SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BREAKING A STERILITY SEAL TO ENGAGE A LANCET
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a lancet defining an engagement opening;
a sterility sheet configured to maintain sterility of the lancet;
a firing mechanism to fire the lancet, the firing mechanism including an engagement blade that is configured to engage with the engagement opening of the lancet, the engagement blade having one or more cutting edges configured to slit the sterility sheet; and
the engagement opening having one or more cut out portions at the one or more cutting edges when the blade engages the engagement opening to minimize dulling of the one or more cutting edges of the engagement blade.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated lancing test strip includes a test strip and a lancet packet coupled to the test strip. The lancet packet includes a sterility sheet enclosing a lancet to maintain the sterility of the lancet and prevent cross-contamination between the test strip and the lancet. The sterility sheet allows the lancet to be sterilized separately from the test strip. In one form, a firing mechanism has a blade that punctures and slits the sterility sheet during the firing cycle to reduce the chance of cross contamination between the lancet and the test strip prior to use. This allows an operator to load and subsequently remove an unused integrated lancing test strip without compromising the sterility of the lancet. The lancet includes an engagement opening in which the blade of the firing mechanism engages the lancet. The engagement opening is configured to reduce the chance of the blade becoming dull.
99 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a lancet defining an engagement opening; a sterility sheet configured to maintain sterility of the lancet; a firing mechanism to fire the lancet, the firing mechanism including an engagement blade that is configured to engage with the engagement opening of the lancet, the engagement blade having one or more cutting edges configured to slit the sterility sheet; and the engagement opening having one or more cut out portions at the one or more cutting edges when the blade engages the engagement opening to minimize dulling of the one or more cutting edges of the engagement blade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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piercing a sterility sheet with a blade of a firing mechanism that includes a cutting edge; engaging the blade of the firing mechanism with an engagement opening in a lancet, wherein the engagement opening has a cut out portion; and wherein said engaging includes reducing dulling of the cutting edge of the blade by positioning the cutting edge inside the cut out portion of the engagement opening where the cutting edge remains out contact with the lancet. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification