Vacuum assisted lancing system with elective vacuum release and method for blood extraction with minimal pain
First Claim
1. A vacuum assisted lancing system for blood extraction, comprising:
- a tubular body having a central longitudinal axis, a lancing end and a longitudinally opposite second end;
a lancing mechanism coupled with the body and including a lance coupler configured to removably couple with a lance;
a vacuum mechanism coupled with the body and including a piston slideably coupled within the body and a biasing device configured to bias the piston toward the second end of the body, the body having a vacuum chamber between the piston and the lancing end of the body;
a release mechanism configured to selectively hold the piston in at least one position relative to the body against a bias of the biasing device; and
an opening through a wall of the body longitudinally between the piston and the lancing end of the body that allows fluid communication back and forth between an interior and exterior of the vacuum chamber;
wherein at least one of the lancing mechanism, the vacuum mechanism, and a combination thereof, is configured to simultaneously move both the lance coupler and the piston in an initial direction toward the second end of the body upon release of the piston from the at least one position, and thereafter move the lance coupler in a second direction toward the lancing end of the body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum assisted lancing system for blood extraction can include a tubular body having a vacuum chamber, a lancing mechanism configured to removably couple with a lance, a vacuum mechanism including a piston slideably coupled within the body, a release mechanism for selectively holding the vacuum mechanism in an energized state, and an opening for allowing fluid communication between the vacuum chamber and an atmosphere surrounding the vacuum chamber. The system can include structure for selectively commencing dissipation of the vacuum and a fixed or adjustable depth controller. A method of manipulating a surface for blood extraction can include coupling the lancing system to the surface, blocking the opening, creating a vacuum, moving the lance coupler from a first position distal from the surface to a second position proximal to the surface, maintaining the vacuum for a period of time, and commencing dissipation of the vacuum by unblocking the opening.
33 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A vacuum assisted lancing system for blood extraction, comprising:
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a tubular body having a central longitudinal axis, a lancing end and a longitudinally opposite second end; a lancing mechanism coupled with the body and including a lance coupler configured to removably couple with a lance; a vacuum mechanism coupled with the body and including a piston slideably coupled within the body and a biasing device configured to bias the piston toward the second end of the body, the body having a vacuum chamber between the piston and the lancing end of the body; a release mechanism configured to selectively hold the piston in at least one position relative to the body against a bias of the biasing device; and an opening through a wall of the body longitudinally between the piston and the lancing end of the body that allows fluid communication back and forth between an interior and exterior of the vacuum chamber; wherein at least one of the lancing mechanism, the vacuum mechanism, and a combination thereof, is configured to simultaneously move both the lance coupler and the piston in an initial direction toward the second end of the body upon release of the piston from the at least one position, and thereafter move the lance coupler in a second direction toward the lancing end of the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of manipulating a surface for blood extraction with a vacuum assisted lancing system including a tubular body having a lancing end and a longitudinally opposite second end, a lancing mechanism coupled with the body and having a lance coupler configured to removably couple with a lance, a vacuum mechanism including a piston slideably coupled within the body and a biasing device configured to bias the piston toward the second end of the body, the body having a vacuum chamber between the piston and the lancing end of the body, a release mechanism configured to selectively hold the piston in at least one position relative to the body against a bias of the biasing device and the vacuum mechanism in an energized state, and an opening through a wall of the body longitudinally between the piston and the lancing end of the body that allows fluid communication back and forth between an interior and exterior of the vacuum chamber, wherein at least one of the lancing mechanism, the vacuum mechanism, and a combination thereof, is configured to simultaneously move both the lance coupler and the piston in an initial direction toward the second end of the body upon release of the piston from the at least one position, and thereafter move the lance coupler in a second direction toward the lancing end of the body, the method comprising:
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coupling the lancing system to the surface; blocking the opening; activating the lancing system, thereby creating a vacuum, subjecting the surface to the vacuum, and moving the lance coupler from a first position distal from the surface to a second position proximal to the surface; maintaining the vacuum for a period of time; and commencing dissipation of the vacuum by unblocking the opening, thereby allowing the surface to fluidicly communicate with an atmosphere surrounding the lancing system while the lancing system is coupled to the surface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification