Patent ID: 8858582

Claim:
A lancet device comprising: a lancet structure comprising a puncturing element; a housing comprising a rear housing portion and a forward housing portion longitudinally movable with respect to each other and in initial abutting interference engagement with one another in a lancing direction of user force application; and a lancet retention member for maintaining the puncturing element within the housing; wherein longitudinal movement of the rear housing portion with respect to the forward housing portion overcomes the initial abutting interference engagement and the rear housing portion engages the lancet structure thereby causing the lancet structure to move substantially in conjunction with the rear housing portion to expose the puncturing element through the forward housing portion; wherein upon further longitudinal movement of the rear housing portion with respect to the forward housing portion, the rear housing portion disengages from the lancet structure and the lancet retention member retracts the puncturing element within the forward housing portion; and wherein the rear housing portion includes a locking structure for locking engagement with the forward housing portion as a result of the longitudinal movement, thereby preventing re-exposure of the puncturing element through the forward housing portion and locking the front housing portion with the rear housing portion.