BLOOD LANCET WITH HYGIENIC TIP PROTECTION

Abstract

The invention concerns lancets with a lancet needle, the tip of the lancet needle being embedded in an elastic material. Furthermore the invention concerns lancets where the tip of the lancet needle is surrounded by a hollow body which partially consists of an elastic material that can be pierced by the tip of the lancet needle during the lancing process and which reseals the tip of the lancet needle in the hollow body when it is retracted. In addition the invention concerns a lancet magazine in which the lancets are accommodated in individual chambers, each chamber having an opening through which the tip of the lancet needle can pass, which is sealed by an elastic material. Finally the invention concerns the use of an elastic material as a component of a lancet or a lancet magazine to maintain the sterility of at least the tip of a lancet needle in the unused state and to hygienically protect at least the tip of a lancet needle in the used state.

Claims

1. Lancet magazine containing at least two lancets which each comprise a lancet needle with a tip and which are each accommodated in individual chambers of the lancet magazine that are independent of one another, each chamber having at least one opening for the tip of the lancet needle to emerge, the said opening of the chamber being closed by an elastic material such that the elastic material can be pierced by the tip of the lancet needle during the lancing process, characterized in that the elastic material tightly reseals after the tip of the lancet needle has been retracted into the chamber.

2. Lancet magazine according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

3. Use of an elastic material as a component of a lancet according to claim 1 to preserve the sterility of at least the tip of a lancet needle in an unused state.

4. Use according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic material is additionally used to hygienically shield at least the tip of a lancet needle in an used state.

5. Use according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

6. Lancet magazine according to claim 1, wherein the chambers in the lancet magazine are disposed in a regular geometric pattern where neighboring chambers have at least one common wall.

7. Lancet magazine according to claim 1, wherein: each of the chambers has an inner wall; and each of the lancets has a lancet body that seals with the inner wall of the chamber.

8. Lancet magazine according to claim 1, wherein the chambers are arranged symmetrically around a central axis to give the lancet magazine a cylindrical shape.

9. Lancet magazine according to claim 1, wherein the chambers are arranged next to one another give the lancet magazine a cuboid shape.

10. A lancet system for piercing tissue to cause a body fluid to flow out of the tissue, the lancet system comprising: a lancing device; a plurality of lancets stored in the lancing device, each lancet including a lancet needle with a tip, wherein the tip is sharp for piercing the tissue, wherein the lancet needle is manufactured from a material that is hard enough to withstand mechanical stress without deformation during piercing of the tissue, a lancet body which completely surrounds the lancet needle at least in the area of the tip, the tip being able to move relative to the lancet body and able to protrude from the lancet body and the lancet body including an elastic material at least in the area of the tip of the lancet needle, characterized in that before its use, the tip of the lancet needle is embedded in the elastic material without a hollow space remaining, wherein the lancet body is configured to keep at least the tip of the lancet needle sterile in an unused state before use, wherein the elastic material is a thermoplastic elastomer that is configured to be pierced by the tip without damaging the tip, wherein the tip of the lancet needle has a first position in which the tip is embedded within the elastic material of the lancet body, wherein the tip of the lancet needle has a second position in which the tip protrudes from the lancet body, and the tip of the lancet needle being moveable from the first position to the second position; the lancing device configured to engage the lancets to move the tip of the lancet needle from the first position to the second position, wherein the tip is configured to pierce the lancet body when the lancing device moves the tip from the first position to the second position; wherein unused ones of the lancets are stored together with used ones of the lancets in the lancing device; and wherein the entire store of lancets are configured to be disposed of as a whole from the lancing device.

11. The lancet system according to claim 10, further comprising: the lancet needle having a drive end opposite the tip; and wherein a length of the lancet needle from the lancet body to the drive end is bare to allow the lancet needle to move relative to the lancet body.

12. The lancet system according to claim 11, wherein the drive end of the lancet needle is dull.

13. The lancet system according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of lancets are stored in a lancet magazine.

14. The lancet system according to claim 13, wherein the lancet magazine includes a plurality of chambers where the lancets are housed.

15. The lancet system according to claim 14, wherein the chambers in the lancet magazine are disposed in a regular geometric pattern where neighboring chambers have at least one common wall.

16. The lancet system according to claim 15, wherein the chambers are arranged symmetrically around a central axis to give the lancet magazine a cylindrical shape.

17. The lancet system according to claim 15, wherein the chambers are arranged next to one another give the lancet magazine a cuboid shape.

18. The lancet system according to claim 14, wherein: each of the chambers has an inner wall; and each of the lancets has a portion that seals with the inner wall of the chamber.

19. The lancet system according to claim 10, wherein the lancets are connected together to form a lancet tape.

20. The lancet system according to claim 19, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer connects the lancets together.

21. The lancet system according to claim 10, wherein the elastic material is stabilized with a stiff material.

22. A lancet system, comprising: a lancet magazine; a plurality of lancets accommodated in the lancet magazine, each of the lancets including a lancet needle with a tip, and a lancet body which completely surrounds the lancet needle at least in the area of the tip, the tip being able to move relative to the lancet body and able to protrude from the lancet body and the lancet body including an elastic material at least in the area of the tip of the lancet needle, characterized in that before its use, the tip of the lancet needle is embedded in the elastic material without a hollow space remaining, wherein the elastic material is an injection moldable material.

23. The lancet system of claim 22, further comprising: wherein for each of the lancets the tip of the lancet needle has a first position in which the tip is embedded within the elastic material of the lancet body, the tip of the lancet needle has a second position in which the tip protrudes from the lancet body, and the tip of the lancet needle being moveable from the first position to the second position; and a lancing device having a drive device engaging the lancet needle to move the tip of the lancet needle from the first position to the second position.

24. The lancet system according to claim 22, wherein the lancet magazine includes a plurality of chambers where the lancets are housed.

25. The lancet system according to claim 24, wherein the chambers in the lancet magazine are disposed in a regular geometric pattern where neighboring chambers have at least one common wall.

26. The lancet system according to claim 25, wherein the chambers are arranged symmetrically around a central axis to give the lancet magazine a cylindrical shape.

27. The lancet system according to claim 24, wherein: each of the chambers has an inner wall; and each of the lancets has a portion that seals with the inner wall of the chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] The invention is further elucidated by the following FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0049] The numbers in the figures denote: [0050] 1 lancet needle [0051] 2 tip of the lancet needle [0052] 3 lancet body made of elastic material [0053] 3 edge of the lancet body 3 [0054] 4 stabilizing layer [0055] 5 lancet body made of rigid material [0056] 5 projecting part of the lancet body [0057] 6 seal made of elastic material [0058] 7 lancet body [0059] 8 chamber wall [0060] 9 lancet body [0061] 10 lancet [0062] 11 set of lancets [0063] 12 lancet (10) in chamber

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a preferred embodiment of a lancet according to the invention.

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a schematic longitudinal section through an alternative, equally preferred embodiment of a lancet according to the invention.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal section through another alternative of a preferred embodiment of the lancet according to the invention.

[0067] FIG. 4 shows a schematic top-view of a preferred embodiment of a set of lancets according to the invention.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a chamber of a preferred lancet magazine according to the invention including a lancet located therein.

[0069] FIG. 6 shows a further preferred embodiment of a lancet according to the invention in a schematic sectional view.

[0070] FIG. 6a shows the FIG. 6 lancet at the end of the forwards movement during the lancing process.

[0071] FIG. 7 shows a schematic longitudinal section through the FIG. 1 lancet engaging a lancing to device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

[0072] The preferred embodiment of the lancet (10) according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 contains a lancet needle (1) the tip region (2) of which is surrounded by a lancet body (3) which is manufactured from an elastic material. The tip (2) of the lancet needle (1) is completely surrounded by the elastic material of the lancet body (3). Outside the region of the tip (2) of the lancet needle (1), the lancet body (3) has a recess such that the lancet body (3) has an edge (3) at least on one side that can interact with appropriate gripping or holding devices in a lancing device in order to hold the lancet body (3). It is necessary to hold the lancet body (3) because the lancet needle (1) has to be moved relative to the lancet body (3) during the lancing process and must be able to pass through it in the tip region (2) of the lancet needle (1). FIG. 1a shows the lancet (10) at the end of the forwards movement of the lancing process. FIG. 7 shows one example of the lancet (10) coupled to a lancing device (500).

[0073] The recess in the lancet body (3) also serves to reduce the frictional forces between the lancet needle (1) and lancet body (3) during the lancing movement.

[0074] The cross-section of the lancet needle (1) and of the lancet body (3) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the needle preferably has a round shape. However, the cross-section can also have any other shape, for example quadratic or rectangular. It is also not necessary for the lancet needle (1) and the lancet body (3) to have the same cross-sectional shape. For example the lancet needle (1) can have an essentially round cross-section and the lancet body (3) can have a rectangular cross-section.

[0075] FIG. 2 shows a schematic longitudinal section of another equally preferred embodiment of a lancet (10) according to the invention. The lancet (10) is composed of essentially the same elements as the lancet (10) shown in FIG. 1. In contrast to the lancet (10) shown in FIG. 1, a stabilizing layer (4) is applied to one side of the lancet body (3) which is composed of an elastic material. This stabilizing layer (4) can be glued onto the lancet body (3). However, it is preferred that the stabilizing layer (4) is joined together with the lancet body (3) in an injection moulding process with the lancet needle (1).

[0076] The purpose of the stabilizing layer (4) is to prevent deformation of the elastic lancet body (3) during the lancing process. In particular it should prevent stretching of the lancet body (3).

[0077] Another preferred embodiment of the lancet (10) according to the invention is shown in FIG. 3 in a schematic longitudinal section. The lancet body (3, 5) of the lancet (10) consists in this case of two different components. The tip (2) of the lancet needle (1) is enclosed by a lancet body (3) made of an elastic material. The lancet needle (1) is joined to a lancet body (5) made of a rigid material at a distance from the tip region (2) of the lancet needle (1). The lancet body (5) made of rigid material is in turn joined to the lancet body (3) made of elastic material. In order to enlarge the joining surface between the elastic lancet body material (3) and the rigid lancet body material (5), the rigid lancet body material (5) can have projecting parts (5). The rigid and elastic material (3, 5) of the lancet body can in turn be joined by gluing or two-component injection moulding.

[0078] Whereas in the case of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the lancet body (3) is held during the lancing process by direct action on the elastic material of the lancet body (3), in the embodiment of FIG. 3 the lancet body (5), which consists of a rigid material, is held during the lancing process. In this case the lancet needle (1) is moved along its longitudinal axis. During this process it penetrates the surface of the elastic lancet body (3). After the lancing process, the lancet needle (1) is retracted such that the elastic lancet body (3) can again be positioned around the tip (2) of the lancet needle (1). The lancet body (3, 5) is fixed in its position during the lancing process.

[0079] FIG. 4 shows a schematic top-view of a set of lancets (11). A plurality of lancet needles (1) with a tip (2) are embedded in this embodiment of the set of lancets (11) in a single tape-like lancet body (3) made of elastic material. The set of lancets (11) is suitable for use in an automated system in which a plurality of lancets is stored and can be used individually for lancing processes.

[0080] A longitudinal section through the longitudinal axis of an individual lancet of a set of lancets (11) would correspond essentially to the lancet (10) shown in FIG. 1 or 2. The set of lancets (11) can, like the lancet of FIG. 2, have a stabilizing layer (4) (not shown in FIG. 4). This stabilizes the set of lancets (11) as a whole and the individual lancets contained therein not only during the lancing process but also strengthens them mechanically which can for example be advantageous for the automated handling of the set of lancets (11) in a mechanical system for storing and using lancets.

[0081] Since the lancet body (3) of the set of lancets (11) consists of an elastic material, it is possible to compactly package the entire set of lancets (11) for example by rolling them together spirally around the longitudinal axis of the first lancet needle (2) in the set of lancets (11).

[0082] FIG. 5 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a chamber of a lancet magazine which contains a lancet (10). The individual chambers can be arranged in any desired manner in the lancet magazine. For example the chambers can be arranged next to or behind one another and thus form an essentially cuboid shaped magazine or be radially arranged around a central axis and thus form an essentially cylindrical or barrel-shaped magazine. The lancet (10) is enclosed in the chamber by the chamber walls (8). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the lancet body (7) which surrounds the lancet needle (1) and the chamber wall (8) have a matching complementary shape such that the tip region (2) of the lancet needle (1) is in a closed hollow space. In addition to the chamber wall (8) and the lancet body, the hollow space is also closed by a seal (6) made of elastic material. The seal (6) can be pierced during the lancing process by the tip (2) of the lancet (10) and reseals after the lancet (10) is retracted into the chamber of the magazine like the septum of a glass ampoule which is for example used to store vaccines. The seal (6) made of elastic material thus ensures a hygienic storage and disposal of an already used lancet (10).

[0083] The seal (6) of the lancet body (9) in the lancet (10) of FIG. 6 has a similar septum function. This lancet (10) consists of a lancet needle (1) with a tip (2) which is located in a closed hollow space which is formed by the lancet body (9) which is manufactured from a rigid material and the seal (6) made of elastic material. During the lancing process the lancet needle (1) glides along its longitudinal axis with its tip (2) facing forwards whereas the lancet body (9) is held stationary by suitable means in a lancing device. In this process the tip (2) of the lancet needle (1) pierces the seal (6) made of elastic material. FIG. 6a shows the lancet (10) at the end of the forwards movement of the lancing process.

[0084] The elastic material properties of the seal (6) ensure that the hollow space is resealed after retracting the lancet needle (1) after the lancing process and in particular after retracting the tip (2) of the lancet needle (1) into the hollow space of the lancet body (9).