Vacuum assisted lancing system and method for blood extraction with minimal pain
First Claim
1. A vacuum assisted lancing system for blood extraction, comprising:
- a tubular body having a central longitudinal axis, a lancing end and a free end, the lancing end having a sealing device for contacting a surface for blood extraction;
a lancing shaft having a lance coupling end configured to couple with a lance and an actuating end, the lancing shaft being slideably coupled along the longitudinal axis to the lancing end of the body with the actuating end disposed within the body facing toward the free end of the body;
at least one lancing spring coupled to the lancing shaft;
a release mechanism coupled to the body;
a main shaft having an actuating end, a free end and a release coupler, wherein the main shaft is slideably coupled with the free end of the body along the longitudinal axis so that the release coupler can communicate with the release mechanism, and wherein the actuating end of the main shaft is disposed inside the body facing toward the actuating end of the lancing shaft, and wherein the free end of the main shaft is disposed proximate to the free end of the body;
a piston coupled to the main shaft and disposed within the body so that a vacuum chamber is formed between the sealing device and the piston;
an opening that allows fluid communication between the vacuum chamber and an atmosphere surrounding the vacuum chamber;
a vacuum spring coupled within the body so that the piston is biased toward the free end of the body and away from the actuating end of the lancing shaft; and
a shaft coupler having at least two separable portions that, when coupled, removably couple the actuating end of the lancing shaft and the actuating end of the main shaft to one another, wherein a first portion of the at least two separable portions is coupled to the actuating end of the lancing shaft and a second portion of the at least two separable portions is coupled to the actuating end of the main shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lancing system can include a device body having a sealing device coupled to a lancing end, a lancing shaft slideably coupled to the lancing end, a lancing spring coupled to the lancing shaft, a release mechanism, a main shaft slideably coupled with a free end of the device body in communication with the release mechanism, a piston coupled to the main shaft, a vacuum spring coupled to the piston, and a shaft coupler having at least two separable portions for removably coupling the lancing shaft to the main shaft. The system can include a lance tool having an insertion portion and a removal portion. A method can include creating a first portion of a vacuum, lancing a surface, and creating a second portion of a vacuum.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A vacuum assisted lancing system for blood extraction, comprising:
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a tubular body having a central longitudinal axis, a lancing end and a free end, the lancing end having a sealing device for contacting a surface for blood extraction; a lancing shaft having a lance coupling end configured to couple with a lance and an actuating end, the lancing shaft being slideably coupled along the longitudinal axis to the lancing end of the body with the actuating end disposed within the body facing toward the free end of the body; at least one lancing spring coupled to the lancing shaft; a release mechanism coupled to the body; a main shaft having an actuating end, a free end and a release coupler, wherein the main shaft is slideably coupled with the free end of the body along the longitudinal axis so that the release coupler can communicate with the release mechanism, and wherein the actuating end of the main shaft is disposed inside the body facing toward the actuating end of the lancing shaft, and wherein the free end of the main shaft is disposed proximate to the free end of the body; a piston coupled to the main shaft and disposed within the body so that a vacuum chamber is formed between the sealing device and the piston; an opening that allows fluid communication between the vacuum chamber and an atmosphere surrounding the vacuum chamber; a vacuum spring coupled within the body so that the piston is biased toward the free end of the body and away from the actuating end of the lancing shaft; and a shaft coupler having at least two separable portions that, when coupled, removably couple the actuating end of the lancing shaft and the actuating end of the main shaft to one another, wherein a first portion of the at least two separable portions is coupled to the actuating end of the lancing shaft and a second portion of the at least two separable portions is coupled to the actuating end of the main shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of extracting blood with a vacuum assisted lancing system including a tubular body having a lancing end and a free end, the lancing end having a sealing device coupled thereto, a lancing shaft having a lance coupling end and an actuating end, a lance coupled to the lance coupling end of the lancing shaft, a release mechanism coupled to the body, a main shaft having an actuating end, a free end and a release coupler, wherein the main shaft is slideably coupled with the free end of the body so that the release coupler may communicate with the release mechanism, and wherein the actuating end of the main shaft is disposed inside the body toward the actuating end of the lancing shaft, a piston coupled to the main shaft and disposed within the body so that a vacuum chamber is formed between the sealing device and the piston, an opening that allows fluid communication between the vacuum chamber and an atmosphere surrounding the vacuum chamber, a vacuum spring coupled within the body so that the piston is biased toward the free end of the body and away from the actuating end of the lancing shaft, and a shaft coupler having at least two separable portions, wherein a first portion is coupled to the actuating end of the lancing shaft and a second portion is coupled to the actuating end of the main shaft, the method comprising:
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cocking the lancing system by moving the actuating end of the main shaft, energizing the vacuum spring, coupling the at least two separable portions of the shaft coupler together thereby coupling the actuating end of the lancing shaft and the actuating end of the main shaft to one another, and coupling the release coupler to the release mechanism; coupling the sealing device to a surface for blood extraction and forming at least a partial seal between the sealing device and the surface; uncoupling the release coupler from the release mechanism; allowing the vacuum spring to at least partially deenergize; uncoupling the at least two separable portions of the shaft coupler thereby uncoupling the actuating end of the lancing shaft and the actuating end of the main shaft from one another; allowing the piston to travel toward the free end of the body; creating a vacuum between the surface and the piston thereby subjecting the surface to the vacuum; and lancing the surface while the surface is subjected to the vacuum and while the actuating end of the lancing shaft and the actuating end of the main shaft are uncoupled from one another. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification