Pulsating expression cap

Abstract

A body fluid sampling device includes an expression member placed around an incision in the skin of a user, a compression member to contact and traverse the expression member, and a housing configured to contact the skin near the incision. The expression member is configured to repeatedly move from a relaxed position over the incision to a contracted position over the incision. The expression member is at least partially resilient in order to repeatedly squeeze and/or compress the skin around the incision.

1 . A sampling device, comprising: 
 a lancet configured to form an incision in skin;    an expression member having a band for receiving the lancet;    wherein the band is moveable between a relaxed position over the incision in skin and a contracted position over the incision;    a compression member configured to contact and traverse the expression member wherein the band compresses from the relaxed position to the contracted position to express bodily fluid from the incision in skin;    a housing configured to contact the skin near the incision; and    wherein at least a portion of the expression member is resilient in order to return to the relaxed position.    
   
   
       2 . The sampling device of  claim 1 , wherein the band has an annular shape.  
   
   
       3 . The sampling device of  claim 1 , wherein the band is resilient.  
   
   
       4 . The sampling device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a concave shape.  
   
   
       5 . The sampling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a test strip to test the bodily fluid expressed from the incision.  
   
   
       6 . The sampling device of  claim 1 , further comprising an integrated test strip to test the bodily fluid expressed from the incision.  
   
   
       7 . The sampling device of  claim 1 , wherein the compression member includes a passageway to at least partially receive the expression member.  
   
   
       8 . The sampling device of  claim 1 , wherein the band is configured to contact the skin.  
   
   
       9 . A sampling device, comprising: 
 an expression member having a skin contacting portion that is moveable between a relaxed position over an incision in skin and a contracted position over an incision;    a compression member configured to contact the skin contacting portion of the expression member to move the skin contacting portion from the relaxed position to the contracted position;    a housing to contact the skin near the incision; and    wherein at least a portion of the expression member is resilient in order to return to the relaxed position.    
   
   
       10 . The sampling device of  claim 9 , wherein the expression member includes a passageway that is moveable between a relaxed position over the incision in the skin and a contracted position over the incision.  
   
   
       11 . The sampling device of  claim 10 , wherein the passageway is resilient.  
   
   
       12 . The sampling device of  claim 9 , wherein the expression member includes at least one resilient band.  
   
   
       13 . The sampling device of  claim 12 , wherein the band is configured to express bodily fluid from the incision.  
   
   
       14 . The sampling device of  claim 12 , wherein the band has an annular shape.  
   
   
       15 . The sampling device of  claim 9 , wherein the expression element includes at least one resilient finger.  
   
   
       16 . The sampling device of  claim 15 , wherein the finger is configured to express bodily fluid from the incision.  
   
   
       17 . The sampling device of  claim 9 , further comprising a lancet configured to form the incision in skin.  
   
   
       18 . The sampling device of  claim 13 , further comprising a testing element configured to test bodily fluid expressed from the incision.  
   
   
       19 . The sampling device of  claim 16 , further comprising a testing element configured to test bodily fluid expressed from the incision.  
   
   
       20 . The sampling device of  claim 9 , wherein the housing is a concave shape.  
   
   
       21 . A method of expressing a body fluid, comprising: 
 positioning a sampling device over an incision in skin;    wherein the sampling device includes a housing to contact the skin near the incision; and    expressing body fluid from the incision with the sampling device by repeatedly squeezing and compressing the skin around the incision to allow body fluid to flow to the incision.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 forming the incision in skin with a lancet of the sampling device.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 collecting the body fluid with a test strip of the sampling device.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 wherein the sampling device includes an expression member to resiliently move from a relaxed position to a contracted position in which the skin near the incision is squeezed and compressed.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the expression member moves from the contracted position to the relaxed position.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the housing is a concave shape to urge body fluid towards the incision in skin.  
   
   
       27 . A sampling device, comprising: 
 an expression member having a skin contacting portion and a plurality of nubs, the skin contacting portion being resilient in order to squeeze skin around an incision; and    a compression member having a plurality of lobes, the plurality of lobes configured to contact and to rotate over the plurality of nubs in order to squeeze the skin contacting portion.    
   
   
       28 . The sampling device of  claim 27 , further comprising a motor operatively coupled to the expression member for rotating the compression member around the expression member.