Blood sampling device
First Claim
1. A device for sampling a body fluid, said device comprising a housing and a lancet cartridge removably installed within the housing, the lancet cartridge comprising a plurality of lancets arranged in a circular array and each having a sharp lancet tip directed radially outwardly, said lancets being interconnected to one another by a flexible web that allows the lancets to move independently of one another in a radial direction, the device further comprising a drive mechanism within the housing for propelling an active lancet selected from the plurality of lancets from a retracted position fully within the lancet cartridge radially outwardly to an extended position wherein at least a tip portion of the lancet projects outward from the lancet cartridge, said drive mechanism comprising a contact face for imparting motion to the active lancet without positive attachment to the lancet cartridge.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sampling device (20) having a housing (24) with a lancet cartridge (22) mounted therein. The lancets (26) of the lancet cartridge (22) are interconnected by a flexible web (28). The lancet cartridge (22) is not positively engaged within the housing (24) and can be easily removed. The housing (24) has an opening (42) with an adjacent flexible or compressible fin (60) for dampening the motion of the lancet (26). The lancet cartridge (22) has at least one lancet (26) with an endcap, and the housing has a cap-removal mechanism (74) for separating the endcap from the housing (24). Anti-tampering features prevent opening of the device when the lancet cartridge (22) is oriented with a lancet (26) in a firing position.
79 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A device for sampling a body fluid, said device comprising a housing and a lancet cartridge removably installed within the housing, the lancet cartridge comprising a plurality of lancets arranged in a circular array and each having a sharp lancet tip directed radially outwardly, said lancets being interconnected to one another by a flexible web that allows the lancets to move independently of one another in a radial direction, the device further comprising a drive mechanism within the housing for propelling an active lancet selected from the plurality of lancets from a retracted position fully within the lancet cartridge radially outwardly to an extended position wherein at least a tip portion of the lancet projects outward from the lancet cartridge, said drive mechanism comprising a contact face for imparting motion to the active lancet without positive attachment to the lancet cartridge.
- 4. A device for sampling a body fluid, said device comprising a housing having an opening therein, a plurality of lancets arranged in a circular array and each having a sharp lancet tip directed radially outwardly, said lancets being interconnected to one another by a flexible web that allows the lancets to move independently of one another in a radial direction, a drive mechanism within the housing for propelling the lancet along a lancing path, from a retracted position fully within the lancet cartridge to an extended position wherein at least a tip portion of the lancet projects through the opening in the housing, and a dampening fin adjacent the opening for dampening the motion of the lancet upon contact of the lancet against the dampening fin in the extended position.
- 6. A device for sampling a body fluid, said device comprising a housing and a plurality of lancets contained within said housing, said plurality of lancets being arranged in a circular array and each having a sharp lancet tip directed radially outwardly, said lancets being interconnected by a flexible web that allows the lancets to move independently of one another in a radial direction.
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9. A device for sampling a body fluid, said device comprising:
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a housing having an arm with a wedge-shaped profile and an inclined ramp; a plurality of lancets arranged in a co-planar array defining a firing plane, each lancet having a body portion, a sharp tip extending from the body portion, and an endcap covering the sharp tip; an advancing mechanism for advancing one of the plurality of lancets into contact with the arm of the housing to drive the wedge-shaped profile between the body portion of the lancet and the endcap, and thereby separate the endcap from the body portion of the lancet, and to drive the separated endcap into contact with the inclined ramp to move the separated endcap out of the firing plane; and the plurality of lancets being interconnected to one another by a flexible web that allows the lancets to move independently of one another in a radial direction. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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- 11. A lancet cassette for removable installation within a sampling device, said lancet cassette comprising a plurality of lancets arranged in a circular array and each having a sharp lancet tip directed radially outwardly, said lancets being interconnected to one another by a flexible web that allows the lancets to move independently of one another in a radial direction.
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18. A device for sampling a body fluid, said device comprising:
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an outer housing having first and second portions hingedly connected to one another, an opening, and an arm having a wedge-shaped profile projecting inwardly from one of the first and second portions; a lancet cassette for removable installation within the outer housing, the lancet cassette comprising a plurality of lancets arranged in a circular array within a firing plane, and a flexible web interconnecting the plurality of lancets that allows the lancets to move independently of one another in a radial direction and along the firing plane, each lancet comprising a lancet body, a sharp tip directed radially outwardly, and a protective endcap removably positioned over the sharp tip; a drive mechanism within the housing for propelling an active lancet along a lancing path in the firing plane, from a retracted position fully within the lancet cartridge radially outwardly to an extended position wherein at least a tip portion of the active lancet projects through the opening in the housing; and an advancing mechanism for sequentially advancing each of the plurality of lancets into an active position in the housing, wherein the endcap of the active lancet is separated from the body portion thereof as it enters the active position by contact with the wedge-shaped profile and wherein the separated endcap is moved out of the firing plane. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification