Method and apparatus for penetrating tissue
A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site includes an electrically powered drive force generator. A penetrating member is operatively coupled to the force generator. The force generator moves the member along a path out of a housing having a penetrating member exit, into the tissue site, stops in the tissue site, and withdraws out of the tissue site. A cartridge houses the penetrating member. The cartridge has first and second seals coupled to the penetrating member to maintain a sterile environment around a portion of the penetration member prior to penetrating member actuation.
1 . A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site, the system comprising:
an electrically powered drive force generator;
a plurality of penetrating member operatively coupled to said force generator, said drive force generator moving each of a penetrating into said tissue site, stopping in said tissue site, and withdrawing out of said tissue site;
a plurality of cartridges integrated in a cassette, each of a cartridge housing a penetrating member, each of a cartridge having a first and a second seal to maintain a sterile environment around a portion of the penetration member prior to penetrating member actuation.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each cartridge has an exit port, and upon launch each penetrating member exists from the exit port.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein unused cartridges are stored in a linear stack.
4 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a flexible support member coupling said cartridges together to define an array.
5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of connectors between said cartridges for holding said cartridges in an array configuration.
6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cartridge transport device for moving each of the penetrating members into a position aligned with the penetrating member driver.
7 . The system of claim 1 I, further comprising,
a belt for holding the cartridges in an array configuration.
8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tape device configured to hold the cartridges in an array configuration.
9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tape device configured to hold the cartridges in an array configuration wherein said tape device defines a sack-like enclosure about each of said cartridges.
10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tape device configured to hold the cartridges in an array configuration wherein said tape device defines an enclosure about each of said cartridges.
11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a support channel configured to hold the cartridges in an array configuration.
12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cog configured to hold the penetrating members in an array configuration.
13 . The system of claim 1 further comprising an analyte detecting member.
14 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of analyte detecting members positioned to receive body fluid.
15 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sample chamber with an opening for transport of a body fluid into the sample chamber, the sample chamber being sized to receive no more than 1.0 μL of the body fluid.
16 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sample chamber with an opening for transport of a body fluid into the sample chamber, the sample chamber being sized to receive no more than 0.75 μL of the body fluid.
17 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising;
a sample chamber with an opening for transport of a body fluid into the sample chamber, the sample chamber being sized to receive no more than 0.5 μL of the body fluid.
18 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sample chamber with an opening for transport of a body fluid into the sample chamber, the sample chamber being sized to receive no more than 0.25 μL of the body fluid.
19 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sample chamber with an opening for transport of a body fluid into the sample chamber, the sample chamber being sized to receive no more than 0.1 μL of the body fluid.
20 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an analyte detecting member coupled to a sample chamber, the analyte detecting member being configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in a body fluid using a sample that does not exceed a volume of 1 μL of a body fluid disposed in the sample chamber.
21 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising;
an analyte detecting member coupled to a sample chamber, the analyte detecting member being configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in a body fluid using a sample that does not exceed a volume of 0.75 μL of a body fluid disposed in the sample chamber.
22 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an analyte detecting member coupled to a sample chamber, the analyte detecting member being configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in a body fluid using a sample that does not exceed a volume of 0.5 μL of a body fluid disposed in the sample chamber.
23 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an analyte detecting member coupled to a sample chamber, the analyte detecting member being configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in a body fluid using a sample that does not exceed a volume of 0.25 μL of a body fluid disposed in the sample chamber.
24 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an analyte detecting member coupled to a sample chamber, the analyte detecting member being configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in a body fluid using a sample that does not exceed a volume of 0.1 μL of a body fluid disposed in the sample chamber.
25 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of a penetrating of the plurality of penetrating members has a packing density of no more than 1.0 cm3/penetrating member.
26 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of a penetrating member of the plurality of penetrating members has a packing density of no more than 0.75 cm3/penetrating member.
27 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the each of a penetrating member of the plurality of penetrating members has a packing density of no more than 0.5 cm3/penetrating member.
28 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of a penetrating member of the plurality of penetrating members has a packing density of no more than 0.25 cm3/penetrating member.
29 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of a penetrating member of the plurality of penetrating members has a packing density of no more than 0.1 cm3/penetrating member.
30 . The system of claim 15 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 1.0 cm3.
31 . The system of claim 15 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 0.75 cm3.
32 . The system of claim 15 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 0.5 cm3.
33 . The system of claim 15 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 0.25 cm3.
34 . The system of claim 15 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 0.1 cm3.