Abstract: A lancing device includes a housing for containing a lancet. A lancet driver couples with and moves the lancet within the housing. A skin interface cap has an opening defined therein to expose at least part of the lancet when moved by the driver. A sliding frame is coupled to the housing and to the skin interface cap. The frame being adjustable relative to the housing for accordingly adjusting said cap relative to the housing, whereby an extent to which the lancet is exposed through the opening is adjustable by adjusting the sliding frame.

Abstract: Microneedle arrays and drug delivery devices are provided for transdermally delivering a drug formulation to a patient. The microneedle array device includes a substantially planar substrate having an array of apertures; and a plurality of microneedles projecting at angle from the planar substrate, the microneedles having a base portion integrally connected to the substrate, a tip end portion distal to the base portion, and body portion therebetween, wherein each microneedle has at least one channel extending substantially from the base portion through at least a part of the body portion, the channel being open along at least part of the body portion and in fluid communication with at least one of the apertures in the substrate. In a preferred embodiment, each microneedle has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape and the channel is open to two opposing surfaces of the microneedle.

Abstract: Improved microneedle arrays are provided having a sufficiently large separation distance between each of the individual microneedles to ensure penetration of the skin while having a sufficiently small separation distance to provide high transdermal transport rates. A very useful range of separation distances between microneedles is in the range of 100-300 microns, and more preferably in the range of 100-200 microns. The outer diameter and microneedle length is also very important, and in combination with the separation distance will be crucial as to whether or not the microneedles will actually penetrate the stratum corneum of skin. For circular microneedles, a useful outer diameter range is from 20-100 microns, and more preferably in the range of 20-50 microns.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are provided for piercing the skin, accessing and collecting physiological sample therein, and measuring a characteristic, e.g., an analyte concentration, of the sampled physiological sample. The subject devices are in the form of a test strip that include a biosensor and at least one skin-piercing element affixed to the test strip. The skin-piercing element conveys a biological fluid sample to a sensor element in the test strip. Systems are provided which include one or more test strip devices and a meter for making analyte concentration measurements. Methods for manufacturing and using the devices and systems are also provided.