LANCING DEVICE WITH MULTI-LANCET CARTRIDGE

• US 20090099585A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tower Square Capital Partners (Barings LLC (Private Equity))
• Original Assignee: Tower Square Capital Partners (Barings LLC (Private Equity))
• Inventors: Conway, William E., VanHiel, Brian D., LeVaughn, Richard W., Ruf, Christopher J., Robbins, Avi M., Flynn, Stephen J., Lipoma, Michael V., Irwin, John C., Leutz, Brian D.
• Application Number:
  US11/930,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20090099585A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/182
• 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 5/15019 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 5/15029 for driving devices, i.e. means for driving 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 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150725 removal procedure linked to further actions, e.g. cocking of the piercing device, which indicate that the piercing device is used or tempered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150893 by indicating if used, tampered with, unsterile or defective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150916 by blocking components, e.g. piston, driving device or fluid passageway
• 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 5/1513 comprising linear sliding guides comprising tooth-shaped elements A61B5/15132
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15153 Multiple piercing elements stocked in a single compartment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15161 Characterized by propelling the piercing element in a radial direction relative to the disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15182 Means for keeping track or checking of the total number of piercing elements already used or the number of piercing elements still remaining in the stocking, e.g. by check window, counter, display

Abstract

A lancing device and a removable and replaceable multi-lancet cartridge for use in connection therewith are disclosed. The multi-lancet cartridge is advanced through sequential lancets, and anti-reverse features prevent reverse advancement of the cartridge. Interlocks are provided to prevent double-cocking the device, to reduce the likelihood of jamming of the mechanism. Improved trigger mechanisms and depth control mechanisms are provided.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A lancing device for lancing skin, comprising:

a carrier for a plurality lancets, each lancet having a removable endcap associated therewith, the endcaps defining a transverse plane;

a housing that receives therein the carrier and the lancets;

a drive mechanism operable to propel an active one of the lancets through a lancing stroke to penetrate the skin;

an advancing mechanism operable to sequentially advance the lancets into engagement with the drive mechanism; and

an endcap-displacement mechanism comprising at least one spring element for transversely biasing removed endcaps laterally in the transverse plane and out of a path of travel of their associated lancets.

23-25. -25. (canceled)

36. A replaceable multi-lancet cartridge for a lancing device for lancing skin, the multi-lancet cartridge comprising:

a plurality of lancets, each lancet having a removable endcap associated therewith, the endcaps defining a transverse plane, the lancets sequentially advanceable to an active position for use to lance the skin; and

an endcap-displacement mechanism comprising at least one spring element for transversely biasing removed endcaps laterally in the transverse plane and out of a path of travel of their associated lancets.

37. The multi-lancet cartridge of claim 36, wherein the at least one spring element is a cantilevered spring.

38. The multi-lancet cartridge of claim 36, wherein the at least one spring element comprises a plurality of springs, with the lancets and the springs in a one-to-one relationship.

39. The multi-lancet cartridge of claim 36, wherein the at least one spring element is pre-charged so that upon removal of the active endcap of the active lancet the spring discharges to transversely displace the active endcap.

40. The multi-lancet cartridge of claim 36, wherein the at least one spring element is initially flat and is flexed upon assembly into the multi-lancet cartridge.

41. The multi-lancet cartridge of claim 36, wherein the at least one spring element pushes or pulls transversely on a side on the active endcap of the active lancet.

42. The multi-lancet cartridge of claim 36, wherein the at least one spring element includes a tab and the endcaps each include a slot that receives the tab.

43. The multi-lancet cartridge of claim 36, wherein after the at least one spring element transversely displaces the endcaps, the displaced endcaps are retained within the multi-lancet cartridge.

44. The multi-lancet cartridge of claim 36, wherein the lancing device is operable to retract the active lancet to a charged position and the active endcap is restrained from being retracted with the active lancet so that the active endcap is removed when the active lancet is retracted, and wherein the at least one spring element transversely biases and displaces the active endcap upon its removal from the active lancet.

45. The multi-lancet cartridge of claim 36, wherein the cartridge is circular and the lancets are radially arranged within the cartridge with the endcaps at an outward portion thereof so that there are spaces between adjacent ones of the endcaps, and wherein the endcaps are transversely displaced to the spaces between the adjacent endcaps.