LANCET MAGAZINE

• US 20100234869A1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Sacherer, Klaus-Dieter
• Granted Patent: US 8,758,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15029 for driving devices, i.e. means for driving the piercing element
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• 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 5/150419 comprising means for capillary action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150435 Specific design of proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150519 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the single-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150572 Pierceable protectors, e.g. shields, caps, sleeves or films, e.g. for hygienic purposes
• 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 5/15128 comprising 2D- or 3D-shaped elements, e.g. cams, curved guide rails or threads 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 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood

Abstract

The invention relates to a lancet magazine with a plurality of lancets for generating a puncture wound for collecting a sample of body fluid. According to the invention, the lancets in the lancet magazine are each coupled to a drive mechanism which, for each lancet, comprises at least one pretensioned drive element which, when the drive mechanism is triggered, releases mechanical energy to accelerate the lancet coupled thereto for a puncturing movement.

Claims

1. A lancet magazine, comprising:

a plurality of lancets for generating a puncture wound for collection of a sample of a body fluid;

each lancet having a respective drive mechanism coupled thereto, each drive mechanism comprising at least one pretensioned drive element which releases mechanical energy to accelerate the respective coupled lancet for a puncturing movement when the drive mechanism is triggered; and

each drive mechanism comprising a drive arm which carries its respective lancet and which moves from a bent starting position to a stretched position during an advancing phase of a puncturing movement.

2. The lancet magazine of claim 1, wherein each drive arm carries its respective lancet during a return phase which follows the advancing phase, each respective lancet being retracted during the return phase and each drive arm moving from the stretched position to a bent end position.

3. The lancet magazine of claim 2, wherein, in the bent end position, the drive arm is bent in a direction substantially opposite to the bending direction of the starting position.

4. The lancet magazine of claim 1, wherein the drive aim comprises an articulated lever.

5. The lancet magazine of claim 1, wherein the drive arm and the pretensioned drive element are separate parts of the drive mechanism.

6. The lancet magazine of claim 1, wherein the drive arm comprises the pretensioned drive element.

7. The lancet magazine of claim 1, wherein the lancets are arranged in the lancet magazine in the form of a ring.

8. The lancet magazine of claim 7, wherein the lancets extend in a radial direction.

9. The lancet magazine of claim 1, further comprising a magazine housing having a plurality of exit openings, a point of each lancet passing through a respective one of the exit openings during a puncturing movement.

10. The lancet magazine of claim 1, further comprising a puncturing device associated therewith, the puncturing device comprising:

a compartment for accommodating the lancet magazine;

a housing opening configured to be pressed against a body part in which a puncture wound is to be produced; and

a transport mechanism for moving the lancets contained in the lancet magazine one by one to a position for use.

11. A puncturing system, comprising:

a housing in which a plurality of lancets are arranged;

each lancet having a respective drive mechanism coupled thereto, each drive mechanism comprising at least one pretensioned drive element which releases mechanical energy to accelerate the respective coupled lancet for a puncturing movement when the drive mechanism is triggered; and

each drive mechanism comprising a drive arm which carries its respective lancet and which moves from a bent starting position to a stretched position during an advancing phase of a puncturing movement.

12. A method of using a puncturing system having a plurality of lancets, each lancet having a respective drive arm coupled thereto, the method comprising:

(a) moving the drive arm of a first one of the lancets from a bent starting position to a stretched position and thereby performing an advancing phase of a puncturing movement during which the drive element releases mechanical energy to accelerate the respective coupled lancet;

(b) positioning a second one of the lancets in an active position of the puncturing system; and

(c) repeating step (a) with a second one of the lancets.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising moving the drive arm of the first one of the lancets from the stretched position to a bent end position and thereby retracting the first lancet after the advancing phase.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the moving of the drive arm of the first one of the lancets from the stretched position to the bent end position comprises moving the drive arm to a position oriented substantially opposite of the position occupied by the drive element before the advancing phase.