A single use lancing device comprising: a housing (10) defining a cavity; a needle assembly (12) comprising a needle (50) and a needle holder (52) and located within the cavity; a release member (16); and a spring (14) arranged to bias the needle assembly in a forward direction relative to the release member; wherein the release member comprises retaining arms (38) and is movable relative to the housing between a primed position in which the retaining arms are arranged to cooperate with the housing to restrain the needle assembly in a primed position, and a deployed position in which the restraining arms are arranged to release the needle assembly to deploy the needle.

An assembly for sampling bodily fluid, the assembly comprising a membrane penetration device comprising a membrane penetrating element for penetrating a bodily membrane to release a bodily fluid; and, a collector configured in a collection position to take up the released bodily fluid and retain the fluid for delivery to a test element.

The lancet device includes a housing and a lancet having a puncturing element. The lancet is disposed within the housing and is adapted for axial movement between an initial or pre-actuated position wherein the puncturing element is retained within the housing, and a puncturing position wherein the puncturing element extends through a forward opening in the housing. The lancet device includes a drive spring disposed within the housing for biasing the lancet toward the puncturing position, and a retraction or return spring for returning the lancet to a position within the housing where the puncturing element is disposed within the housing. The retraction spring thereafter maintains engagement with the lancet to assist in preventing the puncturing element from again projecting outward from the forward opening in the housing.

A lancet device including a housing and a lancet structure having a puncturing element. The lancet structure disposed within the housing and adapted for movement between a retaining or pre-actuated position wherein the puncturing element is retained within the housing, and a puncturing position wherein the puncturing element extends through a forward end of the housing. The lancet device includes a drive spring disposed within the housing for biasing the lancet structure toward the puncturing position, and a retaining hub retaining the lancet structure in the retracted position against the bias of the drive spring. The retaining hub includes a pivotal lever in interference engagement with the lancet structure. An actuator within the housing pivots the lever, thereby moving the lancet structure toward the rearward end of the housing to at least partially compress the drive spring, and releasing the lever from interference engagement with the lancet structure.

A blood sampling device includes a housing and a lancet supporting a lancet needle or tip, the lancet and needle being urged or urgeable in a pricking direction. A trigger mechanism is moveable to a fire position for releasing the lancet to travel in the pricking direction. A removable safety cap initially covers the lancet needle. The lancet has an initial position in which movement of the trigger mechanism to its fire position is blocked and an intermediate position in which the trigger mechanism may be moved to its fire position. The intermediate position is obtainable only on removal of the safety cap.

A test meter for analyzing a body fluid sample applied to a test strip includes an outer housing having an opening, an actuator, and a cartridge positioned adjacent the outer housing. The cartridge further includes a dispensing member connected to the actuator, a plurality of stacked test strips biased toward the dispensing member, and a cartridge outer housing that is adjacent at least a portion of the dispensing member. Each time the actuator is actuated, the dispensing member is rotated to cause movement of one test strip from the plurality of stacked test strips through the opening, and another test strip is biased toward the dispensing member.

There is provided an injector having an improvement in a linear launching profile. The injector of the present invention is used for launching a lancet to provide a pricking. The injector of the present invention comprises a plunger capable of launching the lancet in a pricking direction, an injector housing which surrounds the plunger, and an injector cap capable of being attached and detached with respect to the injector housing. In particular, an inner face of the injector cap is provided with a rib, and the rib and the plunger moving for the pricking are capable of contacting with each other.

A single use lancing device comprising: a housing (10) defining a cavity; a needle assembly (12) comprising a needle (50) and a needle holder (52) and located within the cavity; a release member (16); and a spring (14) arranged to bias the needle assembly in a forward direction relative to the release member; wherein the release member comprises retaining arms (38) and is movable relative to the housing between a primed position in which the retaining arms are arranged to cooperate with the housing to restrain the needle assembly in a primed position, and a deployed position in which the restraining arms are arranged to release the needle assembly to deploy the needle.

The present invention includes a system for withdrawing body fluids. The system includes a drive unit having a plunger which is moved from a resting position into a lancing position in order to carry out a lancing process and a lancing unit containing a lancet with a needle. The plunger and lancet are coupled together by a form fit in order to carry out a lancing process. The invention additionally concerns a method for temporarily extending a needle from a device for withdrawing body fluid as well as a lancing unit that can be attached to the drive unit.

A method of manufacturing a skin pricking lancet includes: thermoforming a plastic component; locating the thermoformed component and, optionally, one or more further plastic components around a lancet mechanism; and joining the located component(s) to form a hermetically sealed enclosure surrounding the lancet mechanism, the component(s) being formed and joined to provide a housing that structurally supports the lancet mechanism during use, and a cap breakable from the housing to facilitate firing of the lancet mechanism.