Abstract: A lancing device for blood sampling, having a depth-adjustment mechanism including a chassis or throttle plate movable within a housing, and a lancet carrier mounted to the chassis or throttle plate. Repositioning the chassis or throttle plate within the housing varies the penetration depth of the lancet.

Abstract: A lancing device for sampling blood or other body fluid of a subject includes a reusable housing and a disposable cassette. The cassette contains a plurality of lancets held in a storage plane. An active lancet is moved transversely from the storage plane into a firing plane, into engagement with a drive mechanism for actuation to lance the subject's skin. After actuation, the used lancet is returned to the storage plane. Each lancet includes a protective endcap that is removed from the lancet just prior to use and then is replaced onto the lancet after use.

Abstract: A medical lancing device including a replaceable multi-lancet cartridge. The lancing device includes a drive mechanism, an activation mechanism, and an advancing mechanism. The advancing mechanism includes a linear-pull slide that is moved in and out to operate an indexing ratchet mechanism, a cam-guided charger mechanism, and a cam-guided lancet cap displacement mechanism. The indexing ratchet mechanism sequentially advances the lancets in the cartridge to an active position. The cam-guided charger mechanism charges the drive mechanism and separates the cap from the active lancet. And the cam-guided cap displacement mechanism moves the separated cap from the lancing stroke path of the active lancet. The activation mechanism then releases the charged active lancet to traverse the unobstructed lancing stroke path to pierce the subject's skin at a desired lancing site.

Abstract: A lancing device has a carousel of lancets removably received in a housing. In exemplary embodiments, the lancing device includes a sterility cap positioning mechanism that removes sterility caps from the lancets for actuation and afterwards replaces the sterility caps onto the lancets. Preferably, the lancing device includes a lancet advancing mechanism that automatically advances sequential lancets of the lancet carousel for charging and actuating, and a drive mechanism for actuating the lancets. Also provided are replacement lancet carousels, which include a cylindrical carrier with axial openings and a plurality of the lancets axially oriented in the openings.

Abstract: Improved lancet configurations and protective lancet endcap configurations are disclosed. In example forms, one or more flexing cantilevers project from the lancet body for coupling with a cooperating receiver of a lancing device. A gripping handle extends from a sterility cap for ease of removal from and replacement over the lancet tip. A lancet body has a smoothly curved wave contour with at least one crest and at least one trough for engagement with a cooperating receiver of a lancing device.

Abstract: A sampling device (20) having a housing (24) with a lancet cartridge (22) mounted therein. The lancets (26) of the lancet cartridge (22) are interconnected by a flexible web (28). The lancet cartridge (22) is not positively engaged within the housing (24) and can be easily removed. The housing (24) has an opening (42) with an adjacent flexible or compressible fin (60) for dampening the motion of the lancet (26). The lancet cartridge (22) has at least one lancet (26) with an endcap, and the housing has a cap-removal mechanism (74) for separating the endcap from the housing (24). Anti-tampering features prevent opening of the device when the lancet cartridge (22) is oriented with a lancet (26) in a firing position.

Abstract: An endcap for a lancing device, the endcap including a contact face defining an opening for passage of a sharp lancet tip, wherein the contact face includes one or more surface features for compression and/or twisting against the skin around a sampling site to enhance sample collection and/or prevent premature wound closure.

Abstract: A lancing device and a removable and replaceable multi-lancet cartridge for use in connection therewith are disclosed. The multi-lancet cartridge is advanced through sequential lancets, and anti-reverse features prevent reverse advancement of the cartridge. Interlocks are provided to prevent double-cocking the device, to reduce the likelihood of jamming of the mechanism. Improved trigger mechanisms and depth control mechanisms are provided.

Abstract: A housing having an actuator mechanism and a replaceable carousel having a series of lancets. The carousel is removably received in the housing and the actuator mechanism is operable to actuate the individual lancets. In exemplary embodiments the lancing device has, amongst other features, key and detent mechanisms for orienting and securing the carousel in the housing, tangentially configured lancets for compactness, actuator alignment features for aligning the actuator with the lancets, charging mechanisms for ease in charging the lancets for launching, and shutter mechanisms for retaining the lancets in the housing after launching. Also included is a method for lancing using a lancing device according to the invention.

Abstract: An endcap for a lancing device, having a contact face defining an opening, wherein the contact face includes one or more surface contour features for directing body fluid toward the opening upon rocking of the lancing device with the contact face in contact with the skin surrounding the lancing site.

Abstract: A medical lancing device including a replaceable multi-lancet cartridge. The lancing device includes an advancing mechanism that advances lancets within the cartridge into an active position, separates a protective cap from the active lancet, and energize a drive mechanism of the lancing device. A cap displacement mechanism moves the separated cap out of the travel path of the active lancet. In a first example embodiment, the cap displacement mechanism includes a cantilevered spring arm that displaces the detached cap of the active lancet. In a second example embodiment, the cap displacement mechanism includes a spring-biased cam-driven plunger that displaces the detached cap of the active lancet. Then an activation mechanism releases the energized active lancet to traverse the unobstructed lancing stroke path to pierce the subject's skin at a desired lancing site.

Abstract: A medical lancing device including a replaceable multi-lancet cartridge. The lancing device includes a drive mechanism, an activation mechanism, and an advancing mechanism. The advancing mechanism includes a linear-pull slide that is moved in and out to operate an indexing ratchet mechanism, a cam-guided charger mechanism, and a cam-guided lancet cap displacement mechanism. The indexing ratchet mechanism sequentially advances the lancets in the cartridge to an active position. The cam-guided charger mechanism charges the drive mechanism and separates the cap from the active lancet. And the cam-guided cap displacement mechanism moves the separated cap from the lancing stroke path of the active lancet. The activation mechanism then releases the charged active lancet to traverse the unobstructed lancing stroke path to pierce the subject's skin at a desired lancing site.

Abstract: A method is provided for assessing whether a container (12) for a stored gas can maintain a predetermined gas pressure. The method includes the steps of: producing a magnetic field with an inductive heating element (19, 35); placing the container (12) containing a quantity of the stored gas in the magnetic field; inductively heating the container (12) to elevate the pressure of the stored gas to an elevated pressure greater than the predetermined gas pressure; and thereafter testing the container (12) for an indication of potential inability of the container to maintain the stored gas at the predetermined gas pressure.

Abstract: A method of filling containers (50) with gases (12) provides each container, when filled, with a first predetermined amount of a first gas and a second predetermined amount of a second gas. The method comprises the step of forming a mixture comprising first and second amounts of the first and second gases, respectively. The first and second amounts are greater than and are in proportion to the first and second predetermined amounts, respectively. The method further comprises the steps of: determining a sum of the first and second predetermined amounts; and adding a third amount of the mixture to each of the containers. The third amount is equal to the sum of the first and second predetermined amounts.

Abstract: A device for sampling and/or analyzing blood or other body fluid of a subject. A housing contains a plurality of lancets and optionally includes test elements to take up a sample of blood, an evaluation system and a display. A complete system that can be handled as a single device, for example in the form of a wristwatch, includes a multiplicity of test elements and lancets, which can be brought successively to a working position to perform multiple measurements. A cassette or carrier includes multiple lancets and/or test elements, for insertion into the device.

Abstract: An inflator (12) includes structure (40, 50, 82) defining a chamber (130). First and second passages (92 and 116) extend through the structure (40, 50, 82). A burst disk (120) closes the first passage (116). A valve housing (142) is received in the second passage (92) and defines a fill passage (154). A fluid (186) is stored under pressure in the chamber (130). An igniter (70) is actuatable for opening the burst disk (120) for enabling the fluid (186) to flow out of the chamber (130) through the first passage (116). A valve member (144) enables flow of the fluid (186) through the fill passage (154) of the valve housing (142) into the chamber (130) and prevents flow out of the chamber (130) through the fill passage (154).

Abstract: An inflator (22) includes a structure (30, 32) that defines a first chamber (50) and a second chamber (80). The first chamber (50) contains a volume of fluid under pressure and the second chamber (80) is in fluid communication with an outlet passage (76). The inflator (22) also includes a closure member (90) openable to release the fluid to flow out of the first chamber (50). An initiator (100) is actuatable to open the closure member (90). The inflator (22) further includes a filter (130) disposed in the second chamber (80). The fluid is directed from the first chamber (50) into the second chamber (80) and through the filter (130) into the outlet passage (76) upon opening of the closure member (90).