Lancet for blood extraction

• US 6,875,223 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wilden AG (Gerresheimer AG)
• Original Assignee: Wilden AG (Gerresheimer AG)
• Inventors: Argauer, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Reip, David O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US10/234,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20030199891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 606/181, 606/182, 606/183, 606/167, 600/583, 604/192
• US Class Current: 606/181
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• 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 5/150519 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the single-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150549 Protectors removed by rotational movement, e.g. torsion or screwing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150618 Integrally moulded protectors, e.g. protectors simultaneously moulded together with a further component, e.g. a hub, of the piercing element
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150717 manually removed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15105 Purely manual piercing, i.e. the user pierces the skin without the assistance of any driving means or driving devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable

Abstract

A lancet for the extraction of blood includes a base portion of plastics material, a lancet needle of a metallic material held in the base portion and having a pointed end section protruding from the base portion, a head portion of plastics material integrally connected to the base portion by a preset breaking zone, and cooperating cam means on the base and head portions. The head portion can be removed from the base portion thereby exposing the pointed end section of the lancet needle by exerting a rotational force to one of the base and head portions relative to the other. The lancet needle is embedded in the head portion prior to the removal thereof. The cam means comprises pairs of cooperating cam sections on the base and head portions engaging with each other upon relative rotation between these portions for creating an axial movement of the head portion relative to the base portion thereby causing a rupture of the preset breaking zone.

Claims

1. A lancet for the extraction of blood, the lancet comprising:

a base portion of plastics material;

a lancet needle of a metallic material held in said base portion and having a pointed end section protruding from the base portion;

a head portion of plastics material integrally connected to the base portion by a preset breaking zone and adapted to be removed from the base portion when said breaking zone is broken for exposing the pointed end section of the lancet needle, the lancet needle being embedded in the head portion prior to the removal thereof; and

cooperating cam means being provided on said base and head portions, said cam means engaging with each other upon relative rotation between the head and base portions for creating an axial movement of the head portion relative to the base portion thereby exerting an axial force to one of said base and head portions relative to the other for breaking said breaking zone.

2. The lancet according to claim 1, wherein said cam means comprise at least a pair of cam sections on either one of said head and base portions, said pair of cam sections of said head portion being peripherally offset with each other, and said pair of cam sections of said base portion being peripherally offset with each other and relative to the cam sections of said head portion, said cam sections of the head and base portions engaging with each other during rotation of one said head and base portions relative to the other, whereby at least one pair of said pairs of cam sections of the head and base portions having cam guiding faces.

3. The lancet according to claim 2, wherein said cam sections of said head and base portions having top ends spaced from an adjacent one of opposite end faces of said head and base portions for limiting a lateral movement of said head and base portions relative to each other from a coaxial alignment relative to the lancet needle.

4. The lancet according to claim 2, wherein each of said cam sections has a gable-like configuration having a pair of inclined cam faces on opposite sides thereof.

5. The lancet according to claim 1, wherein said cam means are effective for initiating an axial movement upon relative rotation between the head and base portions in at least one direction of rotation.

6. A lancet comprising:

a needle for facilitating extraction of blood;

a base portion for fixedly holding a portion of the needle therein, the base portion having a cam section provided on a surface thereof;

a head portion having a recess formed on a lower surface thereof, the recess being formed such that the recess substantially encases an end of the needle, the head portion having a cam section provided on the lower surface; and

a breaking zone for securing the base portion to the head portion, the breaking zone being severed upon a rotational movement of either the base portion or the head portion,

wherein the cam section of the base portion and the cam section of the head portion slidably engage each other during the rotational movement of either the base portion or the head portion such that an axial force is generated to thereby displace the head portion away from the base portion to expose the end of the needle, and

wherein the axial force is perpendicular to the rotational movement.

7. The lancet according to claim 6, wherein the cam section of the base portion is formed as a projection that extends outwardly from and tapers in a direction away from the surface of the base portion.

8. The lancet according to claim 6, wherein the cam section of the head portion is formed as a projection that extends outwardly from and tapers in a direction away from the lower surface of the head portion.