Double-ended lancet, method and lancet device using the double-ended lancet, and method of assembling and/or making the double-ended lancet

• US 20070142854A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stat Medical Devices Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stat Medical Devices Incorporated
• Inventors: Schraga, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 8,303,614 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 5/150496 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the double-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150564 Protectors removed by pulling or pushing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150587 by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150625 by using additional parts, e.g. clamping rings or collets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150717 manually removed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15107 Piercing being assisted by a triggering mechanism
• 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

Abstract

Double-ended lancet unit for a lancet device. The unit includes a lancet body having a first end and a second end. A first lancet needle projects from the first end and a second lancet needle projects from the second end. The lancet device utilizes the double-ended lancet unit and includes a body and a holding member which retains the double-ended lancet unit. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Claims

1. A double-ended lancet unit for a lancet device, the unit comprising:

a lancet body having a first end and a second end; and

at least one of;

a first lancet needle projecting from the first end and a second lancet needle projecting from the second end; and

a lancet needle member having oppositely arranged pointed ends and being movably mounted to the lancet body.

2. The unit of claim 1, wherein the lancet body comprises a one-piece integrally formed member.

3. The unit of claim 1, wherein the lancet body comprises a one-piece synthetic resin member.

4. The unit of claim 1, wherein the lancet body comprises a two-piece member with non-removably connected portions.

5. The unit of claim 1, wherein the lancet body comprises a two-piece member with removably connected portions.

6. The unit of claim 1, wherein the first and second lancet needles are made of metal and project from the first and second ends by substantially a same amount.

7. The unit of claim 1, wherein the lancet unit has an overall length which between approximately 0.25 inches and approximately 1.50 inches.

8. The unit of claim 1, wherein the lancet body is generally cylindrical.

9. The unit of claim 1, wherein the lancet body comprises a diameter that is between approximately 0.125 inches and approximately 0.375 inches.

10. The unit of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lancets comprises a generally cylindrical portion.

11. The unit of claim 1, further comprise first and second caps respectively removably connected to the first and second ends.

12. The unit of claim 1, further comprise first and second caps respectively non-removably connected to the first and second ends.

13. The unit of claim 1, further comprise a first cap removably connected to the first end, and once installed on the second end, non-removably connected to the second end.

14. The unit of claim 13, further comprise a second cap removably connected to the second end, and being capable of being installed on the first end.

15. The unit of claim 13, further comprise a second cap removably connected to the second end, and once installed on the first end, non-removably connected to the first end.

16. The unit of claim 1, wherein the lancet body comprises a main portion and first and second portions connected to the main portion.

17. The unit of claim 1, wherein the lancet body an outer member and an inner member extending at least partially into the outer member.

18. The unit of claim 1, wherein the lancet body comprises one of a polygonal cross-section, an oval cross-section, a non-circular cross-section, and a circular cross-section.

19. The unit of claim 1, further comprising first and second caps respectively connected to the first and second ends via respective first and second locking mechanisms.

20. The unit of claim 1, further comprising first and second caps respectively connected to the first and second ends via respective first and second breakable connection mechanisms.

21. A lancet device utilizing the double-ended lancet unit of claim 1, the lancet device comprising:

a body; and

a holding member which removably retains the double-ended lancet unit.

22. A lancet device utilizing the double-ended lancet unit of claim 1, the lancet device comprising:

a body;

a trigger; and

a movable holding member which removable retains the double-ended lancet unit.

23. A lancet device utilizing the double-ended lancet unit of claim 1, the lancet device comprising:

a body;

a trigger;

a movable holding member which retains the double-ended lancet unit; and

a mechanism for moving the holding member to a retracted trigger-set position.

24. A lancet device utilizing the double-ended lancet unit of claim 1, the lancet device comprising:

a body;

a holding member which retains the double-ended lancet unit; and

a cap removably connected to the body.

25. A method of puncturing a surface of skin using the lancet device of claim 24, the method comprising:

arranging the lancet device adjacent against a user'"'"'s skin; and

triggering the lancet device so that one of the first and second lancet needles is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin.

26. A method of puncturing a surface of skin using the lancet device of claim 24, the method comprising:

arranging the cap adjacent against a user'"'"'s skin;

triggering the lancet device so that the first lancet needle is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin;

removing the lancet unit from the holding member and re-installing the lancet unit onto the holding member; and

again triggering the lancet device so that the second lancet needle is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

disconnecting, before the removing, a first cap from the first end and installing the first cap on the second end.

28. A method of puncturing a surface of skin using the lancet device of claim 21, the method comprising:

installing the lancet unit onto the holding member;

disconnecting a first cap from the first end;

arranging the lancet device adjacent against a user'"'"'s skin;

triggering the lancet device so that the first lancet needle is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin;

removing the lancet unit from the holding member;

disconnecting a second cap from the second end and installing the second cap on the first end;

re-installing the lancet unit onto the holding member; and

again triggering the lancet device so that the second lancet needle is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin.

29. A double-ended lancet unit for a lancet device, the unit comprising:

a body having first and second generally symmetrically-shaped ends;

a first needle projecting from a center of a generally planar surface arranged on the first end;

a second needle projecting from a center of a generally planar surface arranged on the second end;

a first cap removably connected to the first end; and

a second cap removably connected to the second end.

30. The unit of claim 29, wherein the body comprises a color X.

31. The unit of claim 30, wherein the first cap comprises a color substantially similar to color X.

32. The unit of claim 31, wherein the second cap comprises a color that is substantially different from color X.

33. The unit of claim 29, wherein the body and the first cap have substantially the same color and the second cap comprises a different color than the body.

34. A double-ended lancet unit for a lancet device, the unit comprising:

a body having first and second generally symmetrical ends;

a first needle projecting from a center of a generally planar surface arranged on the first end;

a second needle projecting from a center of a generally planar surface arranged on the second end;

a first cap connected to the first end via one of a breakable connection and a locking connection; and

a second cap connected to the second end via one of a breakable connection and a locking connection.

35. The unit of claim 34, wherein the body and the first cap have substantially the same color and the second cap comprises a different color than the first cap and the body.

36. The unit of claim 34, wherein, once removed from the first end and installed on the second end, the first cap remains non-removably connected to the second end.