Abstract: The present invention provides a lancet system having a lancet tip, a lancet body, and an outer body or housing which surrounds the lancet tip and in which the lancet tip is movable. The outer body or housing comprises deformable material which can be pierced by the lancet tip during a puncture operation to produce an outlet opening. The outlet opening can be widened during the puncture operation by a thickened or widened portion of the lancet body that at least partially protrudes through the opening. Other embodiments of the present invention include a pricking aid and/or lancet system provided as a magazine for holding a plurality of lancets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a puncturing system for withdrawing body fluid. The puncturing system comprises a disposable puncturing unit, which includes a needle element for piercing into skin and a puncturing depth reference element with a skin contact area. The system includes a puncturing instrument which has a puncturing drive, wherein the puncturing drive is coupled by a coupling mechanism to the puncturing unit for driving the needle element to a puncturing depth, the puncturing depth being determined by the distance in the piercing direction between the skin contact area and the position of the tip of the needle at a reversal point of the puncturing movement. The puncturing depth reference element is connected to the needle element such that the puncturing depth reference element moves with the needle element during at least part of the puncturing movement.

Abstract: A puncturing device for generating a puncture wound to sample a body fluid is provided and comprises a press-on part or contact element to be pressed against a body part to generate a puncture, a test sensor for measuring a test parameter value, and an analytical unit for determining whether the value of the measured test parameter satisfies a predefined minimum requirement for successful sampling. In one embodiment, the value of the test parameter is monitored during a waiting period by the test sensor once the value satisfies the predefined minimum requirement. After the waiting period has elapsed, so long as the values of the test parameter monitored during the waiting period are in a range of values that predicts sampling to be successful, the analytical unit initiates a puncture.

Abstract: An analytical aid including a base, a lancet and a test element. The lancet includes a lancet point and a distal end of the lancet can be attached to the base. At least the lancet point is located in a recess in the base and the recess can be closed by a cover as long as the analytical aid is in an unused state. The base includes a predetermined breaking point or position, at which the base is broken into two segments when stress is applied. The predetermined breaking point is arranged such that the lancet point is exposed for use when the base breaks at the predetermined breaking point. A test element is attached to the base.

Abstract: A blood collection system for collecting blood from a body part for diagnostic purposes, comprising a housing with a lancet guide, by which a lancet is guided on a predetermined puncture path, and a lancet drive for driving a puncturing movement of the lancet on the predetermined puncture path. The puncturing movement comprises a forward movement phase in the direction of puncturing and, after reaching a reversal point, a subsequent retraction movement phase in the direction opposite the puncture direction. The lancet drive has a driving spring, which is arranged behind the lancet and is connected to the lancet during the forward movement phase of the puncturing movement so that the lancet is driven in the puncturing direction. The system comprises an oscillation control device for controlling oscillation of the lancet and the driving spring in such a manner that repeated puncturing of the body part by the lancet is prevented.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for monitoring the concentration of analytes in body fluids, in particular in interstitial fluid and comprises a catheter having an implantable region and an outlet opening for withdrawing fluid in particular body fluid. A first and a second analytical zone are contacted sequentially with fluid from the catheter and undergo a detectable change when an analyte is present. The analytical zones can be contacted manually with fluid and also preferably in an automated fashion by means of a device. A system according to the invention additionally has an analytical device for analysing the analytical zones in order to determine the concentration of the analyte on the basis of changes caused by the analyte. A further subject matter of the present invention are catheters for use in systems according to the invention as well as magazines containing test zones.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for analyzing a sample liquid comprising a test tape having a plurality of test elements, a tape transport device which successively transports the test elements to a sample application site while advancing the tape, and a measuring device which scans the test elements loaded with sample liquid at a measuring site. The measuring site is located at a distance from the sample application site in the direction of tape movement. The tape transport is interrupted in order to exactly position a wetted area of the test elements carrying a sample liquid at the measuring site by means of a positioning device that responds to the presence of sample liquid on the test element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for extracting body fluid from a body part. The method provides a penetration device including a penetration element formed to pierce the body part and an actuator formed to propel forward movement of the penetration element. The penetration element is moved toward the body part at a very high penetration speed to form an impression in the body part having a depth less than about 0.3 mm and the body part is pierced with the penetration element. The actuator of the penetration device is formed to propel forward movement of the penetration element at a penetration speed of at least about 15 m/sec.

Abstract: The present invention provides a puncture aid comprising a housing in which a lancet holder with a lancet is displaceably mounted, the lancet holder being connected to a spring element. The lancet holder has at least one bearing element and the housing has a support surface arranged such that the bearing element rests on the support surface in a first position of the lancet holder. A trigger unit is provided, actuation of which transfer the lancet holder to a second position by means of a relative rotational movement of the bearing element and the support surface, so that the bearing element falls from the support surface in the second position of the lancet holder, and the tensioned spring element at least partially relaxes and moves the lancet holder such that the tip of the lancet emerges from the opening of the housing.

Abstract: Lancet system for pain-reduced blood withdrawal comprising an impulse generator which exerts an impulse on a body part in a sequence which is synchronized with the movement of a lancet. Method for the pain-reduced blood withdrawal in which an impulse is exerted on an adjacent body part in a sequence which is synchronized with the generation of an opening in the skin.

Abstract: A blood withdrawal system for withdrawing blood for diagnostic purposes including a lancing device having a housing with an opening and a support surface, and a lancet holder movably mounted in the opening including a lancet and a bearing member that rests on the support surface. The device further includes a trigger unit which, when moved linearly, causes a rotational movement to initiate a lancing process.

Abstract: Blood removal system for removing blood for diagnostic purposes including a housing, a lancet guide, and a lancet drive with a drive spring. The lancet drive comprises a cocking device, in order to tension the drive spring, a drive rotor that is driven by the drive spring, and an output-side coupling mechanism, by means of which the rotational movement of the drive rotor is converted into the puncturing movement.

Abstract: Body fluid sampling device comprising a skin-piercing element having a collection zone for receiving body fluid, and the device further comprising a fluid receiving means remote spaced apart from the collection zone so that body fluid in the collection zone will not contact the fluid receiving means initially. The collection zone takes up a very small volume of body fluid of about 10 to 500 nl in a very short time period of less than 0.5 seconds. The fluid receiving means may have a test zone for performing an analytical reaction. Fluid sample from the collection zone is automatically or manually transported to the fluid receiving means to contact the fluid with the test zone.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a tape magazine especially for a hand-held device for analysing a body fluid with a test tape that can be unwound from a storage unit and wound onto a waste unit where the waste unit can be driven in order to wind forward the test tape. The invention provides that a lock which keeps the test tape under tension is integrated in the tape magazine at least on the storage unit. The present invention also concerns a hand-held device with such a tape magazine. The present invention also concerns a hand-held device with a mechanical drive for the test tape and a disposable hand-held device with polymer-based electronic components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable blood sugar measuring device comprising a tape unit for winding a test tape forward in sections, a detection unit for detecting measured values on the sections of tape to which body fluid has been applied, and a housing to hold the tape unit and detection unit. The tape unit and/or the detection unit can be deflected relative to the housing (10) from an operating position against a flexible restoring element (18) when subjected to a shock load. Also disclosed is a novel cover having open and closed positions. The cover is positioned at an opening of the housing through which the receiving site of the tape unit protrudes. The cover thus protects the receiving site from external effects when the cover is in the closed position. Similarly, the receiving site is accessible to apply body fluid thereto when the cover is in the open position.

Abstract: A test instrument for analyzing body fluids such as blood or urine. The instrument includes a wound test tape which can be transported from a storage space into a waste space by advancing the tap. The test tape has a plurality of test sections to which body fluid can be applied at a receiving position and also includes a measuring unit for detecting a constituent of the body fluid on an active test section. In order to carry out auxiliary instrument functions, in addition to the test sections, the test tape has one or more functional sections which can be brought into a functional position by advancing the tape.

Abstract: The invention concerns an analytical instrument for assaying body fluids, the instrument having the following features: a) a housing provided with a receiving element for engaging a body part, b) an abutment for the body part which can be moved between a release position and an operating position relative to the receiving element, c) a lancing unit having a lancing element that can pierce the body part resting against the abutment in a linear lancing stroke, d) a test tape unit having a test tape for receiving body fluid issuing from the body part, and e) a detection unit for examining the body fluid applied to a section of the test tape.

Abstract: A lancet device for generating a puncture wound in a skin surface, comprising a housing, in which a lancet can be moved on a puncturing path, a lancet drive with a drive rotor that can be driven by a drive spring, a lancet coupling mechanism that transforms a rotational motion of the drive rotor into a puncturing and returning motion of the lancet during a working cycle of the lancet drive, a reference element that is mobile relative to the lancet and relative to the housing and is fixed in a defined position relative to the lancet drive during the puncturing and rests against the surface of the skin with a contact surface thereof such that a puncture wound with a reproducible puncturing depth is generated by the puncturing motion, and a reference element coupling mechanism that is coupled to the lancet drive in order to move the reference element. The invention further relates to a suitable lancet drive assembly for a lancet device of this type.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system for sampling body fluids. In particular, the system has an implantable catheter for introduction into a tissue, a pump for transporting a volume of the body fluid out of the catheter, a volume determination unit for determining the volume of fluid and a control means for controlling the pump means based on the determined volume of body fluid.

Abstract: According to the invention the analytical system includes a transport unit which is driven by piezoactive elements. The transport unit enables a direct or indirect transport of the test elements thus enabling a complete or partial automation of analytical methods. Furthermore the invention encompasses a transport unit for transporting a test element which according to the invention is controlled by an optical detector which detects the test element in the system.