Body fluid lancing, acquiring, and testing cartridge design
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an integrated cartridge having drop-in assembly of components, includinga lancet wheel component having a lancet rim with a plurality of lancets extending radially inward from the lancet rim, each of the lancets having a leg portion and a lancet tip extending substantially transverse to the leg portion, the leg portion spanning from the rim to the lancet tip,a frame component having an egg crate shape with a plurality of chambers to facilitate drop-in assembly of the lancet wheel component onto the frame component, anda test ring component having a continuous strip of chemistry that spans a circumference of the test ring component, the test ring component being sectionable into a plurality of test sections, andwherein the plurality of chambers are configured to section the test ring component into the plurality of test sections and each of the lancets is positioned next to one test section.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lancet wheel having a rim with a plurality of lancets extending radially inward from the rim is dropped in a circular frame having a plurality of spokes forming a plurality of chambers for facilitating drop-in assembly of the modular lancet wheel with the frame. A test ring having a plurality of test sections is assembled on the frame such that one test section is located adjacent each lancet to form an integrated cartridge. Each lancet includes a lancet tip defining a capillary groove sized to collect a body fluid sample from the incision via capillary action. The lancet tip exits the chamber to form the incision in skin, the capillary groove collects the body fluid sample, the lancet tip retracts into the chamber, and a portion of the lancet contacts the test section to transfer the sample from the capillary groove to the test section to analyze the sample.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
an integrated cartridge having drop-in assembly of components, including a lancet wheel component having a lancet rim with a plurality of lancets extending radially inward from the lancet rim, each of the lancets having a leg portion and a lancet tip extending substantially transverse to the leg portion, the leg portion spanning from the rim to the lancet tip, a frame component having an egg crate shape with a plurality of chambers to facilitate drop-in assembly of the lancet wheel component onto the frame component, and a test ring component having a continuous strip of chemistry that spans a circumference of the test ring component, the test ring component being sectionable into a plurality of test sections, and wherein the plurality of chambers are configured to section the test ring component into the plurality of test sections and each of the lancets is positioned next to one test section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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assembling an integrated disposable cartridge, wherein said assembling includes dropping a lancet wheel into a circular frame, the lancet wheel having a rim with a plurality of radially inwardly extending lancets, each of the lancets having a lancet tip and a resilient leg portion that spans from the rim to the lancet tip, the frame having a plurality of spokes defining a plurality of chambers, positioning one of the lancets in each of the chambers; attaching a test ring having a continuous strip of chemistry that spans a circumference of the test ring onto the frame; and sectioning the test ring into a plurality of test sections by the plurality of spokes, each of the test sections positioned under one of the lancets. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method, comprising:
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providing an integrated disposable cartridge including a frame, a lancet wheel having a plurality of lancets extending radially inward from a rim, and a test ring having a plurality of test sections, wherein each lancet is bent at a contact portion positioned between a lancet tip and a resilient leg portion, each lancet has a capillary groove that spans from the lancet tip to the contact portion, wherein the contact portion of each of the plurality of lancets is configured to contact the plurality of test sections; forming an incision in tissue with one of the lancet tips by rotating the lancet away from the plurality of test sections; collecting a body fluid sample with the capillary groove on the lancet; withdrawing the lancet from the incision in tissue by rotating the lancet towards the plurality of test sections; and transferring the body fluid sample from the capillary groove on the lancet to one of the test sections by contacting the test section with the contact portion to release the body fluid sample. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus, comprising:
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an integrated cartridge having drop-in assembly of components, including a lancet wheel having a lancet rim with a plurality of lancets extending radially inward from the lancet rim, each of the lancets having a lancet tip and a resilient leg portion that spans from the rim to the lancet tip, the resilient leg portion substantially transverse to the lancet tip to form a contact portion therebetween, each of the lancets having a capillary groove that spans from the lancet tip to the contact portion, wherein the contact portion is configured to contact a test element to transfer a body fluid sample to the test element, and a frame having means for facilitating drop-in assembly of the lancet wheel onto the frame. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus, comprising:
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an integrated cartridge having drop-in assembly of components, including a lancet wheel component having a plurality of lancets, each of the lancets having a leg portion and a lancet tip extending substantially transverse to the leg portion, and a frame component having a plurality of chambers to facilitate drop-in assembly of the lancet wheel component onto the frame component; a test ring component having a continuous strip of chemistry positioned on a circumference of the test ring component, the test ring component being sectionable into a plurality of test sections, wherein the plurality of chambers are configured to section the test ring component into the plurality of test sections and each of the lancets is positioned next to one test section; and wherein each of the lancet tips is configured to contact a test section and to deposit a body fluid sample on the test section, and the leg portion is resilient to move between a first position wherein the lancet tip forms an incision and a second position wherein the lancet tip contacts the test section.
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Specification