be substantially perpendicular with the elongate body of the blade. The needle or blade is placed within a jig interiorly of the plastic mold. The jig includes spaced opposed clamps and a single orienting support to the bent portion of the needle. The body of the lancet is relieved in many areas to reduce material cost and has a molded tab cover eliminating a loose part such as a separate cover.

Claims

1. A lancet for use with a lancing device, said lancet having a body, a needle or blade positioned therein, and a needle cover, the body and needle cover being unitarily formed from plastic, characterized by:

said needle or blade having an elongate body portion, one end of which is sharpened, and the other end of which is bent at an angle substantially perpendicular to the body portion thereof;

the body portion of the plastic molded around the needle having opposed ports, said ports being formed by the withdrawal of opposed clamping members which secure the needle in place interiorly of the plastic mold when the plastic is formed about the needle, said opposed ports revealing the needle body portion interiorly thereof as a result of having been previously clamped in a jig interiorly of the mold cavity from which the body of the lancet is formed.

3. In the lancet according to claim 1,

a plurality of four runners extending along the body of the lancet;

said runners being at essentially perpendicular and dimensionally opposite distances from each other;

whereby the lancet body when secured in the lancing device can be ensured of a direct linear movement when fired by engagement of the lancing device.

4. In the lancet according to claim 3,

wherein said ports penetrate opposed runners and are proportioned to accommodate said clamping members interiorly of the mold from which the lancet is formed, said clamping members being also proportioned when removed to leave said ports for inspection and weight reduction in the opposed runners extending to the needle from the outer edges of the runners.

5. In the lancet according to claim 3, the plastic for forming said lancet being selected from that type of plastic known as LDPE, grades Q200, virgin or reclaimed.

6. In the lancet according to claim 4, the plastic for forming said lancet being selected from that type of plastic known as LDPE, grades Q200, virgin or reclaimed.

2. A method of forming a lancet having a needle or blade within an elongate lancet body, produced in accordance with the following steps:

bending one end of said needle or blade body, and sharpening the other end to form a point;

forming a mold for the lancet body which forms a cavity complementary to the shape the lancet body including forming a cap portion to encapsulate the sharpened end of the needle or blade;

providing opposed clamping members at an interior portion of the mold in vise-like relationship to the lancet body of the needle or blade;

injecting plastic into the mold after the lancet body has been positioned therein; and

thereafter opening the mold and removing the lancet;

whereby the lancet is sanitarily housed within the lancet body with the needle or blade point encapsulated in the head and revealing, through the recesses in the body left by the withdrawal of the jig, opposite sides of the body of the needle or blade.