Lancet device having capillary action
View Patent ↗A device for sampling body fluid, the device comprising, a main body, a lancet disposed within the main body, a carrier disposed within the main body fixedly attached to the lancet, a biasing means in communication with the lancet and the carrier, an annular space disposed within the main body adjacent the lancet, and a means for measuring a body fluid. Wherein the means for measuring the body fluid may include micro-porous test strips, an electronic testing device, an optical/reflectance testing measuring device, or a visual inspection.
1. A method, comprising:
forming an incision in tissue by extending a lancet from a capillary member of an integrated unit, wherein the lancet is located inside the capillary member before said forming the incision;
partially withdrawing the lancet from the incision in which a portion of the lancet remains within the incision;
drawing body fluid from the incision into a capillary space defined between the capillary member and the lancet while the lancet is partially withdrawn within the incision, wherein the lancet acts as a focal point for drawing the body fluid into the capillary space; and
depositing the body fluid onto a test strip that is disposed in the capillary space.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
fully withdrawing the lancet from the incision after said drawing the body fluid so that the entire lancet is located inside the capillary member.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein said drawing the body fluid includes collecting less than 1 μl of the body fluid with the capillary member.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lancet is made in a solid piece that is sufficiently sharpened to form the incision.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capillary space between the lancet and the capillary member is between 20 to 200 μm to improve fill time.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
maintaining sterility of the lancet with a sealing member placed over an end of the capillary member; and
removing the sealing member from the capillary member before said forming the incision.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
maintaining sterility of the lancet with a sealing member placed over an end of the capillary member; and
piercing the sealing member with the lancet during said forming the incision.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the sealing member includes a membrane.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said forming the incision includes penetrating the tissue to a depth of 0.5 to 1.2 mm with the lancet.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the test strip extends into the capillary space through a slot defined in the capillary member.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the test strip is received in a groove in the lancet.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
analyzing the body fluid with the test strip.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capillary member includes a capillary tube.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the lancet is made in a solid piece that is sufficiently sharpened to form the incision;
wherein the capillary member includes a capillary tube;
maintaining sterility of the lancet with a sealing member placed over an end of the capillary member; and
piercing the sealing member with the lancet during said forming the incision;
wherein said forming the incision includes penetrating the tissue to a depth of 0.5 to 1.2 mm with the lancet;
fully withdrawing the lancet from the incision after said drawing the body fluid so that the entire lancet is located inside the capillary member;
wherein said drawing the body fluid includes collecting less than 1 μl of the body fluid with the capillary member; and
wherein the capillary space between the lancet and the capillary member is between 20 to 200 μm.
15. A method, comprising:
forming an incision in tissue with an integrated unit that includes a lancet received in a capillary member by moving the lancet longitudinally between a retracted position where the lancet is retracted inside the capillary member and an extended position where the lancet extends from the capillary member;
moving the lancet from the extended position to a partially withdrawn position where a portion of the lancet remains within the incision;
drawing body fluid from the incision into a capillary space defined between the capillary member and the lancet while the lancet is at the partially withdrawn position;
depositing the body fluid onto a test strip that is disposed in the capillary space; and
retracting the lancet to the retracted position after said drawing the body fluid.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
wherein said drawing the body fluid includes collecting less than 1 μl of the body fluid with the capillary member.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the capillary space between the lancet and the capillary member is between 20 to 200 μm to improve fill time.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
analyzing the body fluid with the test strip.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the test strip is received in a groove in the lancet.
20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
wherein the lancet is made in a solid piece that is sufficiently sharpened to form the incision;
wherein the capillary member includes a capillary tube;
maintaining sterility of the lancet with a sealing member placed over an end of the capillary member; and
piercing the sealing member with the lancet during said forming the incision;
wherein said forming the incision includes penetrating the tissue to a depth of 0.5 to 1.2 mm with the lancet;
wherein said drawing the body fluid includes collecting less than 1 μl of the body fluid with the capillary member; and
wherein the capillary space between the lancet and the capillary member is between 20 to 200 μm.