PUNCTURING DEVICE

• US 20090287117A1
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: List, Hans, Harttig, Herbert
• Application Number:
  US12/480,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20090287117A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/584
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• 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 5/150419 comprising means for capillary action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150519 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the single-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150755 Blood sample preparation for further analysis, e.g. by separating blood components or by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150824 by visual feedback
• 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 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1519 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for propelling the piercing unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a piercing device for creating a puncture wound for collecting a sample of body fluid, comprising a rubber elastic pressure part to be pressed onto a body part from which a sample of body fluid is to be removed, and a piercing drive mechanism by means of which a piercing element inserted into the piercing device can be driven in a piercing movement. According to the invention, an electrical deformation sensor is provided for detecting an elastic deformation of the pressure part by means of an electrical and/or magnetic measurement.

Claims

1. A puncturing device for generating a puncturing wound for obtaining a sample of body fluid, comprising:

a rubber-elastic press-against part configured to press against a body part from which a sample of body fluid is to be taken;

a puncturing element disposed in the puncturing device that is movable in a puncturing motion;

a puncturing element drive operable to drive the puncturing element in the puncturing motion; and

an electrical deformation sensor for detecting an elastic deformation of the press-against part by electrical or magnetic measurement.

2. The puncturing device of claim 1, wherein the deformation sensor generates a sensor signal that depends continuously on the deformation of the press-against part.

3. The puncturing device of claim 1, wherein the deformation sensor comprises a resistive sensor.

4. The puncturing device of claim 3, wherein the deformation sensor comprises a strain gauge.

5. The puncturing device of claim 1, wherein the deformation sensor is operable to detect a magnetic field change caused by a deformation of the press-against part.

6. The puncturing device of claim 1, wherein the deformation sensor comprises an inductive sensor.

7. The puncturing device of claim 1, wherein the press-against part contains a magnetic additive.

8. The puncturing device of claim 7, wherein the magnetic additive is ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic.

9. The puncturing device of claim 1, wherein the electrical deformation sensor comprises multiple deformation sensors, each of which measures the elastic deformation of a partial region of the press-against part, thereby determining whether an orientation of the puncturing device relative to the body part pressed against it is favorable for obtaining a sample.

10. The puncturing device of claim 1, wherein the press-against part is configured such that tissue of a body part pressed against it bulges into the press-against part and becomes surrounded by the elastically-deforming press-against part, wherein an increased body fluid pressure is generated in the surrounded tissue.

11. The puncturing device of claim 1, wherein the deformation sensor detects the deformation of the press-against part without direct contact with the body part pressed against the press-against part.

12. A method of using a puncturing device of the type having a rubber-elastic press-against part and a puncturing element disposed in the puncturing device, comprising:

pressing a body part against the press-against part;

using an electrical deformation sensor to detect the elastic deformation of the press-against part by electrical or magnetic measurement;

evaluating the measurement to determine whether an orientation of the puncturing device relative to the body part pressed against it is favorable for obtaining a sample; and

puncturing the body part if the orientation is determined to be favorable for obtaining a sample.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating a sensor signal that depends continuously on the deformation of the press-against part.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising using the deformation sensor to detect a magnetic field change caused by a deformation of the press-against part.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising using multiple deformation sensors, each of which measures the elastic deformation of a partial region of the press-against part, for the step of determining whether an orientation of the puncturing device relative to the body part pressed against it is favorable for obtaining a sample.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising pressing body tissue against the press-against part such that the body tissue bulges into the press-against part and becomes surrounded by the elastically-deforming press-against part, thereby generating an increased body fluid pressure is generated in the surrounded tissue.

17. A puncturing device for generating a puncturing wound for obtaining a sample of body fluid, comprising:

a deformable press-against part having an opening and configured to press against a body part from which a sample of body fluid is to be taken;

a puncturing element that is movable into the opening in a puncturing motion to puncture a body part;

a puncturing element drive which is operable to drive the puncturing element in the puncturing motion; and

an electrical deformation sensor which is operable to measure the elastic deformation of at least a portion of the press-against part by electrical or magnetic measurement.

18. The puncturing device of claim 17, wherein the electrical deformation sensor is operable to measure whether the elastic deformation exceeds an upper limit.

19. The puncturing device of claim 17, wherein the electrical deformation sensor comprises multiple deformation sensors, each of which measures the elastic deformation of a partial region of the press-against part.

20. The puncturing device of claim 17, wherein the electrical deformation sensor comprises a strain gauge.