Low-Cost Lancing Device with Cantilevered Leaf Spring for Launch and Return
First Claim
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1. A lancing device, comprising:
- a housing assembly forming an enclosure and defining a catch surface;
a leaf spring arm;
a lancet that is carried by the leaf spring arm and has a lancet tip; and
an actuator element that is operable to move the leaf spring arm so that, from a set position engaging the catch surface, the leaf spring arm deflects against the catch surface to store a drive charge, moves out of engagement with the catch surface, and is propelled by the drive charge to a lancing position with the lancet tip extending out of the enclosure.
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Abstract
A lancing assembly is pivotally coupled to a housing and includes an actuator and a leaf spring carrying a lancet. When the actuator is in its set position, the leaf spring and lancet are in their set position with the leaf spring engaging a catch member of the housing. When the actuator is moved to its actuated position, the leaf spring pivots and deflects against the catch member, thereby storing a drive charge. The leaf spring then releases from the catch member as the stored charge launches the lancet to its lancing position. The leaf spring recharges towards the end of the lancing stroke, which return charge then retracts the lancet back into the housing.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A lancing device, comprising:
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a housing assembly forming an enclosure and defining a catch surface;
a leaf spring arm;
a lancet that is carried by the leaf spring arm and has a lancet tip; and
an actuator element that is operable to move the leaf spring arm so that, from a set position engaging the catch surface, the leaf spring arm deflects against the catch surface to store a drive charge, moves out of engagement with the catch surface, and is propelled by the drive charge to a lancing position with the lancet tip extending out of the enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A lancing device, comprising:
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a housing assembly forming an enclosure and defining a catch surface; and
a lancing assembly including an actuator arm, a leaf spring arm extending from the actuator arm, and a lancet that is carried by the leaf spring arm and has a lancet tip, the leaf spring arm having a first segment and a second segment with a bend therebetween and defining an acute angle, the leaf spring arm pivotally moveable relative to the enclosure, wherein the actuator arm is pivotal to pivot the leaf spring arm so that, from a set position engaging the catch surface, the leaf spring arm deflects against the catch surface to store a drive charge, pivots out of engagement with the catch surface, and is propelled by the drive charge to a lancing position with the lancet tip extending out of the enclosure, and wherein the leaf spring arm is configured to, before reaching the lancing position, discharge and deflect to store a return charge that retracts the lancet from the lancing position to a rest position with the lancet tip within the enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A lancing device, comprising:
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an integrally formed, one-piece housing assembly forming an enclosure that defines a catch surface; and
an integrally formed, one-piece lancing assembly comprising an actuator arm, a leaf spring arm extending from the actuator arm, and a lancet that is carried by the leaf spring arm and has a lancet tip, the lancing assembly mounted to the housing assembly to permit pivotal movement of the leaf spring arm, wherein the actuator arm is operable to pivot the leaf spring arm so that, from a set position engaging the catch surface, the leaf spring arm deflects against the catch surface to store a drive charge, pivots out of engagement with the catch surface, and is propelled by the drive charge to a lancing position with the lancet tip extending out of the enclosure, and wherein the lancing device is of a two-piece construction, the two pieces being the housing assembly and the lancing assembly. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A lancing device, comprising:
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an integrally formed, one-piece housing assembly and lancing assembly;
the housing assembly forming an enclosure that defines a catch surface;
the lancing assembly comprising an actuator arm, a leaf spring arm extending from the actuator arm, and a lancet that is carried by the leaf spring arm and has a lancet tip; and
the lancing assembly pivotally moveable relative to the housing assembly at a pivot point between the lancing assembly and the housing assembly, wherein the actuator arm is operable to pivot the leaf spring arm so that, from a set position engaging the catch surface, the leaf spring arm deflects against the catch surface to store a drive charge, pivots out of engagement with the catch surface, and is propelled by the drive charge to a lancing position with the lancet tip extending out of the enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification