Lancing device and multi-lancet cartridge

Abstract

A medical lancing device including a replaceable multi-lancet cartridge. The lancing device includes a drive mechanism, an activation mechanism, and an advancing mechanism. The advancing mechanism includes a linear-pull slide that is moved in and out to operate an indexing ratchet mechanism, a cam-guided charger mechanism, and a cam-guided lancet cap displacement mechanism. The indexing ratchet mechanism sequentially advances the lancets in the cartridge to an active position. The cam-guided charger mechanism charges the drive mechanism and separates the cap from the active lancet. And the cam-guided cap displacement mechanism moves the separated cap from the lancing stroke path of the active lancet. The activation mechanism then releases the charged active lancet to traverse the unobstructed lancing stroke path to pierce the subject's skin at a desired lancing site.

1 . A cartridge assembly for a lancing device having a lancet-indexing ratchet mechanism with a pawl, the cartridge assembly comprising:
 a housing;   a carrier rotationally mounted within the housing;   an array of lancets carried by the carrier, the lancets each having a detachable protective cap, the lancets each moveable along a lancing stroke path; and   a plurality of ratchet teeth extending from the carrier and configured to be sequentially engaged by the pawl to advance the array of lancets within the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ratchet teeth and the lancets are provided in a one-to-one ratio. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein cartridge housing defines a slot through which the ratchet teeth extend. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier defines an array of transverse guide tracks along which the lancet caps are displaced from the lancing stroke path. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the lancet caps define one or more cap guide surfaces that engage and ride along the guide tracks as the caps are displaced from the lancing stroke path. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the guide tracks engage the cap guide surfaces to retain the active-positioned cap from moving and being retracted with the active-positioned lancet, wherein the retained active-positioned cap separates from the retracted active-positioned lancet. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the guide tracks comprise resilient elongated members extending from the carrier, and the cap guide surfaces comprise two shoulders projecting from opposing sides of the cap. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the guide tracks are adapted to retain the lancet caps after displacement from the lancing stroke path. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier defines radial guide channels that receive the lancets in a radial arrangement. 
     
     
         10 . A multi-lancet cartridge assembly for a lancing device comprising:
 a generally circular housing comprising a base and a cover with a central opening defining an annular shell having an outer circumferential rim with a lancet opening formed therein;   a carrier disk rotationally mounted within the housing, the carrier disk defining a plurality of radially-oriented guide channels; and   a plurality of lancets, each lancet positioned for translational motion within a corresponding one of the plurality of radially-oriented guide channels.   
     
     
         11 . The multi-lancet cartridge assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the base of the housing comprises a slot for receiving an advancing member of a lancing device to rotationally advance the carrier disk within the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-lancet cartridge assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the carrier disk comprises a plurality of projections for sequential alignment with the slot in the base of the housing, for engagement with the advancing member of the lancing device. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-lancet cartridge assembly of  claim 10 , wherein each lancet has an outwardly-directed end with a sharp lancing tip that is initially covered by a removable cap, and an inwardly-directed end having a retainer foot projecting therefrom for engagement with a drive mechanism of a lancing device. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-lancet cartridge assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the base of the housing comprises a channel for receiving the retainer feet of the lancets. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-lancet cartridge assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the removable caps of the lancets have shoulders projecting laterally outwardly on opposite sides thereof, and wherein the carrier disk comprises a set of cap guide tracks associated with each of the radially-oriented guide channels for engaging the shoulders of the removable caps. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-lancet cartridge assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the housing comprises at least one opening therein for alignment with the removable caps to permit passage of a plunger of the lancing device to move the caps along the cap guide tracks. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-lancet cartridge assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a ratchet mechanism for limiting rotation of the carrier disk within the housing to a single direction of rotation. 
     
     
         18 . A cartridge for use in connection with a lancing device, comprising:
 a housing comprising a shell having an outer periphery with a lancet opening therein and an interior chamber within the shell;   a carrier rotationally mounted within the interior chamber of the housing and defining a plurality of lancet guide paths;   an array of lancets, each lancet mounted for translation along a corresponding one of the plurality of lancet guide paths; and   a ratchet mechanism for allowing rotation of the carrier within the housing in a first direction of rotation, but restricting rotation of the carrier within the housing in a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction of rotation.   
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 18 , wherein the housing comprises an annular ring-shaped external profile, having a circular outer rim and a circular inner rim concentric with the outer rim. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 18 , wherein the housing comprises a lancet drive opening allowing sequential engagement of each lancet of the array of lancets by a lancing device drive mechanism. 
     
     
         21 . The cartridge of  claim 18 , wherein the housing comprises an indexing slot allowing advancement of the carrier within the housing by a lancing device advancing member. 
     
     
         22 . The cartridge of  claim 18 , wherein the housing comprises at least one cap-displacement opening allowing a plunger mechanism of a lancing device to extend into the interior chamber to move a removable endcap out of the lancet guide path.