Lancing device
First Claim
1. An adjustable nozzle assembly through which a lancet can be propelled by a lancing device into a lancing surface, the adjustable nozzle assembly comprising:
- an interior nozzle comprising a ramped groove and a lancet wall;
a collar comprising a collar pin that engages the ramped groove and slides relative to the ramped groove, the collar being adapted to rotate relative to the interior nozzle; and
an exterior nozzle comprising a contact surface that extends beyond the lancet wall of the interior nozzle to contact the lancing surface, the exterior nozzle engaging the collar and being adapted to rotate relative to the interior nozzle; and
wherein the ramped groove is sloped such that as the exterior nozzle rotates relative to the interior nozzle, the distance that the contact surface extends beyond the lancet wall changes by an amount that corresponds to the slope of the ramped groove.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for lancing a surface provides an adjustable nozzle assembly that includes an interior nozzle, a collar, and an exterior nozzle with a surface that contacts the surface to be lanced. The exterior nozzle can then rotate relative to the interior nozzle and, thereby, vary the lancing depth of a lancet. The apparatus and method for lancing a surface also provides for a rearward body assembly that includes an interior tube, a lancet holder, an internal compression spring, a retainer, a rearward body, and an external compression spring. Longitudinal movement of the rearward body away from the interior tube can compress the interior compression spring and can, thereby, spring load the lancing device. The apparatus and method for assembling the adjustable nozzle assembly of the lancing device provides for an interior nozzle with an assembly groove and a ramped groove separated by a raised boss. The apparatus and method for assembling also provides for a collar with a collar pin for sliding in the assembly groove, over the raised boss, and into the ramped groove.
181 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An adjustable nozzle assembly through which a lancet can be propelled by a lancing device into a lancing surface, the adjustable nozzle assembly comprising:
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an interior nozzle comprising a ramped groove and a lancet wall;
a collar comprising a collar pin that engages the ramped groove and slides relative to the ramped groove, the collar being adapted to rotate relative to the interior nozzle; and
an exterior nozzle comprising a contact surface that extends beyond the lancet wall of the interior nozzle to contact the lancing surface, the exterior nozzle engaging the collar and being adapted to rotate relative to the interior nozzle; and
wherein the ramped groove is sloped such that as the exterior nozzle rotates relative to the interior nozzle, the distance that the contact surface extends beyond the lancet wall changes by an amount that corresponds to the slope of the ramped groove. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A rearward body assembly of a lancing device that can propel a lancet into a lancing surface, the rearward body assembly comprising:
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a lancet holder comprising one or more retaining features and one or more spring surfaces;
an interior tube comprising an open end and a slotted end through which the one or more retaining features extend, the interior tube being adapted to slidably engage the lancet holder;
an internal compression spring comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the internal compression spring being adapted to act on the slotted end of the interior tube and the second end of the internal compression spring being adapted to act on the one or more spring surfaces of the lancet holder;
a retainer comprising a slotted surface through which the one or more retaining features extend;
a rearward body, the rearward body engaging the retainer; and
an external compression spring comprising a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a reduced coil diameter that engages the one or more retaining features of the lancet holder, the first end of the external compression spring being adapted to act on the lancet holder and the second end of the external compression spring being adapted to act on the slotted surface of the retainer; and
wherein longitudinal movement of the rearward body away from the interior tube compresses the interior compression spring. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A lancing device that can propel a lancet into a lancing surface, the lancing device comprising:
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(i) an adjustable nozzle assembly through which the lancet can be propelled into a lancing surface, the adjustable nozzle assembly comprising;
an interior nozzle comprising a ramped groove and a lancet wall;
a collar comprising a collar pin that engages the ramped groove and slides relative to the ramped groove, the collar being adapted to rotate relative to the interior nozzle; and
an exterior nozzle comprising a contact surface that extends beyond the lancet wall of the interior nozzle to contact the lancing surface, the exterior nozzle engaging the collar and being adapted to rotate relative to the interior nozzle; and
wherein the ramped groove is sloped such that as the exterior nozzle rotates relative to the interior nozzle, the distance that the contact surface extends beyond the lancet wall changes by an amount that corresponds to the slope of the ramped groove; and
(ii) a rearward body assembly, the rearward body assembly comprising;
a lancet holder comprising one or more retaining features and one or more spring surfaces;
an interior tube comprising an open end and a slotted end through which the one or more retaining features extend, the interior tube being adapted to slidably engage the lancet holder;
an internal compression spring comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the internal compression spring being adapted to act on the slotted end of the interior tube and the second end of the internal compression spring being adapted to act on the one or more spring surfaces of the lancet holder;
a retainer comprising a slotted surface through which the one or more retaining features extend;
a rearward body, the rearward body engaging the retainer; and
an external compression spring comprising a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a reduced coil diameter that engages the one or more retaining features of the lancet holder, the first end of the external compression spring being adapted to act on the lancet holder, and the second end of the external compression spring being adapted to act on the slotted surface of the retainer; and
wherein longitudinal movement of the rearward body away from the interior tube compresses the interior compression spring; and
wherein the rearward body assembly can releasably engage the adjustable nozzle assembly. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of assembling an adjustable nozzle assembly of a lancing device, the method comprising:
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providing an interior nozzle comprising an assembly groove in communication with a ramped groove, the assembly groove being separated from the ramped groove by a raised boss;
providing a collar with a collar pin; and
attaching the collar to the interior nozzle by sliding the collar pin in the assembly groove, over the raised boss, and into the ramped groove. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of adjusting a lancing depth of a nozzle assembly in a lancing device, the nozzle assembly comprising an exterior nozzle, an interior nozzle comprising a ramped groove, and a collar engaging the exterior nozzle and comprising a collar pin that can slidably engage the ramped groove, the method comprising:
rotating the exterior nozzle and the collar relative to the interior nozzle to slide the collar pin in the ramped groove of the interior nozzle to adjust the lancing depth. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
Specification