Patent ID: 8021383

Claim:
A lancing device comprising: a housing forming a central cavity including an aperture and an opening, the aperture including a central axis aligned in a first direction and the opening includes a central axis aligned in a second direction, the first direction being generally perpendicular to the second direction; a lancet holder adapted to receive a lancet, the lancet holder being located within the central cavity formed by the housing, the lancet holder being adapted to maintain the lancet in a position generally aligned with the aperture in the first direction, the lancet being adapted to at least partially extend through the aperture; at least two ramps forming a channel generally aligned with the aperture in the first direction, the lancet holder being located within the channel formed by the ramps; a drive spring attached to and connecting the lancet holder and the housing, the drive spring being attached to the lancet holder opposite the aperture; and an activating mechanism including a user-accessible component and a plate spring, at least a portion of the user-accessible component extending through the opening and being external to the housing, the user-accessible component being adapted to be depressed in the second direction towards the housing, the plate spring being adapted to engage the lancet holder upon depression of the user-accessible component in the second direction, wherein the depression of the user-accessible component in the second direction causes the plate spring to move the lancet holder away from the aperture in the first direction to a cocked position.