Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A lancet actuator (10,100) for sequentially advancing and retracting a lancet needle (A,104), including drive carriage means (12,106) for advancement and retraction of the lancet needle (A,104) relative to a housing (14) and a drive member (36,116), said lancet actuator being CHARACTERIZED BY a hinge structure (13,102) operatively connecting the drive carriage means (12,106) and the housing (14) to displace said drive carriage means (12,106) and including first (20,112) and second (22,114) coupled leaf members relatively pivotal between a first position thereof in which said drive carriage means (12,106) is advanced to project and thrust the lancet needle into a tissue penetration position and a second position in which said drive carriage means (12,106) is retracted to withdraw the lancet needle from the penetration position, with said drive member (36,116) bearing against said hinge structure to produce relative pivotal movement of said leaf members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
A lancet actuator according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT: said leaf members are relatively pivotal to a third position thereof in which said drive carriage means is retracted prior to initiating said advancement to said first position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A lancet actuator according to Claim 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said first position of said leaf members is pivotally intermediate between said second and third relative positions thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A lancet actuator according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said hinge structure (13,102) includes a first pivot bearing means (26) pivotally coupling said first and second leaf members (20,22), said first pivot bearing means (26) being pivotal about a second pivot bearing means (28,140) during said relative pivot of said first and second leaf members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
A lancet actuator according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said hinge structure (13,102) futher comprises a second, translationally stationary pivot bearing means (28,140) secured to one end of said first leaf member (20,112) and an opposite end of said first leaf member is secured to a first pivot bearing means (26) pivotally coupling said first (20,112) and second (22,114) leaf members, said first pivot bearing means (26) being pivotal about said second pivot bearing means (28,140) during said relative pivot of said first and second leaf members between said first and second positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A lancet actuator according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said hinge structure (13) further comprises a pivot bearing rotational hub (28) secured to one end of said first leaf member (20) on which a spring means (36) bears for propelling said pivot of said first leaf member (20), and further comprising a cocking member (52) selectively engageable with either said hub (28) for energizing said spring means (36); or engageable with said drive carriage means (12) for detachment of a lancet structure (A) removably carried on said drive carriage means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A lancet actuator according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said drive carriage means (12) comprises a housing structure (12) for removably receiving a body portion (15) of said lancet structure (A), said lancet body portion (15) being slidably received and withdrawn through an access aperture (16) formed in said housing structure (12).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A lancet actuator according to Claim 7, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said drive carriage housing structure (12) includes a through slot (72) through which an ejection portion (70) of said cocking member (52) enters said housing structure (12) and displaces said lancet structure (A) therefrom through said access aperture (16) in order to achieve said detachment of said lancet structure (A) therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
141 words
A lancet actuator according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said drive carriage means (12) and said first (20,112) and second (22,114) leaf members are integrally molded and defined within a unitary molded structure (13,102) wherein a drive member housing (12) is connected to said second leaf member (22,114) by a first attenuated portion (24) of said molded structure (13,102) forming a flexible hinge coupling between said second leaf member (22,114) and said drive member housing (12), and wherein said first (20,112) and second (22,114) leaf members are joined by a second attenuated portion (26) of said unitary molded stucture (13,102) defining a first pivot bearing means pivotally coupling said leaf members (20,22; 112,114), such that said relative pivot of said first (20,112) and second (22,114) leaf members propels said advancement and retraction of said integrally connected drive member housing (12).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
207 words
A unitary, molded transmission linkage structure (13,102) for use in sequentially advancing and retracting a lancet needle (A), CHARACTERIZED BY: a) drive carriage means (12,106) for carrying advancement and retraction of the lancet needle (A); b) a hinge structure (13,102) operatively connected to displace said drive carriage means (12,106) and including first (20,112) and second (22,114) coupled leaf members relatively pivotal between a first position thereof in which said drive carriage means is advanced to project and thrust the lancet needle (A) into tissue penetration position and a second position in which said drive carriage means is retracted to withdraw the lancet needle (A) from the penetration position thereof, wherein said drive carriage means (12,106) and said first (20,112) and second (22,114) leaf members are integrally molded and defined within said unitary molded transmission linkage structure in which said drive carriage means (12,106) is connected to one of said first and second leaf members (20,22; 112,114) by a first flexible hinge coupling portion (24), and said first (20,112) and second (22,114), leaf members are joined by a second flexible hinge coupling portion (26) such that relative pivot of said first and second leaf members propels said advancement and retraction of said integrally connected drive carriage means (12,106).