Cap for a lancing device

Abstract

A cap for a lancing device for lancing dermal tissue is provided. The cap includes a cap body having a proximal end for connecting to the distal end of the housing of the lancing device and a contact ring attached to the distal end of the cap body. The contact ring includes an opening for a portion of the lancet of the lancing device to pass therethrough. The contact ring has a multi-contoured surface oriented generally about an axis distinct from the axis of motion of the lancet. The multi-contoured surface is designed to pressure the dermal tissue to facilitate expression of a fluid sample after lancing the dermal tissue. The fluid sample can include blood, interstitial fluid, or both.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cap for a lancing device for lancing dermal tissue, the lancing device including a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a lancet mounted within the housing, the lancet being movable along a first axis relative to the housing, the cap comprising: 
 a cap body having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the cap body connecting to the distal end of the housing of the lancing device; and    a contact ring attached to the distal end of the cap body, the contact ring including an opening for a portion of the lancet to pass therethrough, the contact ring having a multi-contoured surface oriented generally about a second axis distinct from the first axis for pressuring the dermal tissue to facilitate expression of a blood sample after lancing the dermal tissue.    
     
     
         2 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cap body is transparent, translucent, or opaque.  
     
     
         3 . The cap body of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the cap body is transparent to allow a user to view the blood sample.  
     
     
         4 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-contoured surface comprises 
 an outer radial portion oriented at a first angle relative to the second axis, and    an inner radial portion proximate the opening and oriented at a second angle, distinct from the first angle, relative to the second axis.    
     
     
         5 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cap is removably and replaceably connected to the distal end of the housing.  
     
     
         6 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the contact ring has a contacting surface having a flat portion extending radially inwardly from a perimeter portion, wherein the multi-contoured surface extends from the flat portion to the opening.  
     
     
         7 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-contoured surface comprises a pair of pressure wings.  
     
     
         8 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the contact ring is formed of a flexible, deformable material.  
     
     
         9 . The cap of  claim 8 , wherein the contact ring includes edge portions which extend outwardly from the cap body.  
     
     
         10 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the contact ring has a non-transparent color distinct from and in contrast to the color of the dermal tissue.  
     
     
         11 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the contact ring comprises a separate and discrete component mounted on the cap body.  
     
     
         12 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the contact ring is integrally formed with the cap body.  
     
     
         13 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the contact ring urges blood in the dermal tissue towards the opening in the contact ring.  
     
     
         14 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-contoured surface includes an anti-slip feature.  
     
     
         15 . The cap of  claim 14 , wherein the anti-slip feature comprises a roughened surface on the multi-contoured surface to increase friction between the contact ring and the skin.  
     
     
         16 . The cap of  claim 14 , wherein the anti-slip feature comprises an anti-slip material affixed to the multi-contoured surface.  
     
     
         17 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the contact ring is formed of an anti-slip material.  
     
     
         18 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-contoured surface comprises: 
 an outer radial portion oriented at a first angle relative to the second axis;    a middle radial portion oriented at a second angle relative to the second axis; and    an inner radial portion oriented at a third angle relative to the second axis.    
     
     
         19 . A cap for a lancing device for lancing dermal tissue, the lancing device including a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a lancet mounted within the housing, the lancet being movable along a first axis relative to the housing, the cap comprising: 
 a cap body having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the cap body connecting to the distal end of the housing of the lancing device,    a contact ring attached to the distal end of the cap body, the contact ring including an opening for a portion of the lancet to pass therethrough, and    a sleeve mounted about the cap body, the sleeve being movable generally along the first axis and relative to the cap body, the sleeve including at least two legs for maintaining contact with the dermal tissue during expression of a blood sample after lancing the dermal tissue.    
     
     
         20 . The cap of  claim 19 , wherein the sleeve is biased toward the distal end of the cap body.  
     
     
         21 . The cap of  claim 19 , wherein the legs are spaced apart to permit a user's fingers in the space therebetween.  
     
     
         22 . The cap of  claim 19 , wherein the legs are constructed from a resilient material such that the legs act to compress the user's finger when positioned therebetween.  
     
     
         23 . The cap of  claim 19 , wherein the legs include an anti-slip feature to prevent movement of the legs relative to the skin.  
     
     
         24 . The cap of  claim 23 , wherein the anti-slip feature comprises a roughened surface to increase friction between the legs and the skin.  
     
     
         25 . The cap of  claim 23 , wherein the anti-slip feature comprises an anti-slip material affixed to a portion of the legs in contact with the skin.  
     
     
         26 . A cap for a lancing device for lancing a fingertip, the lancing device including a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a lancet mounted within the housing, the lancet being movable along the housing, the cap comprising: 
 a cap body having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the cap body connecting to the distal end of the housing of the lancing device;    a contact ring attached to the distal end of the cap body, the contact ring including an opening for a portion of the lancet to pass therethrough, the contact ring having a multi-contoured surface oriented to create a pressure gradient decreasing towards a puncture on an irregularly curved surface of the fingertips.    
     
     
         27 . The cap of  claim 26 , wherein the cap body is transparent, translucent, or opaque.  
     
     
         28 . A cap for a lancing device for lancing a curved dermal tissue, the lancing device including a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a lancet mounted within the housing, the lancet being movable along the housing, the cap comprising: 
 a cap body having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the cap body connecting to the distal end of the housing of the lancing device,    a contact ring attached to the distal end of the cap body, the contact ring including an opening for a portion of the lancet to pass therethrough, the contact ring having a multi-contoured surface oriented for pressuring the curved dermal tissue, wherein the contact ring is comprised of a deformable, flexible material for conforming to the skin at the lancing site to facilitate the expression of a fluid therefrom.    
     
     
         29 . A lancing device for lancing dermal tissue, comprising: 
 a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;    a lancet mounted within the housing, the lancet being movable along a first axis relative to the housing; and    a cap attached to the distal end of the housing, the cap comprising a cap body having a proximal end connecting to the distal end of the housing and a distal end having a contact ring, wherein the contact ring includes an opening for a portion of the lancet to pass therethrough, and a multi-contoured surface oriented generally about a second axis distinct from the first axis for pressuring the dermal tissue to facilitate expression of a blood sample after lancing the dermal tissue.