Adjustable length member such as a cap of a lancet device for adjusting penetration depth

• US 6,346,114 B1
• Filed: 06/11/1998
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stat Medical Devices Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stat Medical Devices Incorporated
• Inventors: Schraga, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Vy Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/095,905
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 606/181, 606/182, 606/184, 89/140.5, 89/143, 89/142, 89/144, 748/26, 748/15, 748/13, 744/24, 74/891.5, 744/59, 745/27, 411/310, 411/311, 411/294-299, 411/940-941, 411/949
• US Class Current: 606/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150183 Depth adjustment mechanism using end caps mounted at the distal end of the sampling device, i.e. the end-caps are adjustably positioned relative to the piercing device housing for example by rotating or screwing
• 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 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1519 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for propelling the piercing unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2063 Stops
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20636 Detents

Abstract

Adjustable length element includes a first member having threads and a second member having threads. The adjustable length member also includes at least one protrusion on one of the first member and the second member, with the at least one protrusion being capable of engaging and disengaging at least one stop associated with the threads of the other of the first member and the second member as the first member and the second member are rotated relative to each other. A lancet device includes a housing, a needle holding member in the housing for holding a lancet, a biasing element for biasing the needle holding member toward an extended position, and a trigger for releasing the needle holding member from a retracted position. The lancet device also includes a cap for covering the housing and for positioning the lancet device relative to a skin surface, the cap including a first cap member having threads and a second cap member having threads. The cap further includes at least one protrusion on one of the first cap member and second cap member, with the at least one protrusion being capable of engaging and disengaging at least one stop in the threads of the other of the first cap member and the second cap member as the first cap member and the second cap member are rotated relative to each other.

Claims

1. An adjustable length element, comprising:

a first member having threads;

a second member having threads;

at least one protrusion stationarily fixed within the threads of one of the first member and the second member, the at least one protrusion being capable of engaging and disengaging at least one stop within the threads of the other of the first member and the second member as the first member and the second member are rotated relative to each other; and

wherein the first member and the second member are rotatable relative to each other in both a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction.

2. The adjustable length element of claim 1, wherein the at least one stop comprises at least one recess.

3. The adjustable length element of claim 1, wherein the at least one stop comprises at least one projection.

4. The adjustable length element of claim 1, wherein the threads of the other of the first member and the second member comprise a groove and a ridge, and wherein the at least one stop is located in the groove.

5. The adjustable length clement of claim 1, wherein the threads of the other of the first member and the second member comprise a groove and a ridge, and wherein the at least one stop is located in the ridge.

6. The adjustable length clement of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion is connected to a button for releasing the at least one protrusion from the at least one stop.

7. The adjustable length element of claim 6, wherein the at least one protrusion is biased into the at least one stop.

8. The adjustable length element of claim 1, wherein the at least one stop is fixed on the other of the first member and the second member.

23. The adjustable length element of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one protrusion is formed on one of a single groove and a single ridge of the threads of one of the first member and the second member;

wherein when one of the at least one protrusion is formed on a said single groove of one of the first member and the second member, a corresponding at least one stop is formed on a ridge of the threads of the other of the first member and the second member; and

wherein when one of the at least one protrusion is formed on a said single ridge of one of the first member and the second member, a corresponding at least one stop is formed on a groove of the threads of the other of the first member and the second member.

9. A lancet device, comprising:

a housing;

a needle holding member in the housing for holding a lancet;

a biasing element for biasing the needle holding member toward an extended position;

a trigger for releasing the needle holding member from a retracted position; and

a cap for covering the housing and for positioning the lancet device relative to a skin surface, the cap comprising a first cap member having threads and a second cap member having threads, the cap further comprising at least one protrusion stationarily fixed within the threads of one of the first cap member and second cap member, the at least one protrusion being capable of engaging and disengaging at least one stop within the threads of the other of the first cap member and the second cap member as the first cap member and the second cap member are rotated relative to each other.

10. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the at least one stop comprises at least one recess.

11. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the at least one stop comprises at least one projection.

12. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the threads of the other of the first member and the second member comprise a groove and a ridge, and wherein the at least one stop is located in the groove.

13. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the threads of the other of the first member and the second member comprise a groove and a ridge, and wherein the at least one stop is located in the ridge.

14. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a nipple.

15. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a spring-biased ball.

16. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the at least one protrusion is on an interior of the cap.

17. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusions.

18. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the first cap member comprises a surface for aligning the lancet device on skin of a patient, the surface having an opening for a needle in the needle holding member to pass through, and wherein the at least one protrusion is on the second cap member.

19. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the first cap member comprises a surface for aligning the lancet device on skin of a patient, the surface including an opening for a needle in the needle holding member to pass through, and wherein the at least one protrusion is on the first cap member.

20. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein a length of the cap is adjustable by rotation of the first cap member relative to the second cap member for adjusting a penetration depth of a needle in the needle holding member.

21. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the at least one protrusion is connected to a button for releasing the at least one protrusion from the at least one stop.

22. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the at least one protrusion is biased into the at least one stop.

24. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the first cap member and the second cap member are rotatable relative to each other in both a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction.

25. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein each of the at least one protrusion is formed on one of a single groove and a single ridge of the threads of one of the first cap member and the second cap member;

wherein when one of the at least one protrusion is formed on a said single groove of one of the first cap member and the second cap member, a corresponding at least one stop is formed on a ridge of the threads of the other of the first cap member and the second cap member; and

wherein when one of the at least one protrusion is formed on a said single ridge of one of the first cap member and the second cap member, a corresponding at least one stop is formed on a groove of the threads of the other of the first cap member and the second cap member.

26. The lancet device of claim 9, wherein the at least one stop is fixed on the other of the first cap member and the second cap member.