Patent ID: 8591436
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: A61B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A multi-use lancing device for sampling a bodily fluid comprising: a housing defining a lancing slot; a carrying tape having a length and defining a supply section, a storage section, and an activating section between the supply and storage sections, wherein there is at least one bend in the activating section of the carrying tape; and a plurality of lancets carried along the length of the tape, each of the lancets having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lancet length, wherein a substantial portion of the lancet length is non-circular in cross section, wherein the proximal portion and the carrying tape form a unitary one-piece structure, and wherein the distal portion includes a sharp tip that is uncontaminated with the bodily fluid when in the supply section of the carrying tape; wherein lancets in the supply section of the carrying tape are in a supply position relative to the carrying tape; wherein a lancet adjacent the bend in the activating section of the carrying tape will travel through an activating phase relative to the carrying tape such that the distal portion having the sharp tip extends away from an adjacent surface of the carrying tape for lancing tissue to obtain the bodily fluid sample; wherein the lancets are oriented on the carrying tape such that their proximal portions precede their sharp tips as the lancets are carried from the supply section to the activating section by advancement of the tape; wherein the supply section of the carrying tape is wrapped around a supply reel and the storage section of the carrying tape is wrapped around a storage reel, the supply reel and the storage reel being spaced apart from each other, the supply reel and the storage reel being configured to rotate to advance the carrying tape; and the carrying tape is contained in the housing, the sharp tip of the lancet extends through the lancing slot for lancing tissue and the sharp tip of the lancet retracts through the lancing slot after forming an incision in tissue when the lancet travels through the activating phase.