Patent ID: 8231547
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A lancing system, comprising: a housing having a drive unit; a puncturing unit removably receivable in the housing and operable by the drive unit, the puncturing unit comprising a needle and a depth reference element that includes a skin contact area configured to contact the skin being punctured; a coupling mechanism for connecting the puncturing unit to the drive unit, the coupling mechanism comprising a needle coupler having a needle stop that cooperates with a corresponding stop of the needle and a reference element coupler having a reference element stop that cooperates with a corresponding stop of the depth reference element; wherein, during use of the lancing system, the drive unit drives the needle in a puncturing movement having a forward phase during which the needle is moved in a puncturing direction until its tip penetrates the skin, a retraction phase during which the needle is retracted from the skin, and a reversal point between the forward and retraction phases, the puncturing depth of the needle corresponding to the distance between the contact area and the tip of the needle at the reversal point; wherein, the drive unit drives the depth reference element with the needle during at least part of the puncturing movement; and further wherein, the puncturing depth is adjustable by changing a distance (d) existing at the reversal point between the skin contact area and the tip of the needle.