Lancet device and method of use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for propelling a lancet, which can be activated with one hand, comprising:
- a housing, having a proximal portion, a distal portion, interior and exterior surfaces, an arming post having a catch wall, one or more alignment guide slots disposed on the interior surface and an orifice at the distal portion;
a front piece removably attached at the distal portion of the housing and having an orifice through which the lancet emerges when the apparatus is activated comprising a rotatable nose for adjusting the penetration depth of the lancet;
a plunger having a resting position, a retracted position, and a lancing position, disposed within the housing and comprising an arming member integrally and hingeably connected to the plunger and having a step wherein the step engages the catch wall of the arming post to hold the plunger in the retracted position;
one or more alignment guides that slideably engage the one or more alignment guide slots;
a firing spring for propelling the plunger from the retracted position to the lancing position, wherein the plunger moves parallel to the axis of the housing when propelled, and a return spring for returning the plunger from the lancing position to the resting position;
a depressible release button having a portion that engages the arming member and releases the plunger from the retracted position when the release button is depressed, and thereby causing the plunger to move from the retracted position to the lancing position, and the lancet to protrude from the orifice of the front piece; and
a slider button having a portion that engages the plunger for moving the plunger from the resting position to the retracted position.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to spring-activated devices and methods for lancing the skin to obtain a small amount of blood for metabolic testing. In one embodiment, the depth penetration of the lancet needle can be seen by the patient during lancing the skin. In another embodiment, the device has only five moving parts for cocking and firing, a plunger, two springs, a slider and a button. In order to reduce manufacturing costs, the number of parts used in the device has been reduced and their configuration has been simplified to reduce construction time, and thereby save on labor costs.
204 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for propelling a lancet, which can be activated with one hand, comprising:
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a housing, having a proximal portion, a distal portion, interior and exterior surfaces, an arming post having a catch wall, one or more alignment guide slots disposed on the interior surface and an orifice at the distal portion;
a front piece removably attached at the distal portion of the housing and having an orifice through which the lancet emerges when the apparatus is activated comprising a rotatable nose for adjusting the penetration depth of the lancet;
a plunger having a resting position, a retracted position, and a lancing position, disposed within the housing and comprising an arming member integrally and hingeably connected to the plunger and having a step wherein the step engages the catch wall of the arming post to hold the plunger in the retracted position;
one or more alignment guides that slideably engage the one or more alignment guide slots;
a firing spring for propelling the plunger from the retracted position to the lancing position, wherein the plunger moves parallel to the axis of the housing when propelled, and a return spring for returning the plunger from the lancing position to the resting position;
a depressible release button having a portion that engages the arming member and releases the plunger from the retracted position when the release button is depressed, and thereby causing the plunger to move from the retracted position to the lancing position, and the lancet to protrude from the orifice of the front piece; and
a slider button having a portion that engages the plunger for moving the plunger from the resting position to the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for propelling a lancet, which can be activated with one hand, comprising:
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a housing, having a proximal portion, a distal portion, interior and exterior surfaces, an arming post having a catch wall, one or more alignment guide slots disposed on the interior surface and an orifice at the distal portion;
a front piece removably attached at the distal portion of the housing and having an orifice through which the lancet emerges when the apparatus is activated comprising a means for adjusting the penetration depth of the lancet;
a plunger having a resting position, a retracted position, and a lancing position, disposed within the housing and comprising a means for arming the plunger integrally and hingeably connected to the plunger and having a means for engaging the catch wall of the arming post and holding the plunger in the retracted position;
a means for aligning the plunger within the housing and for guiding the plunger through the housing as the plunger moves between positions;
a means for propelling the plunger from the retracted position to the lancing position, wherein the plunger moves parallel to the axis of the housing when propelled, and a means for returning the plunger from the lancing position to the resting position;
a means for engaging the arming member and releasing the plunger from the retracted position, and thereby causing the plunger to move from the retracted position to the lancing position, and the lancet to protrude from the orifice of the front piece; and
a means for moving the plunger from the resting position to the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification