BACKGROUND

[0001] Lancing devices are typically handheld units that permit users to draw blood for testing and diagnostic purposes. These devices include a housing with a piercing aperture, a lancet that contains one or more needles, and a firing mechanism. The firing mechanism typically includes a spring or other biasing means which can be cocked either by insertion of the lancet or by movement of a cocking member. Once the lancing device is cocked, it is placed against the user's skin, often the fingertip. The user can then press a trigger to actuate the firing mechanism, which momentarily drives the sharp tip of the needle through the piercing aperture to puncture the user's skin and draw blood.

[0002] A myriad of disposable lancets are available for insertion into the lancing devices. However, because of the small size of most lancets, the handling of individual lancets and the installation of the lancets into the lancing device can be difficult. A consideration in the design of lancets is to minimize the difficulty in handling one or more lancets, and to improve the portability of the lancets.

[0003] Another consideration in the design of lancing systems is the ease with which a lancet can be inserted into the lancing device while avoiding accidental needle pricks when inserting and removing lancets from the lancing device.

SUMMARY

[0004] A lancet is provided that is stackable or otherwise packaged to carry multiple lancets as a single unit. A lancet is disclosed having a lancet body with opposing ends, a first opposing side and a second opposing side, and a sharp tip protruding from one of the opposing ends, wherein the first and second opposing sides of the lancet body are configured to fittingly engage at least one of a first and second opposing side of an adjacent lancet body. [0005] A lancet package is also disclosed which includes a plurality of lancets each terminating in a sharp tip and an elongated member frangibly attached to each of the plurality of lancets and configured to cover the sharp tip of each of the plurality of lancets in the manner of a cap.

[0006] A method is also disclosed for loading a lancing device having a skin contact end with a piercing aperture comprising the steps of providing a lancet package comprised of a plurality of lancets each terminating in a sharp tip and an elongated member frangibly attached to each of the plurality of lancets and configured to cover the sharp tip of each of the plurality lancets in a manner of a cap. The method further includes placing the skin contact end of the lancing device over one of the plurality of lancets such that the lancet engages in a lancet engaging mechanism in the lancing device, applying a forced perpendicular to a central axis of the lancing device sufficient to detach the lancet from the elongated member and arming the lancing device by actuating the lancet engaging mechanism to move the lancet so that the sharp tip is within the lancing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The various features, advantages and other uses of the present apparatus will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which:

[0008] Fig. IA is s perspective view of a lancet according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0009] Fig. IB is a perspective view of an opposing side of the lancet of Fig. IA;

[0010] Fig. 1C is a perspective view of the lancet in Fig. IA having an alternate shaped projection;

[0011] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a lancet according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0012] Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a plurality of lancets of Fig. 2 in an engaged formation;

[0013] Fig. 4 A is a perspective view of a lancet package having an elongate member carrying a plurality of lancets;

[0014] Fig. 4B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the lancet package;

[0015] Fig. 4C is a perspective view of the lancet package showing a different configuration of the elongate member ; and [0016] Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of a portion of the lancet package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] A lancet device is shown in the Figures 1-5 which allows for multiple lancets to be carried as a unit to facilitate portability of the lancets. A lancet 10 is shown in Figures IA through 1C according to one embodiment, including a lancet body 12 and a sharp tip 14 for contact with a person's skin to extract a sample of blood for testing. The sharp tip 14 extends from one end of the lancet body 12. In the embodiment shown in Figures IA through 1C, the lancet body 12 has a cubic formation including two opposing ends 16 and 18, a first opposing side 20 and second opposing side 22 defined by surfaces disposed between the two opposing ends 16 and 18. The cubic formation provides a chunky or enlarged device for easy handling of the lancet 10. It is envisioned that the lancet body 12 can have a formation other than the cubic formation shown in Figs. 1A-1C; and further that the opposing ends 16, 18 and opposing sides 20, 22 of the lancet body 12 can have any surface configuration including a continuous or discontinuous planar surface, a continuous or discontinuous arcuate surface, or a combination having planar and arcuate portions.

[0018] The first side 20 of the lancet body 12 includes one or more projections extending therefrom. By way of example only, a pair of circular projections 24 are shown extending from the first opposing side 20 in Figure IB. As shown in Figure 1C, another example of a projection 24a is shown having a different configuration from the embodiment shown in Figure IA. The projection 24a shown in Figure 1C is only one example of a projection shape configured to prevent misalignment of the lancet body 12 and an adjacent lancet body 12, when the lancets are connected to each other.

[0019] The second opposing side 22 of the lancet body 12 is shown in Figure IB.

The second side 22 has depressions 26 formed therein that are shaped and positioned in order to engage with the projections 24 from an adjacent lancet body 12. The projections 24 and depressions 26 are aligned on the appropriate opposing sides 20, 22 of the lancet body 12 so that when adjacent lancet bodies are engaged, the lancet bodies 12 form a stacked configuration with the sharp tips 14 orientated in the same direction and the opposing ends 16, 18 aligned and forming a planar surface. The stacked lancets, as shown in Figure IA, allow a plurality of lancets to be carried or transported as a single unit. [0020] The sharp tip 14 of the lancet body 12 protrudes from one of the opposing ends 16. The sharp tip 14 can be covered with a cap 28 to prevent inadvertent contact with a person's skin until needed. The cap 28 maintains the sharp tip portion in a sterile condition. The cap 28 is configured with a frangible attachment 29 to the lancet body 12 allowing a person to easily remove the cap 28 from the lancet body 12.

[0021] Figures 2 and 3 show an alternate embodiment for a stackable lancet. The lancet 110 in Figures 2 and 3 include a lancet body 112 and a sharp tip 114 for extracting a sample of blood for testing. The lancet body 112 includes opposing ends 116, 118. The sharp tip portion 114 protrudes from one of the opposing ends 116. The lancet body 112 further includes a first opposing side 120 and a second opposing side 122. The lancet body 112 also includes a third side 124 disposed between and connected to the first and second opposing sides 120, 122 at corner edges. The third side 124 together with the first and second opposing sides 120, 122 form a U-shaped configuration. In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, notches or channels 126 are formed along the corner edge between each of the opposing sides 120, 122 and the third side 124. A corresponding and complementary channel or leg 128 is formed on an inside edge of the free ends 129 of the first and second opposing sides 120, 122 at a location spaced from the third side 124. The channel or leg 128 of the lancet body 112 engages with the channel or notches 126 at the corner edges of an adjacent lancet body 112. It is to be understood that although a groove 126 is shown extending the length of the corner edge between the third side 124 and the two opposing sides 120, 122, the groove 126 can also be configured to extend only a portion of the corner edges for receiving a complementary shaped groove or leg 128 from an adjacent lancet body 112. By connecting adjacent lancet bodies 112 together, multiple lancet bodies 112 can engage with one another to form a stack (Figure 3).

[0022] The material of the lancet body 112 has a resiliency such that when the first and second opposing sides 120, 122 of an adjacent lancet body 112 are connected to an adjacent lancet body 112, the channel or leg 128 grips the corresponding channel or notch 126 such that a force is required to disconnect one lancet body 112 from an adjacent lancet body 112.

[0023] As seen in Figure 3, the U-shaped configuration of the lancet body 112 provides a gap 130 between adjacent connected lancets 110. The gap 130 provides a finger grip for removing an individual lancet 110 from the stack. A cap 132 covers the sharp tip 114 to prevent inadvertent contact with a person's skin during the connection and removal of an individual lancet 110 to and from the stack while also maintaining sterility of the sharp tip 114.

[0024] Referring to Figures 4A through 4C, a lancet package 210 is provided defining a carrier for holding a plurality of lancets 212. The lancet package 210 includes a plurality of lancets 212, each having a body 213 terminating at a sharp tip 214. The carrier includes an elongated member 216 frangibly attached to each of a plurality of lancets 212. The frangible connection 218 is configured to cover the sharp tip 214 of each of the plurality of lancets 212 in the form of a cap 218 as shown in Figure 5.

[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, the body 213 of the lancet 212 has an elongate configuration configured to facilitate gripping and removal of the lancet 212 by a person's fingers or by a lancing device 300. In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 A through 5, the base has an X-shaped cross sectional configuration. However, the cross sectional configuration of the body 213 can include other patterns.

[0026] The plurality of lancets 212 are attached to the elongated member 216 by frangible connections 218 defined as caps. The elongated member 216 defines a sterility strip by maintaining the sharp tip 214 in a sterile environment. The caps 218 can be integrally molded to the elongated member 216 or otherwise attached in a spaced relationship along the length of the elongated member 216. The configuration of an elongated member 216 to carry a plurality of lancets also minimizes the manufacturing process.

[0027] The elongated member 216 can be configured as a planar strip as shown in

Figs. 4 A and 4B or in a tubular configuration as shown in Figure 4C. Other configurations for the elongated member 216 are envisioned provided they have a depth to accommodate a plurality of lancets 212. As can be seen in Figure 5, the depth of the elongated member 216 along with the depth (d) of the cap 218 is configured to receive and maintain a sharp tip end 214 and body 213 in a secure and sterile manner.

[0028] The cap 218 has an opening 220 for receiving the sharp tip 214 and the adjacent portion of the body 213 of the lancet 212. The opening 220 is configured and shaped to accommodate and receive the portion of the body 213. The opening 220 provides access to a cavity 222 in the elongated member 216 for receiving the sharp tip 214. Since the cavity 222 extends a portion through the depth of the elongated member 216, is advantageous to align the lancets 212 along one side of the elongated member 216 as shown in Figure 4 A, or align the lancets 212 along opposing sides of the elongated member as shown in Figure 4B wherein one side of the lancets 212 is offset from the opposing sides of lancets 212. Another arrangement for positioning the lancets is shown in Figure 4C where the lancets 212 are staggered along the length of the elongated member 216 at various angles from each other so that no two lancets are directed toward each other. It is further understood that in cases where the sharp tip 214 is very small, the cavity 222 is not required in the elongated member 216 and the sharp tip 214 of the lancet 212 terminates within the cap 218. [0029] The lancets 212 are frictionally held within the caps 218 so that they can be easily snapped away from the elongated member 216 and also snapped back into the caps 218 after use for later disposal when all of the lancets have been used. The lancet 212 can be manually removed from the elongated member 216 by means of a person's fingers for manually loading into a lancing device 300. As an alternative, a lancing device 300 can be configured to grasp the lancet body 213 and remove it from the sterility strip 216. [0030] In a simplified explanation, a lancing device 300 includes an elongated housing 310 with an elongated interior chamber 312 therein for holding a lancet 212. The chamber 312 is open at a skin-contact end 314 of the lancing device 300. The lancing device 300 also includes a lancet engaging mechanism 316 within the housing 310 positioned for engagement to the lancet 212.

[0031] The lancet 212 is loaded into the lancing device 300 by placing the skin- contact end 314 of the lancing device 300 over one of the bodies 213 of the lancets 212 such that the lancet is encompassed within the chamber 312 and engaged to the lancet engaging mechanism 316. A force (F) to the lancing device 300 in a perpendicular direction to a central axis (C) is sufficient to detach the lancet 212 from the frangible connection 218 and the elongated member 216. The lancet engaging mechanism 216 can then be manually armed to move the lancet 212 so that the sharp tip 214 is held within the chamber 312 of the lancing device 300. The lancing device 300 is then in condition for firing to draw blood from a person's fingertip or other body part.

[0032] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.