Needle assembly for fluid sampler

• US 5,823,973 A
• Filed: 09/06/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Integ Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Integ Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Racchini, Joel R., Walter, Larry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Lynne A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YU, JUSTINE ROMANG
• Application Number:
  US08/708,923
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 128/760, 128/763, 128/770, 128/771, 606/181, 606/182, 606/183, 604/289, 604/290, 600/573, 600/575, 600/577, 600/578, 600/583, 600/576
• US Class Current: 600/573
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/008 Interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14514 using means for aiding extraction of interstitial fluid, e.g. microneedles or suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• 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 5/150114 by tissue compression, e.g. with specially designed surface of device contacting the skin area to be pierced
• 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 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• 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 5/15109 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 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1519 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for propelling the piercing unit
• 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 needle and a membrane to receive fluid from the needle. The needle deposits fluid in a transfer area of the membrane which is spaced from a test area of the membrane. At the transfer area, the needle is positioned with an axis of the needle orthogonal to the transfer area.

Claims

1. A membrane and needle assembly for testing constituents of body fluid while avoiding contamination of testing from undesirable elements of said fluid, said assembly comprising:

a membrane for receiving a body fluid to be tested, said membrane having a generally planar test area for infrared testing of constituents deposited in said area with a sample of said fluid, said membrane further including a transfer area disposed spaced from said test area and in fluid flow connecting with said test area for fluid to flow through said membrane from said transfer area to said test area;

a needle for penetration into a skin layer of a patient and drawing fluid along said needle, said needle having a discharge end with fluid flowing out of said discharge end along a line of travel;

said needle disposed relative to said transfer area with an opening of the needle at the discharge end being substantially parallel to and in close proximity to said transfer area with fluid flowing out of said needle along said line of travel generally perpendicular to said transfer area.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said transfer area is substantially orthogonal to said test area.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said membrane includes a filter area disposed between said transfer area and said test area, a filtering substance contained within said filter area for removing said undesirable elements from said fluid as said fluid passes from said transfer area and through said filter area to said test area.

4. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said undesirable elements includes blood cells and said filtering substance includes means for preventing proteins passing through said filter area.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said means is a deposited amount of a binding agent within said filter area for adherence of proteins to said agent.

6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein said proteins are portions of blood cells.

7. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said undesirable elements are cell fragments.