DUAL BLADE LANCING TEST STRIP

• US 20070106178A1
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Roe, Steven, Roe, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,625,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/583
• 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 5/150213 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150442 Blade-like piercing elements, e.g. blades, cutters, knives, for cutting the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable

Abstract

An integrated lancing test strip includes a pair of blade members that each have a lancing tip that are configured to lance skin. A pair of spacer members connect the blade members together such that the blade members define an internal capillary. A test strip is positioned along the internal capillary, and the test strip is configured to test analyte levels in the bodily fluid. During use, the lancing tips form one or more incisions in the skin. The fluid from the incisions is drawn via capillary action through the internal capillary and onto the test strip.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a lancing device that includes at least a pair of blade members that define an internal capillary and a test strip positioned along the internal capillary;

lancing one or more incisions in skin with the blade members; and

drawing via capillary action between the pair blade members bodily fluid from the one or more incisions onto the test strip through the internal capillary defined by the blade members.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said drawing the fluid includes touching a drop of the bodily fluid from the one or more incisions in the skin with the blade members.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said lancing includes removing the blade members from the one or more incisions in the skin before said touching.

4. A method, comprising:

providing a device with at least two spacer members that define an internal capillary for drawing body fluid; and

laying a strip across the at least two spacer members and the internal capillary to define a vent slot that vents air from the internal capillary.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the strip includes a test strip that analyzes the body fluid.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

creating the internal capillary by joining a first blade member and a second blade member together with the at least two spacer members.