Lancet protective cap

• US 8,062,233 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2009
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Chan, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoekstra; Jeffrey G
• Application Number:
  US12/355,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20090124933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 600573-584, 606/167, 606/181, 206/438
• US Class Current: 600/583
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150274 Manufacture or production processes or steps for blood sampling devices
• 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 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• 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 5/150564 Protectors removed by pulling or pushing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15061 by material engagement, e.g. welding, bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150717 manually removed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150824 by visual feedback

Abstract

A unique technique for maintaining the sterility and integrity of a lancet tip. One or more lancet tips are sandwiched between a first web and a second web of material to protect the sterility of the lancet tips. The first and second webs are heat fused together to form a structure that covers and encapsulates the lancet tips to protect the integrity of the lancet tips. The structure is cut to form individual protective caps to detachably cover each of the lancet tips.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a lancet having a lancet tip configured to form an incision in skin;

a first web of a multi-layered material, wherein the multi-layered material has a heat-resistant first layer and a heat-sensitive second layer;

a second web of the multi-layered material, the second layer of the second web contacting the second layer of the first web and sandwiching the lancet tip between the first web and the second web to protect sterility of the lancet tip; and

wherein the second layer of the first web and the second layer of the second web are melted together to form a structure to encapsulate the lancet tip, wherein the structure is a one-piece removable tab.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the first layer includes polystyrene; and

the second layer includes polyethylene.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of the lancet tips sandwiched between the first web and the second web.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of the lancet tips sandwiched between the first web and the second web;

a plurality of the structures configured to encapsulate said plurality of the lancet tips; and

a cartridge for storing the plurality of the structures and the plurality of the lancet tips.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the structure is cut to form a protective cap to cover the lancet tip.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first layer is rigid to form a protective outer surface of the structure.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a test strip attached to the lancet and adapted to analyze bodily fluid from the incision.

8. A device, comprising:

a lancet having a lancet tip configured to form an incision in skin;

a first web of a multi-layered material, wherein the multi-layered material has a heat-resistant first layer and a heat-sensitive second layer;

a second web of the multi-layered material, the second layer of the second web contacting the second layer of the first web and sandwiching the lancet tip between the first web and the second web to protect sterility of the lancet tip; and

wherein the second layer of the first web and the second layer of the second web are melted together to form a one-piece structure to encapsulate the lancet tip, wherein the one-piece structure is detachable from the lancet tip.