Multi-lancet unit, method and lancet device using the multi-lancet unit, and method of assembling and/or making the multi-lancet unit

• US 20060173478A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stat Medical Devices Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stat Medical Devices Incorporated
• Inventors: Schraga, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 9,289,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/181
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1411 by percutaneous method, e.g. by lancet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150183 Depth adjustment mechanism using end caps mounted at the distal end of the sampling device, i.e. the end-caps are adjustably positioned relative to the piercing device housing for example by rotating or screwing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150305 Packages specially adapted for piercing devices or blood sampling devices kits for diabetes A61M5/003; packaging in general B65D
• 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 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• 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 5/15146 Devices loaded with multiple lancets simultaneously, e.g. for serial firing without reloading, for example by use of stocking means. multiple simultaneous cutting or piercing A61B5/150977
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15155 Piercing elements which are specially shaped or are provided with fittings or attachments to facilitate nesting, stacking or joining together end-to-end or side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15174 Piercing elements stocked in the form of a stack or pile
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15182 Means for keeping track or checking of the total number of piercing elements already used or the number of piercing elements still remaining in the stocking, e.g. by check window, counter, display
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/008 Racks for supporting syringes or needles A61M5/001 takes precedence

Abstract

Multi-lancet unit for a lancet device. The unit includes a plurality of lancets arranged in a row. Each lancet has a front end, a needle which extends from the front end, and a rear end. The front end of at least one of the plurality lancets is removably connected to the rear end of another of the plurality of lancets. The lancet device utilizes the multi-lancet unit and includes a body and a holding member which houses the multi-lancet unit. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Claims

1. A multi-lancet unit for a lancet device, the unit comprising:

a plurality of lancets arranged in a row; and

each lancet comprising a front end, a needle which extends from the front end, and a rear end;

wherein the front end of at least one of the plurality lancets is removably connected to the rear end of another of the plurality of lancets.

2. The unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lancets comprises at least two lancets.

3. The unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lancets comprises at least three lancets.

4. The unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lancets is between five lancets and twenty lancets.

5. The unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lancets is between eight lancets and twelve lancets.

6. The unit of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lancets comprises a generally cylindrical portion.

7. The unit of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lancets comprises a non-circular cross-section when viewed perpendicular to a center axis of the plurality of lancets.

8. The unit of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lancets comprises a locking mechanism.

9. The unit of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanisms are generally equally spaced.

10. The unit of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lancets comprises a locking recess.

11. A lancet device utilizing the multi-lancet unit of claim 1, the lancet device comprising:

a body; and

a holding member which houses the multi-lancet unit.

12. A lancet device utilizing the multi-lancet unit of claim 1, the lancet device comprising:

a body;

a trigger; and

a movable holding member which houses the multi-lancet unit.

13. A lancet device utilizing the multi-lancet unit of claim 1, the lancet device comprising:

a body;

a trigger;

a movable holding member which houses the multi-lancet unit; and

a mechanism for moving the holding member to a retracted trigger-set position.

14. A lancet device utilizing the multi-lancet unit of claim 1, the lancet device comprising:

a body;

a holding member which receives therein the multi-lancet unit; and

a mechanism for moving the multi-lancet unit within the holding member.

15. A method of puncturing a surface of skin using the lancet device of claim 11, the method comprising:

arranging the lancet device adjacent against a user'"'"'s skin; and

triggering the lancet device so that one of the plurality of lancet is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin.

16. A method of puncturing a surface of skin using the lancet device of claim 12, the method comprising:

arranging the lancet device adjacent against a user'"'"'s skin; and

triggering the lancet device so that one of the plurality of lancet is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin.

17. A method of puncturing a surface of skin using the lancet device of claim 13, the method comprising:

arranging the lancet device adjacent against a user'"'"'s skin; and

triggering the lancet device so that one of the plurality of lancet is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin.

35. A method of making the multi-lancet unit of claim 1, the method comprising:

forming each of the plurality of lancets;

arranging the plurality of lancets in a row to form the multi-lancet unit.

18. A multi-lancet unit for a lancet device, the unit comprising:

a plurality of lancets arranged in a row; and

each lancet comprising a front end, a needle which extends from the front end, a rear end, an opening extending into the rear end, and a locking mechanism;

wherein the front end of at least one of the plurality lancets is removably connected to the rear end of another of the plurality of lancets.

19. The unit of claim 18, wherein the plurality of lancets comprises at least two lancets.

20. The unit of claim 18, wherein the plurality of lancets comprises at least three lancets.

21. The unit of claim 18, wherein the plurality of lancets is between five lancets and twenty lancets.

22. The unit of claim 18, wherein the plurality of lancets is between eight lancets and twelve lancets.

23. The unit of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of lancets comprises a generally cylindrical portion.

24. The unit of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of lancets comprises a non-circular cross-section when viewed perpendicular to a center axis of the plurality of lancets.

25. The unit of claim 18, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a tapered recess.

26. The unit of claim 18, wherein the locking mechanisms are generally equally spaced.

27. The unit of claim 18, wherein the locking mechanisms comprises a locking recess.

28. A lancet device utilizing the multi-lancet unit of claim 18, the lancet device comprising:

a body; and

a holding member which houses the multi-lancet unit.

29. A lancet device utilizing the multi-lancet unit of claim 18, the lancet device comprising:

a body;

a trigger; and

a movable holding member which houses the multi-lancet unit.

30. A lancet device utilizing the multi-lancet unit of claim 18, the lancet device comprising:

a body;

a movable holding member which houses the multi-lancet unit;

a mechanism for moving the holding member to a retracted trigger-set position; and

at least one of;

a front cap arrangement connected to the body;

a front tip assembly coupled to a front end of the body;

a front assembly removably coupled to a front end of the body; and

a tip assembly adjusting a penetration depth of a lancet needle being coupled to a front end of the body.

31. A lancet device utilizing the multi-lancet unit of claim 18, the lancet device comprising:

a body;

a holding member which houses the multi-lancet unit; and

a mechanism for moving the multi-lancet unit within the holding member.

32. A method of puncturing a surface of skin using the lancet device of claim 29, the method comprising:

arranging the lancet device adjacent against a user'"'"'s skin; and

triggering the lancet device so that one of the plurality of lancet is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin.

33. A method of puncturing a surface of skin using the lancet device of claim 30, the method comprising:

arranging the lancet device adjacent against a user'"'"'s skin; and

triggering the lancet device so that one of the plurality of lancet is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin.

34. A method of puncturing a surface of skin using the lancet device of claim 31, the method comprising:

arranging the lancet device adjacent against a user'"'"'s skin; and

triggering the lancet device so that one of the plurality of lancet is caused to penetrate the user'"'"'s skin.

36. A method of making the multi-lancet unit of claim 18, the method comprising:

forming each of the plurality of lancets;

arranging the plurality of lancets in a row to form the multi-lancet unit.

37. A multi-lancet unit for a lancet device, the unit comprising:

a plurality of lancets arranged in a row;

each lancet comprising a front end, a needle which extends from the front end, a rear end, an opening extending into the rear end, and a locking mechanism; and

a plurality of breakable and/or separable connections,

wherein each breakable or separable connection is arranged to connect an adjacent pair of lancets.