Tissue penetration device

1 . A tissue penetration device, comprising:

a) a magnetic source that produces a controllable magnetic field in a magnetically active region adjacent the magnetic source;

b) a magnetic member disposed at least partially in the magnetically active region;

c) a permanent magnet disposed at a proximal end of the magnetically active region for zeroing the position of the magnetic member while the tissue penetration device is inactive.

2 . The tissue penetration device of claim 1 , wherein the permanent magnet comprises a bar magnet.

3 . The tissue penetration device of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic source comprises at least one coiled electrical conductor and the permanent magnet comprises a cylindrical magnet having an aperture disposed about the proximal end of the magnetically active region.

4 . The tissue penetration device of claim 3 , wherein the permanent magnet is spaced proximally from a proximal end of the at least one coiled electrical conductor.

5 . A controllable electromagnetic driver for driving a lancet and obtaining a sample of blood from a patient, comprising:

a) a driver coil pack having a proximal end and a distal end comprising a plurality of adjacent electric coils with each coil being comprised of an electrical conductor wound about an axial lumen of each coil with the axial lumens of the coils in a coaxial configuration;

b) an elongate coupler shaft having a proximal end and a distal end disposed within an axial lumen of the driver coil pack;

c) a magnetic member secured to a distal portion of the elongate coupler shaft and configured to slide axially within the axial lumen of the driver coil pack;

d) a position sensor disposed at adjacent the driver coil pack, comprising an optical reader and an optical flag secured to a proximal section of the coupler shaft with the optical flag configured to slide axially adjacent the optical reader and to measure the position of the coupler shaft relative to the position sensor and driver coil pack;

e) a processor which is electrically coupled to the electrical conductors of the plurality of adjacent electric coils and position sensor and which is configured to control a magnitude of a magnetic field in the axial lumen of the driver coil pack by controlling the amount of electrical current flowing through the electrical conductor of each coil based on closed loop feedback position data from the position sensor; and

f) a lancet coupler secured to the distal end of the coupler shaft and configured to be coupled to a lancet.

6 . A flat coil tissue penetration device, comprising:

a) a magnetic source that produces a first magnetic field in a first magnetically active region and a second magnetic field in a second magnetically active region;

b) a flat coil secured to a translation substrate and having a leading segment disposed at least partially within the first magnetically active region and. a trailing segment disposed at least partially within the second magnetically active region; and

c) a sharpened member configured to penetrate tissue and mechanically coupled to the translation substrate.

7 . The tissue penetration device of claim 5 , wherein the translation substrate is configured to pivot about an axis.

8 . The tissue penetration device of claim 5 , wherein the translation substrate is configured to move linearly.

9 . The flat coil tissue penetration device of claim 5 , further comprising a feedback loop having processor which is electrically coupled to elongate electrical conductors of the flat coil and configured to control the magnitude of the force on the translation substrate based on feedback from a position sensor that provides position data of the translation substrate to the processor.

10 . The tissue penetration device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to control the magnetic force on the translation substrate so as to have the translation substrate and tissue sharpened member follow a predetermined tissue penetration profile.