Lancet device

Claim 2

A lancet device comprising: a digit-constricting member; a first barrel movably and operatively coupled with said digit-constricting member; a second barrel attached to said first barrel; a biasing element attached to said second barrel; and a lancet attached to said biasing element.

Claim 3

The lancet device of claim 1 wherein: said first barrel has a proximal end and a distal end; said second barrel is rigidly attached to said first barrel, said second barrel having a proximal end and a distal end; said biasing element has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said biasing element coupled to said second barrel; and said lancet is coupled to the distal end of said biasing element.

Claim 4

The lancet device of claim 2 wherein said second barrel is concentrically and fixedly positioned within said first barrel.

Claim 5

The lancet device of claim 3 further including an end-cap rotationally attached to the proximal end of said second barrel, said end-cap having a centrally-located aperture.

Claim 6

The lancet device of claim 3 wherein said first barrel has a helical path defined therealong.

Claim 7

The lancet device of claim 5 wherein said digit-constricting member comprises a loop portion and a band portion, said band portion concentrically disposed between said first barrel and said second barrel, said band portion further including a protuberance disposed in said helical path and movably engaging therewith.

Claim 8

The lancet device of claim 2 wherein said lancet and said biasing element are disposed inside said second barrel, said second barrel further including a retaining catch, the lancet device assembled with said biasing element being compressed between said lancet, releasably captured by said retaining catch, and the proximal end of said second barrel.

Claim 9

The lancet device of claim 7 wherein said lancet is propelled toward the distal end of said first barrel by said biasing element when said digit-constricting member releases said retaining catch.

Claim 10

A disposable lancet device for drawing blood from a finger, said disposable lancet device comprising: an outer barrel having a proximal end and a distal end; an inner barrel having a proximal end and a closed distal end, said inner barrel concentrically disposed inside said outer barrel and rigidly interconnected therewith; a spring having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said spring attached at the closed distal end inside said inner barrel; a lancet attached to the distal end of said spring; and finger-and-lancet control means, movably and operatively coupled with said outer barrel, for constricting said finger and for discharging said lancet to make an incision in said finger.

Claim 11

A disposable lancet device for drawing blood from a finger, said disposable lancet device comprising: an outer barrel having a proximal end and a distal end; an inner barrel having a proximal end and a closed distal end, said inner barrel concentrically disposed inside said outer barrel and rigidly interconnected therewith; a spring having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said spring attached at the closed distal end inside said inner barrel; a lancet attached to the distal end of said spring; and finger-and-lancet control means, movably and operatively coupled with said outer barrel, for constricting said finger and for discharging said lancet to make an incision in said finger.

Claim 12

The disposable lancet device of claim 9 further including an end-cap attached to the distal end of said inner barrel, said end-cap having at least one peripheral cut-out and a centrally-located aperture sized to allow said lancet to momentarily protrude therethrough immediately after said lancet has been discharged by said control means.

Claim 13

The disposable lancet device of claim 9 wherein said outer barrel has a pair of helical tracks formed therealong.

Claim 14

The disposable lancet device of claim 11 wherein said control means comprises a tourniquet member and a trigger member, said trigger member concentrically and movably disposed between said outer barrel and said inner barrel, said trigger member further including a pair of protuberances each disposed within one of said pair of helical tracks and movably engaging therewith.

Claim 15

The disposable lancet device of claim 12 wherein said tourniquet member gradually constricts said finger as said pair of protuberances of said trigger member is advanced along said pair of helical tracks from the distal end toward the proximal end of said outer barrel by rotating said outer barrel with respect to said control means.

Claim 16

The disposable lancet device of claim 13 wherein said inner barrel includes a retaining catch, the disposable lancet device assembled with said spring being compressed between said lancet, releasably captured by said retaining catch, and the closed proximal end of said inner barrel, said trigger member capable of exerting a specific force on said retaining catch as said pair of protuberances of said trigger member is advanced along said pair of helical tracks from the distal end toward the proximal end of said outer barrel by rotating said outer barrel with respect to said control means, said retaining catch being released when said trigger member exerts said specific force on said retaining catch, causing said lancet, biased by said spring, to discharge and make an incision in said finger.

Claim 17

The disposable lancet device of claim 14 wherein said spring possesses a specific tensile force, said lancet being instantly and completely retracted inside said inner barrel after making said incision by said specific tensile force of said spring to prevent any further accidental incisions from occurring.

Claim 18

The disposable lancet device of claim 12 wherein said tourniquet member comprises a continuous loop.

Claim 19

The disposable lancet device of claim 12 wherein said tourniquet member comprises a rigid arm having a curved end.

Claim 20

A disposable, single-use, pre-armed lancet device for drawing blood from a finger by making an incision therein, said incision having a controlled depth, said lancet device comprising: an outer barrel having a pair of helical slots formed therealong, an open proximal end, and an open distal end; a lancet comprising a needle mounted in a needle holder, said needle holder having at least one protuberance, said needle having a length; an inner barrel having an open proximal end, a closed distal end, a retaining catch, and at least one longitudinal slot, said at least one protuberance movably disposed in said at least one longitudinal slot, said inner barrel concentrically disposed inside said outer barrel, the proximal ends of said inner and outer barrels being rigidly interconnected, the open distal end of said inner barrel having a first snap-fit element; a spring having a proximal end and a distal end, said spring and said lancet located inside said inner barrel, the proximal end of said spring attached to the closed distal end of said inner barrel, the distal end of said spring attached to said needle holder; a finger-and-lancet control means, movably and operatively coupled with said outer barrel, for constricting said finger and for discharging said lancet to make an incision in said finger, said control means including a tourniquet member and a trigger member, said trigger member concentrically and movably disposed between said outer barrel and said inner barrel, said trigger member having a pair of protuberances each disposed within one of said pair of helical slots and movably engaging therewith; and an end-cap having a thickness, a second snap-fit element, at least one peripheral cut-out to accommodate said trigger member, and a centrally-located aperture sized to allow said needle to momentarily protrude therethrough to make said incision, said controlled depth of said incision being determined by the length of said needle and by the thickness of said end-cap, said end-cap rotationally attached to the distal end of said inner barrel by interlocking of said first and second snap-fit elements, said pair of protuberances unable to disengage said pair of helical slots at the distal end of said outer barrel due to said end-cap being attached to said inner barrel.

Claim 21

A disposable, single-use, pre-armed lancet device for drawing blood from a finger by making an incision therein, said incision having a controlled depth, said lancet device comprising: an outer barrel having a pair of helical slots formed therealong, an open proximal end, and an open distal end; a lancet comprising a needle mounted in a needle holder, said needle holder having at least one protuberance, said needle having a length; an inner barrel having an open proximal end, a closed distal end, a retaining catch, and at least one longitudinal slot, said at least one protuberance movably disposed in said at least one longitudinal slot, said inner barrel concentrically disposed inside said outer barrel, the proximal ends of said inner and outer barrels being rigidly interconnected, the open distal end of said inner barrel having a first snap-fit element; a spring having a proximal end and a distal end, said spring and said lancet located inside said inner barrel, the proximal end of said spring attached to the closed distal end of said inner barrel, the distal end of said spring attached to said needle holder; a finger-and-lancet control means, movably and operatively coupled with said outer barrel, for constricting said finger and for discharging said lancet to make an incision in said finger, said control means including a tourniquet member and a trigger member, said trigger member concentrically and movably disposed between said outer barrel and said inner barrel, said trigger member having a pair of protuberances each disposed within one of said pair of helical slots and movably engaging therewith; and an end-cap having a thickness, a second snap-fit element, at least one peripheral cut-out to accommodate said trigger member, and a centrally-located aperture sized to allow said needle to momentarily protrude therethrough to make said incision, said controlled depth of said incision being determined by the length of said needle and by the thickness of said end-cap, said end-cap rotationally attached to the distal end of said inner barrel by interlocking of said first and second snap-fit elements, said pair of protuberances unable to disengage said pair of helical slots at the distal end of said outer barrel due to said end-cap being attached to said inner barrel.

Claim 22

The lancet device of claim 18 wherein said retaining catch comprises at least one bendable arm having an internally-facing detent and an axial-loading face; said needle holder having at least one projection formed thereon; the lancet device assembled with said spring being compressed between said needle holder, said at least one projection releasably captured by said at least one internally-facing detent, and the closed proximal end of said inner barrel; said trigger member capable of exerting a specific force on said at least one axial-loading face as said pair of protuberances is advanced along said pair of helical slots toward the proximal end of said outer barrel by rotating said outer barrel with respect to said control means; said internally-facing detent releasing the projection of said needle holder when said trigger member exerts said specific force on said at least one axial-loading face and deflects said bendable arm, thus causing said lancet, biased by said spring, to discharge and make an incision in said finger.

Claim 23

The lancet device of claim 18 wherein said tourniquet member comprises a continuous loop.

Claim 24

The lancet device of claim 18 wherein said tourniquet member comprises a rigid arm having an end curved to accommodate a human digit.