LANCING DEVICE

• US 20110184448A1
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Brown, Daniel, Walsh, Philip, McCloud, William, Walker, Tom, Lorza, Maria Isabel, Purcell, Glenn, Mathelier, Martin Antoine, Choi, Sehegeun
• Granted Patent: US 8,828,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150068 by tissue compression, e.g. with specially designed surface of device contacting the skin area to be pierced
• 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 5/150259 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 5/150435 Specific design of proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150816 by tactile feedback, e.g. vibration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150824 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150832 by topography of the surface, e.g. Braille, embossed printing
• 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 5/1519 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 formed from a main body and a cap. The main body is configured from a lower housing, an upper housing extending over a portion of the lower housing, and an actuator operatively engaged to the upper and lower housings with the actuator extending along the portion of the lower housing not covered by the upper housing. The upper housing further includes an actuator button, wherein a lancet may be placed within the body such that movement of the actuator from a first position to a second position away from said endcap cocks the lancet for firing, which is achieved by depressing the actuator button. Conveniently, the lancing device is configured for tactile recognition in the palm of a human hand and may preferably be operated one handed and without visual observation.

Claims

1. A lancing device comprising:

a main body, the main body configured from a lower housing, an upper housing having an actuator button, the upper housing extending along a partial length of the lower housing, and an actuator operatively engaged to said upper and lower housings, the actuator extending along the remainder of the partial length of said lower housing;

an endcap extending from said main body;

wherein a lancet may be placed within said body such that movement of said actuator from a first position to a second position away from said endcap cocks the lancet for firing.

2. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein said actuator may be returned to said first position while the lancet remains cocked for firing.

3. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein said actuator button is depressed to fire said cocked lancet.

4. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein said lancing device fits in the palm of a typical adult hand.

5. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein said lancing device can be operated with one hand.

6. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein said upper housing and said lower housing remain stationary when said actuator is moved from said first position to said second position.

7. The lancing device of claim 6, wherein said lower housing may be positioned against the forefinger of a typical adult hand while the actuator is moved with the thumb of a typical adult hand.

8. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein the actuator extends beyond the limits of the lower housing when in said second position.

9. The lancing device of claim 1, wherein said actuator further comprises a raised member to assist with movement thereof.

16. The lancing device of claim 1, further comprising a holder within the main body, the holder adapted to accept and hold a lancet, the holder including ramped portions providing progressive resistance against the lancet during insertion and removal.

10. A method of deploying a lancet device having a main body, an actuator, and an actuator button, the method comprising;

grasping the main body of the lancet device with a single hand;

positioning the lancet device such that the actuator faces away from the user'"'"'s body;

placing the thumb of a user on the actuator while the main body rests in the palm of the user;

moving the actuator from a first position to a second position to cock the lancet, whereby the main body remains stationary.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of moving the actuator is achieved with the user'"'"'s thumb.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising rotating the lancet device within the palm such that the thumb of the person is above the actuator button.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising depressing the actuator button to fire the lancet.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising placing a lancet within the main body of the lancet device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the main body comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion sized and configured to mate directly with the upper portion and the actuator.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of placing a lancet within the main body of the lancet device involves placing the lancet with progressive force.

18. A lancing device comprising a main body having an internal holder formed from a split cavity, the split cavity expanding to retain a lancet in a frictional relation upon insertion thereof, the holder further comprising ramped portions providing progressive resistance against such insertion.

19. The lancing device of claim 18, wherein said split cavity expands as the lancet is inserted.