Patent ID: 8114029

Claim:
An actuator for driving a test element, the test element comprises a lancet for perforating a skin portion of a living organism and the actuator comprising: an engaging part for engaging and driving the test element to perform a lancing motion; a lancing spring; a lancing actuator, wherein the lancing actuator biases the lancing spring by executing a forward movement and thereby exerting a spring biasing force on the engaging part; and a latch element, wherein the latch element is force-sensitive and exerts a magnetic retention force to hold back the engaging part that is parallel to the spring biasing force, wherein the magnetic retention force counteracts the spring biasing force, and wherein the latch element releases the engaging part when the spring biasing force exerted by the lancing actuator exceeds the magnetic retention force exerted by the latch element, thereby allowing the test element to perform the lancing motion.