METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING AND ANALYZING BODY FLUID
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- placing a sampling device in contact with an alternate site, wherein the alternate site is at a location on a body other than a fingertip;
creating an incision in the alternate site with the sampling device; and
testing body fluid on the surface of the alternate site from the incision with the sampling device while the sampling device remains in contact with the alternate site.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sampling device for sampling body fluid includes a lancet for making an incision, a capillary tube for drawing-up body fluid from the incision, and a test strip affixed to an upper end of the capillary tube for receiving the fluid. An absorbent pad can be disposed between the test strip and capillary tube for spreading-out the fluid being transferred to the test strip. An on-site analyzer such as an optical analyzer and/or an electrochemical analyzer can be mounted in the device for analyzing the fluid. Alternatively, a test strip can be slid through a slot formed in the bottom end of the device so that by passing the device against the skin after an incision has been formed, the test strip will directly contact body fluid emanating from the incision.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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placing a sampling device in contact with an alternate site, wherein the alternate site is at a location on a body other than a fingertip;
creating an incision in the alternate site with the sampling device; and
testing body fluid on the surface of the alternate site from the incision with the sampling device while the sampling device remains in contact with the alternate site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method, comprising:
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positioning a lancing device in contact with an alternate site that is located on skin at a body part other than a fingertip, wherein the lancing device houses a disposable that includes a lancet and a test strip;
forming an incision in the alternate site with the lancet of the disposable; and
analyzing the body fluid from the incision with the test strip of the disposable. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method, comprising:
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loading a disposable into a lancing device that includes a lancet and a test strip with a capillary passage that has a capillary opening configured to draw body fluid via capillary action;
placing the lancing device in contact with skin;
firing the disposable towards the skin with the lancing device, wherein during said firing the lancet and the test strip of the disposable move together as a single unit towards the skin;
retracting the disposable away from the incision;
moving the capillary opening of the capillary passage past the lancet to contact the capillary opening with a drop of body fluid from the incision on the surface of the skin;
drawing via capillary action the body fluid from the drop into the capillary passage;
analyzing the body fluid from the incision with the test strip;
unloading the disposable from the lancing device after said analyzing;
discarding the disposable after said loading; and
loading a fresh disposable into the lancing device after said unloading. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A method, comprising:
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placing a lancing device against a region of skin where the supply of body fluid is relatively low as compared to a fingertip, wherein the lancing device houses a first disposable that includes a lancet, a test strip, and a capillary passage with a passage opening;
forming an incision in the skin at the region with the lancet of the first disposable by firing the first disposable towards the skin and retracting the first disposable away from the skin with the lancing device;
expressing body fluid from the incision by pressing the lancing device further against the skin after said forming the incision to spread open the incision;
positioning the passage opening of the capillary passage into contact with the body fluid on the surface of the skin while the lancing device remains in contact with the skin after said expressing;
drawing via capillary action the body fluid on the surface of the skin into the capillary passage while the lancing device remains in contact with the skin;
transporting the body fluid from the capillary passage to the test strip;
analyzing the body fluid from the incision with the test strip of the first disposable;
discarding the first disposable after said analyzing; and
loading a second disposable into the lancing device after said discarding the first disposable. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A method, comprising:
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placing a lancing device against skin, wherein the lancing device houses a disposable that includes a lancet and a test strip;
wherein the test strip of the disposable includes printed electrical circuit paths;
wherein the lancing device includes an electrochemical meter with electrical leads;
forming an incision in the skin with the lancet of the disposable by firing the disposable towards the skin, wherein during said firing the lancet and the test strip of the disposable move together as a single unit towards the skin;
contacting the electrical leads of the electrochemical meter to the printed electrical circuit paths of the test strip of the disposable after said forming the incision; and
analyzing the body fluid from the incision with the test strip of the disposable by electrochemical analysis. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification