Method and apparatus for obtaining blood for diagnostic tests
First Claim
1. A method for obtaining a sample of blood for a diagnostic test, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming an unobstructed opening in an area of skin from which said sample is to be extracted;
(b) extracting said sample from said unobstructed opening in said area of said skin, with the aid of (1) a vacuum generated by a pump capable of being switched on and off to maintain a desired level of vacuum and (2) stretching of the skin, whereby sufficient blood is collected for said diagnostic test, further comprising the step of increasing the availability of blood to said area of said skin from which said sample is to be extracted prior to forming said opening in said area of said skin from which said sample is to be extracted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for obtaining a sample of blood from a patient for subsequent diagnostic tests, e.g., glucose monitoring. In one aspect of the invention, the method comprises the steps of:
(a) forming an unobstructed opening in the area of the skin from which the sample of blood is to be extracted; and
(b) extracting the sample of blood from the unobstructed opening in the skin, with the aid of a vacuum and a stretching of the skin.
In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for carrying out the method described previously is provided. The apparatus comprises:
(a) a device for forming an unobstructed opening in an area of skin from which said sample is to be extracted, preferably a lancing assembly; and
(b) a vacuum pump.
Preferably, the apparatus also includes a housing.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A method for obtaining a sample of blood for a diagnostic test, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming an unobstructed opening in an area of skin from which said sample is to be extracted; (b) extracting said sample from said unobstructed opening in said area of said skin, with the aid of (1) a vacuum generated by a pump capable of being switched on and off to maintain a desired level of vacuum and (2) stretching of the skin, whereby sufficient blood is collected for said diagnostic test, further comprising the step of increasing the availability of blood to said area of said skin from which said sample is to be extracted prior to forming said opening in said area of said skin from which said sample is to be extracted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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15. A method for obtaining a sample of blood for a diagnostic test, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming an unobstructed opening in an area of skin from which said sample is to be extracted; (b) extracting said sample from said unobstructed opening in said area of said skin, with the aid of (1) a vacuum generated by a pump capable of being switched on and off to maintain a desired level of vacuum and (2) stretching of the skin, whereby sufficient blood is collected for said diagnostic test, wherein said opening in said area of said skin from which the sample is to be extracted is formed by a lancet, wherein said lancet is cocked by means of a vacuum.
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17. A method for obtaining a sample of blood for a diagnostic test, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming an unobstructed opening in an area of skin from which said sample is to be extracted; (b) extracting said sample from said unobstructed opening in said area of said skin, with the aid of (1) a vacuum generated by a pump capable of being switched on and off to maintain a desired level of vacuum and (2) stretching of the skin, whereby sufficient blood is collected for said diagnostic test, wherein said lancet is triggered by means of a vacuum.
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18. An apparatus suitable for obtaining a sample of blood for analysis in a diagnostic test, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) a device for forming an unobstructed opening in an area of skin from which the sample is to be extracted; and (c) a vacuum generated by a pump for extracting said sample from said unobstructed opening in said area of said skin, said housing further containing electronics having programmed instructions to switch the pump on and off to maintain a desired level of vacuum. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for obtaining a sample of blood for a diagnostic test, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming an unobstructed opening in an area of skin from which said sample is to be extracted; (b) extracting said sample from said unobstructed opening in said area of said skin, with the aid of (1) a vacuum generated by a pump operated to maintain a desired level of vacuum and (2) stretching of the skin, whereby sufficient blood is collected for said diagnostic test, further comprising the step of increasing the availability of blood to said area of said skin from which said sample is to be extracted prior to forming said opening in said area of said skin from which said sample is to be extracted. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for obtaining a sample of blood for a diagnostic test, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming an unobstructed opening in an area of skin from which said sample is to be extracted; (b) extracting said sample from said unobstructed opening in said area of said skin, with the aid of (1) a vacuum generated by a pump operated to maintain a desired level of vacuum and (2) stretching of the skin, whereby sufficient blood is collected for said diagnostic test, wherein said opening in said area of said skin from which the sample is to be extracted is formed by a lancet, wherein said lancet is cocked by means of a vacuum.
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46. A method for obtaining a sample of blood for a diagnostic test, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming an unobstructed opening in an area of skin from which said sample is to be extracted; (b) extracting said sample from said unobstructed opening in said area of said skin, with the aid of (1) a vacuum generated by a pump operated to maintain a desired level of vacuum and (2) stretching of the skin, whereby sufficient blood is collected for said diagnostic test, wherein said lancet is triggered by means of a vacuum.
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47. An apparatus suitable for obtaining a sample of blood through an area of skin for analysis in a diagnostic test, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a device for forming an unobstructed opening in said area of said skin through which the sample is to be extracted; (b) a pump for generating a vacuum for extracting said sample from said unobstructed opening in said area of said skin, and (c) means for controlling said pump, wherein said means for controlling said pump operates said pump to maintain said vacuum at a specified level. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification