Patent ID: 8388552

Claim:
System for withdrawing small amounts of body fluid, comprising: a drive unit comprising a holder, the drive unit is configured to move the holder from a first position into a second position when the drive unit is activated; a disposable lancing unit having an elongate capillary structure and a needle with a distal end for piercing skin, the capillary structure having a longitudinal extension with at least one capillary channel for transporting body fluid, wherein the at least one capillary structure is open to the outside from at least the distal end to at least an upper end of the needle that is above the skin during piercing so that the capillary channel is vented when the body fluid is drawn into the capillary channel; and wherein the holder of the drive unit is configured to hold the distal end of the needle below the skin and the upper end of the needle above skin to draw body fluid from both the surface of the skin and below the surface of the skin.