Patent ID: 8221441

Claim:
A medical puncturing device, comprising: an actuator having at least one rigid release element extending therefrom, the actuator including gripping surfaces on opposing sides thereof for grasping the actuator between the fingertips of a user; a shield, the shield and the actuator movably associated with each other; and a skin puncturing assembly disposed at least partially within the shield, the skin puncturing assembly comprising a carrier and a skin puncturing element mounted to the carrier, a distal end of the skin puncturing element adapted for puncturing the skin of a patient, the carrier movable from a first position to a second position; wherein the at least one rigid release element is configured such that relative movement between the actuator and shield causes the at least one rigid release element to engage the carrier and align at least one tab provided on one of the carrier and shield with at least one slot formed in the other of the carrier and shield, enabling the carrier to move from the first position to the second position; wherein a force applied to the distal end of the shield causes the shield to move proximally relative to the actuator to cause the rigid release element to engage with the carrier about a central axis of the puncturing device enabling the carrier to move from the first position to the second position; and wherein at least one of the rigid release element or the carrier comprises a cam surface and the other of the rigid release element and the carrier comprises a corresponding contact surface edge, the cam surface or the corresponding contact surface edge is fixed relative to the actuator during actuation and has a shape configured to rotate the carrier and wherein relative movement between the actuator and the shield causes the cam surface and the corresponding contact surface edge to contact and the shape of the cam surface or the corresponding contact surface edge causes rotation of the carrier about a central axis of the puncturing device to align the at least one tab with the at least one slot.