A vacuum assisted lancing system for blood extraction can include a tubular body having a vacuum chamber, a lancing mechanism configured to removably couple with a lance, a vacuum mechanism including a piston slideably coupled within the body, a release mechanism for selectively holding the vacuum mechanism in an energized state, and an opening for allowing fluid communication between the vacuum chamber and an atmosphere surrounding the vacuum chamber. The system can include means for selectively commencing dissipation of the vacuum and a fixed or adjustable depth controller. A method of manipulating a surface for blood extraction can include coupling the lancing system to the surface, blocking the opening, creating a vacuum, moving the lance coupler from a first position distal from the surface to a second position proximal to the surface, maintaining the vacuum for a period of time, and commencing dissipation of the vacuum by unblocking the opening.

The present invention discloses means and methods for reducing or eliminating pain during testing analyte levels of bodily fluids, including glucose, comprising a chip configured for both (i) to process electrical pulses obtained from a communicable analyzing strip, and (ii) to communicate the processed digital data. Pain reduction mechanisms accommodated by the device may include a finger clamping mechanism and/or an ergonomically contoured elastic finger-pad. The invention also discloses means and methods for body piercing, by an integrated diagnostic device comprising a lancet reversibly movable in parallel with a longitudinal axis from a first retract position, to a fully extended third position within the dermis and above and outside the venuole plexus, via a second position, located within the stratum cornea, and then back, to a final retracted fourth position; wherein the velocity of said lancet in its way from said first to said second position is relatively slow.

A medical device is presented for reduced-pain blood sampling and testing. The device comprises a housing defining a finger site for supporting a user's finger or a portion thereof within said finger site during the device operation; piercing, sampling and testing assemblies sequentially actuatable to successively initiate piercing, sampling and testing operational modes of the device; a carriage at least partially accommodated within said housing and being adapted for movement with respect to said finger site between its first position corresponding to the piercing mode of the device and a second position corresponding to the sampling and testing modes of the device, the device being thereby capable of operating in the piercing, sampling and testing modes while at a static position of the user's finger.

A lancing device includes a housing (10, 12) and a lancet holder movably mounted within the housing. The lancet holder has a forward portion defining a socket (30) for partially surrounding and retaining in use the rear portion of a lancet. A lancet release element (40, 42) can be moved forward to cooperate with lugs on the socket to expand it to allow insertion and/or removal of the lancet with minimal insertion or withdrawal force.

A medical device is presented for reduced-pain blood sampling and testing. The device comprises a housing defining a finger site for supporting a user's finger or a portion thereof within said finger site during the device operation; piercing, sampling and testing assemblies sequentially actuatable to successively initiate piercing, sampling and testing operational modes of the device; a carriage at least partially accommodated within said housing and being adapted for movement with respect to said finger site between its first position corresponding to the piercing mode of the device and a second position corresponding to the sampling and testing modes of the device, the device being thereby capable of operating in the piercing, sampling and testing modes while at a static position of the user's finger.

A device to maintain a user's vein in position includes at least two branches separated by a gap of width greater than the size of the vein. A positioner to position the branches around the vein. The device can additionally includes a heater to heat at least one branch and a controller to control the heater. The device can further include a cooler to cool at least one branch and the controller is configured to activate the cooler.

An injection instrument including a hollow needle body including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the hollow needle body having at least one projection which is formed on the first surface and has a through hole penetrating from a distal end of the projection to the second surface of the substrate, a deforming member positioned outside a region where the at least one projection is formed, the deforming member being deformable to bulge in a bulging direction along a projecting direction of the projection beyond a plane flush with the first surface, and a pressure channel through which a fluid is supplied such that a fluid pressure is applied to the deforming member. The deforming member is deformable in the bulging direction in response to the fluid pressure.

Pen-type lancing device of the re-usable type wherein a lancet body having a needle/tip is inserted; standard spring type actuator (urging member); skin touching forward face having a textured surface for pain relieve; sleeve having internal stop(s) so that the lancet does not overshoot. Also a pen-type lancing device of the re-usable type wherein a lancet body having a needle/tip is inserted; elastomer type urging member for driving the lancet; triggering means (denoted actuating means). Further a pen-type lancing device of the reusable type wherein a lancet body having a needle/tip is inserted; standard spring type actuator (urging member) for driving the lancet; alignment splines and cooperating alignment portion(s) for guiding the lancet movement. Even further a method of assembling a blood sampling device in which it does not matter what rotational orientation the components are assembled in.

Described here are meters and methods for sampling, transporting, and/or analyzing a fluid sample. The meters may include a meter housing and a cartridge. In some instances, the meter may include a tower which may engage one or more portions of a cartridge. The meter housing may include an imaging system, which may or may not be included in the tower. The cartridge may include one or more sampling arrangements, which may be configured to collect a fluid sample from a sampling site. A sampling arrangement may include a skin-penetration member, a hub, and a quantification member.