Puncturing System
A puncturing system for obtaining a body fluid sample includes a lancet that is accelerated by a puncturing drive for a puncturing motion in the direction of puncturing, whereby the puncturing system comprises an adjustment facility for adjusting the puncturing depth up to which a lancet penetrates into the body of a patient during a puncture. The adjustment facility includes a limit stop element that can be moved transverse to the direction of puncturing and comprises a first side that faces the body of a patient during a puncture and a second side having a limit stop surface against which a limit stop that is connected to the lancet hits during a puncture. The distance from the limit stop surface to the first side of the limit stop element with respect to the lancet changes as the limit step element is moved in a direction transverse to the direction of puncturing. Accordingly, movement of the limit stop element transverse to the direction of puncturing may be used to adjust the distance that the tip of a lancet projects beyond a first side of the limit stop element during a puncture.
1 . A puncturing system for obtaining a fluid sample from a body of a patient including:
a lancet;
a stop connected to the lancet;
a puncturing drive for moving the lancet in a first direction;
an adjustment facility for adjusting the depth the lancet extends into the body, the adjustment facility comprising a limit stop element moveable in a direction transverse to the first direction, the limit stop comprising a first side that faces the body and a second side including a limit stop surface;
wherein the limit stop of the lancet contacts the limit stop surface when the lancet punctures the body; and
wherein movement of the limit stop element in the direction transverse to the first direction controls the depth the lancet extends into the body.
2 . The puncturing system according to claim 1 wherein the first side extends at an oblique angle with respect to the limit stop surface.
3 . The puncturing system according to claim 1 wherein the limit stop element includes a wedge-shaped section.
4 . The puncturing system according to claim 1 wherein the limit stop element comprises a slit through which the lancet projects while puncturing the patient.
5 . The puncturing system according to claim 1 wherein the limit stop element comprises a section that extends in a direction transverse to the first direction.
6 . The puncturing system according to claim 5 wherein the limit stop element is moveable in the first direction.
7 . The puncturing system according to claim 5 wherein the section is less than approximately 1 mm in thickness.
8 . The puncturing system according to claim 7 wherein the section is less than approximately 0.5 mm in thickness.
9 . The puncturing system according to claim 1 wherein the first side of the limit stop element touches the patient as the lancet punctures the patient.
10 . The puncturing system according to claim 1 wherein the puncturing drive includes the limit stop.
11 . The puncturing system according to claim 1 wherein the puncturing drive is coupled to a lancet during a puncture by a compensating spring.
12 . The puncturing system according to claim 1 wherein the compensating spring compresses as the lancet is being stopped.
13 . A puncturing system for obtaining a fluid sample from a body part of a patient comprising:
a lancet carrier including a lancet;
a receptacle connected to the lancet carrier and configured to receive a portion of the lancet carrier, the receptacle including a stop surface;
a drive configured to move the receptacle and including at least one spring;
a limit stop element including a slot, a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface, the first surface being arranged in a non-parallel orientation with respect to the second surface and the slot configured to receive at least a portion of the lancet; and
a receiving area configured to receive at least a portion of the body part and including a surface;
wherein the drive moves the lancet in a first direction toward the body part when activated, and the stop surface of the receptacle contacts the first surface of the limit stop element and moves the limit stop element into contact with the body part while the lancet punctures the body part; and
wherein the limit stop element moves in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the movement of the limit stop element determines the depth that the lancet punctures the body part.
14 . The puncturing system as set forth in claim 13 further comprising an adjustment facility connected to the limit stop element configured to control the position of the limit stop element.
15 . The puncturing system as set forth in claim 14 wherein the stop surface of the receptacle is orientated substantially parallel to the first surface of the limit stop element.
16 . The puncturing system as set forth in claim 14 wherein the second surface of the limit stop element is arranged in a non-parallel orientation with respect to the stop surface of the receptacle.
17 . The puncturing system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the lancet carrier further includes at least one test field.
18 . The puncturing system as set forth in claim 13 further including a bending facility configured to bend a portion of the lancet carrier as the lancet is moved toward the body part.
19 . The puncturing system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the receiving area includes an aperture through which a at least a portion of the body part extends.
20 . The puncturing system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the body part is a finger.