Lancing device causing reduced pain

Claim 1

A lancing device for withdrawing a blood sample, comprising a generally elongate housing having a forward end and a back end, a cap with a through hole at the forward end and containing (a) a lancet holder, slidably mounted within the housing, (b) a first spring for urging the holder forward, having a first end that bears on the housing and a second end that bears on the holder, (c) a slider, slidably mounted in a wall of the housing, comprising (i) a projection outside the wall and (ii) a pushing means, reversibly engageable with the holder, to push the holder back into a cocked position and to push a lancet forward from the device, (d) a second spring for urging the holder back, having a first end that bears on the holder and a second end that bears on the slider, (e) a button, movable between a first position in which the holder is restrained when the device is cocked and a second position in which the restraint is removed, permitting the first spring to thrust the holder forward, and (f) a closure at the back end, comprising (i) a plurality of forward-extending elements for stopping the forward motion of the holder at a predetermined position and (ii) adjustment means for controllably changing and resetting the predetermined position.