Methods and apparatus for sampling and analyzing body fluid
View Patent ↗A sampling device for sampling body fluid includes a lancet for making an incision, a capillary tube for drawing-up body fluid from the incision, and a test strip affixed to an upper end of the capillary tube for receiving the fluid. An absorbent pad can be disposed between the test strip and capillary tube for spreading-out the fluid being transferred to the test strip. An on-site analyzer such as an optical analyzer and/or an electrochemical analyzer can be mounted in the device for analyzing the fluid. Alternatively, a test strip can be slid through a slot formed in the bottom end of the device so that by passing the device against the skin after an incision has been formed, the test strip will directly contact body fluid emanating from the incision.
1. A method, comprising:
placing a lancing device against a region of skin where a supply of body fluid is relatively low as compared to a fingertip, wherein the lancing device houses a first disposable that includes a lancet, a test strip, and a capillary passage with a passage opening;
forming an incision in the skin at the region with the lancet of the first disposable by firing the first disposable towards the skin and retracting the first disposable away from the skin with the lancing device;
expressing body fluid from the incision by pressing the lancing device further against the skin after said forming the incision to spread open the incision;
positioning the passage opening of the capillary passage into contact with the body fluid on the surface of the skin while the lancing device remains in contact with the skin after said expressing;
drawing via capillary action the body fluid on a surface of the skin into the capillary passage while the lancing device remains in contact with the skin;
transporting the body fluid from the capillary passage to the test strip;
analyzing the body fluid from the incision with the test strip of the first disposable;
discarding the first disposable after said analyzing; and
loading a second disposable into the lancing device after said discarding the first disposable.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said analyzing the body fluid includes optically analyzing the body fluid.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said analyzing the body fluid includes electrochemically analyzing the body fluid.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting drop sufficiency of the body fluid on the surface of the skin with a drop detection mechanism in the lancing device before said drawing.
5. A method, comprising:
providing a lancing device that includes a sleeve slidably mounted in a housing, wherein the lancing device houses a first disposable that includes a lancet, a test strip, and a capillary passage with a passage opening;
extending the sleeve away from the housing by sliding the sleeve relative to the housing;
placing the sleeve against a region of skin where a supply of body fluid is relatively low as compared to a fingertip;
forming an incision in the skin at the region with the lancet of the first disposable by firing the first disposable towards the skin and retracting the first disposable away from the skin with the lancing device;
expressing body fluid from the incision by pressing the sleeve further against the skin after said forming the incision to spread open the incision;
positioning the passage opening of the capillary passage into contact with the body fluid on a surface of the skin while the sleeve remains in contact with the skin after said expressing;
drawing via capillary action the body fluid on the surface of the skin into the capillary passage while the sleeve remains in contact with the skin;
transporting the body fluid from the capillary passage to the test strip; and
analyzing the body fluid from the incision with the test strip of the first disposable.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
discarding the first disposable after said analyzing; and
loading a second disposable into the lancing device after said discarding the first disposable.