Methods and apparatus for expressing body fluid from an incision
First Claim
1. A method of obtaining a sample of blood from a body, comprising the steps of:
- A) applying a skin-lancing medium against the skin of a user to form an incision in the skin;
B) removing the skin-lancing medium from the incision; and
thereafterC) applying a force to depress the skin in a manner forming a ring of depressed body tissue in surrounding relationship to the incision, causing the incision to bulge and the sides of the incision to open;
D) releasing the force of step C); and
E) repeating steps C) and D) a sufficient number of times to express a sample of blood from the incision.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sample of a body fluid such as blood or interstitial fluid is obtained from a body by lancing a portion of a user'"'"'s skin, preferably in an area other than a finger tip, to form an incision. After the needle has been removed from the incision, a force is applied to depress the skin in a manner forming a ring of depressed body tissue in surrounding relationship to the incision, causing the incision to bulge and the sides of the incision to open, whereby body fluid is forced out through the opening of the incision. A stimulator member is mounted to an end of a lancet-carrying housing for applying the force. The stimulator member can be movable relative to the housing, and can be either heated or vibrated to promote movement of the body fluid.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of obtaining a sample of blood from a body, comprising the steps of:
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A) applying a skin-lancing medium against the skin of a user to form an incision in the skin; B) removing the skin-lancing medium from the incision; and
thereafterC) applying a force to depress the skin in a manner forming a ring of depressed body tissue in surrounding relationship to the incision, causing the incision to bulge and the sides of the incision to open; D) releasing the force of step C); and E) repeating steps C) and D) a sufficient number of times to express a sample of blood from the incision. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A device for sampling blood comprising:
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a housing having an open end; a skin-lancing mechanism mounted in the housing for applying a skin-lancing medium against a skin surface to form an incision therein, and then remove the skin-lancing medium from the incision; and a stimulator member mounted to the housing at the open end thereof, the stimulator member extending about a longitudinal axis of the housing the axis and adapted to engage the skin surface to bulge and open the incision in response to a pressing of the end face against the skin surface, the stimulator member being longitudinally moveable relative to the housing such that by repeatedly pressing said stimulator member against the surface of the skin, a sample of blood is expressed from the incision. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification