Reducing the volume or drag on skin or sharpness of the penetrating member entering the wound during the cutting process will reduce the pain associated with lancing, and result in less power desired for retraction of the penetrating member from the skin. A variety of other penetrating member configuration as shown in the application.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or receiving a substance or substances such as blood from subjects. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to devices and methods for receiving or extracting blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin, using devices containing a substance transfer component (for example, one or more needles or microneedles) and a reduced pressure or vacuum chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In some embodiments, the device may contain a snap dome or other deformable structure, which may be used, at least in part, to urge or move needles or other suitable substance transfer components into the skin of a subject. In some cases, for example, the device may contain a flexible concave member and a needle mechanically coupled to the flexible concave member such that the needle may be urged or moved into the skin using the flexible concave member. Other aspects of the present invention are directed at other devices for receiving blood (or other bodily fluids, e.g., interstitial fluid), kits involving such devices, methods of making such devices, methods of using such devices, and the like.

A tissue penetration device includes a magnetic source that produces a controllable magnetic field in a magnetically active region adjacent the magnetic source. A magnetic member is disposed at least partially in the magnetically active region. A permanent magnet is disposed at a proximal end of the magnetically active region for zeroing the position of the magnetic member while the tissue penetration device is inactive.

A puncture needle for medical use includes: a main body that is rod-shaped and that comprises a distal end portion comprising a blade surface. The blade surface includes: a first blade surface portion that extends so as to incline with respect to a central axis of the main body, and a second blade surface portion that is formed on a back side of the first blade surface. A blade edge having a needle tip at one end is formed by a ridge line where the first blade surface portion meets the second blade surface portion. The first blade surface portion is constituted by a concave surface that is concave in a side view of the main body.

A tissue penetrating system has a housing member. A plurality of penetrating members are positioned in the housing member. A tissue stabilizing member is coupled to the housing. A penetrating member sensor is coupled to the plurality of penetrating members. The penetrating member sensor is configured to provide information relative to a depth of penetration of a penetrating member through a skin surface.

A puncture needle for medical use includes: a main body that has a hollow portion and that includes a distal end portion including a blade surface. The blade surface includes: a first blade surface portion that extends so as to incline with respect to a central axis of the main body and that has an inner edge defining a distal-end opening of the hollow portion, and a second blade surface portion formed on a distal side of the blade surface. A blade edge having a needle tip at one end is formed by a ridge line where the first blade surface portion meets the second blade surface portion. The first blade surface portion includes a concave curved surface that is concave and curved in a side view of the main body.

A lancet driver is provided wherein the driver exerts a driving force on a lancet during a lancing cycle and is used on a tissue site. The driver comprises of a drive force generator for advancing the lancet along a path into the tissue site, and a manual switch for a user interface input.

A lancet driver is provided wherein the driver exerts a driving force on a lancet during a lancing cycle and is used on a tissue site. The driver comprises of a drive force generator for advancing the lancet along a path into the tissue site, and a manual switch for a user interface input.

A medicament injection device includes a device body portion that includes a penetrating member channel. A penetrating member is provided with a sharpened distal tip and shaft portion that is slidably disposed within the penetrating channel to provide for a penetrating to travel in a linear axial movement. A pierceable membrane isolates a penetrating member in an associated penetrating member chamber. A medicament reservoir is in fluid communication with the penetrating member. The medicament reservoir is configured to house a medicament and is coupled to the penetrating member to allow for delivery of medicament to a tissue site.

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to devices, systems and methods for the collection of bodily fluids involving a single-use actuation and retraction mechanism disposed within a collector.