Methods and apparatus for expressing body fluid from an incision

Abstract

A sample of a body fluid such as blood or interstitial fluid is obtained from a body by lancing a portion of a user's skin, preferably in an area other than a finger tip, to form an incision. After the needle has been removed from the incision, a force is applied to depress the skin in a manner forming a ring of depressed body tissue in surrounding relationship to the incision, causing the incision to bulge and the sides of the incision to open, whereby body fluid is forced out through the opening of the incision. A stimulator member is mounted to an end of a lancet-carrying housing for applying the force. The stimulator member can be movable relative to the housing, and can be either heated or vibrated to promote movement of the body fluid.

1 . A sampling device, comprising: 
 a constricting member configured to pinch tissue to form a puckered area of the tissue;    a stimulating member positioned to contact the puckered area of the tissue;    a skin-lancing medium to form an incision in the puckered area of the tissue; and    wherein the stimulating member is configured to spread the incision open and the constricting member is configured to constrict fluid flow from the puckered area to enhance expression of the body fluid from the incision.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the constricting member is constructed of a pliable material that flexes to pinch the tissue.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the constricting member includes: 
 a plurality of pivot arms; and    a plurality of biasing members each coupled to a corresponding one of the pivot arms to pivot the pivot arms for pinching the tissue.    
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulator member includes circumferentially spaced interruptions.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulator member includes a flexible membrane.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulator members include first and second stimulator members that are interconnected to move axially in mutually opposite directions.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a second stimulator member chosen from the group consisting of, a heating mechanism for heating the stimulating member or constricting member, and a vibrator mechanism for vibrating the stimulating member or constricting member.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for pinching the tissue, wherein the means for pinching the tissue includes the constricting member;    means for spreading the incision open, wherein the means for spreading the incision open includes the stimulating member; and    means for forming the incision, wherein the means for forming the incision includes the skin-lancing medium