IP Library Granted Patent US 7,731,729
Granted Patent B2
US 7,731,729 · App. 11/674,220 · Granted Jun 8, 2010

Method and apparatus for penetrating tissue

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,731,729
App. No.
11/674,220
Granted
Jun 8, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tissue penetrating system includes a plurality of penetrating members each having a tip. A penetrating member driver is coupled to the plurality of penetrating members. Each tip of a penetrating member is uncovered during launch of the penetrating member by the penetrating member driver. A support is provided with a plurality of openings. Each opening receives a penetrating member.

Claims (79)

1. A tissue penetration device, comprising:

a penetrating member driver;

a cartridge;

a plurality of penetrating members integrated with the cartridge, each of a penetrating member coupled to the penetrating member driver when advanced along a path into a tissue target; and

a support with a plurality of openings, each opening receiving a penetrating member, each tip of a penetrating member being uncovered during launch of a penetrating member by the penetrating driver member; and

a penetrating member position sensor coupled to the plurality of penetrating members and to a processor, the penetrating member position sensor and the processor measuring a distance from an initialization point to a point of contact of a penetrating member to a target tissue surface, the penetrating member being retracted by the penetrating member driver to the initialization point with a distance to the target tissue being measured and a depth of penetration of the penetrating member determined.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a penetrating member sensor coupled to the plurality of penetrating members, the penetrating member sensor configured to provide information relative to a depth of penetration of a penetrating member through a skin surface.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the depth of penetration is 100 to 2500 microns.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the depth of penetration is 500 to 750 microns.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the penetrating member sensor is further configured to provide an indication of velocity of a penetrating member.

6. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a second penetrating member sensor configured to provide an indication of velocity of a penetrating member.

7. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a feedback loop coupled to the penetrating member sensor.

8. The system of claim 2 , wherein the penetrating member driver is an electric drive force member.

9. The system of claim 2 , wherein the penetrating member driver is a voice coil drive force generator.

10. The system of claim 2 , wherein the penetrating member sensor is coupled to a processor with control instructions for the penetrating member driver.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor includes a memory for storage and retrieval of a set of penetrating member profiles utilized with the penetrating member driver.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is utilized to monitor position and speed of a penetrating member as the penetrating member moves in a first direction.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is utilized to adjust an application of force to a penetrating member to achieve a desired speed of the penetrating member.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is utilized to adjust an application of force to a penetrating member when the penetrating member contacts a target tissue so that the penetrating member penetrates the target tissue within a desired range of speed.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is utilized to monitor position and speed of a penetrating member as the penetrating member moves in the first direction toward a target tissue, wherein the application of a launching force to the penetrating member is controlled based on position and speed of the penetrating member.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein a speed of a penetrating member in the first direction is the range of 0.05 to 60 m/sec.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein a speed of a penetrating member in the first direction is the range of 0.1 to 20.0 m/sec.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein a speed of a penetrating member in the first direction is the range of 1.0 to 10.0 m/sec.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein a speed of a penetrating member in the first direction is the range of 3.0 to 8.0 m/sec.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein a dwell time of the penetrating member in the target tissue below a skin surface is in the range of 1 microsecond to 2 seconds.

21. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is utilized to control a withdraw force to the penetrating member so that the penetrating member moves in a second direction away from the target tissue.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein in the first direction the penetrating member moves toward the target tissue at a speed that is different than a speed at which the penetrating member moves away from the target tissue.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein in the first direction the penetrating member moves toward the target tissue at a speed that is greater than a speed at which the penetrating member moves away from the target tissue.

24. The system of claim 2 , wherein a dwell time of the penetrating member in the target tissue below a skin surface is in the range of 500 milliseconds to 1.5 second.

25. The system of claim 2 , wherein a dwell time of the penetrating member in the target tissue below a skin surface is in the range of 100 milliseconds to 1 second.

26. The system of claim 2 , wherein the penetrating member sensor includes a capacitive incremental encoder.

27. The system of claim 2 , wherein the penetrating member sensor includes an incremental encoder.

28. The system of claim 2 , wherein the penetrating member sensor includes an optical encoder.

29. The system of claim 2 , wherein the penetrating member sensor includes an interference encoder.

30. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an analyte detecting member.

31. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of analyte detecting members each coupled to a penetrating member.

32. 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.

33. The system of claim 32 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 1.0 cm 3 .

34. The system of claim 32 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 0.75 cm 3 .

35. The system of claim 32 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 0.5 cm 3 .

36. The system of claim 32 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 0.25 cm 3 .

37. The system of claim 32 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 0.1 cm 3 .

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. 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.

41. 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.

42. 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.

43. 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.

44. 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.

45. 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.

46. 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.

47. 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 cm 3 /penetrating member.

48. 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 cm 3 /penetrating member.

49. 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 cm 3 /penetrating member.

50. 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 cm 3 /penetrating member.

51. 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 cm 3 /penetrating member.

52. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a tissue stabilizer device coupled to the housing.

53. The system of claim 52 , wherein the tissue stabilizer device is configured to enhance fluid flow from a target tissue.

54. The system of claim 52 , wherein the tissue stabilizer device creates a stretching of a skin surface.

55. The system of claim 52 , wherein the tissue stabilizer device includes a plurality of protrusions.

56. The system of claim 52 , wherein the tissue stabilizer device applies a vacuum to a target tissue.

57. The system of claim 52 , wherein the tissue stabilizer device is configured to apply a force to a target tissue and cause the target tissue to press in an inward direction relative to the housing member.

58. The system of claim 52 , wherein the tissue stabilizing member applies a stimulation to a target tissue.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2012
From: PELIKAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SANOFI-AVENTIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Reel/Frame 028259/0051 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2010
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: PELIKAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 024016/0492 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2008
From: PELIKAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021998/0381 →