SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BREAKING A STERILITY SEAL TO ENGAGE A LANCET
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a lancet defining an engagement opening;
a firing mechanism to fire the lancet, the firing mechanism including an engagement blade that is configured to engage with the engagement opening of the lancet, the engagement blade having one or more cutting edges; and
the engagement opening having one or more cut out portions at the one or more cutting edges when the blade engages the engagement opening to minimize dulling of the one or more cutting edges of the engagement blade.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated lancing test strip includes a test strip and a lancet packet coupled to the test strip. The lancet packet includes a sterility sheet enclosing a lancet to maintain the sterility of the lancet and prevent cross-contamination between the test strip and the lancet. The sterility sheet allows the lancet to be sterilized separately from the test strip. In one form, a firing mechanism has a blade that punctures and slits the sterility sheet during the firing cycle to reduce the chance of cross contamination between the lancet and the test strip prior to use. This allows an operator to load and subsequently remove an unused integrated lancing test strip without compromising the sterility of the lancet. The lancet includes an engagement opening in which the blade of the firing mechanism engages the lancet. The engagement opening is configured to reduce the chance of the blade becoming dull.
240 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a lancet defining an engagement opening;
a firing mechanism to fire the lancet, the firing mechanism including an engagement blade that is configured to engage with the engagement opening of the lancet, the engagement blade having one or more cutting edges; and
the engagement opening having one or more cut out portions at the one or more cutting edges when the blade engages the engagement opening to minimize dulling of the one or more cutting edges of the engagement blade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus, comprising:
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a lancet defining an engagement opening where the lancet is coupled to a firing mechanism; and
wherein the engagement opening is shaped like a rounded diamond with circular cut outs at opposite ends of the diamond. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
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a firing mechanism configured to fire a lancet that is sealed inside a lancet packet for cutting an incision in skin; and
the firing mechanism including an engagement blade configured to engage the lancet, and the engagement blade having a cutting edge positioned to cut a slit in the lancet packet for facilitating smooth actuation of the lancet. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus, comprising:
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a lancet sealed inside a lancet packet to maintain sterility of the lancet;
a test strip attached to the lancet packet; and
a firing mechanism including an engagement blade configured to engage with the lancet, the firing mechanism being configured to pierce the lancet packet with the blade. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method, comprising:
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engaging a blade of a firing mechanism with a lancet that is enclosed inside a packet, wherein the blade includes a cutting edge; and
forming a slit in the packet with the cutting edge of the blade. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method, comprising:
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loading a lancet integrated test strip into a meter that includes a firing mechanism, wherein the lancet integrated test strip includes a lancet sealed inside a lancet packet and a test strip attached to the lancet packet;
reducing cross-contamination risk between the lancet and the test strip by piercing the lancet packet after said loading the lancet integrated test strip; and
firing the lancet with the firing mechanism to cut an incision in skin;
analyzing a body fluid sample from the incision with the test strip. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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Specification