Abstract: An integrated lancing test strip includes a pair of blade members that each have a lancing tip that are configured to lance skin. A pair of spacer members connect the blade members together such that the blade members define an internal capillary. A test strip is positioned along the internal capillary, and the test strip is configured to test analyte levels in the bodily fluid. During use, the lancing tips form one or more incisions in the skin. The fluid from the incisions is drawn via capillary action through the internal capillary and onto the test strip.

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: A device for sampling body fluid includes a housing having a sleeve at a forward end thereof which is displaceable in response to being pressed against a user's skin to trigger the firing of a lancet. After the lancet is removed from the incision, the sleeve is repeatedly pressed against the skin to depress a ring of body tissue in surrounding relationship to the incision to express body fluid outwardly through the incision. A pusher member is then actuated to push a capillary tube through a front end of the housing for drawing-in body fluid. The lancet is a disposable lancet which includes a body supporting a skin-lancing member and the capillary tube. The disposable lancet passes through an upper end of a lancet carrier when being installed or removed. The device cannot be armed until the disposable lancet is installed in the housing, because the capillary tube functions to push a safety device to a non-safety position.

Abstract: A skin penetrating system has a housing member and a plurality of penetrating members positioned in the housing member. A tissue stabilizing device is coupled to the housing member. A user interface is configured to relay at least one of, skin penetrating performance or a skin penetrating setting.

Abstract: A tissue penetrating system includes a plurality of cartridges each with a distal port and a proximal port. A plurality of penetrating members are provided, each coupled to a cartridge and having a sharpened distal tip and a shaft portion slidably disposed within the cartridge. A seal is formed by a fracturable material between the penetrating member and the cartridge. The seal is positioned at one or both of a distal port or a proximal port of the cartridge.

Abstract: A device for use with a gripper is provided. A cartridge is provided that defines a plurality of cavities. A plurality of penetrating members are at least partially contained in the cavities of the cartridge. The penetrating members are slidably movable to extend outward from the cartridge to penetrate tissue. Each cavity has a longitudinal opening that provides access to an elongate portion of the penetrating member. A sterility barrier is coupled to the cartridge. The sterility barrier covers a plurality of the longitudinal openings. The sterility barrier is configured to be moved so that the elongate portion is accessed by the gripper without touching the barrier.

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: A packaged medical device includes upper and lower flexible sheets, a lance body and a test strip. The lance body includes upper and lower surfaces, an opening that extends between the upper and lower surfaces and a dermal tissue penetration member that projects into the lance body opening. The test strip has an opening therethrough and is attached to the lance body lower surface such that the dermal tissue penetration member is operatively aligned with the test strip opening. The upper flexible sheet is attached to the lance body upper surface and covers the lance body opening, while the lower flexible sheet is detachably attached to the test strip and covers the test strip opening. The upper flexible sheet, lance body and test strip are configured such that, when the lower flexible sheet has been detached to uncover the test strip opening, the upper flexible sheet, lance body and test strip can be bent to deploy the dermal tissue penetration member from the lance body opening.

Abstract: A lancet integrated test element (LIT) includes an incision forming member that has a cutting end configured to form an incision in tissue. A test element is attached to the incision forming member to test fluid from the incision. The test element has a sampling end with a sample opening through which the fluid is collected. The test element is bendable from a first state where the cutting end of the incision forming member is retracted from the sampling end of the test element to a second state where at least a portion of the cutting extends past the sampling end of the test element to form the incision in the tissue.

Abstract: A bodily fluid sampling device includes a flexible test strip, a lancet, and a deflection mechanism. The test strip is biased to be positioned over the incision site formed by the lancet. The deflection mechanism positions the test strip away from the incision site during lancing so as to allow the lancet to have clear access to the incision site. Due to the flexible nature of the test strip, after lancing the incision, the test strip returns to the original position so as to collect fluid from the incision.

Abstract: A lancet driver is provided wherein the driver exerts a driving force on a lancet during a lancing cycle and is used on a tissue site. The driver comprises of a drive force generator for advancing the lancet along a path into the tissue site, and a sensor configured to detect lancet position along said path during the lancing cycle.

Abstract: Lancet device having an adjustable penetration depth. The lancet device includes a housing, a cap for covering the housing and for positioning the lancet device relative to a skin surface, a needle holding member for holding a lancet which needle holding member is at least partially contained within the housing, a biasing element for biasing the needle holding member toward an extended position, and a trigger for releasing the needle holding member from a retracted position. The lancet device further includes a mechanism for adjusting a penetration depth of a lancet. The penetration depth adjustment mechanism may involve adjusting a travel distance of the needle holding member, wherein the mechanism is positioned within at least one of the housing and the cap during at least a portion of length of travel of the needle holding member. The penetration depth adjustment mechanism may involve adjusting a travel distance of the needle holding member by adjusting a length of the needle holding member.

Abstract: A one time use disposable blood sampling device comprises a case defining a shoot chamber with a lancet-exiting hole, and a lancet disposed slidably in the shoot chamber with a puncturing tip pointed to the lancet-exiting hole. The sampling device further comprises a locking and shooting structure formed of an elastic arm button and an elastic arm. The button engaging end of the elastic arm button faces a locking hole on a side wall of the case. A free end of the elastic arm engages with the locking hole in a locking state. Upon pressing of the elastic arm button, the elastic arm disengages from the locking hole, and the lancet moves under spring action inside the shoot chamber causing the elastic arm to contact a bevel. A root portion of the elastic arm is notched or has a shrink neck which causes the elastic arm to automatically self-break upon contact with the bevel.

Abstract: A surgical scalpel assembly includes a handle having at least one attachment element and at least one guide element. The assembly also has a guard including at least one guide member configured to engage the at least one guide element of the handle such that the guard is movably connectable with the handle. The guard includes a first biased arm having a first boss and a second cantilevered arm having a second boss. The assembly also includes a blade having an attachment groove configured to engage the attachment element of the handle. The blade includes a first hole configured to receive the first boss when the blade is connected to the guard and a second hole configured to receive the second boss when the blade is connected to the guard.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a device for obtaining a blood sample from an intruder at a crime scene to be later analyzed for DNA. A projectile containing a blood-extracting needle for penetrating the skin of said intruder is mounted through a protective chamber and connected to a blood reservoir in the chamber interior. A vacuum is held in both the reservoir and the chamber. The chamber vacuum is released by forward movement of the chamber as it slides within a casing following further penetration of the needle. The vacuum release acts to reduce the ambient pressure within the forward portion of the casing, thus assisting in propelling the needle into the intruder. As the needle reaches maximum extension, a loaded spring within the casing is released, propelling the needle and reservoir away from the intruder.

Abstract: A skin incision device has a casing having a bottom surface with a slot formed therein, a cover positioned on the casing and slidable in a direction toward the bottom surface, a blade positioned in the casing adjacent the slot, an actuator cooperatively positioned between the cover and an interior of the casing, and a carriage element. The actuator engages the blade by its horizontal displacement triggered by the slidable movement of the cover toward the bottom surface of the casing. The carriage element guides the movement of the blade between a pre-actuated position and a post-actuated position. The blade moves outwardly through the slot, cuts with a horizontal movement, and returns inwardly through the slot.

Abstract: A lancet body (2) is integrally molded with a cap (3) for a firing device, the cap concealing the needle tip (5). the cap (3) can be used to insert the lancet (1), which is held while the cap is twisted off. The cap (3) is then fitted to the firing device to provide an apertured platform to be held against the skin and through which the needle tip (5) will momentarily project. The cap (3) has to be deformed to fit, and on being removed and recovering its natural shape internal lugs (14) catch hold of the released lancet (1) and remove that as well.

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: A lancing device comprising a movable parallelogram-shaped rack. The rack rotates a linearly fixed pinion which drives a slider-crank system. The slider-crank system in turn drives a lance holder. The parallelogram-shaped rack defines one or more predetermined paths along which the pinion moves. The lance holder is prevented from being extended beyond a predetermined depth when the pinion reaches a predetermined position along the one or more predetermined paths. The pinion is mechanically stopped from further progress by intersecting two legs of the parallelogram-shaped rack. Teeth of the rack may be modified to reduce the chance the pinion may jam in the rack.

Abstract: A body fluid sampling device for extracting bodily fluid from an anatomical feature is provided. The device comprises a penetrating member driver for driving a penetrating member to create a wound to extract bodily fluid; a light source positioned to indicate a point of sampling where the wound will be created, the light source indicating the point of sampling with a beam of light. The light source may be selected from one of the following: an LED, incandescent, fluorescent, or electroluminescent light source.

Abstract: A lancing device according to the present invention includes: a housing; a moving body movable relatively to the housing for forward movement of a needle; a driving mechanism for forward movement of the moving body; a hollow pressing portion at a front end of the housing for contact with a part where a puncture is to be made; and a pump mechanism capable of causing a vacuum to act inside the pressing portion. The pump mechanism is capable of adjusting the vacuum. The pump mechanism includes for example: a moving portion capable of reciprocating in a first direction and a second direction away from the first direction. Preferably, the adjustment of the vacuum is made by changing the number of reciprocations of the moving part in the first and the second directions.

Abstract: A skin pricker has a barrel (1,11) in which a hammer (2,29) released by a trigger mechanism (32,34) can be shot forwards by a compressed spring (3,38) to impact on a lancet (24) and momentarily project its tip. The rear end of the spring acts against a barrier (4,39) adjustable axially of the barrel, so that the spring can be more or less compressed before release, causing the hammer to act with greater or lesser force on the lancet. The barrier (4,39) may have projections (6,8,42) that engage in skew slots (7,9,43) in the barrel, so that rotation of the barrier axially adjusts it. A sleeve (44) over the rear part of the barrel instrumental in priming the device may co-operate with the projections and be rotatable to set the desired spring force.

Abstract: A device for withdrawing blood for diagnostic purposes including a lancet and a lancet drive having a loadable elastic drive spring provided within an elongated housing. A relaxing motion of the drive spring is converted into a puncturing motion to move the lancet at high speed in a puncturing direction until its tip exits out of an opening of the housing. The device includes a transmission in the housing that has an input side that transforms the motion of a loading element along a linear loading path into a rotational motion of a lancet drive rotor to load the lancet drive rotor by tensioning the drive spring. When the lancet drive is triggered, the output side of the transmission converts a rotational motion of the lancet drive rotor, driven by the drive spring, into the puncturing motion in a direction along the main axis.

Abstract: An electric lancet actuator and method of using same. An embodiment provides control of a lancet used for sampling blood by puncturing the skin. The lancet can be contained within a stationary housing which interacts with the proximal or driving end of lancet and allows the distal or front end of the lancet to protrude beyond the stationary housing and puncture the skin. Electric field coils or solenoids drive the lancet using either magnetic attraction or repulsion.

Abstract: A tissue penetration device and method of using same. The tissue penetration device may optionally include sampling and analyzing functions, which may be integrated. An embodiment provides control of a lancet used for sampling blood. Electric field coils or solenoids may drive the lancet using electromagnetic force. Advancement and retraction of a lancet may be controlled by a feedback loop monitoring the position and velocity of the lancet embodiments of the lancet driver can be configured to follow a predetermined tissue lancing profile. Embodiments of the invention include a lancet and method for using a lancet to maintain the patency of the wound tract once the lancet has cut into the skin.

Abstract: A skin pricker has a housing (1) for a lancet (5) which, when released from a rearward cocked position, is propelled forwards by a spring momentarily to project its tip (3). During the forward motion a peg (12) within the housing (1) passes along a slot (10) in the lancet and, just before the tip (3) projects, snaps through a neck (11) at the rear end of the slot. If the lancet (5) is then pushed back, the peg (12) cannot re-enter the slot (10): instead it wedges the lancet sideways and, before it can be re-cocked, traps the lancet behind an abutment (13) ensuring that the tip (3) cannot be re-exposed.

Abstract: Body fluid is sampled from a skin incision by placing a ring against the skin and repeatedly applying an elastic pressing force to the ring, whereby a stimulator surface of the ring depresses a ring of skin and body tissue in surrounding relationship to the incision to force body fluid from the incision. The stimulator surface is inclined at an angle of 10 to 65 degrees; a width of the stimulator surface is from 5 mm to 20 mm, and an inner diameter of the stimulator surface is no less than 6.0 mm.

Abstract: A single use lancet device having a housing, a lancet with a piercing tip movably disposed in the housing and structured to move between a cocked orientation and a piercing orientation, and a driving assembly structured to move the lancet into the piercing orientation. A retention member and an engagement hub are further provided and structured to be cooperatively engaged with one another upon the lancet being disposed in the cocked orientation so as to maintain the lancet in the cocked orientation until released by an actuation assembly. Specifically, the actuation assembly is structured to move between an actuated and an un-actuated orientation, movement into the actuated orientation releasing the retention member and the engagement hub from their cooperative engagement with one another and thereby result in movement of the lancet into the piercing orientation.

Abstract: A method for delivering a therapeutic implant to a tissue is provided. This method includes providing an elongate catheter having a distal end including a lumen, providing a carrier including a therapeutic agent, placing the carrier including the therapeutic agent into the lumen, advancing the distal end of the catheter to the tissue, and depositing the carrier including the therapeutic agent into the tissue.

Abstract: A lancet device used to pierce a user's skin and including a lancet with a body portion and a piercing tip, a primary housing, a cover assembly with a piercing opening and structured to be matingly coupled with the primary housing to define an interior chamber, and a lancet receiving assembly movably disposed within the interior chamber and structured and disposed to hold the lancet during its driven movement between a cocked orientation, a piercing orientation and a fired orientation.

Abstract: A lancing device with automatic stick and lance return features is disclosed. A drive mechanism within the unit comprises a slider-crank linkage combination. It is biased by a spring member to cause automatic firing once a crank member advanced by a user causes movement of an internal linkage member beyond its fully-cocked position. After firing, the lance is withdrawn so as not to pose a threat of secondary injury to the user. In use, the device is substantially silent though its course of operation. Yet, its configuration lends itself to producing a very quick, virtually painless stick with minimal recoil or shock to the device.

Abstract: A disposable lancet device adapted to pierce human skin sufficiently to let a small quantity of blood for testing. The device includes a lancet housing, a lancet body displaceably supported by the housing, and a piercing tip concealed within the housing in a rest position. The piercing tip can be integral with the lancet body or attached thereto. The device also includes an actuator for manually displacing the lancet body to expose the piercing tip under applied force and a return mechanism that returns the lancet body to the rest position when the manual displacement force is removed from the actuator. The actuator can be disabled to inhibit further manual displacement of the lancet body and exposure of the piercing tip. Thus, the piercing tip can be repeatedly exposed if desired, but can also be disabled once further use is no longer desired.

Abstract: A lancet depth adjustment assembly structured to be used use with a lancet device of the type including a lancet disposed movably within a housing so as to pass into a piercing orientation wherein a piercing tip of the lancet protrudes from a piercing aperture defined in the housing. The lancet depth adjustment assembly includes a depth adjustment element movably secured in overlying relation to the piercing aperture of the housing and having a piercing access structured to permit passage of the piercing tip of the lancet therethrough. The depth adjustment element is structured to be interposed between a finger of a patient and the piercing aperture so as to define a spacing therebetween, and accordingly define a depth to which the piercing tip, which protrudes a defined amount from the housing, penetrates the body part.

Abstract: A lancet for the extraction of blood includes a base portion of plastics material, a lancet needle of a metallic material held in the base portion and having a pointed end section protruding from the base portion, a head portion of plastics material integrally connected to the base portion by a preset breaking zone, and cooperating cam means on the base and head portions. The head portion can be removed from the base portion thereby exposing the pointed end section of the lancet needle by exerting a rotational force to one of the base and head portions relative to the other. The lancet needle is embedded in the head portion prior to the removal thereof. The cam means comprises pairs of cooperating cam sections on the base and head portions engaging with each other upon relative rotation between these portions for creating an axial movement of the head portion relative to the base portion thereby causing a rupture of the preset breaking zone.

Abstract: A skin pricker for blood sampling has a barrel housing a lancet which can be pushed back against a spring to a primed condition, by an elongate cap over its needle tip there to be held by a trigger. The cap (4) is removed by twist and pull action. The lancet body has integrally formed spring arms extending rearwardly and alongside, and when the lancet is fired these are momentarily flexed inwardly as their tips snap past abutments within the barrel. These act as ratchets, providing a first defence against re-priming of the pricker. If that first defence is overcome by a substantial rearward force on the lancet, the spring arms rearward pointing V's which wedge between the abutments and the lancet body. The cap may have a weakness leaving it rigid enough for the initial priming but which causes it to buckle if used to try to overcome the ratchet.

Abstract: A device for sampling body fluid, the device comprising, a main body, a lancet disposed within the main body, a carrier disposed within the main body fixedly attached to the lancet, a spring in communication with the lancet and the carrier, an annular space disposed within the main body adjacent the lancet, and a testing device for measuring a body fluid. The testing device may include micro-porous test strips, an electronic testing device, an optical/reflectance testing measuring device, or a visual inspection.

Abstract: A body fluid testing device includes a body member and a tissue penetrator carried by the body member. A test strip holder is carried by the body member, and a test strip is carried by the test strip holder. The test strip is capable of receiving a body fluid thereon and processing the body fluid into a form suitable for yielding test results relating to the content of the body fluid.

Abstract: A lancing device is adapted for use in firing a lancet into the skin of a patient to acquire a blood sample and, subsequent thereto, calculating and displaying the concentration of glucose in the acquired sample. In one embodiment, the device comprises a lancet and a torsion spring coupled to the lancet through a lancet holder. The torsion spring includes inner, middle and outer rings which are concentrically configured, a plurality of activation spring arms which connect the middle and outer rings and a plurality of return spring arms which connect the inner and middle rings. In use, the plurality of activation and return spring arms can be independently transformed between energized and de-energized states using a single, button-shaped mechanism. Rotation of the mechanism is used to energize the activation and return spring arms.

Abstract: A lancing device for drawing a body fluid sample from the skin that comprises a body portion, an endcap, a lancet and a vibration member. The endcap detachably connects to the body portion. The lancet is located within the body portion in a retracted position. The lancet is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, and adapted to draw body fluid sample from the skin at a puncture site in an extended position. The vibration member extends through the endcap and is adapted to mechanically vibrate the skin adjacent to the puncture site. The lancet is adapted to draw the body fluid sample from the skin at a puncture site by extending through an opening formed in the endcap, the vibration member or the combination thereof. One example of a vibration member is a piezoelectric member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lancing apparatus (A) comprising an apparatus body (1) including a housing (5) and a movable member for advancing a needle (40b), the movable member being arranged movably in the housing (5), and a plurality of front end covers (2, 3) each for coming into contact with a portion to be lanced in lancing. Preferably, the plurality of front end covers (2, 3) have different structures adapted for lancing different portions and are removably attachable to a same portion of the apparatus body (1) individually. A suitable cover (2 or 3) for the portion to be lanced is selectable from the front end covers (2, 3), and the selected front end cover (2 or 3) is attached to the apparatus body (1) in use.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed towards the field of lancing aids in which disposable lancet systems are used. The lancet system according to the invention has a needle body which surrounds the needle tip in a lancet system in a protective manner and also comprises a protection against re-use of an ejected lancet system.

Abstract: A method of reducing perceived pain resulting from puncturing of skin at a puncture site. A sensory distraction is generated at or adjacent the puncture site, and the skin is punctured at the puncture site simultaneously with or after the generation of the sensory distraction. Also, a device for penetrating the skin of a human or animal subject, including means for penetrating the skin at a puncture site, and means for generating a sensory distraction at or adjacent the puncture site. Furthermore, an endcap with penetration depth adjustability is provide that includes keepers for receiving new lancets tip-first for safety when reloading multi-use lancing devices.

Abstract: A body fluid measuring apparatus includes a main body (20) and a body fluid sampler (30) attached to the main body (20). The body fluid sampler (30) includes a fixed member (35) fixed to the main body (20) and a movable member guided by the fixed member (35). The fixed member (35) is provided with a body fluid-sucking chamber (39) open at the tip of the fixed member (35) and a through-hole communicating therewith. The movable member (31) includes a lancet (32) acting as a first electrode and is reciprocatively movable for bringing the tip of the lancet (32) into and out of the tip of the fixed member (35). The body fluid-sucking chamber (39) is provided with a second electrode (36) and a reactive layer containing a reactive reagent necessary for measurement. The main body (20) includes an electronic circuit (24) for determining a measured value on the basis of an electrical signal from the lancet (32) as the first electrode and a second electrode.

Abstract: A lancet device is provided capable of taking a sufficient amount of body fluid with less pain or readily healing wounds formed in the skin.

Abstract: A lancet device for obtaining a blood sample from a finger or at an alternate site of a patient. The lancet device includes a body and a lancet, the lancet being movable between a retracted position in which the lancet tip is disposed within the body and an extended position in which the lancet tip extends beyond the body. The device is cocked by compressing a U-shaped spring steel accessible on opposite sides of the body, the U-shaped spring steel being coupled to the lancet. Once cocked, a pawl retains the U-shaped spring steel in a compressed state. The device is fired by contacting the patient where sampling is to occur with one end of an actuator, the opposite end of the actuator serving to release the pawl from the U-shaped spring steel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lancet (X1) which includes a case (1) including an internal space (10), and a lancing unit (2) which includes a lancing needle (20) and which is movable within the internal space (10) in an advancing direction from a wait position to an advanced position. The case (1) includes a main body (11) accommodating the lancing unit (2), and a cap (12) which is molded integral with the main body (11) and detachable from the main body (11). The lancing unit (2) includes a cover portion (22) for covering a portion of the lancing needle (20) on the advancing side, for example. The cover portion (22) is detachable together with the cap (12) by exerting a rotational force for rotating the cap (12) and a pulling force for causing relative movement of the cap (12) in the advancing direction for exposing a front end of the lancing needle (20).

Abstract: Lancet device that includes a body. A trigger is mounted to the body. A front cover has a skin engaging end that includes a lancet opening through which a lancet needle extends. A holding member is movably mounted within the body and includes a front end a rear end. The front end can be configured to receive a lancet. A stop surface moves with the holding member. A cam disk includes cam surfaces which can be contacted by the stop surface. The cam disk is configured to rotate at least partially. The cam disk rotates about an axis that is not parallel to an axis running through at least one of the lancet opening and the holding member.

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: A small volume sensor, and methods of making, for determining the concentration of an analyte, such as glucose or lactate, in a biological fluid such as blood or serum, using techniques such as coulometry, amperometry, and potentiometry. The sensor includes a working electrode and a counter electrode, and can include an insertion monitoring trace to determine correct positioning of the sensor in a connector. In one embodiment, the sensor determines the concentration of the analyte by discharging an amount of charge into the sample, determining the time needed to discharge the charge, and determining the current used to electrolyze a portion of the analyte using the amount of charge and the amount of time.