Low cost disposable lancet
First Claim
1. A lancet device comprising:
- a base element having a top surface and a bottom surface;
an arm element coupled to said base element by a spring element, wherein said arm element can be selectively moved relative said base element between a first position and a second position;
a blade affixed to said arm element, wherein said blade is supported above said top surface of said base element when said arm element is at said first postion and said blade extends past said bottom surface of said base element when said arm element is at said second position; and
resistive means for resisting the movement of said arm element from said first position to said second position until a predetermined force in excess of a threshold value is applied to said arm element that biases said arm element toward said second position;
wherein said spring element biases said arm element into said first position to maintain said blade above said top surface of said base element.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A low cost lancet device for creating a skin incision. The lancet contains a unistructurally formed plastic body, thereby making the lancet device easy to manufacture at low cost. The plastic body contains a resilient spring loop that attaches an arm element to an opposing base element. The spring loop is curved, therefore the arm element is retained above the base element by the spring loop. A blade is disposed on the arm element. The blade aligns with a slot in the base element so that when the spring loop is compressed, and the arm element is moved toward the base element, the blade extends through the slot in the base element. A protrusion extends from the base element that obstructs the movement of the arm element toward the base element. As a result, when a force is applied to the arm element, the arm element abuts against the protrusion and applies a bias to the protrusion that acts to displace the protrusion. When a predetermined threshold force is applied to the arm element, the arm element moves past the obstructing protrusion and the arm element rapidly moves toward the base element, compressing the spring loop. As the arm element approaches the base element, the blade on the arm element extends through the slot in the base element and creates the desired incision. Once the applied force is removed from the arm element, the bias of the spring loop moves the arm element away from the base element, thereby retracting the blade back through the slot in the base element.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A lancet device comprising:
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a base element having a top surface and a bottom surface; an arm element coupled to said base element by a spring element, wherein said arm element can be selectively moved relative said base element between a first position and a second position; a blade affixed to said arm element, wherein said blade is supported above said top surface of said base element when said arm element is at said first postion and said blade extends past said bottom surface of said base element when said arm element is at said second position; and resistive means for resisting the movement of said arm element from said first position to said second position until a predetermined force in excess of a threshold value is applied to said arm element that biases said arm element toward said second position; wherein said spring element biases said arm element into said first position to maintain said blade above said top surface of said base element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A lancet device comprising:
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an elongated member having a first end, a second end, and a curved section which turns said second end back toward said first end such that said second end terminates at a point over a predetermined region of said elongated member between said first end and said second end, wherein said second end can be resiliently deformed from a first position, a predetermined distance away from said predetermined region, to a second position closer to said predetermined region; a slot disposed in said predetermined region of said elongated member; and a blade coupled to said elongated member proximate said second end, wherein said blade extends through said slot when said second end is at said second position; wherein said curved section biases said second end into said first position to maintain said blade said predetermined distance away from said predetermined region of said elongated member. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A lancet device, comprising:
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a housing having at least one exposed internal region; a blade; a drive mechanism for driving said blade from a fist position within said housing to a second position wherein said blade extends from said housing; a handle element coupled to said housing, wherein said handle element is positionable between a first orientation, where said handle element substantially covers said exposed internal region, and a second orientation where said handle element protrudes as a handle from said housing.
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Specification