Cam-Actuated Medical Puncturing Device and Method
First Claim
1. A medical puncturing device, comprising:
- a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the housing comprising at least one flexure member extending internally therein;
a shield having a proximal end and a distal end, the shield proximal end disposed within the housing, and the shield axially movable relative to the housing;
a skin puncturing assembly disposed within the housing and comprising a movable carrier and a skin puncturing element integral with the carrier, a distal end of the skin puncturing element adapted for puncturing the skin of a patient, the carrier movable from a retracted position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is disposed within the shield to a puncturing position wherein the distal end is exposed from the shield to puncture the skin of the patient, the carrier maintained in the retracted position by engagement of the at least one flexure member with the carrier and moved from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the at least one flexure member from the carrier;
a drive spring disposed within the housing, the drive spring adapted to move the carrier from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the at least one flexure member from the carrier; and
a retraction spring disposed within the shield, the retraction spring adapted to return the carrier to a position within the housing wherein the shield encompasses the skin puncturing element after the carrier reaches the puncturing position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The medical puncturing device includes a housing (12), a shield (13), and a skin puncturing assembly disposed within the housing. The shield is axially movable in the housing. The skin puncturing assembly includes a movable carrier and a skin puncturing element mounted to the carrier. A distal end of the skin puncturing element is adapted for puncturing the skin of a patient. The carrier is movable from a retracted position wherein the skin puncturing element is disposed within the shield to a puncturing position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is exposed. The carrier is maintained in the retracted position by engagement of flexure members or a retaining tab with the carrier. A drive spring is provided to move the carrier from the retracted position to the puncturing position. A retraction spring is provided to return the carrier and skin puncturing element into the housing.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A medical puncturing device, comprising:
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a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the housing comprising at least one flexure member extending internally therein; a shield having a proximal end and a distal end, the shield proximal end disposed within the housing, and the shield axially movable relative to the housing; a skin puncturing assembly disposed within the housing and comprising a movable carrier and a skin puncturing element integral with the carrier, a distal end of the skin puncturing element adapted for puncturing the skin of a patient, the carrier movable from a retracted position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is disposed within the shield to a puncturing position wherein the distal end is exposed from the shield to puncture the skin of the patient, the carrier maintained in the retracted position by engagement of the at least one flexure member with the carrier and moved from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the at least one flexure member from the carrier; a drive spring disposed within the housing, the drive spring adapted to move the carrier from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the at least one flexure member from the carrier; and a retraction spring disposed within the shield, the retraction spring adapted to return the carrier to a position within the housing wherein the shield encompasses the skin puncturing element after the carrier reaches the puncturing position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A medical puncturing device, comprising:
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a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a shield having a proximal end and a distal end, the shield proximal end disposed within the housing, and the shield axially movable relative to the housing; and a skin puncturing assembly disposed within the housing and comprising a movable carrier and a skin puncturing element integral with the carrier, a distal end of the skin puncturing element adapted for puncturing the skin of a patient, the carrier movable from a retracted position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is disposed within the shield to a puncturing position wherein the distal end is exposed from the shield to puncture the skin of the patient, the carrier maintained in the retracted position by engagement of at least one retaining tab on the shield with the carrier and moved from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the at least one retaining tab from the carrier. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A medical puncturing device, comprising:
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a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the housing comprising a pair of opposing flexure members extending internally therein; a shield having a proximal end and a distal end, the shield proximal end disposed within the housing, the shield axially movable relative to the housing; a skin puncturing assembly disposed within the housing and comprising a movable carrier and a skin puncturing element integral with the carrier, a distal end of the skin puncturing element adapted for puncturing the skin of a patient, the carrier movable from a retracted position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is disposed within the shield to a puncturing position wherein the distal end is exposed from the shield to puncture the skin of the patient, the carrier maintained in the retracted position by engagement of the opposing flexure members with the carrier and moved from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the opposing flexure members from the carrier; a drive spring disposed within the housing, the drive spring adapted to move the carrier from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the opposing flexure members from the carrier; and a retraction spring disposed within the shield, the retraction spring adapted to return the carrier to a position within the housing wherein the shield encompasses the skin puncturing element after the carrier reaches the puncturing position; wherein the opposing flexure members have distal ends engaging the carrier to maintain the carrier in the retracted position, and wherein the distal ends of the opposing flexure members define tapered camming surfaces engaging an opposing, oppositely tapered camming surface on the shield proximal end, the engagement of the opposing camming surfaces adapted to spread the opposing flexure members radially outward upon axial displacement of the shield into the housing, such that the opposing flexure members are released of engagement with the carrier permitting the drive spring to move the carrier from the retracted position to the puncturing position.
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19. A medical puncturing device, comprising:
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a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the housing comprising an actuating member extending internally therein; a shield having a proximal end and a distal end, the shield proximal end disposed within the housing, and the shield axially movable relative to the housing; a skin puncturing assembly disposed within the housing and comprising a movable carrier and a skin puncturing element integral with the carrier, a distal end of the skin puncturing element adapted for puncturing the skin of a patient, the carrier movable from a retracted position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is disposed within the shield to a puncturing position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is exposed from the shield to puncture the skin of the patient, the carrier maintained in the retracted position by engagement of at least one retaining tab on the shield with the carrier and moved from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the at least one retaining tab from the carrier; a drive spring disposed within the housing, the drive spring adapted to move the carrier from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the at least one retaining tab from the carrier; and a retraction spring disposed within the shield, the retraction spring adapted to return the carrier to a position within the housing wherein the shield encompasses the skin puncturing element after the carrier reaches the puncturing position; wherein the actuating member has a distal end defining a tapered camming surface engaging an opposing, oppositely tapered camming surface on the shield proximal end, the engagement of the opposing camming surfaces adapted to radially deform the shield proximal end upon axial displacement of the shield into the housing, such that the at least one retaining tab is released of engagement with the carrier permitting the drive spring to move the carrier from the retracted position to the puncturing position.
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20. A medical device comprising:
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a carrier comprising a puncture element, a housing; and a shield internally movable with respect to said housing; wherein said housing comprises a distally extending flexural element, said flexural element comprises a carrier latch; wherein the shield comprises a proximally extending cam to engage said flexural element; wherein the carrier comprises a surface for releaseably cooperating with said carrier latch; and wherein movement of said shield internally to said housing causes said flexural element to release said carrier latch from cooperation with said carrier. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of actuating a medical puncturing device comprising:
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providing a medical device having housing comprising at least one flexure member extending internally therein; a shield having a proximal end disposed in the housing and axially movable relative to the housing; a skin puncturing assembly disposed within the housing and comprising a movable carrier and a skin puncturing element mounted to the carrier, a distal end of the skin puncturing element adapted to puncture the skin of a patient; a drive spring disposed within the housing and adapted to move the carrier in the shield; and a retraction spring disposed within the shield; wherein the at least one flexure member engages the carrier, and wherein the at least one flexure member defines a camming surface and the shield proximal end defines an opposing camming surface; and axially displacing the shield into the housing causing the opposing camming surfaces to engage and release the at least one flexure member of engagement with the carrier, such that the drive spring moves the carrier from a retracted position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is disposed within the shield to a puncturing position wherein the distal end is exposed from the shield to puncture the skin of the patient under the biasing force of the drive spring, and wherein the carrier is returned to a position within the housing wherein the shield encompasses the skin puncturing element under the biasing force of the retraction spring.
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23. A method of actuating a medical puncturing device comprising:
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providing a medical device having; a housing comprising an actuating member extending internally therein; a shield having a proximal end disposed in the housing and axially movable relative to the housing, the shield having at least one retaining tab; a skin puncturing assembly disposed within the housing and comprising a movable carrier and a skin puncturing element mounted to the carrier, a distal end of the skin puncturing element adapted to puncture the skin of a patient, the at least one retaining tab engaging the carrier; and a drive spring disposed within the housing and adapted to move the carrier in the shield; wherein the actuating member defines a camming surface engaging an opposing camming surface on the shield proximal end; and axially displacing the shield into the housing causing the opposing camming surfaces to engage and release the at least one retaining tab of engagement with the carrier, such that the drive spring moves the carrier from a retracted position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is disposed within the shield to a puncturing position wherein the distal end is exposed from the shield to puncture the skin of the patient under the biasing force of the drive spring.
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Specification