Abstract:
A lancing device is disclosed in which cocking of the lancet holder is achieved in response to retraction of a push member. A lancing device is also disclosed in which a lancet storage compartment is provided in the housing of the lancing device and closing movement of a closure member for the storage compartment has the effect of cocking the lancet holder. Methods of cocking lancing devices are also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional application of U. S. patent application Ser. No. 12/191,879 filed on Aug. 14, 2008 and incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Lancing devices are typically handheld units that permit users to draw blood for testing and diagnostic purposes. These devices include a housing with a piercing aperture, a lancet that contains one or more needles, and a firing mechanism. The firing mechanism typically includes a spring or other biasing means which can be cocked either by insertion of the lancet or by movement of a cocking member. Once the lancing device is cocked, it is placed against the user&#39;s skin, often the fingertip. The user can then press a trigger to actuate the firing mechanism, which momentarily drives the sharp tip of the needle through the piercing aperture to puncture the user&#39;s skin and draw blood. 
         [0003]    A myriad of lancing devices have been proposed and/or commercialized. Whereas these devices are generally satisfactory, the cocking mechanism tends to be rather complex and expensive and the devices do not provide a storage facility to store the lancets prior to use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Embodiments disclosed herein concern a lancing device of the type including an elongated housing; a lancet holder receiving the lancet and mounted for axial movement in the housing between a retracted position and operative position and a cocked position; a cocking mechanism operative to move the lancet holder from its retracted position to its cocked position; and a trigger mounted on the housing and operative to release the lancet holder for movement from the cocked position to the operative position. 
         [0005]    In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, a lancing device is disclosed comprising an elongated housing, a lancet, a lancet holder receiving the lancet and configured to move axially in the housing between a retracted position, an extended position, and a cocked position, and a cocking mechanism mounted on the housing and configured to move first inward relative to the housing and subsequently outward relative to the housing. The lancet holder is further configured to move from its retracted position to its cocked position in response to the outward movement of the cocking mechanism. The device also comprises a trigger mounted on the housing and operative to release the lancet holder for movement from the cocked position to the extended position. 
         [0006]    In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, a lancing device is disclosed comprising a lancet, a lancet holder configured to receive the lancet and mounted for axial movement in the housing between a retracted position, an extended position, and a cocked position, a lancet storage compartment defined within the housing and sized to accommodate a plurality of lancets, a door configured to move between an open position allowing access to the storage compartment and a closed position preventing access to the storage compartment, a cocking mechanism engaged with the door and configured to move the lancet holder from its retracted position to its cocked position when the door is moved from the open position to the closed position and a trigger mounted on the housing and configured to release the lancet holder to move from the cocked position to the extended position. 
         [0007]    In accordance with yet other embodiments of the invention, a method of cocking a lancing device is disclosed. The method, for use with a housing having a lancet holder disposed therein and a storage compartment to accommodate a plurality of lancets, comprises opening a door of the storage compartment to remove or deposit one or more of the plurality of lancets, and closing the door of the storage compartment to cock the lancing device, wherein closing the door of the storage compartment moves the lancet holder from a neutral position to a cocked position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lancing device according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6  are schematic cross-sectional views of the lancing device of  FIG. 1  showing successive steps in the usage of the invention lancing device; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing a cocking mechanism, a lancet holder, and a trigger employed in the  FIG. 1  embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a somewhat schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the lancing device of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional view taken on line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional view of the lancing device of  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    The lancing device  10  seen in  FIGS. 1-7 , broadly considered, includes a housing  12 , a lancet  16 , a lancet holder  18 , a cocking mechanism  20  and a trigger mechanism  22 . 
         [0018]    Housing  10  includes a main body housing member  24  and a front cap  26 . 
         [0019]    Main body housing member  24  is elongated, has a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration, and includes a top wall  24   a,  a bottom wall  24   b,  side walls  24   c ,  24   d  and a rear end wall  24   e.  Top wall  24   a  includes an aperture  24   f  to accommodate the trigger mechanism. 
         [0020]    Front cap  26  is sized to be secured to the front end of housing member  24  and includes a front wall  26   a  defining a piercing aperture  26   b.    
         [0021]    Lancet  16  is of known form and includes a generally cylindrical body  16   a  carrying one or more needles  16   b.    
         [0022]    Lancet holder  18  comprises a rod suitably mounted for axial movement in the housing and having a notch  18   a.    
         [0023]    Cocking mechanism  20  includes a button  28  mounted in housing end wall  24   e  for inward and outward movement relative to the housing end wall and an actuator  30 . 
         [0024]    Actuator  30  includes a rearward rod portion  30   a,  a forward guide portion  30   b  and a central resilient portion  30   c.    
         [0025]    The rear end  30   b  of rod portion  36  is fixedly secured in a socket  28   a  of button  28 . 
         [0026]    Guide portion  30   b  has a generally planar configuration. Resilient portion  30   c  includes an upper resilient arm  30   e  interconnecting rod portion  30   a  and guide portion  30   b  and a lower resilient arm structure  30   f  further interconnecting rod portion  30   a  and guide portion  30   b.  Lower resilient arm structure  30   f  defines a button  30   g  and is bifurcated at its forward end to form a window  30   h  to accommodate axial movement of lancet holder  18 . 
         [0027]    Trigger mechanism  22  is in the form of a trigger button sized to fit in housing aperture  24   f  and defining guide structure  22   a  on the underface of the button for slidable receipt of guide portion  30   b  of actuator  30 . 
         [0028]    In assembled relation of the components of the lancing device, button  28  is slidably received in end wall  24   e,  lancet  16  is suitably mounted on the front end of lancet holder  18 , the rear end of actuator rod portion  30   a  is coupled to button  28 , the front planar guide portion  30   b  of actuator  30  is slidably received in guide structure  22   a  of trigger  22 , and button  30   g  is resiliently positioned proximate the underside of lancet holder  18 . 
         [0029]    Lancet holder  18  is suitably slidably guided in housing  12  for axial movement between a retracted position seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  6 , a cocked position seen in  FIG. 4 , and an operative puncturing position seen in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0030]    With initial reference to  FIG. 2 , showing the device with the lancet holder in its retracted position, button  28  is slidably mounted in housing end wall  24   e,  the upper face  22   b  of trigger  22  is flush with the upper face of housing upper wall  24   a,  and button  30   g  of actuator  30  is resiliently pressed against the underface of lancet holder  18  rearwardly of notch  18   a.    
         [0031]    In the transitory position seen in  FIG. 3 , button  28  has been pressed inwardly or forwardly to move button  30   g  into alignment with notch  18   a  with this forward movement of the actuator accommodated by sliding movement of actuator guide portion  30   b  in trigger guide structure  22   a.    
         [0032]    When button  30   g  moves forwardly to a position of alignment with notch  18   a  the resilient nature of actuator guide portion  30   c  presses the button into the notch  18   a  whereupon, following release of button  28 , the actuator and lancet holder move rearwardly within the housing under the impetus of, for example, a suitable coil compression spring  32  to the cocked position seen in  FIG. 4 , wherein the needle  16   b  of the lancet is, for example, positioned proximate the interface of cap  26  and main body housing member  24  and the upper face  22   b  of trigger  22  is positioned above the upper face of housing upper wall  24   a . This rearward movement of the lancet holder is accompanied by compression of a suitable compression spring mechanism such as shown schematically at  34 , the spring device  34  being understood to exert a lesser biasing force than the spring  32  so as not to impede the rearward movement of the actuator and the lancet holder under the bias of spring  32 . 
         [0033]    Once the lancing device has achieved the cocked position seen in  FIG. 4 , trigger  22  may be depressed as seen in  FIG. 5  to resiliently displace knob  13   g  from notch  13   a  and allow the lancet holder and lancet to be fired forwardly under the impetus of spring device  34  to achieve the piercing or puncture position of  FIG. 5  wherein a needle  16   b  extends marginally forwardly of the front wall  26   a  of cap  26  to achieve the patient piercing function whereafter the lancet and lancet holder retreat to the retracted position seen in  FIG. 6 , corresponding to the initial position of  FIG. 2 . As the lancet holder and lancet are fired forwardly, and as seen in  FIG. 5 , actuator  30  and button  28  undergo a slight rebound movement but thereafter return to their initial retracted position of  FIGS. 2 and 6 . 
         [0034]    The lancing device of the  FIGS. 1-7  of the embodiment will be seen to provide a simple effective and inexpensive cocking mechanism. 
         [0035]    The lancing device  40  of the  FIGS. 8-10  embodiment, broadly considered, includes a housing  42 , a lancet  16 , a lancet holder  44 , a cocking mechanism  46 , and a trigger mechanism  48 . 
         [0036]    Housing mechanism  42  includes a main body housing member  50  and a front cap  52  defining a piercing aperture  52   a.    
         [0037]    Main body housing member  24  includes a top wall  50   a,  a bottom wall  50   b , side walls  50   c,    50   d,  and an end wall  50   e.  Top wall  50   a  includes an aperture  50   f  to accommodate trigger mechanism  48 . 
         [0038]    Main body housing member  50  defines a lancet storage compartment  50   g  defined by end wall  50   e,  a longitudinal partition  50   h,  a transverse partition  50   i,  and overlying and underlying portions  50   a,    50   b  of top wall  50   a  and bottom wall  50   b,  respectively. As seen, compartment  50   g  is of a size to accommodate a large plurality of lancets  16 . Main body housing member  50  further defines a door  54  pivotally mounted about a vertical axis  56  proximate a rear end of the lancing device for movement between an open position, as seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9  and a closed position in which access to the lancets is precluded. 
         [0039]    Lancet holder  44  has a rod configuration and includes a detent notch  44   a  and a radial arm  44   b.    
         [0040]    Lancet holder  44 , as seen in  FIG. 9 , is suitably mounted for axial movement within housing  42  between a retracted position seen in solid lines, a cocked position, and an operative or piercing position. 
         [0041]    Cocking mechanism  46  includes an arcuate rack  60  and a pinion  62  mounted for rotation in housing member  50  by a post  50   j  and having an eccentric portion  62   a  for coaction with radial arm  44   b  of lancet holder  44 . 
         [0042]    Trigger mechanism  48  is schematically illustrated and may, for example, include a trigger member  66  positioned in housing aperture  50   f  and a detent mechanism  68  biased downwardly against lancet holder  44  via a suitable spring mechanism  70 . With the lancet holder  18  in the solid line retracted position, and with reference to  FIG. 9 , closing movement of door  54  has the effect of moving the lancet holder to its cocked position. Specifically, as the door  54  is moved from its open to its closed position, arcuate rack  60  meshingly engages pinion  62  to rotate the pinion and bring eccentric portions  62   a  into engagement with lancet holder radial arm  44   b  to move the lancet holder rearwardly within the housing against the resistance of a coil spring  72 . The parameters of the device are chosen such that as eccentric portion  62   a  clears radial arm  44   b,  detent  68  moves into detented engagement with notch  44   a  so that the lancet holder is held in its cocked position whereafter, upon depression of trigger mechanism  66  to release detent  68  from engagement with notch  44   a,  the lancet holder is free to move forwardly under the urging of spring  72  to achieve the piercing position. Note that in this position, since radial arm  44   b  has now moved forwardly to a position in the path of radial movement of eccentric portion  62   a  of pinion  62 , door  54  cannot be opened to allow access to the lancets without a specific operation on the part of the user to take the arm  44   b  out of the path of movement of eccentric portion  62   a.  This may be done, for example, as shown in  FIG. 9  by attaching a knob  74  to the rear end of lancet holder  18  via a shaft  76  passing through housing end wall  50   e.  With this arrangement, knob  74  may be turned to rotate lancet holder  44  within the housing to move radial arm  44   a  out of the path of eccentric portion  62   a  and allow the door  54  to be opened to allow access to the lancet storage compartment. 
         [0043]    The lancing device of the  FIGS. 8-10  embodiment will be seen to provide a convenient arrangement for storing lancets, allow access to the storage compartment to be coordinated with cocking of the lancet holder, and provide a safety feature in the sense that unauthorized or inadvertent access to the stored lancets is discouraged by requiring a specific user operation to allow unlocking of the access door to the lancet storage compartment. 
         [0044]    The lancing device of the  FIGS. 11 and 12  embodiment is generally similar to the  FIG. 8-10  embodiment with the exception that the lancet storage compartment, rather than being defined within the housing by walls of the housing, is defined as an integral part of the door  54  and moves inwardly and outwardly with the door. 
         [0045]    Specifically, the lancet storage compartment  80  of the  FIGS. 11 and 12  embodiment is constituted as a drawer carried by the door  54  and is defined by the door, as the drawer face, by a floor  82 , an arcuate end wall  84 , and a partition  86 . 
         [0046]    With this construction, as the door  54  is moved to its open position, the lancets positioned in the storage compartment  80  are moved outwardly of the housing to a position wherein they can be readily accessed from the open upper end of compartment  80 . 
         [0047]    A method of cocking the lancing device  40  disclosed with reference to  FIGS. 8-12  comprises opening a door  54  of the storage compartment  50   g  to remove or deposit one or more of the plurality of lancets  16  and closing the door  54  of the storage compartment  50   g  to cock the lancing device  40 , wherein closing the door  54  of the storage compartment  50   g  moves the lancet holder  44  from a neutral position to a cocked position. The step of closing the door can operate a cocking mechanism  46 , for example, having a rack mounted within the housing on the door and a pinion driven by the rack engaging the lancet holder. The door  54  can be configured to pivot between the open and closed positions. The door  54  can be further configured to pivot about an axis on one edge of the door proximate a rear end wall of the housing. The lancet storage compartment  50   g  can be a drawer and the door  54  can be the drawer face. 
         [0048]    The above-mentioned embodiments have been described in order to allow easy understanding of the present invention. The invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.