Method and apparatus for obtaining blood for diagnostic tests
First Claim
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1. An apparatus suitable for obtaining a sample of blood for analysis in a diagnostic test, comprising:
- (a) a housing having a sealable chamber located therein and a sealable opening in fluid communication with said sealable chamber, (b) a power source positioned in said housing, (c) a vacuum pump positioned in said housing, said vacuum pump operably connected to said power source, said vacuum pump in communication with said sealable chamber, (d) a lancing assembly positioned in said housing, said lancing assembly both capable of moving a lancet towards said sealable opening at a sufficient speed to form an opening in said skin and capable of moving said lancet away from said sealable opening, whereby said lancet forms an unobstructed opening in skin when said skin is adjacent said sealable opening, and (e) electronics in said housing for controlling power for said pump, whereby said electronics controls said pump to maintain a vacuum at a specified level.
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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) placing a blood collection device over a region on the surface of the skin from which said sample is to be obtained,
- (b) forming a seal between said blood collection device and said surface of the skin,
- (c) creating a vacuum sufficient to result in said surface of the skin becoming stretched and engorged with blood,
- (d) triggering a lancing assembly and causing a lancet to penetrate said skin,
- (e) retracting said lancet,
- (f) withdrawing blood toward and onto a fluid collector, and
- (g) releasing the vacuum.
In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for carrying out the method described previously is provided. The apparatus comprises:
- (a) a housing having a sealable chamber located therein and a sealable opening in fluid communication with said sealable chamber,
- (b) a power source,
- (c) a vacuum pump operably connected to said power source, said vacuum pump in communication with said sealable chamber,
- (d) a lancing assembly positioned within said housing, said lancing assembly capable of moving a lancet towards said sealable opening, and
- (e) a fluid collector positioned in said sealable chamber, said fluid collector in fluid communication with said sealable opening.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus suitable for obtaining a sample of blood for analysis in a diagnostic test, comprising:
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(a) a housing having a sealable chamber located therein and a sealable opening in fluid communication with said sealable chamber, (b) a power source positioned in said housing, (c) a vacuum pump positioned in said housing, said vacuum pump operably connected to said power source, said vacuum pump in communication with said sealable chamber, (d) a lancing assembly positioned in said housing, said lancing assembly both capable of moving a lancet towards said sealable opening at a sufficient speed to form an opening in said skin and capable of moving said lancet away from said sealable opening, whereby said lancet forms an unobstructed opening in skin when said skin is adjacent said sealable opening, and (e) electronics in said housing for controlling power for said pump, whereby said electronics controls said pump to maintain a vacuum at a specified level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification