MAGNETIC LANCET DEVICE

• US 20090043324A1
• Filed: 08/10/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynamic Magnetics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dynamic Magnetics, LLC
• Inventors: PASCHAL, RICHARD C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,247,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/181
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32093 for skin incisions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1411 by percutaneous method, e.g. by lancet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15019 Depth adjustment mechanism using movable stops located inside the piercing device housing and limiting the travel of the drive mechanism mechanisms using distal end caps A61B5/150183, mechanisms at the piercing element carrier proximal end A61B5/150198
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150198 Depth adjustment mechanism at the proximal end of the carrier of the piercing element
• 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 5/150717 manually removed
• 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 5/15123 comprising magnets or solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1513 comprising linear sliding guides comprising tooth-shaped elements A61B5/15132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1519 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for propelling the piercing unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15194 fully automatically retracted, i.e. the retraction does not require a deliberate action by the user, e.g. by terminating the contact with the patient's skin

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide magnetic lancet devices and methods for driving a lancet. For example, a magnetic lancet device may include a driving mechanism having a plurality of magnets and a lancet coupled to the driving mechanism. A magnetic interaction between the plurality of magnets is configured to drive the lancet from an engaged position to a penetrating position.

Claims

1. A magnetic lancet device comprising:

a driving mechanism comprising a plurality of magnets;

a lancet coupled to the driving mechanism, wherein a magnetic interaction between the plurality of magnets is configured to drive the lancet from an engaged position to a penetrating position.

2. The magnetic lancet device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic interaction between the plurality of magnets is configured to withdraw the lancet from the penetrating position to a disengaged position.

3. The magnetic lancet device of claim 2, wherein the magnetic interaction between the plurality of magnets is configured to be a magnetic attractive interaction for maintaining the lancet in the disengaged position.

4. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic interaction between the plurality of magnets is configured to be a magnetic repulse interaction for maintaining the lancet in the engaged position.

5. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic interaction between the plurality of magnets is configured to be a magnetic repulse interaction for driving the lancet from the engaged position to the penetrating position.

6. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of magnets is coupled to a guide tube, wherein at least one of the plurality of magnets comprises a carrier magnet coupled to the lancet and positioned within the guide tube, and wherein a magnetic interaction between the at least one magnet of the guide tube and the carrier magnet is configured to drive the lancet from the engaged position to the penetrating position.

7. The magnetic lancet device of claim 6, wherein the guide tube comprises a pair of magnets with like poles positioned opposite one another and generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the guide tube.

8. The magnetic lancet device of claim 6, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a longitudinal driving member, wherein the carrier magnet is coupled to a distal end of the driving member.

9. The magnetic lancet device of claim 8, wherein the longitudinal driving member comprises an adjustment mechanism at its proximal end configured to adjust a depth of penetration of the lancet in the penetrating position.

10. The magnetic lancet device of claim 9, wherein the adjustment mechanism is threadably adjustable.

11. The magnetic lancet device of claim 9, wherein the guide tube comprises one or more stops configured to abut the carrier magnet in the engaged position and/or abut the adjustment mechanism in the penetrating position.

12. The magnetic lancet device of claim 6, wherein the guide tube comprises an end cap coupled to a distal end thereof, and wherein the end cap comprises a stop configured to stop the lancet at a predetermined penetrating position.

13. The magnetic lancet device of claim 12, wherein the end cap is adjustable and removably attached to the guide tube.

14. The magnetic lancet device of claim 6, further comprising a magnetic stop positioned proximate to a distal end of the guide tube, wherein a magnetic repulse interaction between the carrier magnet and the magnet stop is configured to stop the lancet at a predetermined penetrating position such that the carrier magnet and magnetic stop do not physically contact one another.

15. The magnetic lancet device of claim 6, wherein the lancet comprises a magnetic insert configured to attract to the carrier magnet and secure the lancet thereto.

16. The magnetic lancet device of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism configured to move the lancet from a disengaged position to the engaged position.

17. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic interaction between the plurality of magnets is configured to maintain the lancet in the engaged position in the absence of any mechanical locking device.

18. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic interaction between the plurality of magnets is configured to drive the lancet from an engaged position to a penetrating position in the absence of electrical current.

19. A magnetic lancet device comprising:

a carrier magnet; and

a lancet comprising a magnetic insert, wherein a magnetic interaction between the carrier magnet and the magnetic insert is configured to couple the lancet to the carrier magnet.

20. The magnetic lancet device of claim 19, wherein the lancet is coupled to a distal end of the carrier magnet.

21. The magnetic lancet device of claim 19, further comprising a guide tube comprising at least one magnet, wherein the carrier magnet is positioned within the guide tube such that a magnetic repulse interaction between the at least one magnet of the guide tube and the carrier magnet is configured to drive the lancet from an engaged position to a penetrating position.

22. A magnetic lancet device comprising:

a guide tube comprising at least one magnetic stop;

a carrier magnet positioned within the guide tube;

a lancet coupled to the carrier magnet, wherein a magnetic repulse interaction between the carrier magnet and the magnet stop is configured to stop the lancet at a predetermined penetrating position such that the carrier magnet and magnetic stop do not physically contact one another.

23. The magnetic lancet device of claim 22, wherein the guide tube comprises a pair of magnets with like poles positioned opposite one another and generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the guide tube.

24. The magnetic lancet device of claim 22, further comprising a longitudinal driving member, wherein the carrier magnet is coupled to a proximal end of the driving member, and the lancet is coupled to a distal end of the driving member.

25. A method for driving a lancet with a driving mechanism, the method comprising:

positioning the lancet in an engaged position; and

driving the lancet to a penetrating position in response to a magnetic interaction between a plurality of magnets associated with the driving mechanism.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the positioning step comprises withdrawing the lancet from a disengaged position to the engaged position.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the positioning step comprises biasing the lancet such that the lancet is maintained in the engaged position in response to a magnetic repulse interaction between the plurality of magnets.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the driving step comprises biasing the lancet such that the lancet in propelled in response to a magnetic repulse interaction between the plurality of magnets.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising coupling the lancet to one of the plurality of magnets with a magnetic insert associated with the lancet.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising adjusting a depth of penetration of the lancet.

31. A driving mechanism for driving an object comprising:

a plurality of magnets; and

a guide tube,

wherein at least one of the plurality of magnets is coupled to the guide tube, wherein at least one of the plurality of magnets comprises a carrier magnet coupled to an object and positioned within the guide tube, and wherein a magnetic interaction between the at least one magnet of the guide tube and the carrier magnet is configured to drive the object from the engaged position to the penetrating position.

32. The driving mechanism according to claim 31, wherein the magnetic interaction between the plurality of magnets is configured to be a magnetic repulse interaction for driving the object from the engaged position to the penetrating position.