LOOSELY COUPLED LANCET

• US 20070255300A1
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tower Square Capital Partners (Barings LLC (Private Equity))
• Original Assignee: Facet Technologies LLC
• Inventors: KOEPPEL, Bradley, CONWAY, William, IRWIN, John, RUF, Christopher, VANHIEL, Brian, LATHROP, Ray, ROBBINS, Avi
• Application Number:
  US11/619,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255300A1
• 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 5/150152 by an adequate mechanical impact on the puncturing location
• 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 5/150541 Breakable protectors, e.g. caps, shields or sleeves, i.e. protectors separated destructively, e.g. by breaking a connecting area
• 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 5/15107 Piercing being assisted by a triggering mechanism
• 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 5/15186 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

A low-pain lancing device includes a drive mechanism for loosely engaging a lancet and driving the lancet along an axial path. The drive mechanism has a first coupling element and the lancet has a second coupling element, which together form a loose coupling therebetween, wherein interaction between the first and second coupling elements permits a degree of freedom of movement between the lancet and the drive mechanism in a lateral direction, perpendicular to the axial path of travel of the lancet, to prevent non-axial movement of the lancet tip during lancing and thereby reduce pain experienced by the subject.

Claims

1. A lancing device comprising a drive mechanism for loosely engaging a lancet and driving said lancet along an axial path, said drive mechanism comprising a first coupling element and said lancet comprising a second coupling element, wherein interaction between the first and second coupling elements permits a degree of freedom of movement in a lateral direction, perpendicular to the axial path, between the lancet and the drive mechanism.

2. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling elements also permit a degree of freedom of movement between the lancet and the drive mechanism in a transverse direction, perpendicular to the axial path and the lateral direction.

3. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling elements also permit a degree of freedom of movement between the lancet and the drive mechanism in the direction of the axial path.

4. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling elements permit a degree of freedom of movement between the lancet and the drive mechanism in a transverse direction, perpendicular to the axial path and the lateral direction, and a degree of freedom of movement between the lancet and the drive mechanism in the direction of the axial path.

5. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein the lancing device further comprises a guidepath for sliding engagement with a cooperating guide surface of the lancet to define the axial path.

6. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second coupling elements comprises a channel and the other of the first and second coupling elements comprises a rib for engagement within the channel.

7. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second coupling elements comprises a pin and the other of the first and second coupling elements comprises a slot for receiving the pin.

8. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second coupling elements comprises a ball and the other of the first and second coupling elements comprises a socket for receiving the ball.

9. A low-pain lancing device comprising:

a guidepath for constraining motion of a lancet to a defined path of travel; and

a drive mechanism comprising a loose coupling transferring force to the lancet in a first direction along the defined path of travel, but not transferring force to the lancet in a second direction out of the defined path of travel.

10. The low-pain lancing device of claim 9, wherein the loose coupling comprises first and second coupling members permitting relative motion therebetween in the second direction.

11. The low-pain lancing device of claim 9, wherein the first coupling member is a recess, and the second coupling member is a projection movable within the recess.

12. The low-pain lancing device of claim 9, wherein the first coupling member is a channel, and the second coupling member is a rib movable within the channel.

13. The low-pain lancing device of claim 9, wherein the first coupling member is a slot, and the second coupling member is a pin movable within the slot.

14. The low-pain lancing device of claim 9, wherein the first coupling member is a socket, and the second coupling member is a ball movable within the socket.

15. The low-pain lancing device of claim 9, wherein the guidepath comprises a channel extending linearly along the defined path of travel.

16. A lancing device comprising:

a drive mechanism comprising a lancet carrier having a first coupling member;

a lancet comprising a sharp tip, a second coupling member for engagement with the first coupling member, and a guide surface; and

at least one fixed guidance element for cooperation with the guide surface of the lancet to define a path of travel of the lancet;

wherein the first and second coupling members are loosely coupled to permit relative motion therebetween in a direction perpendicular to the path of travel of the lancet.

17. The lancing device of claim 16, wherein the guidance element comprises a first sidewall for engaging a first lateral side face of the lancet, a second sidewall for engaging a second lateral side face of the lancet, and a base panel extending between the first and second sidewalls for engaging a transverse side face of the lancet.

18. The lancing device of claim 16, wherein the path of travel of the lancet is in an axial direction extending along an X-axis, and wherein the first and second coupling members permit relative motion therebetween in a lateral direction along a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis.

19. The lancing device of claim 18, wherein the first and second coupling members also permit relative motion therebetween in a transverse direction along a Z-axis perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis.

20. The lancing device of claim 18, wherein the first and second coupling members also permit relative motion therebetween in the axial direction.