ALIGNMENT MECHANISM FOR CARTRIDGE-BASED DEVICES
First Claim
1. A cartridge-based device, comprising:
- a cartridge including a plurality of items to be used or dispensed for use;
an advancement mechanism adapted to sequentially advance the items of the cartridge to an active position for use; and
an alignment mechanism including at least one register element and at least one spring-biased element that moves between an engaged position and a retracted position, wherein in the engaged position the spring-biased element matingly engages the register element to bias the active-positioned item into a more-precise alignment for use or dispensing, and wherein in the retracted position the spring-biased element does not engage the register element as the items are being sequentially advanced into the active position by the advancement mechanism.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lancing device and a cartridge of lancets are operable to sequentially advance each lancet to an active position for use in sampling a bodily fluid. An alignment mechanism precisely aligns the lancets in the active position to promote smooth operation and prevent jamming. The alignment mechanism includes at least one register element and at least one spring-biased element movable between engaged and retracted positions. In an example embodiment, one spring-biased arm extends from the lancing-device housing and includes a protrusion, and a series of recessed register surfaces are defined in a carrier for the lancets. In the engaged position, the spring-biased protrusion fully mates with the register recess under the spring-biasing influence to precisely align the active lancet. And in the retracted position, the spring-biased protrusion is deflected from engagement with the register recess as the carrier is advanced to advance a fresh lancet into the active position.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A cartridge-based device, comprising:
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a cartridge including a plurality of items to be used or dispensed for use; an advancement mechanism adapted to sequentially advance the items of the cartridge to an active position for use; and an alignment mechanism including at least one register element and at least one spring-biased element that moves between an engaged position and a retracted position, wherein in the engaged position the spring-biased element matingly engages the register element to bias the active-positioned item into a more-precise alignment for use or dispensing, and wherein in the retracted position the spring-biased element does not engage the register element as the items are being sequentially advanced into the active position by the advancement mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A cartridge-based lancing device, comprising:
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a cartridge including a housing, a carrier held by the housing, and a plurality of lancets held by the carrier; an advancement mechanism adapted to sequentially advance the lancets of the cartridge to an active position for use; and an alignment mechanism including a series of register elements and a spring-biased element that moves between an engaged position and a retracted position, wherein the register elements and the spring-biased element have mating shapes, wherein the register elements are provided by either female or male elements and the spring-biased element includes the other of a female or male element, wherein in the engaged position the spring-biased element matingly engages one of the register elements to bias the active-positioned lancet into a more-precise alignment for use, wherein in the retracted position the spring-biased element does not engage any of the register elements as the lancets are being sequentially advanced into the active position by the advancement mechanism, and wherein the alignment mechanism mechanically overrides the advancement mechanism to fine-tune the alignment of the active-positioned lancet. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A multi-lancet cartridge for use with a lancing device having an advancement mechanism, the multi-lancet cartridge comprising:
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a housing; a carrier held by the housing; a plurality of lancets held by the carrier and sequentially advanceable by the advancement mechanism to an active position for use; and an alignment mechanism including a series of register elements and a spring-biased element that moves between an engaged position and a retracted position, wherein the register elements and the spring-biased element have mating shapes, wherein the register elements are provided by either female or male elements and the spring-biased element includes the other of a female or male element, wherein in the engaged position the spring-biased element matingly engages one of the register elements to bias the active-positioned lancet into a more-precise alignment for use, wherein in the retracted position the spring-biased element does not engage any of the register elements as the lancets are being sequentially advanced into the active position by the advancement mechanism, and wherein the alignment mechanism mechanically overrides the advancement mechanism to fine-tune the alignment of the active-positioned lancet. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification