Lancets for bodily fluid sampling supplied on a tape
First Claim
1. A multi-use lancing device for sampling a bodily fluid comprising:
- a housing defining a lancing slot;
a carrying tape having a length and defining a supply section, a storage section, and an activating section between the supply and storage sections, wherein there is at least one bend in the activating section of the carrying tape; and
a plurality of lancets carried along the length of the tape, each of the lancets having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lancet length, wherein a substantial portion of the lancet length is non-circular in cross section, wherein the proximal portion and the carrying tape form a unitary one-piece structure, and wherein the distal portion includes a sharp tip that is uncontaminated with the bodily fluid when in the supply section of the carrying tape;
wherein lancets in the supply section of the carrying tape are in a supply position relative to the carrying tape;
wherein a lancet adjacent the bend in the activating section of the carrying tape will travel through an activating phase relative to the carrying tape such that the distal portion having the sharp tip extends away from an adjacent surface of the carrying tape for lancing tissue to obtain the bodily fluid sample;
wherein the lancets are oriented on the carrying tape such that their proximal portions precede their sharp tips as the lancets are carried from the supply section to the activating section by advancement of the tape;
wherein the supply section of the carrying tape is wrapped around a supply reel and the storage section of the carrying tape is wrapped around a storage reel, the supply reel and the storage reel being spaced apart from each other, the supply reel and the storage reel being configured to rotate to advance the carrying tape; and
the carrying tape is contained in the housing, the sharp tip of the lancet extends through the lancing slot for lancing tissue and the sharp tip of the lancet retracts through the lancing slot after forming an incision in tissue when the lancet travels through the activating phase.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A supply of lancets for a multi-use lancing device are carried by a tape and sequentially brought from a storage position to an activating position by advancing the tape around a bend. The lancets are non-circular in cross-section along their longitudinal lengths, and in their activating position they extend from the tape such that their sharp tips are available for lancing tissue. The carrying tape can be arranged in reel-to-reel format in a housing having a lancing opening. The lancets can be integral with the tape and activated to move the lancet through the lancing opening by moving the tape along its tape path or by translating a dedicated service loop of the tape. The lancets can also be independent from the tape and activated through the lancing opening by a separate lancing actuator. A test media can be included on the carrying tape and the housing can contain a sensor to yield an integrated lancing and testing device.
50 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multi-use lancing device for sampling a bodily fluid comprising:
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a housing defining a lancing slot; a carrying tape having a length and defining a supply section, a storage section, and an activating section between the supply and storage sections, wherein there is at least one bend in the activating section of the carrying tape; and a plurality of lancets carried along the length of the tape, each of the lancets having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lancet length, wherein a substantial portion of the lancet length is non-circular in cross section, wherein the proximal portion and the carrying tape form a unitary one-piece structure, and wherein the distal portion includes a sharp tip that is uncontaminated with the bodily fluid when in the supply section of the carrying tape; wherein lancets in the supply section of the carrying tape are in a supply position relative to the carrying tape; wherein a lancet adjacent the bend in the activating section of the carrying tape will travel through an activating phase relative to the carrying tape such that the distal portion having the sharp tip extends away from an adjacent surface of the carrying tape for lancing tissue to obtain the bodily fluid sample; wherein the lancets are oriented on the carrying tape such that their proximal portions precede their sharp tips as the lancets are carried from the supply section to the activating section by advancement of the tape; wherein the supply section of the carrying tape is wrapped around a supply reel and the storage section of the carrying tape is wrapped around a storage reel, the supply reel and the storage reel being spaced apart from each other, the supply reel and the storage reel being configured to rotate to advance the carrying tape; and the carrying tape is contained in the housing, the sharp tip of the lancet extends through the lancing slot for lancing tissue and the sharp tip of the lancet retracts through the lancing slot after forming an incision in tissue when the lancet travels through the activating phase. - 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 multi-use lancing device for sampling a bodily fluid comprising:
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a housing defining a lancing slot; a carrying tape having a length and defining a supply section, a storage section, and an activating section between the supply and storage sections, wherein there is at least one bend in the activating section of the carrying tape; a plurality of lancets carried along the length of the tape, each of the lancets having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lancet length, the proximal portion and the carrying tape form a unitary one-piece structure, and the distal portion includes a sharp tip; wherein the supply section of the carrying tape is wrapped around a supply reel, the storage section of the carrying tape is wrapped around a storage reel, and the activating section contacts an activating reel adjacent the lancing slot, the supply reel and the storage reel are configured to move the carrying tape; the plurality of lancets are oriented on the carrying tape such that their proximal portions precede their sharp tips as the lancets are carried from the supply section to the activating section by advancement of the carrying tape; and the carrying tape is contained in the housing, the sharp tip of the lancet extends through the lancing slot for lancing tissue and the sharp tip of the lancet retracts through the lancing slot after forming an incision in tissue when the lancet travels through an activating phase. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification