LANCET PRICKING DEVICE

• US 20120215246A1
• Filed: 10/06/2010
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asahi Polyslider Company, Limited (Izumi-Cosmo Co., Ltd.), Izumi-Cosmo Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Asahi Polyslider Company, Limited (Izumi-Cosmo Co., Ltd.), Izumi-Cosmo Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Saeki, Hideaki, Imori, Hirokazu, Hyoue, Tomoyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,044,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1405 Devices for taking blood samples devices for taking samples of other body liquids A61B10/0045
• 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 5/15019 Depth adjustment mechanism using movable stops located inside the piercing device housing and limiting the travel of the drive mechanism mechanisms using distal end caps A61B5/150183, mechanisms at the piercing element carrier proximal end A61B5/150198
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150259 Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150435 Specific design of proximal end
• 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 5/150549 Protectors removed by rotational movement, e.g. torsion or screwing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150618 Integrally moulded protectors, e.g. protectors simultaneously moulded together with a further component, e.g. a hub, of the piercing element
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150916 by blocking components, e.g. piston, driving device or fluid passageway
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/151 Devices specially adapted for taking samples of capillary blood, e.g. by lancets , needles or blades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15107 Piercing being assisted by a triggering mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15111 Semi-automatically triggered, e.g. at the end of the cocking procedure, for instance by biasing the main drive spring or when reaching sufficient contact pressure, the piercing device is automatically triggered without any deliberate action by the user
• 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 5/15115 Driving means for propelling the piercing element to pierce the skin, e.g. comprising mechanisms based on shape memory alloys, magnetism, solenoids, piezoelectric effect, biased elements, resilient elements, vacuum or compressed fluids
• 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 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15144 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for retracting the piercing unit into the housing
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/122 where coils, e.g. end coils, of the spring are rigidly clamped or similarly fixed
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/123 characterised by the ends of the spring being specially adapted, e.g. to form an eye for engagement with a radial insert F16F1/122, F16F1/125 take precedence

Abstract

There is provided a lancet pricking device, comprising a lancet, a launching spring, a trigger part and a holder for housing therein the lancet, the launching spring and the trigger part. In the lancet pricking device, the lancet comprises a lancet body, a lancet cap and a pricking needle, and the pricking needle is disposed in both the lancet body and the lancet cap, and the trigger part has a pair of arms positioned inside the holder, and the launching spring is attached to the lancet body, and the lancet body is secured to the arms of the trigger part by an abutment of the lancet body on the arms such that the launching spring is kept compressed before a pricking operation. In such lancet pricking device, the trigger part cannot be pushed toward the inside of the holder at a point in time before the lancet cap is removed, and whereas the trigger part can be pushed toward the inside of the holder at a point in time after the lancet cap is removed, and thus the lancet body becomes capable of warping upon being pressed from an outside to cause the secured lancet body to be released.

Claims

1. A lancet pricking device, comprising:

a lancet;

a launching spring;

a trigger part; and

a holder for housing therein the lancet, the launching spring and the trigger part,

wherein the lancet comprises a lancet body, a lancet cap and a pricking needle, and the pricking needle is disposed in both the lancet body and the lancet cap;

wherein the trigger part comprises a pair of arms positioned inside the holder;

wherein the launching spring is attached to the lancet body, and the lancet body is secured to the arms of the trigger part by an abutment of the lancet body on the arms such that the launching spring is kept compressed before a pricking operation;

wherein the trigger part cannot be pushed toward the inside of the holder at a point in time before the lancet cap is removed from the lancet, and whereas the trigger part can be pushed toward the inside of the holder at a point in time after the lancet cap is removed from the lancet; and

wherein the arms of the trigger part become capable of warping upon the pushing of the trigger part to cause the secured lancet body to be released.

2. The lancet pricking device according to claim 1, wherein the lancet cap comprises a holding portion in a front end thereof;

and

a lancet cap'"'"'s portion other than the holding portion serves to prevent the pushing of the trigger part due to an interaction of the lancet cap'"'"'s portion with the holder at a point in time before the lancet cap is removed from the lancet.

3. The lancet pricking device according to claim 1, wherein the lancet body and the pricking needle of the lancet and the launching spring are positioned inside the trigger part such that all of them do not protrude beyond the trigger part.

4. The lancet pricking device according to claim 1, wherein a launching spring is attached to a spring-attachment portion provided at a rear-sided inner wall of the trigger part;

and

the spring-attachment portion has a bent form of an elongated part with a free end and a fixed end.

5. The lancet pricking device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger part is disposed as a whole inside the holder such that only a pressing portion provided at a rear end of the trigger part protrudes outwardly from a rear opening end of the holder;

a front portion of the lancet cap protrudes outwardly from a front opening end of the holder, and a pair of parts provided at lateral sides of the front portion of the lancet cap is adjacent to a front end of the holder, or another part of the front portion of the lancet cap is adjacent to the front opening end of the holder such that a backward moving of the lancet with respect to the holder is prevented;

each of the arms of the trigger part has its front side serving as a fixed end and its rear side serving as a free end in which each of lateral sides of the lancet body is secured by abutting on the each of the arms of the trigger part such that the launching spring is kept compressed before a pricking operation; and

when the trigger part is forced to move forwardly with respect to the holder upon the pushing of the trigger part, the each arm of the trigger part is expanded outwardly to cause the securing of the each lateral side of the lancet body to the each arm to be released.

6. The lancet pricking device according to claim 5, wherein, when the trigger part is forced to move forwardly with respect to the holder, the free end of the each arm of the trigger part slides on a sloped portion provided at a front-sided inner wall of the holder, and thereby the outward expansion of the each arm is automatically performed.

7. The lancet pricking device according to claim 5, wherein, at a point in time after the lancet cap is removed from the lancet, an external force applied to the pressing portion provided at the rear end of the trigger part serves to push the trigger part toward the inside of the holder such that the trigger part moves forwardly with respect to the holder.

8. The lancet pricking device according to claim 5, wherein the trigger part comprises a flexible portion at a lateral face of a main body thereof;

and

at a point in time before the lancet cap is removed from the lancet, the flexible portion of the trigger part is positioned between a main body of the lancet cap and a wall of the holder.

9. The lancet pricking device according to claim 8, wherein, at a point in time before the lancet cap is removed from the lancet, the flexible portion of the trigger part is positioned such that it is housed in a concave portion provided in the wall of the holder.

10. The lancet pricking device according to claim 8, wherein, at a point in time before the lancet cap is removed from the lancet, even when the trigger part is intended to be pushed toward the inside of the holder due to a pressing force from the outside, the flexible portion of the trigger part abuts against both the main body of the lancet cap and the wall of the holder, whereby the pushing of the trigger part is prevented;

and

at a point in time after the lancet cap is removed from the lancet, when the trigger part is pushed toward the inside of the holder by the pressing force from the outside, the flexible portion is caused to warp to perform the pushing of the trigger part.

11. The lancet pricking device according to claim 5, wherein a re-use preventing wing is provided at a front-sided outer face of the trigger part such that it extends backwardly and obliquely, and whereas a re-use preventing protrusion is provided at an inner wall of the holder;

upon the pushing of the trigger part in the pricking operation, the re-use preventing wing of the trigger part moves forwardly while contacting on the re-use preventing protrusion of the holder until the wing rides over the protrusion; and

after the pricking operation, the re-use preventing wing is capable of abutting against the re-use preventing protrusion such that a backward movement of the trigger part is restricted, and thereby the trigger part after the pricking cannot be returned to its pre-pricking state.

12. The lancet pricking device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger part is disposed as a whole inside the holder such that only a pricking opening portion provided at a front end of the trigger part protrudes outwardly from a front opening end of the holder;

a front portion of the lancet cap protrudes outwardly from the front opening end of the holder, and a pair of parts provided at lateral sides of the front portion of the lancet cap is adjacent to the front opening end of the holder such that a backward moving of the lancet with respect to the holder is prevented;

each of the arms of the trigger part has its front side serving as a fixed end and its rear side serving as a free end in which each of lateral sides of the lancet body is secured by abutting on the each of the arms of the trigger part such that the launching spring is kept compressed before a pricking operation; and

when the trigger part is forced to move backwardly with respect to the holder upon the pushing of the trigger part, the each arm of the trigger part is expanded outwardly to cause the securing of the each lateral side of the lancet body to the each arm to be released.

13. The lancet pricking device according to claim 12, wherein, when the trigger part is forced to move backwardly with respect to the holder, the free end of the each arm of the trigger part slides on a sloped portion provided at a rear-sided inner wall of the holder, and thereby the outward expansion of the each arm is automatically performed.

14. The lancet pricking device according to claim 13, wherein, at a point in time after the lancet cap is removed from the lancet, an external force applied to the pricking opening portion provided at the front end of the trigger part serves to push the trigger part toward the inside of the holder such that the trigger part moves backwardly with respect to the holder.

15. The lancet pricking device according to claim 12, wherein the each arm of the trigger part is provided with a component for applying a force to the each arm in a lateral direction of the lancet body.

16. The lancet pricking device according to claim 15, wherein the component for applying the force to the each arm of the trigger part in the lateral direction of the lancet body is a push-back portion capable of pushing an inner wall of the holder, or capable of pushing the inner wall of the holder when the outward expansion of the each arm of the trigger part starts.

17. The lancet pricking device according to claim 16, wherein the push-back portion is in an arm form that protrudes outwardly and obliquely from the each arm of the trigger part.

18. The lancet pricking device according to claim 12, wherein a re-use preventing wing is provided at a rear-sided outer face of the trigger part such that it extends forwardly and obliquely, and whereas a re-use preventing protrusion is provided at an inner wall of the holder;

upon the pushing of the trigger part in a pricking operation, the re-use preventing wing of the trigger part moves backwardly while contacting on the re-use preventing protrusion of the holder until the wing rides over the protrusion; and

after the pricking operation, the re-use preventing wing is capable of abutting against the re-use preventing protrusion such that a forward movement of the trigger part is restricted, and thereby the trigger part after the pricking cannot be returned to its pre-pricking state.

19. The lancet pricking device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger part is disposed as a whole inside the holder such that a rear end of the trigger part protrudes outwardly from a rear opening end of the holder, and that a pair of trigger part'"'"'s outer arms extending forwardly from the rear end of the trigger part is positioned at outer lateral walls of the holder;

a front portion of the lancet cap protrudes outwardly from a front opening end of the holder, and a pair of parts provided at lateral sides of the front portion of the lancet cap is adjacent to a front end of the holder, or another part of the front portion of the lancet cap is adjacent to the front opening end of the holder such that a backward moving of the lancet with respect to the holder is prevented;

the lancet body and the pricking needle of the lancet and the launching spring are positioned inside the trigger part such that all of them do not protrude beyond the pair of the arms of the trigger part, and each of the arms of the trigger part has its front side serving as a free end and its rear side serving as a fixed end in which each of lateral sides of the lancet body is secured by abutting on the each of the arms of the trigger part such that the launching spring is kept compressed before a pricking operation; and

when the trigger part is forced to move forwardly with respect to the holder upon the pushing of the trigger part, each of the arms of the trigger part is expanded outwardly to cause the securing of the each lateral side of the lancet body to the each arm to be released.

20. The lancet pricking device according to claim 19, wherein, when the trigger part is forced to move forwardly with respect to the holder, the free end of the each arm of the trigger part slides on a sloped portion provided at a front-sided inner wall of the holder, and thereby the outward expansion of the each arm is automatically performed.

21. The lancet pricking device according to claim 19, wherein, at a point in time after the lancet cap is removed from the lancet, an external force applied to the rear end of the trigger part or the pair of trigger part'"'"'s outer arms serves to push the trigger part toward the inside of the holder such that the trigger part moves forwardly with respect to the holder.

22. The lancet pricking device according to claim 19, wherein the lancet cap comprises a pair of cap arms extending backwardly from the pair of parts provided at the lateral sides of the front portion of the lancet cap;

and

a tip of the each arm of the trigger part is positioned between a tip of the each cap arm of the lancet cap and a sloped portion of the holder at a point in time before the lancet cap is removed from the lancet.

23. The lancet pricking device according to claim 22, wherein, at a point in time before the lancet cap is removed from the lancet, even when the trigger part is intended to be pushed toward the inside of the holder due to a pressing force from the outside, the tip of the each arm of the trigger part abuts against both the tip of the each cap arm of the lancet cap and the sloped portion of the holder, whereby the pushing of the trigger part is prevented.

24. The lancet pricking device according to claim 19, wherein a re-use preventing wing is provided at an outer face of the each arm of the trigger part such that it extends backwardly and obliquely, and whereas a re-use preventing protrusion is provided at an inner wall of the holder;

and

upon the pushing of the trigger part in the pricking operation, the re-use preventing wing of the each arm of the trigger part moves forwardly while contacting on the re-use preventing protrusion of the holder until the wing rides over the protrusion; and

after the pricking operation, the re-use preventing wing is capable of abutting against the re-use preventing protrusion such that the backward movement of the trigger part is restricted, and thereby the trigger part after the pricking cannot be returned to its pre-pricking state.

25. A lancet pricking device, comprising:

a lancet;

a launching spring;

a trigger part; and

a holder for housing therein the lancet, the launching spring and the trigger part,

wherein a launching spring is attached to a spring-attachment portion provided at a rear-sided inner wall of the trigger part; and

the spring-attachment portion has a bent form of an elongated part with a free end and a fixed end.

26-29. -29. (canceled)