Method and apparatus for lancet launching device intergrated onto a blood-sampling cartridge

• US 7,749,174 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Pelikan Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lum, Paul, Alden, Don, Freeman, Dominique M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano; Michael J
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VI X
• Application Number:
  US10/363,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20050101981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,946 Days
• Field of Search: 606181-183, 600/584, 600/556, 600/578, 600/583, 600/573
• US Class Current: 600/583
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• 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 5/150748 Having means for aiding positioning of the piercing device at a location where the body is to be pierced means for aiding positioning of devices for bringing media into the body A61M5/427, locating blood vessels A61B5/489
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150809 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150832 by topography of the surface, e.g. Braille, embossed printing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15111 Semi-automatically triggered, e.g. at the end of the cocking procedure, for instance by biasing the main drive spring or when reaching sufficient contact pressure, the piercing device is automatically triggered without any deliberate action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15186 Devices loaded with a single lancet, i.e. a single lancet with or without a casing is loaded into a reusable drive device and then discarded after use; drive devices reloadable for multiple use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1519 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for propelling the piercing unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15194 fully automatically retracted, i.e. the retraction does not require a deliberate action by the user, e.g. by terminating the contact with the patient's skin
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus for obtaining a sample of blood. An embodiment consists of an apparatus which integrates lancing, sample collection, and analysis. The presence of patients finger on the active sampling area can be sensed by monitoring the pressure applied by the finger on the device.

Claims

1. A sampling device comprising:

a lancet for obtaining a blood sample from a user, said lancet having a distal end and a proximal end;

a reservoir for collecting the blood sample adjacent to the distal end of said lancet;

an electrically-driven launcher adapted to actuate said lancet;

a skin presence sensor coupled to circuitry, the skin presence sensor detecting presence of said user skin and in response the circuitry sends a signal to the launcher to activate the launcher automatically upon measuring application of a predetermined pressure by the user with the circuitry instructing the launcher to advance, dwelling and withdrawal of the lancet from a tissue site associated with the user skin, wherein the lancet, reservoir, electronic launcher, and skin presence sensor are part of the sampling device as an integrated device.

2. A sampling device according to claim 1 wherein said device further comprises:

a system for analyzing the blood sample.

3. A sampling device according to claim 2 wherein:

said lancet and said reservoir are integrated into a disposable cartridge.

4. A sampling device according to claim 3 wherein:

said launcher contacts said sensor to detect said user and to activate said launcher.

5. A sampling device according to claim 4 wherein:

said skin presence sensor is prompted when said disposable cartridge is loaded into said device.

6. A sampling device according to claim 5 wherein:

said skin presence sensor is unprompted upon retraction of said lancet.

7. A sampling device according to claim 1 wherein:

said skin presence sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor for detecting pressure applied by said user on said piezoelectric sensor.

8. A sampling device according to claim 1 wherein:

said skin presence sensor comprises an electric contact which closes a circuit when pressure is applied by said user on said sensor.