LANCING DEVICE WITH INDEPENDENT DRIVE CORE

• US 20090125048A1
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Facet Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Facet Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Robbins, Avi M., Buenger, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,267,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• 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 5/150183 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 5/150259 Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150267 Modular design or construction, i.e. subunits are assembled separately before being joined together or the device comprises interchangeable or detachable modules
• 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 5/15113 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 5/15186 Devices loaded with a single lancet, i.e. a single lancet with or without a casing is loaded into a reusable drive device and then discarded after use; drive devices reloadable for multiple use
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A medical lancing device including an independent drive core mechanism incorporating all or a substantial portion of the functional components of the lancing device, whereby the independent drive core mechanism can be incorporated into multiple different external housing configurations for more efficient design and manufacture. Axial adjustment of the position of the independent drive core mechanism within the housing provides lancing penetration depth control.

Claims

1. A lancing device comprising:

an external housing comprising a lancet opening; and

an independent drive core mechanism positioned at least partially within the external housing, said independent drive core mechanism comprising;

a mechanism housing;

a drive plunger for receiving a lancet, said drive plunger translationally mounted for advancement and retraction within the mechanism housing;

a drive spring engaged between the mechanism housing and the drive plunger, for advancing the drive plunger toward the lancet opening; and

a charging housing for retracting the drive plunger and energizing the drive spring.

2. The lancing device of claim 1, further comprising a return spring engaged between the drive plunger and the charging housing.

3. The lancing device of claim 1, further comprising an ejector rod axially movable through a bore in the drive plunger to eject a lancet from the drive plunger.

4. The lancing device of claim 3, further comprising an ejector spring engaged between the ejector rod and the mechanism housing.

5. The lancing device of claim 3, wherein the ejector rod comprises at least one finger extending through a slot in the charging housing.

6. The lancing device of claim 5, wherein the slot in the charging housing comprises a generally helical section for twisting the ejector rod relative to the drive plunger as the finger traverses the slot.

7. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein a laterally projecting wing of the drive plunger moves axially within a slot in the mechanism housing to define a stroke of the drive plunger.

8. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein a flexible arm extending from the drive plunger releasably engages a shoulder of the mechanism housing to retain the drive plunger in a retracted position against the bias of the drive spring.

9. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein the independent drive core mechanism is selectively positionable within the external housing to provide lancing depth adjustment.

10. The lancing device of claim 9, wherein the mechanism housing comprises at least one guide for sliding engagement with a cooperating portion of the external housing to constrain the independent drive core mechanism to linear translational motion within the external housing.

11. The lancing device of claim 9, wherein the mechanism housing comprises an outwardly projecting member for engagement with a depth-adjustment element of the external housing.

12. The lancing device of claim 11, wherein the depth-adjustment element of the external housing comprises a rotationally mounted collar having a cam slot therein for receiving the outwardly projecting member of the mechanism housing, such that rotation of the collar advances and retracts the independent drive core mechanism within the external housing.

13. An independent drive core mechanism for a lancing device, comprising:

a mechanism housing having a bore extending axially therethough;

a drive plunger comprising a receiver for releasably engaging a lancet, said drive plunger translationally mounted for advancement and retraction within the bore of the mechanism housing between an advanced position and a retracted position;

a drive spring engaged between the mechanism housing and the drive plunger, for advancing the drive plunger toward the advanced position;

a charging housing for retracting the drive plunger and energizing the drive spring; and

at least one retention member for engagement with a cooperating portion of an external housing.

14. The lancing device of claim 13, further comprising a return spring engaged between the drive plunger and the charging housing.

15. The lancing device of claim 13, further comprising an ejector rod axially movable through a bore in the drive plunger to eject a lancet from the receiver of the drive plunger.

16. The lancing device of claim 15, further comprising an ejector spring engaged between the ejector rod and the mechanism housing.

17. The lancing device of claim 15, wherein the ejector rod comprises at least one finger extending through a slot in the charging housing.

18. The lancing device of claim 17, wherein the slot in the charging housing comprises a generally helical section for twisting the ejector rod relative to the drive plunger as the finger traverses the slot.

19. The lancing device of claim 13, wherein a laterally projecting wing of the drive plunger moves axially within a slot in the mechanism housing to define a stroke of the drive plunger.

20. The lancing device of claim 13, wherein a flexible arm extending from the drive plunger releasably engages a shoulder of the mechanism housing to retain the drive plunger in a retracted position against the bias of the drive spring.

21. A drive mechanism for installation within a lancing device housing, the drive mechanism comprising:

a mechanism housing;

a drive plunger movable between an advanced position and a retracted position relative to the mechanism housing, wherein a constant stroke of travel is defined between the advanced position and the retracted position; and

a drive spring engaged between the mechanism housing and the drive plunger to propel the drive plunger along the stroke of travel.

22. The drive mechanism of claim 21, wherein the mechanism housing comprises a catch member, and wherein the drive plunger comprises a trigger member releasably engagable with the catch member.

23. The drive mechanism of claim 21, further comprising a return spring opposing the drive spring.

24. The drive mechanism of claim 21, further comprising a charging housing for retracting the drive plunger relative to the mechanism housing and energizing the drive spring.

25. The drive mechanism of claim 21, further comprising an ejection member for releasing a lancet from the drive plunger.

26. The drive mechanism of claim 21, engaged within a lancing device housing.

27. The drive mechanism of claim 26, wherein the drive mechanism is variably repositionable within the lancing device housing to adjust a lancing penetration depth.

28. A method of designing lancing devices, said method comprising:

specifying an independent drive core mechanism comprising a mechanism housing, a lancet carrier translationally mounted within the mechanism housing, a drive spring for advancing the lancet carrier, and a return spring for retracting the lancet carrier;

specifying the design of a first lancing device incorporating the independent drive core mechanism into a first external housing configuration; and

specifying the design of a second lancing device incorporating the independent drive core mechanism into a second external housing configuration different from the first external housing configuration.

29. A method of manufacturing lancing devices, said method comprising:

providing an independent drive core mechanism comprising a mechanism housing, a lancet carrier translationally mounted within the mechanism housing, a drive spring for advancing the lancet carrier, and a return spring for retracting the lancet carrier;

assembling a first lancing device by installation of the independent drive core mechanism into a first external housing configuration; and

assembling a second lancing device by installation of the independent drive core mechanism into a second external housing configuration different from the first external housing configuration.