Lancet actuator with retractable mechanism
First Claim
1. A mechanism for sequentially advancing and retracting a lancet needle, comprising:
- (a) drive carriage means for carrying, advancing, and retracting the lancet needle;
(b) a hinge structure operatively connected to linearly displace said drive carriage means on a linear path along an axis of said drive carriage means and including first and second coupled leaf members, said drive carriage means being connected to one of said first and second leaf members which are relatively pivotal between a first position thereof in which said drive carriage means is advanced to project and thrust the lancet needle into a tissue penetration position and a second position in which said drive carriage means is retracted from said advance to withdraw the lancet needle from the penetration position the other of said first and second leaf members being further coupled to a pivot bearing structure of said mechanism for supporting said relative pivot.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an actuator mechanism for sequentially advancing and retracting a lancet needle and includes a drive carriage for advancing and retracting the lancet needle and a hinge structure operatively connected to displace the drive carriage. The hinge structure includes first and second coupled leaf members relatively pivotal between a first position thereof in which the drive carriage is advanced to project and thrust the lancet needle into a tissue penetration position, and the second pivotal position of the leaf members in which the drive carriage is retracted to withdraw the lancet needle from the penetration position. The leaf members can also be pivotal to a third position in which the drive carriage is retracted prior to initiating the advancement so that the first position of the leaf members is pivotally intermediate between the second and third relative positions thereof. The drive carriage is thus advanced and thereafter retracted for thrusting and then withdrawing the lancet needle in continuous reversal motions thereof. The drive carriage is guided so that the advancement and retraction motions are along a highly accurate linear path.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A mechanism for sequentially advancing and retracting a lancet needle, comprising:
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(a) drive carriage means for carrying, advancing, and retracting the lancet needle; (b) a hinge structure operatively connected to linearly displace said drive carriage means on a linear path along an axis of said drive carriage means and including first and second coupled leaf members, said drive carriage means being connected to one of said first and second leaf members which are relatively pivotal between a first position thereof in which said drive carriage means is advanced to project and thrust the lancet needle into a tissue penetration position and a second position in which said drive carriage means is retracted from said advance to withdraw the lancet needle from the penetration position the other of said first and second leaf members being further coupled to a pivot bearing structure of said mechanism for supporting said relative pivot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An actuating mechanism for sequentially advancing and retracting a lancet needle, comprising:
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a) drive carriage means for carrying, advancing, and retracting the lancet needle; b) a hinge structure operatively connected to displace said drive carriage means and including first and second coupled leaf members, said drive carriage means being connected to said second leaf member, said first and second leaf members being relatively pivotal between a first position thereof in which said drive carriage means is advanced to project and thrust the lancet needle into a tissue penetration position and a second position in which said drive carriage means is retracted from said advance to withdraw the lancet needle from the penetration position, wherein said hinge structure further comprises a second, translationally stationary pivot bearing means secured to one end of said first leaf member and an opposite end of said first leaf member is secured to a first pivot bearing means pivotally coupling said first and second leaf members, said first pivot bearing means being pivotal about said second pivot bearing means during said first and second positions and wherein said second pivot bearing means comprises a rotational hub member on which a torsion spring bears for propelling pivot of said first leaf member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An actuating mechanism for sequentially advancing and retracting a lancet needle, comprising:
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a) drive carriage means for carrying, advancing, and retracting the lancet needle; b) a hinge structure operatively connected to displace said drive carriage means and including first and second coupled leaf members, said drive carriage means being connected to said second leaf member, said first and second leaf members being relatively pivotal between a first position thereof in which said drive carriage means is advanced to project and thrust the lancet needle into a tissue penetration position and a second position in which said drive carriage means is retracted from said advance to withdraw the lancet needle from the penetration position, further comprising spring means bearing against said first leaf member for propelling pivot thereof relative to said second leaf member, and cocking means for energizing said spring means, wherein said cocking means is movably biased toward a neutral position thereof removed from energizing said spring means.
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21. An actuating mechanism for sequentially advancing and retracting a lancet needle, comprising:
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a) drive carriage means for carrying, advancing, and retracting the lancet needle; b) a hinge structure operatively connected to displace said drive carriage means and including first and second coupled leaf members, said drive carriage means being connected to said second leaf member, said first and second leaf members being relatively pivotal between a first position thereof in which said drive carriage means is advanced to project and thrust the lancet needle into a tissue penetration position and a second position in which said drive carriage means is retracted from said advance to withdraw the lancet needle from the penetration position, wherein said hinge structure further comprises a pivot bearing rotational hub secured to one end of said first leaf member on which a spring means bears for propelling said pivot of said first leaf member, and further comprising a cocking member selectively engageable with either said hub for energizing said spring means, or engageable with said drive carriage means for detatchment of a lancet structure removably carried on said drive carriage means.
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22. An actuating mechanism for sequentially advancing and retracting a lancet needle, comprising:
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a) drive carriage means for carrying, advancing, and retracting the lancet needle; b) a hinge structure operatively connected to displace said drive carriage means and including first and second coupled leaf members, said drive carriage means being connected to one of said first and second leaf members which are relatively pivotal between a first position thereof in which said drive carriage means is advanced to project and thrust the lancet needle into a tissue penetration position and a second position in which said drive carriage means is retracted from said advance to withdraw the lancet needle from the penetration position, the other of said first and second leaf members being further coupled to a pivot bearing structure of said mechanism, wherein said drive carriage means comprises a housing structure for removably receiving a body portion of a lancet structure, said body portion being slidably received and withdrawn through an access aperture formed in said housing structure. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A mechanism for sequentially advancing and retracting a lancet needle, comprising:
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a) drive carriage means for carrying, advancing, and retracting the lancet needle; b) a hinge structure operatively connected to displace said drive carriage means and including first and second coupled leaf members which are relatively pivotal between a first position thereof in which said drive carriage means is advanced to project and thrust the lancet needle into a tissue penetration position and a second position in which said drive carriage means is retracted from said advance to withdraw the lancet needle from the penetration position, wherein said drive carriage means and said first and second leaf members are integrally molded and defined within a unitary molded structure wherein said drive carriage means is connected to said second leaf member by a first attenuated portion of said molded structure forming a flexible hinge coupling between said second leaf member and said drive carriage means, and wherein said first and second leaf members are joined by a second attenuated portion of said unitary molded structure pivotally coupling said leaf members, said first leaf member being further coupled to a pivot bearing structure therefor, such that said relative pivot of said first and second leaf members produces said advancement and retraction of said integrally connected drive carriage means.
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26. An actuating mechanism for sequentially advancing and retracting a lancet needle comprising:
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a) drive carriage means for carrying, advancing, and retracting the lancet needle; b) a hinge structure operatively connected to displace said drive carriage means and including first and second coupled leaf members relatively pivotal between a first position thereof in which said drive carriage means is advanced to project and thrust the lancet needle into tissue penetration position and a second position in which said drive carriage means is retracted to withdraw the lancet needle from the penetration position thereof, wherein said drive carriage means and said first and second leaf members are integrally molded and in which said drive carriage means is connected to one of said first and second leaf members by a first flexible hinge coupling portion, the other of said first and second leaf members being further coupled to a pivot bearing support therefor, and said first and second leaf members are joined by a second flexible hinge coupling portion such that relative pivot of said first and second leaf members produces said advancement and retraction of said integrally connected drive carriage means. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A unitary, molded transmission linkage structure for use in sequentially advancing and retracting a lancet needle, comprising:
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a) drive carriage means for carrying, advancing, and retracting the lancet needle; b) a hinge structure operatively connected to displace said drive carriage means and including first and second coupled leaf members relatively pivotal between a first position thereof in which said drive carriage means is advanced to project and thrust the lancet needle into tissue penetration position and a second position in which said drive carriage means is retracted to withdraw the lancet needle from the penetration position thereof, wherein said drive carriage means and said first and second leaf members are integrally molded in which said drive carriage means is connected to one of said first and second leaf members by a first flexible hinge coupling portion, the other of said first and second leaf members being further coupled to a pivot bearing support therefor, and said first and second leaf members are joined by a second flexible hinge coupling portion such that relative pivot of said first and second leaf members produces said advancement and retraction of said integrally connected drive carriage means. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification