LANCING DEVICE AND LANCET

• US 20100160943A1
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Facet Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Facet Technologies LLC
• Inventors: COLLINS, Brian M., PUSEY, Lauren R., LAMPS, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 8,398,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/182
• 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 5/150259 Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape
• 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 5/150442 Blade-like piercing elements, e.g. blades, cutters, knives, for cutting the skin
• 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 5/15117 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 5/15132 comprising tooth-shaped elements, e.g. toothed wheel or rack and pinion
• 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

A lancing device and lancet are provided with depth-control, lancet ejection, and/or guidance mechanisms. The depth-control mechanism includes a dial rotationally mounted at a distal end of the housing of the lancing device, the dial being coupled to a linkage whereby rotation of the dial imparts translational movement to a stop surface of the linkage to limit the stroke of the lancet and thereby control lancing penetration depth. The ejection mechanism includes an ejector that is advanced into contact with a transversely flared flange of the lancet to discharge the lancet from the lancing device. The guidance mechanism includes an inner guidance housing for restricting out-of-axis movement of a lancet carrier.

Claims

1. A lancing device comprising a housing, a lancet carrier mounted within said housing for movement between a retracted position and a lancing position, and a depth-control mechanism, said depth-control mechanism comprising a dial rotationally mounted relative to said housing, and a linkage coupled to said dial and having a stop member for limiting travel of the lancet carrier at the lancing position.

2. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein said linkage comprises a stop bar having a first end coupled to an eccentric pin of the dial and a second end comprising the stop member.

3. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein rotation of the dial drives translational movement of the stop member to vary a penetration depth of the lancing device.

4. The lancing device of claim 3, wherein rotation of the dial also drives pivotal movement of the stop member.

5. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein the dial is mounted at a distal end of the housing opposite a lancet opening.

6. The lancing device of claim 5, wherein the distal end of said housing comprises a cutout portion, and wherein the dial comprises indicia viewable in the cutout portion and indicating a lancing depth setting corresponding to the rotational position of the dial.

7. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein the stop member limits travel of the lancet carrier at the lancing position by direct contact between the stop member and the lancet carrier.

8. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein the stop member limits travel of the lancet carrier at the lancing position by indirect contact between the stop member a component mounted to the lancet carrier.

9. A lancing system comprising a lancet and a lancing device for receiving and discharging said lancet;

said lancet comprising a lancet body having a proximal end and a distal end, and a sharp lancing tip projecting axially from the proximal end of the lancet body; and

said lancing device comprising an ejector arm having an ejection actuator at a first end thereof and an abutment finger projecting from the ejector arm for abutment against the distal end of the lancet upon operation of the ejection actuator.

10. The lancing device of claim 9, wherein the lancing device comprises a housing and an endcap, and wherein the ejection mechanism comprises means for preventing actuation unless the endcap is removed from the housing.

11. A lancing device comprising:

an outer housing;

a lancet carrier translationally movable within the housing; and

an inner guidance housing mounted within the outer housing for constraining the lancet carrier to axial movement along a linear lancing stroke.

12. The lancing device of claim 11, wherein the inner guidance housing consists essentially of a sleeve having an internal channel configured to generally match an outer profile element of the lancet carrier.

13. The lancing device of claim 11, the inner guidance housing consisting of a single-part sleeve having an internal channel configured to generally match an outer profile element of the lancet carrier.

14. The lancing device of claim 11, wherein the lancet carrier comprises a flange having an outer profile generally matching an inner profile of the channel of the inner guidance housing with a close running fit.

15. A lancing device comprising:

a lancet carrier comprising a lancet carrier stop;

a drive spring for propelling the lancet carrier along a lancing stroke defining a stroke distance; and

a depth control mechanism comprising;

a dial that is rotational about a center of rotation, the dial further comprising a mounting pin eccentrically offset from the center of rotation; and

a stop bar having a first end mounted to the mounting pin of the dial and a second end comprising a stop surface for contact with the lancet carrier stop to adjust the stroke distance of the lancet carrier.

16. The lancing device of claim 15, wherein the stop bar has a generally T-shaped profile with a lengthwise axis and a transverse rib forming the stop surface and extending generally perpendicular to the lengthwise axis.

17. The lancing device of claim 15, wherein the lancet carrier comprises a distal extension arm having the lancet carrier stop extending therefrom.

18. The lancing device of claim 17, wherein the lancet carrier stop comprises a sleeve retained on the distal extension arm.

19. The lancing device of claim 15, wherein rotation of the dial drives an axial component of motion of the stop bar and a transverse component of motion of the stop bar.

20. The lancing device of claim 19, wherein the axial and transverse components of motion generate a pivotal motion of the stop bar.

21. The lancing device of claim 15, wherein the lancet carrier, the drive spring and the stop bar are enclosed within a housing, and wherein a rearward end of the housing is radiused to generally match a profile of the dial, with only an outer periphery of the dial projecting beyond the rearward end of the housing.