ELECTROMECHANICAL PRICKING AID FOR TAKING LIQUID SAMPLES

• US 20080015623A1
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Deck, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 8,828,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/181
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150183 Depth adjustment mechanism using end caps mounted at the distal end of the sampling device, i.e. the end-caps are adjustably positioned relative to the piercing device housing for example by rotating or screwing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150824 by visual feedback
• 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 5/15146 Devices loaded with multiple lancets simultaneously, e.g. for serial firing without reloading, for example by use of stocking means. multiple simultaneous cutting or piercing A61B5/150977

Abstract

A portable lancing aid for providing liquid samples comprises a lancet system having at least one lancet, a tensioning device, and an electromechanical actuator. The tensioning device can be tensioned by the electromechanical actuator. The portable lancing aid may further include an energy source for storing electrical energy that is connected to the electromechanical actuator. Additionally, the portable lancing aid may include an interface for charging the energy source where the interface is externally accessible from the lancet system. The invention is ergonomical and easy to handle for children and patients with physical limitations. Furthermore, a lancing system for collecting liquid samples is provided with a portable lancing aid that is detachably mountable to a charging station for charging the portable lancing aid.

Claims

1. A portable lancing aid for collecting liquid samples, comprising:

a lancet system configured to drive a lancet in a puncturing movement;

an actuator that tensions the lancet system;

a rechargeable energy source connected to the actuator; and

an interface configured for connecting the rechargeable energy source to a charging station, the interface being accessible from outside the lancet system.

2. The portable lancing aid of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes an electric motor.

3. The portable lancing aid of claim 2, wherein the electric motor comprises a direct current motor.

4. The portable lancing aid of claim 1, wherein the lancet system is tensioned by a spring system.

5. The portable lancing aid of claim 1, further comprising a sensor that detects the tension status of the lancet system.

6. The portable lancing aid of claim 5, wherein the sensor transfers the detected tension status to an electronic element, the electronic element triggering the actuator to tension the lancet system when the lancet system is detected to be in an untensioned state.

7. The portable lancing aid of claim 1, wherein the lancet system is configured to hold a magazine having a plurality of lancets.

8. The portable lancing aid of claim 1, further comprising a charge level indicator which displays the electrical charge level of the rechargeable energy source.

9. The portable lancing aid of claim 1, further comprising a charging station to which the portable lancing aid is detachably connectable, the charging station providing electricity to the rechargeable energy source when the portable lancing aid is connected thereto.

10. A system for obtaining liquid samples, comprising:

a charging station;

a portable lancing aid detachably connectable to the charging station, the portable lancing aid comprising;

a lancet system configured to drive a lancet in a puncturing movement;

an actuator that tensions the lancet system;

an energy source that supplies power to the actuator; and

an interface configured for connecting the energy source to the charging station, wherein the energy source is recharged by the charging station when the portable lancing aid is connected to the charging station.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the charging station has at least one coupling adapted to connect to the interface.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the charging station comprises a recess for receiving the portable lancing aid.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the charging station comprises a power cord that connects to an external power source.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising a spring system that tensions the lancet system.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the portable lancing aid further comprises a sensor that detects the tension status of the lancet system.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the sensor is configured to transfer the tension status to an electronic element, the electronic element triggering the actuator to tension the lancet system when the lancet system is detected to be in an untensioned state.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the energy source comprises a rechargeable lithium ion battery.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the lancet system is configured to hold a magazine having a plurality of lancets.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the portable lancing aid further comprises a charge level indicator.

21. The system of claim 10, wherein the actuator comprises a magnetic system.

22. The system of claim 10, wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric system.

23. The system of claim 10, wherein the actuator comprises at least one gear wheel.

24. The system of claim 10, wherein the actuator is configured to tension the lancet system automatically or manually.

25. A method of periodically obtaining blood samples, comprising:

periodically using an electrically powered portable lancing aid to puncture a body part and obtaining a blood sample from the body part;

at least partially depleting an energy source of the portable lancing aid; and

periodically connecting the portable lancing aid to a charging station and thereby recharging the energy source of the portable lancing aid.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising selecting a lancet by adjusting a rotary knob.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising detecting the tension status of the portable lancing aid.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising transferring the detected tension status to an electrical control circuit board.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising tensioning the portable lancing aid by controlling an actuator.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising actuating a button to release the tension in the portable lancing aid.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising detecting the amount of stored energy remaining in the energy source.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising displaying the detected amount of stored energy remaining in the energy source.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising analyzing the detected amount of stored energy remaining in the energy source and determining whether the detected amount of stored energy is above a minimum amount of energy required to tension the portable lancing aid.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising providing an audible or visible signal indicating that the detected amount of stored energy remaining in the energy source has fallen below the minimum amount.

35. The method of claim 25, further comprising transferring patient information from an external source to an electronic element of the portable lancing aid.