Finger stick device

• US 5,545,174 A
• Filed: 01/11/1994
• Issued: 08/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Medical Company (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sunderland, Richard A., Kinghorn, Curtis D., Schenk, Robert W., Ray, Shawn C., Ranford, Alan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rimell, Sam
• Application Number:
  US08/179,864
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 128/749, 128/751, 128/754, 606/167, 606/170, 606/171, 606/172, 606/181, 606/182, 606/184, 606/185
• US Class Current: 606/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1411 by percutaneous method, e.g. by lancet
• 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 5/150549 Protectors removed by rotational movement, e.g. torsion or screwing
• 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 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15128 comprising 2D- or 3D-shaped elements, e.g. cams, curved guide rails or threads comprising tooth-shaped elements A61B5/15132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable

Abstract

A lancet type device having a movable and retractable lancet tip is disclosed. The lancet tip extends beyond the end of a lancet body. The device includes an actuating mechanism that moves and retracts the sharp distal lancet tip linearly into and out of contact with a patient'"'"'s skin. The actuating mechanism includes an arm with a substantially "V" shaped groove. In one embodiment, the arm extends away from and pivots around the proximal end of the device. In another embodiment, the arm moves transversely across the device. A cylindrical cam follower protrudes from the lancet body. Contact between the groove and the cam follower moves the cam follower, and consequently the lancet body, in a linear direction along the axis of the lancet body.

Claims

1. A lancet type device having a distal or patient contacting end and an opposed proximal end comprising:

an elongated lancet body having a central axis;

a lancet that is substantially encased in the lancet body, the lancet having a sharp distal tip that extends beyond the distal end of the lancet body;

a case having a chamber contoured to the shape of the lancet body so that the lancet body is slidably encased in the chamber and moves in the chamber along the central axis of the lancet body, the chamber having an axis;

an actuating mechanism that moves and retracts the sharp distal lancet tip linearly out of and into the chamber as the actuating mechanism moves and then retracts, respectively, the lancet tip, the actuating mechanism including;

a cam follower protruding from the lancet body at substantially a right angle to the central axis of the lancet body; and

,

a substantially planar movable arm with a substantially "V" shaped groove, the arm constrained to move in a direction contained within the plane of the arm;

wherein the cam follower protrudes into the groove at approximately a right angle to the plane of the groove whereby the cam follower is constrained to movement along the groove;

whereby, as the arm moves, contact between the groove and the cam follower moves the cam follower, and consequently the lancet body, in a linear direction along the axis of the lancet body;

whereby the lancet tip moves into and out of contact with a patient'"'"'s skin.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the arm extends away from and pivots around the proximal end of the device at a hinge.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the preferred amount of rotation of the arm around the hinge is about 24°

.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the arm moves transversely across the device.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the cam follower has about the same diameter as the width of the groove.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the substantially "V" shaped groove has two substantially straight sides.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the arm extends away from and pivots around the proximal end of the device at a hinge.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the angle between the two substantially straight sides is about 68°

.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the arm extends away from and pivots around the proximal end of the device at a hinge and wherein the substantially "V" shaped groove has at least a first side formed according to the equation r=constant×

Θ

where r is the length of a radial from the hinge to the first side and Θ

is the angle of rotation of the arm around the hinge from an initial "ready to use" position.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a guide pin protruding from the lancet body opposite the cam follower; and

,

wherein a first and a second elongated slot are formed in the chamber on opposite sides of the chamber, each of the first and second elongated slots having an axis, the axes of the first and second elongated slots being aligned with the axis of the lancet body when the lancet body is within the chamber;

whereby the cam follower extends through the groove into the first elongated slot while the guide pin extends into the second elongated slot; and

,

whereby contact between the cam follower and the first elongated slot and between the guide pin and the second elongated slot constrains the lancet body to linear motion within the chamber in the direction of the lancet body'"'"'s axis.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the guide pin and the cam follower have identical dimensions.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the arm has a first finger pad attached thereto at a point farthest from the case;

wherein a second finger pad is attached to the case opposite the first finger pad; and

,

wherein a third finger pad is attached to the case on the same side of the case as the first finger pad and distal to the arm.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a locking assembly for locking the actuating mechanism with the lancet body and tip fully retracted in the case.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the case includes a lower section and an opposed congruent upper section.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the lower section is locked into contact with the upper section thereby forming the case and the chamber.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the lower section is locked into contact with the upper section either by mating of lock holes in the lower section and corresponding lock tabs that extend away from the upper section, or by mating of lock holes in the upper section and corresponding lock tabs that extend away from the lower section.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the lower section and upper section are each substantially concave shaped;

and,

wherein the lower section and the upper section are joined together to form a substantially hollow case.

18. The device of claim 14 wherein the lower section and the upper section each have a generally planar outer edge that extends around the outer periphery of the lower section and upper section, respectively.

19. The device of claim 14 wherein the lower section includes a lower section recess formed in the interior of the lower section that extends from the distal end of the lower section proximally, the lower section recess having a distal end and a lower section recess axis, and

wherein the upper section includes an upper section recess formed in the interior of the upper section that extends from the distal end of the upper section proximally, the upper section recess having a distal end and an upper section recess axis;

whereby lower section recess and the upper section recess form the chamber when the lower section and the upper section are joined together.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the lower section recess and the upper section recess are both half cylindrical and open at their respective distal ends and wherein the lower section recess and the upper section recess are aligned to form a cylindrical chamber that is open at the distal end of the device.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein the lower section and the upper section each have a planar outer edge where the lower section and the upper section are joined together.

22. The device of claim 19 wherein the lower and upper section recesses also each have an elongated recess slot that extends into the lower and upper section, respectively, from the outer edges of the lower and upper section recesses, respectively, each of the elongated recess slots having an axis and wherein the axes of the elongated recess slots are aligned to be parallel to the axis of the chamber.

23. The device of claim 19 wherein the lower and upper sections have an elongated lower section positioning slot and an elongated upper section positioning slot, respectively, located proximal to the lower and upper section recesses, respectively, the elongated lower and upper positioning slots each having an axis, and wherein the axes of the lower section and upper section positioning slots are aligned with of lower section recess axis and the upper section recess axis, respectively.

24. The device of claim 1 further comprising a removable cap that encloses the sharp distal tip.

25. A lancet type device having a distal or patient contacting end and an opposed proximal end comprising:

an elongated lancet body having a central axis;

a lancet that is substantially encased in the lancet body, the lancet having a sharp distal tip that extends beyond the distal end of the lancet body;

a case having a chamber contoured to the shape of the lancet body so that the lancet body is slidably encased in the chamber and moves in the chamber along the central axis of the lancet body;

an actuating mechanism that moves and retracts the sharp distal lancet tip linearly out of and into the chamber as the actuating mechanism moves and then retracts, respectively, the lancet tip, wherein the actuating mechanism includes;

a cam follower protruding from the lancet body at substantially a right angle to the central axis of the lancet body; and

,

shaped groove, the arm constrained to move in a direction contained within the plane of the arm;

wherein the cam follower protrudes into the groove at approximately a right angle to the plane of the arm whereby the cam follower is constrained to movement along the groove;

whereby, as the arm moves, contact between the groove and the cam follower moves the cam follower, and consequently the lancet body, in a linear direction along the central axis of the lancet body;

a locking assembly for locking the actuating mechanism with the lancet body and tip fully retracted in the case;

whereby the lancet tip moves into and out of contact with a patient'"'"'s skin.

26. A lancet type device having a distal or patient contacting end and an opposed proximal end comprising:

a) an elongated lancet body having a central axis;

b) a lancet that is substantially encased in the lancet body, the lancet having a sharp distal tip that extends beyond the distal end of the lancet body;

c) a case having a chamber contoured to the shape of the lancet body so that the lancet body is slidably encased in the chamber and moves in the chamber along the central axis of the lancet body, the case including a lower section and an opposed congruent upper section, the lower section and upper section each being substantially concave shaped, the lower section and the upper section being adapted to be joined together to form a substantially hollow case, the lower section including a lower section recess formed in the interior of the lower section that extends from the distal end of the lower section proximally, the lower section recess having a distal end and being approximately half cylindrical and open to the distal end of the case at the distal end of the lower section recess, the upper section including an upper section recess formed in the interior of the upper section that extends from the distal end of the upper section proximally, the upper section recess having a distal end and being approximately half cylindrical and open to the distal end of the case at the distal end of the upper section recess, the lower section recess and the upper section recess being aligned when the lower and upper sections are joined to form a cylindrical chamber in the case that is open at the distal end of the device, the lower section being locked into contact with the upper section the lower and upper section recesses also each having an elongated recess slot that extends into the lower and upper section, respectively, from the outer edges of the lower and upper section recesses, respectively, and the axes of the recess slots being aligned with the axes of the lower and upper section recesses, respectively, the lower and upper sections also each having an elongated positioning slot located proximal to the lower and upper section recesses, respectively, the axis of the positioning slots being aligned with of lower and upper section recesses, respectively;

d) an actuating mechanism that moves and retracts the sharp distal lancet tip linearly out of and into the cylinder as the actuating mechanism moves and then retracts, respectively, the lancet tip, wherein the actuating mechanism includes;

a can follower protruding from the lancet body at substantially a right angle to the central axis of the lancet body; and

,

a substantially planar movable arm with a substantially "V" shaped groove, the arm constrained to move in a direction contained within the plane of the arm, wherein the arm extends away from and pivots around the proximal end of the device at a hinge, the groove having a width about the same width as the width of the cam follower;

wherein the cam follower protrudes into the groove at approximately a right angle to the plane of the arm whereby the cam follower is constrained to movement along the groove;

whereby, as the arm moves, contact between the groove and the cam follower moves the cam follower, and consequently the lancet body, in a linear direction along the axis of the lancet body;

e) a guide pin protruding from the lancet body opposite the cam follower, wherein the guide pin and the cam follower have substantially identical dimensions; and

,

wherein a first and a second elongated slot are formed in the chamber on opposite sides of the chamber each of the first and second elongated slots having an axis, the axes of the first and second elongated slots being aligned with the axis of the lancet body;

whereby the cam follower extends through the groove into the first elongated slot while the guide pin extends into the second elongated slot; and

,

whereby contact between the cam follower and the first elongated slot and between the guide pin and the second elongated slot constrains the lancet body to linear motion in the direction of the lancet body'"'"'s axis;

f) a first finger pad attached to the arm at a point farthest from the case;

g) a second finger pad attached to the case opposite the first finger pad;

h) a third finger pad attached to the case one the same side of the case as the first finger pad and distal to the arm;

i) a locking assembly for locking the actuating mechanism with the lancet body and tip fully retracted in the case;

j) a removable cap that encloses the sharp distal tip whereby the lancet tip moves into and out of contact with a patient'"'"'s skin.

27. A lancet type device having a distal or patient contacting end and an opposed proximal end comprising:

an elongated lancet body having a central axis;

a lancet that is substantially encased in the lancet body, the lancet having a sharp distal tip that extends beyond the distal end of the lancet body;

a case having a chamber contoured to the shape of the lancet body so that the lancet body is slidably encased in the chamber and moves in the chamber along the central axis of the lancet body;

an actuating mechanism that moves and retracts the sharp distal lancet tip linearly out of and into the chamber as the actuating mechanism moves and then retracts, respectively, the lancet tip;

a guide pin protruding from the lancet body opposite the cam follower; and

,

wherein a first and a second elongated slot are formed in the chamber on opposite sides of the chamber, each of the first and second elongated slots having an axis, the axes of the first and second elongated slots being aligned with the axis of the lancet body when the lancet body is within the chamber;

whereby the cam follower extends through the groove into the first elongated slot while the guide pin extends into the second elongated slot; and

,

whereby contact between the cam follower and the first elongated slot and between the guide pin and the second elongated slot constrains the lancet body to linear motion within the chamber in the direction of the lancet body'"'"'s axis;

whereby the lancet tip moves into and out of contact with a patient'"'"'s skin.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein the guide pin and the cam follower have identical dimensions.

29. A lancet type device having a distal or patient contacting end and an opposed proximal end comprising:

an elongated lancet body having a central axis;

a lancet that is substantially encased in the lancet body, the lancet having a sharp distal tip that extends beyond the distal end of the lancet body;

a case having a chamber contoured to the shape of the lancet body so that the lancet body is slidably encased in the chamber and moves in the chamber along the central axis of the lancet body;

an actuating mechanism that moves and retracts the sharp distal lancet tip linearly out of and into the chamber as the actuating mechanism moves and then retracts, respectively, the lancet tip;

a first finger pad attached to the actuating mechanism at a point on the actuating mechanism farthest from the case;

a second finger pad attached to the case opposite the first finger pad; and

,

a third finger pad attached to the case on the same side of the case as the first finger pad and distal to the arm;

whereby the lancet tip moves into and out of contact with a patient'"'"'s skin.

30. A lancet type device having a distal or patient contacting end and an opposed proximal end comprising:

an elongated lancet body having a central axis;

a lancet that is substantially encased in the lancet body, the lancet having a sharp distal tip that extends beyond the distal end of the lancet body;

a case having a chamber contoured to the shape of the lancet body so that the lancet body is slidably encased in the chamber and moves in the chamber along the central axis of the lancet body, the case including a lower section and an opposed congruent upper section, the lower section including a lower section recess formed in the interior of the lower section that extends from the distal end of the lower section proximally, the lower section recess having a distal end, the upper section including an upper section recess formed in the interior of the upper section that extends from the distal end of the upper section proximally, the upper section recess having a distal end, the lower section recess and the upper section recess each being half cylindrical and open at their respective distal ends;

whereby the lower section recess and the upper section recess form the chamber when the lower section and the upper section are joined together and whereby the chamber is cylindrical and open at the distal end of the device; and

,

an actuating mechanism that moves and retracts the sharp distal lancet tip linearly out of and into the chamber as the actuating mechanism moves and then retracts, respectively, the lancet tip;

whereby the lancet tip moves into and out of contact with a patient'"'"'s skin.

31. A lancet type device having a distal or patient contacting end and an opposed proximal end comprising:

an elongated lancet body having a central axis;

a lancet that is substantially encased in the lancet body, the lancet having a sharp distal tip that extends beyond the distal end of the lancet body;

a case having a chamber contoured to the shape of the lancet body so that the lancet body is slidably encased in the chamber and moves in the chamber along the central axis of the lancet body;

an actuating mechanism that moves and retracts the sharp distal lancet tip linearly out of and into the chamber as the actuating mechanism moves and then retracts, respectively, the lancet tip; and

,

a removable cap that encloses the sharp distal tip

whereby the lancet tip moves into and out of contact with a patient'"'"'s skin.