Method and apparatus for lancet launching device intergrated onto a blood-sampling cartridge

• US 20050101981A1
• Filed: 06/12/2002
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Pelikan Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lum, Paul, Alden, Don, Freeman, Dominique M
• Granted Patent: US 7,749,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/181
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• 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 5/150748 Having means for aiding positioning of the piercing device at a location where the body is to be pierced means for aiding positioning of devices for bringing media into the body A61M5/427, locating blood vessels A61B5/489
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150809 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150832 by topography of the surface, e.g. Braille, embossed printing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15111 Semi-automatically triggered, e.g. at the end of the cocking procedure, for instance by biasing the main drive spring or when reaching sufficient contact pressure, the piercing device is automatically triggered without any deliberate action by the user
• 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 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable
• 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: A61B 5/1519 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for propelling the piercing unit
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus for obtaining a sample of blood. An embodiment consists of an apparatus which integrates lancing, sample collection, and analysis. The presence of patients finger on the active sampling area can be sensed by monitoring the pressure applied by the finger on the device.

Claims

1. A sampling device comprising:

a lancet for obtaining a blood sample from a user, said lancet having a distal end and a proximal end;

a reservoir for collecting the blood sample adjacent to the proximal end of said lancet;

a launcher attached to the distal end of said lancet; and

a sensor on said sampling device for detecting said user and initiating a lancing cycle.

2. A sampling device according to claim 1 wherein said device further comprises:

a system for analyzing the blood sample.

3. A sampling device according to claim 2 wherein:

said lancet and said reservoir are integrated into a disposable cartridge.

4. A sampling device according to claim 3 wherein:

said launcher contacts said sensor to detect said user and to activate said launcher.

5. A sampling device according to claim 4 wherein:

said sensor is prompted when said disposable cartridge is loaded into said device.

6. A sampling device according to claim 5 wherein:

said sensor is unprompted upon retraction of said lancet.

7. A sampling device according to claim 1 wherein:

said sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor for detecting pressure applied by said user on said piezoelectric sensor.

8. A sampling device according to claim 1 wherein:

said sensor comprises an electric circuit which is closed when pressure is applied by said user on said sensor.

9. A sampling device comprising:

a disposable cartridge comprising a conduit, a reservoir for collecting a blood sample, said reservoir having a narrow opening on an ergonomically contoured surface of said cartridge;

a lancet for obtaining a blood sample from a finger, said lancet having a first distal end and a first proximal end, said lancet embedded within said conduit, said conduit running from a cavity within said cartridge to an orifice on said ergonomically contoured surface, said first proximal end used to pierce said finger, said lancet oriented so that the first distal end is longitudinal to the cavity, and the first proximal end is longitudinal to the orifice;

a launcher on said device fitted within said cavity, said launcher having a second proximal end and a second distal end;

said second proximal end connecting to said first distal end; and

a sensor affixed to said device, said sensor adjacent to the second distal end, said sensor detecting said finger on the ergonomically contoured surface;

said sensor initiating a lancing cycle.

10. A sampling device according to claim. 9 wherein said device further comprises:

a system for analyzing the blood sample, by channeling blood from said reservoir to an active area within said cartridge, said active area overlapping said system.

11. A sampling device according to claim 9 wherein:

said sensor comprising a piezoelectric circuit, said circuit contacting the second distal end when the finger applies pressure on said ergonomically contoured surface.

12. A sampling device according to claim 9 wherein:

said sensor comprising an electric circuit, said circuit contacting the second distal end when the finger applies pressure on said ergonomically contoured surface.

13. A method of sampling comprising of the steps of:

loading a disposable cartridge with an embedded lancet into a lancing device;

placing a piece of skin on a surface of said cartridge;

initiating a lancing cycle by prompting a sensor on said lancing device;

activating a launcher;

lancing said skin to obtain a blood sample;

collecting said blood sample; and

disposing said cartridge.

14. A method of sampling according to claim 13 further comprising of the step of:

analyzing said blood sample.

15. A method of sampling according to claim 13 further comprising of the step of:

informing a user to remove said skin when said lancing cycle is complete.

16. A method of sampling according to claim 15 wherein:

informing said user further comprises giving an audible signal when said lancing cycle is complete.

17. A method of sampling according to claim 15 wherein:

informing said user further comprises giving a visual signal when said lancing cycle is complete.

18. A method of sampling according to claim 13 further comprising of the step of:

unprompting said sensor upon retraction of said lancet.

19. A method of sampling according to claim 13 wherein:

activating said launcher comprises applying pressure through said skin to said surface.

20. A method of sampling according to claim 19 wherein:

said skin is on a finger.

21. A method of sampling according to claim 20 wherein:

said surface is ergonomically contoured to said finger.

22. A method of sampling comprising of the steps of:

loading a disposable cartridge into a lancing device with a lancet embedded within a conduit which has an orifice on a surface of said cartridge;

initiating a lancing cycle by prompting a sensor on said lancing device;

activating said lancing cycle by having a patient place a finger over an ergonomically contoured area located on said surface such that said finger overlaps with said orifice;

lancing the finger to obtain a sample of blood;

collecting said sample of blood through said orifice;

informing said user to remove said finger from the ergonomically contoured active sampling area; and

transferring said cartridge for analysis.

23. A method of sampling comprising of the steps of:

loading a disposable cartridge with an embedded lancet into a lancing device;

initiating a lancing cycle and activating a sensor on said lancing device by placing a piece of skin on a surface of said cartridge;

lancing said skin to obtain a blood sample;

collecting said blood sample; and

transferring said cartridge for analysis.

24. A method of sampling according to claim 23 further comprising of the step of:

analyzing said blood sample.

25. A method of sampling according to claim 23 further comprising of the step of:

informing a user to remove said skin when said lancing cycle is complete.

26. A method of sampling according to claim 25 wherein:

informing said user further comprises giving an audible signal when said lancing cycle is complete.

27. A method of sampling according to claim 25 wherein:

informing said user further comprises giving a visual signal when said lancing cycle is complete.

28. A method of sampling according to claim 23 further comprising of the step of:

unprompting said sensor upon retraction of said lancet.

29. A method of sampling according to claim 23 wherein:

activating said launcher comprises applying pressure through said skin to said surface.

30. A method of sampling according to claim 29 wherein:

said skin is on a finger.

31. A method of sampling according to claim 30 wherein:

said surface is ergonomically contoured to said finger.

32. A method of sampling comprising of the steps of:

loading a disposable cartridge with a lancet embedded within a conduit that has an orifice on a surface of said cartridge;

initiating and activating a lancing cycle by having a patient place a finger over an ergonomically contoured area located on said surface such that said finger overlaps with said orifice;

lancing the finger to obtain a sample of blood;

collecting said sample of blood;

informing said user to remove said finger from the ergonomically contoured active sampling area; and

transferring said cartridge for analysis.