PUSH-TO-CHARGE MECHANISM FOR LANCING DEVICE
First Claim
1. A lancing device for propelling a lancet through a lancing stroke, the lancing device comprising:
- a housing including an axial bore;
a drive mechanism including a lancet carrier and a drive spring, the lancet carrier holding the lancet and translatable axially within the housing through the lancing stroke, and the drive spring adapted to propel the lancet carrier through the lancing stroke; and
a charging mechanism adapted to retract the lancet carrier to a charged position and including a charging button, a motion-conversion member, and a first cam-engaging surface, wherein the charging button includes a second cam-engaging surface, the first cam-engaging surface is formed by a portion of the drive mechanism, and the motion-conversion member includes first and second cam surfaces engaged respectively by the first cam-engaging surface and the second cam-engaging surface and configured to convert movement of the charging button in a first axial direction to movement of the lancet carrier in a second axial direction generally opposite from the first axial direction to retract the lancet carrier to the charged position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lancing device has a charging mechanism that operates to convert an external push action by a user to an internal pull action that retracts and charges a lancet for use in a lancing stroke. In some embodiments, the charging mechanism includes a user-actuated charging push-button, a reverse charging member coupled to a lancet carrier, and a reverse-motion conversion member coupled therebetween. Depressing the user-actuated member in a first longitudinal direction causes transverse movement of the conversion member, which in turn causes longitudinal retraction of the reverse charging member and the lancet carrier coupled thereto in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first direction, thereby charging a drive mechanism of the lancing device. In other embodiments, a rack-and-pinion gear mechanism provides the same push-to-pull functionality.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A lancing device for propelling a lancet through a lancing stroke, the lancing device comprising:
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a housing including an axial bore; a drive mechanism including a lancet carrier and a drive spring, the lancet carrier holding the lancet and translatable axially within the housing through the lancing stroke, and the drive spring adapted to propel the lancet carrier through the lancing stroke; and a charging mechanism adapted to retract the lancet carrier to a charged position and including a charging button, a motion-conversion member, and a first cam-engaging surface, wherein the charging button includes a second cam-engaging surface, the first cam-engaging surface is formed by a portion of the drive mechanism, and the motion-conversion member includes first and second cam surfaces engaged respectively by the first cam-engaging surface and the second cam-engaging surface and configured to convert movement of the charging button in a first axial direction to movement of the lancet carrier in a second axial direction generally opposite from the first axial direction to retract the lancet carrier to the charged position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A charging mechanism for a lancing device for propelling a lancet through a lancing stroke, the lancing device comprising a housing including an axial bore, a lancet carrier translational axially within the housing through the lancing stroke with the lancet coupled to the lancet carrier, and a drive spring for propelling the lancet carrier through the lancing stroke, the charging mechanism comprising:
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a charging button that is mounted to translate axially relative to the housing, with lateral constraint, and that includes a second cam-engaging surface; a first cam-engaging surface that is formed by the lancet, which is mounted to translate axially relative to the housing with lateral constraint; and a motion-conversion member that is mounted to translate transversely relative to the housing, with axial constraint, wherein the conversion member includes first and second cam surfaces engaged respectively by the first cam-engaging surface and the second cam-engaging surface and configured to convert movement of the charging button in a first axial-push direction to movement of the lancet carrier in a second axial-pull direction generally opposite from the first axial-push direction to retract the lancet carrier to a charged position, wherein the conversion member moves in a first transverse direction generally transverse to the first and second axial directions in response to movement of the charging button in the first axial-push direction, and wherein the first and second cam surfaces are substantially similar in configuration, but oppositely arranged from each other in a generally mirror-image fashion, wherein pushing actuation of the charging button in the first axial-push direction causes interaction of the now axially moving second cam-engaging surface of the charging button with the second cam surface of the charging button to move the conversion member in the first transverse direction, and interaction of the now transversely moving first cam surface of the charging button with the first cam-engaging surface of the lancet carrier causes movement of the lancet carrier in the second opposite axial-pull direction to retract the lancet carrier to the charged position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A charging mechanism for a lancing device comprising a lancet carrier that carries a lancet through a lancing stroke, the charging mechanism comprising:
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a charging button slidably coupled to the lancing device to permit axial movement between an extended position and a depressed position and including a first rack gear; a reverse charging member coupled to the lancet carrier and including a second rack gear; and a pinion gear rotatably engaged between the first and second rack gears, wherein movement of the charging button in a first axial direction causes rotation of the pinion gear, which in turn causes movement of the reverse charging member and lancet carrier coupled thereto in a second axial direction generally opposite the first axial direction to retract the lancet carrier to a charged position.
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Specification