Method for loading penetrating members in a collection device

• US 20070191736A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pelikan Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pelikan Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Alden, Don
• Application Number:
  US11/684,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20070191736A1
• 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 5/150061 Means for enhancing collection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150068 by tissue compression, e.g. with specially designed surface of device contacting the skin area to be pierced
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150099 by negative pressure, other than vacuum extraction into a syringe by pulling on the piston rod or into pre-evacuated tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150152 by an adequate mechanical impact on the puncturing location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150167 Adjustable piercing speed of skin piercing element, e.g. blade, needle, lancet or canula, for example with varying spring force or pneumatic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150175 Adjustment of penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150221 Valves
• 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 5/150427 Specific tip design, e.g. for improved penetration characteristics
• 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 5/150572 Pierceable protectors, e.g. shields, caps, sleeves or films, e.g. for hygienic purposes
• 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 5/15123 comprising magnets or solenoids
• 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 5/15151 Each piercing element being stocked in a separate isolated compartment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15153 Multiple piercing elements stocked in a single compartment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15163 Characterized by propelling the piercing element in an axial direction relative to the disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15169 Characterized by a rolled strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15171 Characterized by propelling the piercing element perpendicular to the direction of movement of the strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15174 : Piercing elements stocked in the form of a stack or pile
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15176 : Stocking means comprising cap, cover, sheath or protection for aseptic stocking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15184 : Piercing device comprising a separate compartment or unit for used piercing elements separate compartments for used piercing elements in stocking means A61B5/15178
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15186 : Devices loaded with a single lancet, i.e. a single lancet with or without a casing is loaded into a reusable drive device and then discarded after use; drive devices reloadable for multiple use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 : Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood

Abstract

A method is provided for loading penetrating members. A dispenser is provided that includes a plurality of penetrating members. A collection device is positioned relative to the penetrating member dispenser for receiving penetrating members from the dispenser. The collection device is rotated to load a plurality of penetrating members in one rotary motion of the penetrating member relative to the dispenser.

Claims

1. A method of loading penetrating members, comprising:

providing a dispenser that includes a plurality of penetrating members;

positioning a collection device in a position relative to the penetrating member dispenser for receiving penetrating members from the dispenser; and

rotating the collection device to load a plurality of penetrating members in one rotary motion of the penetrating member relative to the dispenser.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the rotary motion is in the range of 180 to 360 degrees rotation of the collection device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection device rotates about a post of a carriage and the collection device is positioned under the penetrating member dispenser.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the post is tapered and the collection device moves from a bottom portion of the post to a top position of the post to be positioned to receive penetrating members from the penetrating member dispenser.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the carriage moves the collection member in and out of position for receiving penetrating members from the dispenser.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

offsetting an axis of rotation of the dispenser and an axis of rotation of the collection device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the axis of rotation of the dispenser and the collection member are offset to reduce interference between the dispenser and the collection device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection device is a collection wheel.

9. The method of claim 17 wherein the collection device is a disk.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispenser is a magazine of penetrating members.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the penetrating members are positioned at the collection device in a radial array.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the penetrating members are positioned on the collection device in a substantially flat radial array

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the collection member with the penetrating members is configured to be positioned in a disposable device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the rotary motion of the collection device includes a jiggling motion and a rotation movement of the collection device

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the jiggling motion assists in positioning penetrating members at the collection device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection device positions the penetrating members in the form of a circular rack of penetrating members.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein each of a penetrating member is received in a support in the collection device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the support is a finger.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein each of finger has a vacuum port that communicates with a vacuum.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

applying a vacuum to hold the penetrating members in the fingers.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein each of a penetrating member is aligned with the vacuum on a top portion of a finger.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein each of a finger passes through a slot in the collection device.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein each of a finger rises through a slot of the collection device, and a top portion of the finger is in the form of a groove that receives the penetrating member. THIS IS FIG. 4,

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the slots are formed in the collection device.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the collection device is a disk that is in a surrounding relationship to each finger.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein as the penetrating member collection device rotates relative to the dispenser, individual penetrating members remain in the dispenser until penetrating members are delivered from the dispenser and are received in a groove on the disk.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein after one rotation of the disk, each groove includes a penetrating member.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein only one penetrating member is received in a groove.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein each groove has a close fitting shape relative to a penetrating member,

30. The method of claim 29, wherein once a penetrating member is in a groove, a geometry of the groove precludes other penetrating members from entering the groove.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein as the collection device rotates under the dispenser, individual penetrating members are retained in the dispenser and move from the dispenser into a close filling groove.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the penetrating members are delivered to the disk as the disk rotates relative to the dispenser.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes a barrier member that gates the dispensing of penetrating members to the collection device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the barrier member is a gate with an opening.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the opening is sized to permit passage of only one penetrating member at a time.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the barrier member is a moving barrier surface.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the barrier surface forms an opening for penetrating member passage and non-passage

38. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

aligning and supporting the penetrating members using a retracting support plate.

39. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sliding multiple penetrating members past a reference surface to align the multiple penetrating members in the one rotary motion