Lancet assembly

• US 5,628,765 A
• Filed: 06/05/1995
• Issued: 05/13/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Asahi Polyslider Company, Limited (Izumi-Cosmo Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Apls Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Morita, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEONARDO, MARK
• Application Number:
  US08/463,696
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 606/181, 606/182, 606/183, 606/167, 604/136
• US Class Current: 606/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150297 for piercing devices, i.e. devices ready to be used for lancing or piercing for piercing elements A61B5/150282, for driving devices A61B5/15029
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150305 Packages specially adapted for piercing devices or blood sampling devices kits for diabetes A61M5/003; packaging in general B65D
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150312 Sterilisation of piercing elements, piercing devices or sampling devices piercing element stocking means, e.g. cartridges, A61B5/15176
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150458 Specific blade design, e.g. for improved cutting and penetration characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150564 Protectors removed by pulling or pushing
• 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 5/150893 by indicating if used, tampered with, unsterile or defective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15111 Semi-automatically triggered, e.g. at the end of the cocking procedure, for instance by biasing the main drive spring or when reaching sufficient contact pressure, the piercing device is automatically triggered without any deliberate action by the user
• 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 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15144 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for retracting the piercing unit into the housing

Abstract

There is provided a lancet assembly having a holder and a lancet structure which is incorporated with the holder, the lancet structure containing a lancet member having a pricking member and an ejector which ejects the lancet member, wherein an exposed portion of the pricking member is covered with a resin. In a preferred embodiment, a lancet body and a covered pricking member have portions mating each other so that the lancet body and the covered pricking member tightly engage with each other. In another preferred embodiment, at least one notch is provided to the covered pricking member. In a further embodiment, the covered pricking member contains two pairs of stops on its outside.

Claims

1. A lancet assembly comprising a holder and a lancet structure, the lancet structure being at least partially disposed within the holder, the lancet structure comprising a lancet member having a pricking member and a molded resin shield encasing the pricking member to prevent exposure and maintain sterility, and an ejector for ejecting the lancet member, the holder comprising an aperture through which the pricking member may be ejected during use, and the molded resin shield comprising two pairs of stops on its outside surface, one pair of stops being substantially adjacent the aperture, and the other pair of stops being positioned subjacent the aperture prior to use of the lancet assembly.

2. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lancet structure further comprises a lancet body, the lancet body and the lancet member having portions which mate with each other so that the lancet body and the lancet member are tightly engaged, the holder comprises an aperture through which the pricking member may be ejected during use, and the molded resin shield comprises two pairs of stops on its outside surface, one pair of stops being substantially adjacent the aperture, and the other pair of stops being positioned subjacent the aperture prior to use of the lancet assembly.

3. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the molded resin shield comprises at least one notch at a predetermined position at which the resin shield is to be broken whereby the resin shield may be easily broken to expose the pricking member when pulled along an ejection direction of the pricking member, the holder comprises an aperture through which the pricking member may be ejected during use, and the molded resin shield comprises two pairs of stops on its outside surface, one pair of stops being substantially adjacent the aperture, and the other pair of stops being positioned subjacent the aperture prior to use of the lancet assembly.

4. The lancet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the molded resin shield comprises at least one notch at a predetermined position at which the resin shield is to be broken whereby the resin shield may be easily broken to expose the pricking member when pulled along an ejection direction of the pricking member, the holder comprises an aperture through which the pricking member may be ejected during use, and the molded resin shield comprises two pairs of stops on its outside surface, one pair of stops being substantially adjacent the aperture, and the other pair of stops being positioned subjacent the aperture prior to use of the lancet assembly.

5. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pricking member is in the form of a blade.

6. The lancet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the pricking member is in the form of a blade.

7. The lancet assembly according to claim 3, wherein the pricking member is in the form of a blade.

8. The lancet assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pricking member is in the form of a blade.

9. The lancet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pricking member is in the form of a needle.

10. The lancet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the pricking member is in the form of a needle.

11. The lancet assembly according to claim 3, wherein the pricking member is in the form of a needle.

12. The lancet assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pricking member is in the form of a needle.