Actuation system for a bodily fluid extraction device and associated methods

• US 20050245843A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Lifescan Incorporated (Duv Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Day, Richard, Palmer, Simon, Alvarez-Icaza, Manuel
• Granted Patent: US 7,169,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/583
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150954 Means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. by temperature sensitive sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15109 Fully automatically triggered, i.e. the triggering does not require a deliberate action by the user, e.g. by contact with the patient's skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15121 comprising piezos
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15123 comprising magnets or solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1519 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for propelling the piercing unit

Abstract

An actuation system for a bodily fluid extraction device includes a detector cap, at least one vibration sensor connected to the detector cap, and at least one signal processing unit in communication with the vibration sensor. In addition, the signal processing unit is configured to receive an output signal from the vibration sensor, analyse the received output signal, and to send an actuation signal to the bodily fluid extraction device based on the analysis of the received output signal.

Claims

1. An actuation system for a bodily fluid extraction device, the actuation system comprising:

a detector cap with a proximal surface and a distal surface;

at least one vibration sensor connected to the detector cap; and

a signal processing unit in communication with each of the at least one vibration sensor,

wherein the signal processing unit is configured to receive an output signal from each of the at least one vibration sensor, to analyse the received output signal, and to send an actuation signal to the bodily fluid extraction device based on the analysis of the received output signal.

2. The actuation system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one vibration sensor is a piezo-vibration sensor.

3. The actuation system of claim 2, wherein each of the at least one piezo-vibration sensor is attached to the distal surface of the detector cap.

4. The actuation system of claim 2, wherein each of the at least one piezo-vibration sensor is embedded in the detector cap.

5. The actuation system of claim 2, wherein there are a plurality of piezo-vibration sensors and the piezo-vibration sensors are symmetrically spaced with respect to the detector cap.

9. The actuation system of claim 1, wherein the signal processing unit is a logic signal processing unit.

6. The actuation system of claim I further including at least one pressure sensor connected to the detector cap and wherein the signal processing unit is also configured to receive a signal from each of the at least pressure sensor, to analyse the received signal from each of the at least one pressure sensor, and to send an actuation signal to the bodily fluid extraction device based on the analysis of the received signal from each of the at least one pressure sensor.

7. The actuation system of claim 6, wherein each pressure sensor is directly attached to the detector cap.

8. The actuation system of claim 6, wherein the at least one pressure sensor is indirectly attached to the detector cap.

10. A bodily fluid extraction device comprising:

a housing;

a lancing mechanism moveable with respect to the housing;

a lancet attached to the lancing mechanism;

an automatic firing mechanism; and

an actuation system that includes;

a detector cap;

at least one vibration sensor connected to the detector cap; and

a signal processing unit in communication with each of the at least one vibration sensor,

wherein the signal processing unit is configured to receive an output signal from each of the at least one vibration sensor, to analyse the received output signal, and to send an actuation signal to the automatic firing mechanism based on the analysis of the received signal.

11. The bodily fluid extraction device of claim 10 configured for extracting a blood sample.

12. The bodily fluid extraction device of claim 10 configured for extracting interstitial fluid (ISF).

13. The bodily fluid extraction device of claim 10 further including at least one pressure sensor and wherein the signal processing unit is also configured to receive a signal from each of the at least one pressure sensor, to analyse the received signal from each of the at least one pressure sensor, and to send an actuation signal to the automated firing mechanism based on the analysis of the received signal from each of the at least one pressure sensor.

14. A method for actuating a bodily fluid extraction device, the method comprising:

providing a bodily fluid extraction device that includes an automated firing mechanism and an actuation system, the actuation system having;

a detector cap with a proximal surface;

at least one vibration sensor connected to the detector cap; and

a signal processing unit in communication with each of the at least one vibration sensor,

wherein the signal processing unit is configured to receive an output signal from each of the at least one vibration sensor, to analyse the received output signal, and to send an actuation signal to the automated firing mechanism device based on the analysis of the received output signal.

urging the bodily fluid extraction device towards a target site;

receiving an output signal from each of the at least one vibration sensor by the signal processing unit;

employing the signal processing unit to analyse the output signal received from each of the at least one vibration sensor;

sending an actuation signal to the automated firing mechanism from the signal processing unit based on the analysis.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein sending step includes sending an actuation signal when the analysis indicates that the detector cap is symmetrically urged against the target site.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the providing step includes providing a bodily fluid extraction device that includes an actuation system with at least one pressure sensor;

and

the receiving step includes the receiving of a signal from each of the at least one pressure sensor at the signal processing unit; and

the employing step includes employing the signal processing unit to analyse the signal received from each of the at least one pressure sensor; and

the sending step includes sending an actuation signal to the automated firing mechanism from the signal processing unit based on the analysis of the received output signal from each of the at least one vibration sensor and the received output signal from each of the at least one pressure sensor.