Patent ID: 8123771

Claim:
A lancet unit for supplying a lancet to and removing the lancet from a lancing apparatus which includes a housing having a front end formed with an opening and a movable member provided in the housing reciprocally movably, the housing and the movable member being positioned outside of the lancet unit prior to attachment of the lancing apparatus to the lancet unit the lancet unit being attachable to the front end of the lancing apparatus and comprising: a case provided separately from and configured to be temporarily attached to the housing of the lancing apparatus at the time of supplying the lancet to and removing the lancet from the lancing apparatus; a support member provided in the case for removably supporting the lancet within the case; and engagement means provided adjacent to the support member within the case for removing the lancet from the lancing apparatus; wherein the lancet is supplied from the support member to the movable member when the case is attached to the housing in a first state, the lancet including an engagement surface which is oriented toward a rear side of the housing when the lancet is mounted to the movable member; and wherein the engagement means is configured to be inserted into the housing of the lancing apparatus through the opening for engagement with the engagement surface of the lancet for subsequent removal of the lancet from the movable member of the lancing apparatus when the case is attached to the housing of the lancing apparatus in a second state.