Blood lancet assembly

Claim 2

A disposable blood lancet assembly comprising: a lancet having a rearward end and a forward end adapted to penetrate human flesh; a handle having a proximal end to be held by the user and a distal end connectively associated with said rearward end of said lancet so that said forward end projects outwardly therefrom; a shield covering said forward end of said lancet projecting from said handle having an open end, a closed end and a receptacle therein, said receptacle being sized so that said forward end is free of direct contact with said shield; means for holding said shield in removable engagement on said handle with said forward end of said lancet being positioned within said receptacle, said holding means allowing removal of said shield from said handle without said lancet touching said shield, said holding means further allowing replacement of said shield on said handle after use of said lancet.

Claim 3

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 1 wherein said holding means includes a raised portion on the distal end of said handle having a side wall surrounding said lancet and being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lancet, said side wall extending into said receptacle to engage said shield in an interference fit.

Claim 4

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 1 wherein said receptacle has a circularly shaped cross section.

Claim 5

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 3 wherein said holding means includes a raised portion on the distal end of said handle, said raised portion having a cylindrical side wall surrounding said lancet, said side wall extending into said receptacle to engage said shield in an interference fit.

Claim 6

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 4 wherein said shield includes an outside surface adapted to be held between the finger tips of the user so that said shield may be rotated around its longitudinal axis to facilitate removal from said side wall.

Claim 7

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 1 wherein said handle includes a flat portion to be held between the fingers of the user.

Claim 8

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 1 wherein said forward end of said lancet is shaped to form a point.

Claim 9

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 7 wherein said point is formed by the intersection of three planes intersecting each other to form three cutting edges, said cutting edges originating at the outside surface of said lancet and terminating at said point.

Claim 10

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 8 wherein said lancet is a cylindrically shaped rod with said point formed thereon.

Claim 11

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 8 wherein each of said planes is oriented at the same angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said lancet.

Claim 12

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 8 wherein said planes are oriented so that said point is located approximately at the longitudinal axis of said lancet.

Claim 13

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 1 wherein said lancet is made of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic materials and stainless steel.

Claim 14

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 1 wherein said handle and said shield are made of thermoplastic material.

Claim 15

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 13 wherein said thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene.

Claim 16

A blood lancet assembly comprising: a handle having a distal end and a proximal end to be held by the user; a lancet for penetrating living flesh extending outwardly from said distal end and terminating in a forward end; and a shield having an open end, a closed end and a receptacle therein, said shield removably engaging said handle so that said forward end of said lancet is positioned within said receptacle, said receptacle being larger than said forward end of said lancet so that said lancet does not contact said shield.

Claim 17

A blood lancet assembly comprising: a handle having a distal end and a proximal end to be held by the user; a lancet for penetrating living flesh extending outwardly from said distal end and terminating in a forward end; and a shield having an open end, a closed end and a receptacle therein, said shield removably engaging said handle so that said forward end of said lancet is positioned within said receptacle, said receptacle being larger than said forward end of said lancet so that said lancet does not contact said shield.

Claim 18

A disposable blood lancet assembly comprising: a lancet having a rearward end and a forward end shaped to form a point, said point being formed by the intersection of three planes intersecting each other to form three cutting edges, said edges origi- natin g at the outside surface of said lancet and terminating at said point; a handle having a proximal end to be held by the user and a distal end connectively associated with said rearward end of said lancet so that said forward end projects outwardly therefrom, a raised portion on said distal end having a side wall surrounding said lancet which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lancet; and a shield having an open end, a closed end and an oblong receptacle therein, said receptacle being longer along its longitudinal axis than said forward end of said lancet projecting outwardly from said handle, said receptacle being larger in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis than said lancet in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, said side wall extending into said receptacle to removably engage said shield in an interference fit with said forward end of said lancet positioned within said receptacle wherein said shield is removable from said handle without touching said lancet and said shield is replaceable on said handle after use of said lancet.

Claim 19

A disposable blood lancet assembly comprising: a lancet having a rearward end and a forward end shaped to form a point, said point being formed by the intersection of three planes intersecting each other to form three cutting edges, said edges origi- natin g at the outside surface of said lancet and terminating at said point; a handle having a proximal end to be held by the user and a distal end connectively associated with said rearward end of said lancet so that said forward end projects outwardly therefrom, a raised portion on said distal end having a side wall surrounding said lancet which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lancet; and a shield having an open end, a closed end and an oblong receptacle therein, said receptacle being longer along its longitudinal axis than said forward end of said lancet projecting outwardly from said handle, said receptacle being larger in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis than said lancet in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, said side wall extending into said receptacle to removably engage said shield in an interference fit with said forward end of said lancet positioned within said receptacle wherein said shield is removable from said handle without touching said lancet and said shield is replaceable on said handle after use of said lancet.

Claim 20

The disposable blood lancet assembly of Claim 16 wherein said receptacle has a circularly shaped cross section and said side wall being cylindrically shaped.

Claim 21

The disposable lancet assembly of Claim 17 wherein said shield includes a outside surface adapted to be held between the finger tips of the user so that said shield may be rotated around its longitudinal axis to facilitate removal from said side wall.