Patent ID: 6878120

Claim:
A sampling device for sampling body fluid, comprising: a casing defining a longitudinal axis; a skin-lancing mechanism for extending a lancet through a longitudinal front end of the casing and against a skin surface to form an incision therein, and then retracting the lancet back into the casing; a plunger being longitudinally rearwardly movable relative to the skin lancing mechanism, the plunger being constructed and arranged with the sampling device such that a negative pressure is generated at the front end of the casing by movement of the plunger away from the front end of the casing, the negative pressure acting to draw body fluid from the incision; means for driving the plunger rearwardly relative to the skin-lancing mechanism; and a latch constructed and arranged to release the plunger such that the plunger is rearwardly driven relative to the skin-lancing mechanism.