Reusable lancet device

• US 5,464,418 A
• Filed: 12/09/1993
• Issued: 11/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stat Medical Devices Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steven Schraga
• Inventors: Schraga, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULCARE, NANCY C
• Application Number:
  US08/163,514
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 606/181, 606/182, 606/183, 606/185, 606/167, 604/136, 604/157, 604/218
• US Class Current: 606/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• 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 5/150541 Breakable protectors, e.g. caps, shields or sleeves, i.e. protectors separated destructively, e.g. by breaking a connecting area
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150618 Integrally moulded protectors, e.g. protectors simultaneously moulded together with a further component, e.g. a hub, of the piercing element
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150717 manually removed
• 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 5/1513 comprising linear sliding guides comprising tooth-shaped elements A61B5/15132
• 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

An improved, reusable lancet device, to be utilized with a disposable lancet, the device having an elongate triangular housing and a triangular cap segment to be matingly fitted with one another, the housing and cap segment being adapted to contain an elongate needle holding member slidably disposed within a channel of the housing, the needle holder member having a distal segment, a central segment, and a proximal segment, the proximal segment being adapted to hold the disposable lancet such that a point thereof is positioned in a ready to use position extending away from the housing. The needle holding member is movable between a cocked, retracted position and an extended position, and is disposed within the housing such that it will not be able slide out of the housing, yet during use, can be released from its cocked, retracted position so as to immediately move to the extended position wherein the point of the disposable lancet protrudes through a piercing opening disposed in the cap segment so as to be in a piercing position.

Claims

1. To be used with a disposable lancet, an improved, reusable lancet device comprising:

an elongate housing of triangular cross-section,

said housing including a closed first end, an open second end, and an elongate channel therein extending from said first end to said second end,

an elongate needle holding member disposed within said channel and being movable therein between a cocked, retracted position and an extended position,

said needle holder member including a distal segment, a central segment, and a proximal segment,

said proximal segment being structured and disposed to protrude from said open second end of said housing and to hold the disposable lancet therein such that a point of the disposable lancet extends away from said needle holding member,

biasing means structured and disposed to urge said needle holding member into said extended position, said biasing means including a spring disposed about said distal segment of said needle holding member, said spring abutting a flanged lip formed in said needle holding member between said distal segment and said central segment such that extension of said spring results in corresponding movement of said needle holding member,

stopper means structured and disposed to limit an amount which said needle holding member moves axially and an amount which said needle holding member will protrude through said open second end of said housing, thereby retaining said needle holding member within said channel, said stopper means including an elongate slot disposed in said distal segment of said needle holding member, and a peg extending from an interior of said housing through said slot so as to limit movement of said needle holding member to a length of said slot,

trigger means structured and disposed to maintain said needle holding member in said cocked, retracted position until released by a user, releasing by the user resulting in immediate movement of said needle holding member to said extended position, and

a cap segment of triangular cross-section including an open first side structured and disposed to be matingly fitted over said open second end of said housing, and a piercing opening disposed in a second side thereof, said piercing opening being structured and disposed to enable the point of the lancet to extend therethrough into a piercing position upon release of said needle holding member from said cocked, retracted position.

2. A reusable lancet device as recited in claim 1 wherein said trigger means includes:

a trigger button,

an aperture disposed in said housing, said aperture being structured and disposed to receive said trigger button therein, and

an outwardly biased engagement segment extending from said central segment of said needle holder member and structured and disposed to extend into said aperture in said housing so as to retain said needle holding member in said cocked, retracted position and said spring in a compressed position, and be pushed out of said aperture by said trigger button so as to release said needle holding member and enable said needle holding member to move to said extended position.

3. A reusable lancet device as recited in claim 2 formed of only six distinct pieces so as to facilitate manufacturing and minimize costs.

4. To be used with a disposable lancet, an improved, reusable lancet device comprising:

an elongate housing,

said housing including a closed first end, an open second end, and an elongate channel therein extending from said first end to said second end,

an elongate needle holding member disposed within said channel and being movable therein between a cocked, retracted position and an extended position,

said needle holder member including a distal segment, a central segment, and a proximal segment,

said proximal segment being structured and disposed to protrude from said open second end of said housing and to hold the disposable lancet therein such that a point of the disposable lancet extends away from said needle holding member,

biasing means structured and disposed to urge said needle holding member into said extended position, said biasing means including a spring disposed about said distal segment of said needle holding member, said spring abutting a flanged lip formed in said needle holding member between said distal segment and said central segment such that extension of said spring results in corresponding movement of said needle holding member,

stopper means structured and disposed to limit an amount which said needle holding member moves axially and an amount which said needle holding member will protrude through said open second end of said housing, thereby retaining said needle holding member within said channel, said stopper means including an elongate slot disposed in said distal segment of said needle holding member, and a peg extending from an interior of said housing through said slot so as to limit movement of said needle holding member to a length of said slot,

trigger means structured and disposed to maintain said needle holding member in said cocked, retracted position until released by a user, releasing by the user resulting in immediate movement of said needle holding member to said extended position, and

a cap segment including an open first side structured and disposed to be matingly fitted over said open second end of said housing, and a piercing opening disposed in a second side thereof, said piercing opening being structured and disposed to enable the point of the lancet to extend therethrough into a piercing position upon release of said needle holding member from said cocked, retracted position.

5. To be used with a disposable lancet, an improved reusable lancet device comprising:

an elongate housing,

said housing including a closed first end, an open second end, and an elongate channel therein extending from said first end to said second end,

an elongate needle holding member disposed within said channel and being movable therein between a cocked, retracted position and an extended position,

said needle holder member including a distal segment, a central segment, and a proximal segment,

said proximal segment being structured and disposed to protrude from said open second end of said housing and to hold the disposable lancet therein such that a point of the disposable lancet extends away from said needle holding member,

biasing means structured and disposed to urge said needle holding member into said extended position, said biasing means including a spring disposed about said distal segment of said needle holding member, said spring abutting a flanged lip formed in said needle holding member between said distal segment and said central segment such that extension of said spring results in corresponding movement of said needle holding member,

stopper means structured and disposed to limit an amount which said needle holding member moves axially and an amount which said needle holding member will protrude through said open second end of said housing, thereby retaining said needle holding member within said channel,

said stopper means including a guide collar disposed within said housing, said guide collar being structured and disposed to facilitate sliding movement of said distal segment of said needle holding member therethrough and to retain a flanged end of said distal segment of said needle holding member between said guide collar and said closed first end of said housing such that said needle holding member cannot slide out of said housing through said open second end,

said spring being disposed between said flanged lip in said needle holding member and said guide collar, said spring being fixedly secured at one end thereof to said housing at said guide collar,

trigger means structured and disposed to maintain said needle holding member in said cocked, retracted position until released by a user, releasing by the user resulting in immediate movement of said needle holding member to said extended position, and

a cap segment including an open first side structured and disposed to be matingly fitted over said open second end of said housing, and a piercing opening disposed in a second side thereof, said piercing opening being structured and disposed to enable the point of the lancet to extend therethrough into a piercing position upon release of said needle holding member from said cocked, retracted position.

6. A reusable lancet device as recited in claim 5 wherein said housing and said cap segment are each of triangular cross-section.