Patent ID: 8906055

Claim:
A medical puncturing device, comprising: a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a shield having a proximal end and a distal end, the shield proximal end disposed within the housing and comprising a retaining element rotatable outward towards the housing upon engagement of the retaining element with a portion of the housing, and the shield movable relative to the housing, the retaining element including a first flexure member and a second flexure member; and a skin puncturing assembly disposed within the housing and comprising a movable 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 retracted position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is disposed within the shield to a puncturing position wherein the distal end is exposed from the shield to puncture the skin of the patient, the carrier maintained in the retracted position by engagement of the retaining element with the carrier and moved from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon a portion of the retaining element rotating outward thereby releasing the engagement between the retaining element and the carrier, wherein the first flexure member and the second flexure member are disposed on opposite sides of the skin puncturing element.