Blood sampler

• US 5,505,212 A
• Filed: 12/14/1994
• Issued: 04/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Keljmann, Troels, Klitgaard, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): RIMELL, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US08/356,029
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 128/760-771, 606/181-182
• US Class Current: 600/584
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• 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 5/150259 Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150343 Collection vessels for collecting blood samples from the skin surface, e.g. test tubes, cuvettes sampling from within body cavities A61B5/150015, A61B5/150045
• 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 5/15194 fully automatically retracted, i.e. the retraction does not require a deliberate action by the user, e.g. by terminating the contact with the patient's skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood

Abstract

A blood sampler comprises a small chamber having a stiletto mounted air-tightly through a flexible top wall with a pointed end of the stiletto positioned inside the chamber opposite an opening in the bottom part of the chamber. The sampler is designed to be mounted in a tool which compresses the chamber by pressing the flexible top wall against the bottom of the chamber. Further, the tool has means for imparting an impact on a blunt outer end of the stiletto to drive the stiletto further through the top wall to make its sharp end protrude through the opening in the bottom part into the skin to which the sampler may be attached by an adhesive. When the sampler is ejected from the tool, it regains its original shape, providing in the chamber a vacuum for sucking blood from the perforated skin into this chamber.

Claims

1. A blood sampler comprising a chamber having flexible top wall with an inner and an outer side, a bottom part with an inner and an outer side whereof the outer side forms a plane surface and a bottom part includes an opening, a stiletto having a blunt end and a pointed end, which stiletto slidably is mounted in an air tight relationship with the top wall and wherein the stiletto is driven through this top wall when an impact is imparted on the blunt end of this stiletto and the stiletto is mounted so that the pointed end does not project far enough from the inner side of the top wall to pass through the opening in the bottom part when the top wall is pressed against the inner side of the bottom part.

2. A blood sampler according to claim 1, wherein the stiletto is shaped as a hypodermic needle having a bore an upper end of which is closed.

3. A blood sampler according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive is provided on a part of the plane surface around the opening.

4. A blood sampler according to claim 3, wherein the chamber has at its bottom elongated non-adhesive strips extending from opposite sides of the chamber.

5. A blood sampler according to claim 4, wherein a plaster congruent with one of the elongated strips has an end surrounding the opening and being embedded in the adhesive surrounding the opening.

6. A blood sampler according to claim 5, wherein a protective strip covers the plaster and is bonded to the adhesive by a force less than the force by which the adhesive is bonded to the bottom of the chamber.

7. A blood sampler according to claim 1, wherein measuring means are mounted in the chamber.

8. A blood sampler according to claim 7, wherein the measuring means are a sensor transforming a parameter to be measured into an electric signal, which is led to terminals outside the chamber.

9. A blood sampler according to claim 8, wherein the measuring means are an indicator at the inner side of a transparent wall.