Method and apparatus for sampling bodily fluid
First Claim
1. A method of expressing bodily fluid from an incision in the skin, the method comprising:
- disposing a testing device against the skin at a bodily fluid sampling location, the testing device including a distal end portion forming a seal with the skin, a vacuum source communicating with the distal end portion of the testing device, and a lancing device;
activating the vacuum source;
creating a vacuum in the distal end portion of the testing device adjacent to the sampling location;
drawing the skin into the distal end portion of the testing device and to a drawn-in position;
deactivating the vacuum source after said activating;
releasing the vacuum in the distal end portion of the testing device adjacent to the sampling location after said creating;
releasing the skin from the drawn-in position in the distal end portion, said releasing the skin occurring after said drawing and in response to said releasing the vacuum;
forming an incision in the skin with the lancing device, wherein said forming occurs after said activating, after said deactivating and after said releasing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Bodily fluid is sampled by causing a lancet mounted in a housing to be displaced toward a skin surface. A vacuum mechanism disposed on the housing is utilized to create a suction in the area to be incised causing bodily fluid to pool. The vacuum mechanism may then be deactivated thereby releasing the vacuum force on the skin, or repeatedly activated and deactivated. After the vacuum device has been utilized, the lancet is advanced to form an incision. The vacuum device may be activated, activated and deactivated, or repeatedly activated and deactivated after forming the incision. The sample may be withdrawn from the incision through a capillary tube.
253 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of expressing bodily fluid from an incision in the skin, the method comprising:
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disposing a testing device against the skin at a bodily fluid sampling location, the testing device including a distal end portion forming a seal with the skin, a vacuum source communicating with the distal end portion of the testing device, and a lancing device; activating the vacuum source; creating a vacuum in the distal end portion of the testing device adjacent to the sampling location; drawing the skin into the distal end portion of the testing device and to a drawn-in position; deactivating the vacuum source after said activating; releasing the vacuum in the distal end portion of the testing device adjacent to the sampling location after said creating; releasing the skin from the drawn-in position in the distal end portion, said releasing the skin occurring after said drawing and in response to said releasing the vacuum; forming an incision in the skin with the lancing device, wherein said forming occurs after said activating, after said deactivating and after said releasing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17)
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11. A method of obtaining a sample of capillary whole blood from a target tissue, comprising:
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providing a penetrating system that includes a tissue stabilizing member, a tissue stimulation member, and a vacuum source; drawing the target tissue into the tissue stabilizing member and to a drawn-in position with the vacuum source; releasing the vacuum source after said drawing; releasing the target tissue from the drawn-in position within the tissue stabilizing member, said releasing the target tissue occurring after said releasing the vacuum and in response to said releasing the vacuum; applying skin stimulation to the target tissue with the tissue stabilizing member; introducing a penetrating member through the target tissue to form an incision after said releasing the target tissue; and collecting blood from the incision in the penetrating system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification