Method and apparatus for penetrating tissue

1. A system for withdrawing body fluid from a body part via a withdrawal site located on the surface of the body part, the system comprising:

a housing member;

a plurality of penetrating members positioned in the housing member;

a plurality of sample chambers, each of a sample chamber associated with a penetrating member, each of a sample chamber including at least one non-optical analyte detecting member coupled to a sample chamber;

an electronic penetrating member driver coupled to and for driving each of the plurality of penetrating members;

a penetrating member transport device for moving each of the plurality of penetrating members into a position for alignment with the penetrating member driver; and

a processor configured to control the penetrating member driver and the penetrating member transport device to drive the plurality of penetrating members and determine that a penetrating member has contacted a skin surface prior to a lancing event and in response the processor adjusting a speed of the penetrating member or the power delivered to the penetrating member for skin penetration to maintain a desired penetration velocity of the penetrating member, the processor determining whether a distal end of the penetrating member has reached a brake depth to achieve a desired final penetration depth of the penetrating member, wherein the processor uses a determination of skin contact by the penetrating member as a consideration of skin tenting by the penetrating member, wherein skin tenting is used as a consideration factor for brake depth, wherein the processor determines whether a distal end of the penetrating member has reached a brake depth based on an amount of said skin tenting, wherein the brake depth is pre-determined and programmed into the processor or the processor dynamically determines the brake depth during actuation and the processor causes a braking force to be applied to penetrating, wherein the processor is configured to provide a time and position of tissue contact by the penetrating member.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a position or contact sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is adapted to trigger at least one of the following reactions following choices of user dependent on the value of at least one detected variable: blocking or releasing of the at least one penetrating member; setting a puncture depth of the penetrating member selected for creating the opening in the body; setting the geometric shape of a press-on area of the system for withdrawing body fluid; setting the cross section of an opening in a press-on area of the system for withdrawing body fluid, through which opening the penetrating member can penetrate into the surface of the body part; selecting one of at least two press-on areas included in the system for withdrawing body fluid; selecting one of at least two penetrating members contained in the system for withdrawing body fluid; setting the duration of the withdrawal procedure; displaying text on a display device; and displaying or setting evaluation parameters which are used by a device for analyzing the body fluid.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a tissue stabilization member for increasing an internal pressure in the area of the withdrawal site when collecting the body fluid.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the position or contact sensor is arranged in a press-on area of the system for withdrawing body fluid.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a device for analyzing at least one property of the body fluid.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is adapted for withdrawing blood or interstitial fluid and for analyzing the glucose content in the blood or in the interstitial fluid.