Lancet Removal Tool

• US 20100049231A1
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Jones, Oliver Paul, Huckstep, Andrew, Shahrokni, Farzad M., Yang, Paul Sen
• Granted Patent: US 8,216,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/181
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150099 by negative pressure, other than vacuum extraction into a syringe by pulling on the piston rod or into pre-evacuated tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150229 Pumps for assisting the blood sampling
• 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 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15125 comprising a vacuum or compressed fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood

Abstract

A lancet removal tool 26 comprises an elongate hollow body 28 having an opening 32 at one end. The opening 32 is bounded by resilient fingers 36 which can flex to expand the opening 32 to engage the body 16 of the lancet 14. Withdrawal of the tool 26 after engagement with the lancet body 16 causes the lancet 14 to be removed from the lancet device. Subsequently, the lancet 14 can be moved from the opening 32 into the interior of the tool 26. The tool 26 and the removal procedure enables lancets 14 to be removed without risk of injury or infection from contact with the contaminated needle 18 of the lancet 14.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A system comprising:

an lancet device;

at least one lancet for use with the lancet device and removable therefrom; and

a tool for removing the at least one lancet from the lancet device, the tool comprising a hollow body having an expandable opening at a distal end thereof defined by at least one resilient wall portion, wherein the opening is outwardly expandable from unexpanded condition to an expanded condition under the resilient action of the at least one resilient wall portion, wherein a transverse dimension of the opening is smaller than a transverse dimension of the lancet when in the unexpanded condition and encases the transverse dimension of the lancet when in the expanded condition.

19. A system as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a plurality of lancets, the tool hollow body having an internal length sufficient for accommodating therein the plurality of lancets arranged end-to-end.

20. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the tool further comprises a cap at a proximal end of the hollow body.

21. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the cap is removable.

22. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one resilient wall portion comprises an inwardly directed projection engageable with the transverse dimension of the lancet to expand the opening.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the transverse dimension of the at least one lancet is provided by a circumferential rib extending about the lancet.

24. A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the inwardly directed projection comprises a distally facing ramped surface configured for slidably engaging with the rib.

25. A system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the inwardly directed projection further comprises a shoulder positioned proximally of the ramped surface and configured for engaging with the circumferential rib wherein the engaged lancet is irremovable from the opening.

26. A system as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a housing body which accommodates the lancet device, means for sampling body fluid, and means for analyzing the sampled body fluid.

27. A system as claimed in claim 26, further comprising user control elements provided within the housing body.

28. A system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the body fluid is blood and the means for analyzing comprises means for determining the concentration of an analyte within the blood.

29. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the analyte is glucose.