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.

A drawworks for a drilling device for lowering and hoisting a load such as a drill string or parts thereof includes a frame comprising a first bearing point, a second bearing point, and a third bearing point, a winding drum, and a first bearing device connected to the frame for the winding drum. The first bearing device is arranged so that a center of respective bearing forces is located at each of the first bearing point, at the second bearing point, and at the third bearing point.

An analytical magazine is proposed, which comprises a plurality of analytical aids accommodated in chambers. The analytical magazine is arranged to be accommodated in at least two orientations in an analytical system. The analytical magazine is furthermore arranged to provide the analytical system, in the orientations, in each case with a plurality of analytical aids. At least one sampling movement can be executed by means of the analytical aids. The analytical magazine is arranged to make a remagazining of the analytical aids possible.

An apparatus for detecting presence of a blood sample is presented where the apparatus has a housing having an aperture that can receive a user's body part such that a camera in the housing can capture images of the user's body part. A processor, also in the housing, controls operation of the camera receive and determines from the captured images whether a predetermined quantity of blood is present on the surface of the user's body part.

A method for producing a membrane ring or test strip ring for a diagnostic test device includes an elongate strip that is divided into segments by cuts running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the strip, where the cuts are made only as far as a residual width of the strip so that a material bridge remains intact between the segments adjacent to the cuts (24). The strip is closed by bringing its ends together to form a ring where the cut edges of the cuts running towards the material bridges each enclose an acute angle (). The ring is inserted into a support structure as a membrane ring or test strip ring for the test device.

A body fluid sampling device for use on a patient includes at least one penetrating member positioned in the cartridge and a sample port for receiving a body fluid. A channel is coupled to the sample port and the sample chamber. At least a portion of the channel is a capillary channel positioned adjacent to the sample chamber. A mesh membrane is and provides that the body fluid contacts the channel regardless of an orientation of body fluid sampling device.

A blood testing apparatus includes a laser source configured to produce a wound from which blood flows and at least one test member. A humidity cover is positioned at the at least one test member. The humidity cover is at least partially removable. Electronics are provided for analysis. The electronics includes an evaluation device for comparisons with previously stored measurements or evaluation data with the evaluation device storing a current test measurement.

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.