Methods and apparatus for sampling and analyzing body fluid
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- positioning a lancing device in contact with an alternate site that is located on skin at a body part other than a fingertip, wherein the lancing device houses a disposable that includes a lancet and a test strip;
forming an incision in the alternate site with the lancet included with the disposable;
analyzing body fluid from the incision with the test strip of the disposable;
loading the disposable into the lancing device before said positioning the lancing device in contact with the alternate site;
wherein the test strip has a capillary passage with a capillary opening configured to draw the body fluid via capillary action;
wherein said forming the incision includesfiring the disposable towards the alternate site, wherein during said firing the lancet and the test strip of the disposable move together as a single unit towards the alternate site, andretracting the disposable away from the incision;
contacting the capillary opening with a drop of the body fluid from the incision on a surface of the alternate site by extending the capillary opening past the lancet;
drawing via capillary action the body fluid from the drop into the capillary passage before said analyzing the body fluid;
unloading the disposable from the lancing device after said analyzing;
discarding the disposable after said unloading; and
loading a fresh disposable into the lancing device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sampling device for sampling body fluid includes a lancet for making an incision, a capillary tube for drawing-up body fluid from the incision, and a test strip affixed to an upper end of the capillary tube for receiving the fluid. An absorbent pad can be disposed between the test strip and capillary tube for spreading-out the fluid being transferred to the test strip. An on-site analyzer such as an optical analyzer and/or an electrochemical analyzer can be mounted in the device for analyzing the fluid. Alternatively, a test strip can be slid through a slot formed in the bottom end of the device so that by passing the device against the skin after an incision has been formed, the test strip will directly contact body fluid emanating from the incision.
387 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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positioning a lancing device in contact with an alternate site that is located on skin at a body part other than a fingertip, wherein the lancing device houses a disposable that includes a lancet and a test strip; forming an incision in the alternate site with the lancet included with the disposable; analyzing body fluid from the incision with the test strip of the disposable; loading the disposable into the lancing device before said positioning the lancing device in contact with the alternate site; wherein the test strip has a capillary passage with a capillary opening configured to draw the body fluid via capillary action; wherein said forming the incision includes firing the disposable towards the alternate site, wherein during said firing the lancet and the test strip of the disposable move together as a single unit towards the alternate site, and retracting the disposable away from the incision; contacting the capillary opening with a drop of the body fluid from the incision on a surface of the alternate site by extending the capillary opening past the lancet; drawing via capillary action the body fluid from the drop into the capillary passage before said analyzing the body fluid; unloading the disposable from the lancing device after said analyzing; discarding the disposable after said unloading; and loading a fresh disposable into the lancing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification