Lancet Assembly

• US 20070225742A1
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Izumi-Cosmo Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Izumi-Cosmo Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Abe, Teruyuki, Seki, Kazuharu
• Granted Patent: US 7,883,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/182
• 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 5/150519 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 5/150564 Protectors removed by pulling or pushing
• 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 5/150702 fully automatically removed, i.e. the removing does not require any action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150725 removal procedure linked to further actions, e.g. cocking of the piercing device, which indicate that the piercing device is used or tempered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150816 by tactile feedback, e.g. vibration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150916 by blocking components, e.g. piston, driving device or fluid passageway
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• 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 5/1513 comprising linear sliding guides comprising tooth-shaped elements A61B5/15132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15144 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for retracting the piercing unit into the housing

Abstract

The present invention provides a lancet assembly which dispenses with the removal of a resin cover encapsulating a pricking element. Upon inserting a lancet structure 200 into a lancet holder 100, a force which separates a lancet cover 214 encapsulating the sharp tip portion 232 of the pricking element 220 from a lancet body is generated, and this force is allowed to act on the lancet cover and the lancet body to thereby expose, within the lancet holder, the sharp tip portion of the pricking element encapsulated by the lancet cover and to locate the opening of the lancet holder in front of the sharp tip portion of the pricking element.

Claims

1. A lancet assembly comprising a lancet structure and a lancet holder for holding the lancet structure, characterized in that

said lancet structure includes an ejector and a lancet, wherein said ejector includes an arm, a spring, and a base having the arm and the spring mounted thereon, said spring having a connector at its front end and being connected at its rear end to the base;

and said lancet includes a lancet body, a lancet cover and a pricking element, said lancet body being connected to the lancet cover, and said pricking element being laid within the lancet body and the lancet cover with its sharp tip portion encapsulated by the lancet cover while bridging the lancet body and the lancet cover; and

in that

said lancet body is connected to the connector,

said lancet holder has, at its front end portion, an opening which the sharp tip portion of the pricking element passes through, whereby when said lancet structure is inserted into said lancet holder to move the base relatively toward the connector and thereby compress the spring, the lancet cover is separated from the pricking element to expose the encapsulated sharp tip portion of the pricking element.

2. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lancet cover and said lancet body is integrally connected through a weakened portion located between them.

3. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein said pricking element is held within said lancet cover and said lancet body as independent and separate members.

4. The lancet assembly according to claim 2, wherein said lancet cover is located in front of the arms;

and said lancet cover is separated, at the weakened portion, from said lancet body when the base is relatively moved toward the connector to compress the spring while the front end portions of the arms are held in contact with the rear side of the lancet cover.

5. The lancet assembly according to claim 3, wherein said lancet cover is located in front of the arms;

and said lancet cover is moved forward relative to said lancet body when the base is relatively moved toward the connector to compress the spring while the front end portions of the arms are held in contact with the rear side of the lancet cover.

6. The lancet assembly according claim 1, wherein the front end portion of the arm is engaged with the lancet cover (so that the contact between the arm and the lancet cover is still held by the arm, after the lancet cover is removed from the pricking element).

7. The lancet assembly according to claim 6, wherein the front end portion of the arm has an inwardly bent hook-like portion (or L-shaped portion) and the lancet cover has a portion which is engaged with the hook-like portion of the arm.

8. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the removed lancet cover is moved forward in an oblique direction by the arm which is moved forward, so that the opening of the front end portion of the lancet holder is located in front of the exposed pricking element.

9. The lancet assembly according to claim 8, wherein the lancet holder has a guiding means on an inner side wall of its front end portion;

and the lancet cover has a guided means to be guided by the guiding means, and wherein said guiding means and said guided means are caused to cooperate with each other to move the removed lancet cover forward in an oblique direction (an oblique and upward or downward direction).

10. The lancet assembly according to claim 9, wherein the lancet holder has, on an inner side wall of its front end portion, a slide portion as the guiding means, which extends forward in an oblique direction;

and the lancet cover has, as the guided means, a portion (for example, a projecting portion) which is slid on the slide portion.

11. The lancet assembly according to claim 10, wherein the lancet cover has, on its side, a tapered portion as the slid portion having a width becoming narrower in the forward direction;

and the lancet holder has, on the inner side wall of its front end portion, a reversed tapered portion as the slide portion on which said tapered portion is slid.

12. The lancet assembly according to claim 10, wherein said slide portion is a convex portion or a concave portion which has a sliding surface extending forward in an oblique direction, and which is provided on the inner side wall of the front end portion of the lancet holder;

and said slid portion is a convex portion which is provided on the side of the lancet cover.

13. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base, the arm, the spring and the connector of the ejector are formed integrally with one another using a resin.

14. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lancet body and the lancet cover are formed integrally with each other by molding a resin while the pricking element is inserted.

15. The lancet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the weakened portion is formed as a notched portion;

and the lancet cover is separated from the lancet body and thus the pricking element, by breaking the notched portion.

16. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lancet body and the connector have forms complimentary to each other so that both of them can be engaged with each other, provided that they cannot be separated from each other in a pricking direction.

17. The lancet assembly according to claim 16, wherein the connector has a concave portion, and the lancet body has a convex portion which is engaged with said concave portion.

18. The lancet assembly according to claim 16, wherein the lancet body has a concave portion, and the connector has a convex portion which is engaged with said concave portion.

19. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lancet body and the connector are formed originally integrally with each other.

20. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lancet holder includes a trigger which fires the lancet body comprising the pricking element with its sharp tip portion exposed, and a projecting portion (or a stopper portion) located in front of the trigger;

and the connector has a projecting portion,

whereby the projecting portion of the connector is brought into contact with the projecting portion of the lancet holder upon the compression of the spring, so that the connector is inhibited from moving forward; and

the trigger is to release such contact.

21. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lancet holder includes a trigger which fires the lancet body comprising the pricking element with its sharp tip portion exposed, and a projecting portion located in front of the trigger;

and the spring has a projecting portion,

whereby the projecting portion of the spring is brought into contact with the projecting portion of the lancet holder upon the compression of the spring, so that the connector is inhibited from moving forward; and

the trigger is to release such contact.

22. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lancet holder includes a trigger which fires the lancet body comprising the pricking element with its sharp tip portion exposed, and a projecting portion located in front of the trigger;

and the lancet body has a projecting portion,

whereby the projecting portion of the lancet body is brought into contact with the projecting portion of the lancet holder upon the compression of the spring, so that the connector is inhibited from moving forward; and

the trigger is to release such contact.

23. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the arm has a guide pin;

and the lancet holder has, on its inner wall, a channel portion which leads the guide pin.

24. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector has a guide pin;

and the lancet holder has, on its inner wall, a channel portion which leads the guide pin.

25. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base has a pair of the arms, and a spring is laid between the arms.

26. A lancet structure which is for the production of a lancet assembly, said lancet structure comprising:

an ejector and a lancet, wherein said ejector includes an arm, a spring, and a base having the arm and the spring mounted thereon, said spring having a connector at its front end and being connected at its rear end to the base; and

said lancet includes a lancet body, a lancet cover and a pricking element, said lancet body being connected to the lancet cover, and said pricking element being laid within the lancet body and the lancet cover with its sharp tip portion encapsulated by the lancet cover while bridging the lancet body and the lancet cover;

wherein said lancet body is connected to the connector.

27. A lancet holder which is for the production of a lancet assembly including a lancet structure, wherein said lancet holder has, at its front end portion, an opening which the sharp tip portion of the pricking element passes through, whereby when said lancet structure is inserted into the lancet holder to move the base relatively toward the connector and thereby compress the spring, the lancet cover is separated from the pricking element to expose the encapsulated sharp tip portion of the pricking element.

28. A lancet which is for the production of a lancet structure, wherein said lancet includes a lancet body, a lancet cover and a pricking element, said lancet body being connected to the lancet cover, and said pricking element being laid within the lancet body and the lancet cover with its sharp tip portion encapsulated by the lancet cover while bridging the lancet body and the lancet cover.

29. An ejector which is for the production of a lancet structure, wherein said ejector includes an arm, a spring, and a base having the arm and the spring mounted thereon, said spring having a connector at its front end and being connected at its rear end to the base.

30. A kit of a lancet assembly which includes a lancet structure and a lancet holder, wherein:

said lancet structure comprises an ejector and a lancet, wherein said ejector includes an arm, a spring, and a base having the arm and the spring mounted thereon, said spring having a connector at its front end and being connected at its rear end to the base; and

said lancet includes a lancet body, a lancet cover and a pricking element, said lancet body being connected to the lancet cover, and said pricking element being laid within the lancet body and the lancet cover with its sharp tip portion encapsulated by the lancet cover while bridging the lancet body and the lancet cover;

wherein said lancet body is connected to the connector; and

said lancet holder has, at its front end portion, an opening which the sharp tip portion of the pricking element passes through, whereby when said lancet structure is inserted into the lancet holder to move the base relatively toward the connector and thereby compress the spring, the lancet cover is separated from the pricking element to expose the encapsulated sharp tip portion of the pricking element.

31. A kit of a lancet structure which includes a lancet and an ejector, wherein:

said lancet includes a lancet body, a lancet cover and a pricking element, said lancet body being connected to the lancet cover, and said pricking element being laid within the lancet body and the lancet cover with its sharp tip portion encapsulated by the lancet cover while bridging the lancet body and the lancet cover; and

said ejector includes an arm, a spring, and a base having the arm and the spring mounted thereon, said spring having a connector at its front end and being connected at its rear end to the base.