Patent ID: 8388551

Claim:
A multi-lancet cartridge, comprising: a radial cartridge housing; a driver is configured to be coupled penetrating members in the cartridge housing; a carrier rotationally received in the cartridge housing; a plurality of penetrating members carried by the carrier, each of said penetrating members having a penetrating member body and a penetrating member tip extending from the body, each of the penetrating members being configured to be coupled to a sample chamber, an advancement device configured to move the carrier in a rotational movement in preparation of placing a respective one of said penetrating members in an active position for being launched to a tissue site; at least one penetrating member sterility barrier that provides a sterile environment for a tip of a respective one of said penetrating members; a device that causes a breach of at least a portion of the sterility barrier to be out of a path of travel from the respective penetrating member upon launch of the penetrating member while at an active position to allow the tip of the penetrating member to exit without piercing the sterility barrier; Wherein the cartridge housing has a single penetrating member opening that defines the active penetrating member position, wherein the tip of the active positioned penetrating member extends through the single penetrating member opening during its launch stroke; wherein the penetrating members are radially arranged in the cartridge that includes indexing; and wherein the cartridge housing has a penetrating member launch channel that receives and guides the active positioned penetrating member in its launch stroke, wherein the launch channel and the single penetrating member opening are aligned and cooperatively define the active penetrating member position.