Tissue penetration device
View Patent ↗A tissue penetration device and method of using same. The tissue penetration device may optionally include sampling and analyzing functions, which may be integrated. An embodiment provides control of a lancet used for sampling blood. Electric field coils or solenoids may drive the lancet using electromagnetic force. Advancement and retraction of a lancet may be controlled by a feedback loop monitoring the position and velocity of the lancet embodiments of the lancet driver can be configured to follow a predetermined tissue lancing profile. Embodiments of the invention include a lancet and method for using a lancet to maintain the patency of the wound tract once the lancet has cut into the skin.
1. A penetrating member system for withdrawing body fluid from a body part, comprising:
a penetrating member with a tip;
a housing for reciprocally housing the penetrating member, the housing having an opening through which the tip is exposed for puncture during a puncture movement of the penetrating member;
a sterility barrier that maintains the tip in a sterile environment when not in use, the sterility barrier having a weakened portion along which the sterility barrier at least partially separates during a puncture movement, and
wherein the tip is released to advance from the housing and perform a puncture at the body part; wherein the sterility barrier divides into sub regions that protrude away from the tip after the sterility barrier at least partially separates along the weakened portion; wherein the sub regions remain connected to the sterility barrier during the puncture movement.
2. The penetrating member system of claim 1 , wherein the tip extends from the opening during a puncture movement and retracts into the opening after the puncture movement.
3. The penetrating member system of claim 1 , wherein the sterility barrier at least partially separates when the sterility barrier engages an inner surface of the housing.
4. The penetrating member system of claim 1 , wherein the weakened portion extends lengthwise along the sterility barrier and is oriented substantially parallel to the tip.
5. The penetrating member system of claim 1 , wherein the sterility barrier is a substantially cylindrical cap.
6. The penetrating member system of claim 1 , wherein the penetrating member is a needle with the tip, the needle being at least partially surrounded by a penetrating member body.
7. The penetrating member system of claim 1 , wherein the sterility barrier is displaced away from the tip during the puncture movement.
8. The penetrating member system of claim 7 , wherein the sterility barrier slides along the penetrating member during the puncture movement.
9. The penetrating member system of claim 1 , wherein the weakened portion has a plurality of weakened portions.
10. The penetrating member system of claim 1 , wherein the weakened portion has a groove along which the sterility barrier at least partially separates during a puncture movement.