Patent ID: 8398567

Claim:
An apparatus for lancing the skin of a test subject, collecting a body fluid sample from the lanced site on the skin of the test subject, the apparatus comprising: a body having an open end; a hollow lancet having a tip adapted to puncture skin and to collect a body fluid sample, the interior of the hollow lancet forming a channel for moving a fluid sample from the tip to a reaction area; a lancing mechanism disposed within the body, the lancing mechanism coupled to the lancet at an end of the lancet opposite the tip, the lancing mechanism being adapted to move the lancet between a retracted position, a lancing position for puncturing the skin of a test subject, and a collection position for collecting the body fluid sample; an outer end cap having a first end coupled to the open end of the body and a second end for contacting the skin of the test subject, the outer end cap forming a first aperture therein that the tip of the lancet enters when in the lancing position, the outer end cap having a wall extending to the second end thereof; and an inner end cap disposed within the outer end cap, the inner end cap having a first end coupled to the open end of the body and a second end forming a second aperture therein that the tip of the lancet enters when in the lancing position, the second end being adapted to contact the skin of the test subject when the lancet is in the collecting position, the inner end cap having a wall extending to the second end thereof, the wall of the outer end cap extending farther towards the skin than the wall of the inner end cap during lancing such that the skin of the test subject is drawn inside of the outer end cap and contacts the inner end cap, wherein the second end of the outer end cap and the second end of the inner end cap remain in contact with the skin in the lancing position to assist in sample formation and collection.