Needle for body fluid tester

• US 6,702,791 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Integ Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Integ Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hilgers, Michael Edward, Schmidt, Bruno J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson, Michael M
• Application Number:
  US09/427,161
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 604/181, 604/187, 604/239, 604/264, 604/272, 604/274, 604/411, 604/506
• US Class Current: 604/274
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/008 Interstitial fluid

Abstract

An apparatus for collecting a body fluid for testing for an analyte includes a needle for penetrating a patient'"'"'s skin to access the fluid within the skin. The needle has a hollow body extending from a first end to a second end. An interior surface of the body defines a fluid pathway extending between the ends. The second end is positioned to deposit fluid for testing. The first end has a beveled face on a front side of the body. The beveled face terminates at a penetration tip with the beveled face having an opening in communication with the fluid pathway. The penetration tip is burnished to a rounded shape and bent to facilitate low pain and rapid fluid collection.

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting a body fluid for testing for an analyte contained within said body fluid, said apparatus comprising:

a needle for penetrating a patient'"'"'s skin to access said fluid within said skin;

said needle having a hollow body extending from a first end to a second end with a fluid pathway extending between said ends, said hollow body having an exterior surface;

said second end positioned to deposit fluid for subsequent testing; and

said first end configured to penetrate said skin and comprising;

a beveled face on a front side of said hollow body, said beveled face terminating at a penetration tip and having an opening in communication with said fluid pathway; and

a bend within said beveled face wherein at least a portion of said beveled face is deflected whereby said penetration tip protrudes laterally beyond said exterior surface of said hollow body on said front side.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said body is substantially tubular and said beveled face comprises a substantially flat surface.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein an interior surface of said body defines said fluid pathway, said apparatus further comprising:

said beveled face intersecting with said exterior surface of said hollow body to define an outer peripheral edge and said beveled face intersecting with said interior surface to define an inner peripheral edge defining said opening;

said outer peripheral edge having a dulled configuration.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said inner peripheral edge has a dulled configuration.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the needle is configured to penetrate into and not through the dermis.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hollow body defines a central axis and said first end forms an angle with said central axis between about 20°

and 40°

.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first end forms an angle with said central axis of about 30°

.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said beveled face is formed by a single grind.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said beveled face is formed by multiple grinds.

10. A method for collecting a sample of body fluid from a skin layer of a patient, said method comprising:

selecting a needle according to claim 1; and

penetrating said tip into said skin layer to collect said body fluid within said hollow body.