LANCET DEVICE UTILIZING A REVOLVER-TYPE CARTRIDGE, REVOLVER-TYPE CARTRIDGE, AND METHOD OF MAKING AND/OR USING THE CARTRIDGE AND THE LANCET DEVICE

• US 20100168616A1
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stat Medical Devices Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stat Medical Devices Incorporated
• Inventors: Carhart, David A., Fragassi, Steve, Schraga, Steven, Fuller, Paul R., Schwartz, Brian
• Application Number:
  US12/515,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20100168616A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/583
• 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 5/150412 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 5/15146 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 5/15163 Characterized by propelling the piercing element in an axial 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 cartridge for a device includes a generally cylindrical cartridge body. A plurality of generally axially movably mounted lancets or lancet needles are included. A plurality of biasing members are utilized with each being adapted to apply a biasing force to one of the lancets or lancet needles. A lancet device includes a housing comprising a trigger and a generally cylindrically-shaped cartridge comprising a plurality of lancet needles and a plurality of springs and being adapted to rotate between different positions.

Claims

1. A cartridge for a device, the cartridge comprising:

a generally cylindrical cartridge body;

a plurality of generally axially movably mounted lancets or lancet needles; and

a plurality of biasing members, each adapted to apply a biasing force to one of the lancets or lancet needles.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism allowing the cartridge to be mounted to the device.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the device comprise at least one of a lancet device, a testing device, and a glucose meter.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is one of adapted to rotate about a central axis and rotate in only one direction about a central axis.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein at least one of:

each lancet or lancet needle is individually moved to an extended position by a pushing device which merely contacts and pushes the lancet or lancet needle without becoming connected to the lancet or lancet needle in any way, temporarily or otherwise; and

needles of the of the lancets or lancet needles are axially oriented in a manner which is offset from a main axis of each lancet or lancet needle.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the biasing members comprise springs, each spring having one end adapted to contact one of the plurality of lancets or lancet needles.

7. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises an axial length which is greater than an outer diameter.

8. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises an outer diameter of no greater than about 1 inch.

9. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises an axial length of no greater than about 1.5 inches.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein each lancet or lancet needle comprises an opening or recess which receives therein a portion of one of the biasing members.

11. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lancets or lancet needles comprises a synthetic resin head portion and a metal needle portion.

12. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises a plurality of equally angularly spaced openings each sized to receive therein one of the lancets or lancet needles.

13. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a centrally arranged opening sized to receive therein a device for causing rotation of the cartridge.

14. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a centrally arranged opening comprising at least one of an axial groove and an axial projection adapted to engage with a device for causing rotation of the cartridge.

15. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a centrally arranged opening comprising axial grooves and projections adapted to engage with a spline of a device for causing rotation of the cartridge.

16. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of openings arranged on back end of the cartridge, each opening being sized to receive therein a device for causing one of the lancets or lancet needles to move to an extended or puncturing position.

17. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the device for causing one of the lancets or lancet needles to move to an extended or puncturing position contacts a rear-most end of the one of the lancets or lancet needles.

18. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the one of the lancets or lancet needles automatically moves back to a retracted position when the device for causing one of the lancets or lancet needles to move to an extended or puncturing position is moved to a retracted position.

19. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising an alignment mechanism allowing the cartridge to be mounted to the device in only a single position.

20. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising one of a notch, a groove, and a projection which ensures that the cartridge is mounted to the device in a predetermined position.

21. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism preventing rotation of the cartridge once the cartridge has rotated in the device to a locking position.

22. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a projection which prevents rotation of the cartridge after the cartridge has rotated in the device to a final position.

23. A method of puncturing a surface of skin using a device comprising the cartridge of claim 1, the method comprising:

arranging the device adjacent against a user'"'"'s skin;

triggering the device so that one of the plurality of lancets or lancet needles is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin; and

rotating the cartridge to another position.

24. A cartridge for a device, the cartridge comprising:

a generally cylindrical-shaped body;

a plurality of axially oriented lancet needles;

a plurality of springs; and

each spring being structured and arranged to move one of the plurality of lancet needles towards a retracted position,

wherein the cartridge is structured and arranged to be at least one of rotatably mounted, removably mounted, and non-axially movably mounted to the device.

25. The cartridge of claim 24, wherein the generally cylindrical-shaped body comprises a center opening and a plurality of axially oriented and equally angularly spaced openings, wherein the plurality of axially oriented lancet needles are movable along a generally linear path without substantially rotating, and wherein the center opening is adapted to receive a device for causing rotation of the cartridge.

26. A method of puncturing a surface of skin using a device comprising the cartridge of claim 24, the method comprising:

arranging the device adjacent against a user'"'"'s skin;

triggering the device so that one of the plurality of lancet needles is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin; and

rotating the cartridge to another position.

27. A lancet device comprising:

a housing comprising a trigger; and

a generally cylindrically-shaped cartridge comprising a plurality of lancet needles and a plurality of springs and being adapted to rotate between different positions.

28. The lancet device of claim 27, wherein the cartridge comprises a center opening which is sized to receive therein a portion of a device for causing rotation of the cartridge.

29. The lancet device of claim 27, wherein the plurality of lancet needles are independently movably mounted.

30. The lancet device of claim 29, wherein the plurality of lancet needles are generally axially oriented.

31. The lancet device of claim 27, wherein the cartridge is removably mounted to the housing.

32. The lancet device of claim 27, wherein the cartridge is insertable into the housing in only one rotatable position and removable from the housing in only one rotatable position.

33. The lancet device of claim 27, wherein the cartridge is removable from the housing in only a final rotatable position after all of the lancet needles have been utilized.

34. A device comprising:

a housing;

a cartridge comprising a plurality of lancet needles;

the cartridge being rotatably mounted to a front end of the housing;

a mechanism which prevents axial movement of the cartridge after the cartridge is mounted to the front end of the housing; and

a device rotatably mounted to the housing which allows a user to rotate the cartridge between a plurality of different positions,

wherein the device has one end which extends outside of a rear end of the housing and is adapted to be gripped by the user to cause rotation thereof.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the housing comprises a generally cylindrically shaped two-piece housing.

36. The device of claim 34, further comprising a mechanism which retains the cartridge in at least one rotational position.

37. The device of claim 34, wherein the device which allows a user to rotate the cartridge between a plurality of different positions comprises a spline and is axially movable at least between an initial position and a position which places the device in an armed or trigger-set position.

38. The device of claim 34, further comprising a mechanism which retains the cartridge in at least one rotational position, wherein the mechanism which retains the cartridge in at least one rotational position comprises a deflecting member arranged on the device rotatably mounted to the housing.

39. The device of claim 34, wherein the device which allows a user to rotate the cartridge between a plurality of positions is biased towards an initial position.

40. The device of claim 34, further comprising an alignment mechanism allowing the cartridge to be initially mounted within the front end of the housing in only a single position.

41. The device of claim 34, further comprising a deflectable projection which ensures that the cartridge is mounted to the housing in a predetermined position.

42. The device of claim 34, further comprising guiding grooves arranged in the front of the housing for allowing insertion and rotation of the cartridge.

43. The device of claim 34, wherein the cartridge and housing comprise an arrangement which prevents rotation of the cartridge after the cartridge has rotated in the housing to a predetermined position.

44. The device of claim 34, further comprising a depth adjustment cap arranged at the front end of the housing.

45. A method of puncturing a surface of skin using the device of claim 34, the method comprising:

arranging the device adjacent against a user'"'"'s skin;

triggering the device so that one of the plurality of lancet needles is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin; and

rotating the cartridge to another position.

46. A method of assembling a device for puncturing a skin surface, the method comprising:

installing a cartridge comprising a plurality of lancets and lancet springs at least partially within a device housing,

whereby the cartridge, once installed, is capable of being rotated between at least two different positions.

47. A method of using a device for causing a puncture in a skin surface, the method comprising:

installing a cartridge comprising a plurality of lancets and lancet springs at least partially within a device housing;

triggering the device so that one of the plurality of lancet needles is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin; and

rotating the cartridge to another position.