Patent ID: 7087068
Filing Date: 2006-08-08
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A medical skin piercing device comprising a barrel, means for carrying a lancet in the forward part of the barrel to allow the tip of the lancet to advance from a retracted to a projecting position, a hammer arranged when released from a rearward position to impact on the rear of the lancet to cause such advance, a barrier to the rear of the hammer and user-adjustable axially within the barrel by cam action as a result of rotation of the barrier, a spring acting between the barrier and the hammer, and a trigger mechanism for holding the hammer in and releasing the hammer from said rearward position with the spring compressed to a degree determined by the axial adjustment of the barrier, wherein the user-set degree of compression of the spring determines the force propelling the hammer after release of the hammer, wherein the barrel has slots skew to the axis of the barrel in which projections on the barrier engage, wherein the rear portion of the barrel is encased by a captive sleeve spring-urged forwardly, the sleeve having a lost motion connection through the rear end of the barrel and through the barrier to the hammer, whereby pulling back the sleeve retracts the hammer to said rearward position, and release of the sleeve allows the sleeve to revert to its forward position disconnected from the hammer, and wherein the sleeve when pulled back reveals the slots for adjustment of the projections in the slots.