Method and apparatus for penetrating tissue

Abstract

A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site includes an electrically powered drive force generator. A penetrating member is operatively coupled to the force generator. The force generator moves the member along a path out of a housing having a penetrating member exit, into the tissue site, stops in the tissue site, and withdraws out of the tissue site. A cartridge houses the penetrating member. The cartridge has first and second seals coupled to the penetrating member to maintain a sterile environment around a portion of the penetration member prior to penetrating member actuation.

1 . A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site, the system comprising: 
 an electrically powered drive force generator;    a plurality of penetrating member operatively coupled to said force generator, said drive force generator moving each of a penetrating into said tissue site, stopping in said tissue site, and withdrawing out of said tissue site;    a plurality of cartridges integrated in a cassette, each of a cartridge housing a penetrating member, each of a cartridge having a first and a second seal to maintain a sterile environment around a portion of the penetration member prior to penetrating member actuation.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each cartridge has an exit port, and upon launch each penetrating member exists from the exit port.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein unused cartridges are stored in a linear stack.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a flexible support member coupling said cartridges together to define an array.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of connectors between said cartridges for holding said cartridges in an array configuration.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a cartridge transport device for moving each of the penetrating members into a position aligned with the penetrating member driver.    
     
     
         7 . The system of claim  1 I, further comprising, 
 a belt for holding the cartridges in an array configuration.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a tape device configured to hold the cartridges in an array configuration.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a tape device configured to hold the cartridges in an array configuration wherein said tape device defines a sack-like enclosure about each of said cartridges.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a tape device configured to hold the cartridges in an array configuration wherein said tape device defines an enclosure about each of said cartridges.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a support channel configured to hold the cartridges in an array configuration.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a cog configured to hold the penetrating members in an array configuration.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an analyte detecting member.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of analyte detecting members positioned to receive body fluid.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a sample chamber with an opening for transport of a body fluid into the sample chamber, the sample chamber being sized to receive no more than 1.0 μL of the body fluid.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a sample chamber with an opening for transport of a body fluid into the sample chamber, the sample chamber being sized to receive no more than 0.75 μL of the body fluid.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising; 
 a sample chamber with an opening for transport of a body fluid into the sample chamber, the sample chamber being sized to receive no more than 0.5 μL of the body fluid.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a sample chamber with an opening for transport of a body fluid into the sample chamber, the sample chamber being sized to receive no more than 0.25 μL of the body fluid.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a sample chamber with an opening for transport of a body fluid into the sample chamber, the sample chamber being sized to receive no more than 0.1 μL of the body fluid.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an analyte detecting member coupled to a sample chamber, the analyte detecting member being configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in a body fluid using a sample that does not exceed a volume of 1 μL of a body fluid disposed in the sample chamber.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising; 
 an analyte detecting member coupled to a sample chamber, the analyte detecting member being configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in a body fluid using a sample that does not exceed a volume of 0.75 μL of a body fluid disposed in the sample chamber.    
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an analyte detecting member coupled to a sample chamber, the analyte detecting member being configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in a body fluid using a sample that does not exceed a volume of 0.5 μL of a body fluid disposed in the sample chamber.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an analyte detecting member coupled to a sample chamber, the analyte detecting member being configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in a body fluid using a sample that does not exceed a volume of 0.25 μL of a body fluid disposed in the sample chamber.    
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an analyte detecting member coupled to a sample chamber, the analyte detecting member being configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in a body fluid using a sample that does not exceed a volume of 0.1 μL of a body fluid disposed in the sample chamber.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of a penetrating of the plurality of penetrating members has a packing density of no more than 1.0 cm3/penetrating member.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of a penetrating member of the plurality of penetrating members has a packing density of no more than 0.75 cm3/penetrating member.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the each of a penetrating member of the plurality of penetrating members has a packing density of no more than 0.5 cm3/penetrating member.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of a penetrating member of the plurality of penetrating members has a packing density of no more than 0.25 cm3/penetrating member.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of a penetrating member of the plurality of penetrating members has a packing density of no more than 0.1 cm3/penetrating member.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 1.0 cm3.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 0.75 cm3.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 0.5 cm3.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 0.25 cm3.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each of a penetrating member and an associated sample chamber have a combined packing density of no more than 0.1 cm3.