Patent ID: 7727168

Claim:
A method of collecting a bodily fluid sample from an incision in skin comprising: forming the incision in the skin with a needle of a bodily fluid sampling device; pressing against the skin a stimulator sleeve of the bodily fluid sampling device around the incision to express the bodily fluid sample; moving a capillary tube of the bodily fluid sampling device towards the incision by moving the capillary tube relative to the stimulator sleeve while the sleeve remains in contact with the skin; drawing the bodily fluid sample from the incision into the capillary tube via capillary action; wherein the needle and the capillary tube are distinct components; wherein said forming the incision in the skin includes extending the needle towards the skin to form the incision, and retracting the needle from the incision; wherein said moving the capillary tube of the bodily fluid sampling device towards the incision occurs after said retracting the needle from the incision; wherein said drawing the bodily fluid sample from the incision into the capillary tube occurs after said moving the capillary tube of the bodily fluid sampling device towards the incision; and wherein said drawing the bodily fluid sample from the incision into the capillary tube includes collecting the bodily fluid sample on the surface of the skin.