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Publication Number
US-9271667-B2
Publication Date
2016-03-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A medical lancing device including an independent drive core mechanism incorporating all or a substantial portion of the functional components of the lancing device, whereby the independent drive core mechanism can be incorporated into multiple different external housing configurations for more efficient design and manufacture. Axial adjustment of the position of the independent drive core mechanism within the housing provides lancing penetration depth control.
Core Innovation
The disclosure describes a self-contained modular drive core configured for installation within a lancing device housing. The modular drive core includes an inner housing mounted at least partially within the lancing device housing, where the inner housing has a channel extending therethrough. A drive plunger is translationally mounted to move axially within the channel between an advanced position and a retracted position relative to the inner housing, and a drive mechanism is coupled between the inner housing and the drive plunger to advance the drive plunger along a lancing stroke.
The modular drive core further includes at least one retention feature on an external portion of the inner housing to engage a cooperating interface of the lancing device housing and movably couple the inner housing to the lancing device housing. In addition, the disclosure provides a depth-adjust interface operable between the inner housing and the lancing device housing, whereby adjustment of a depth control feature of the lancing device housing axially repositions the inner housing relative to the lancing device housing.
The axial repositioning adjusts a lancing depth while maintaining a constant lancing stroke length of the drive plunger relative to the inner housing. Example embodiments are described for product differentiation using a common internal drive core across multiple external housing configurations, and alternate core configurations include omitting charging/ejection subassemblies and using different lancet receiver and depth-control ring/collar structures.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims. Each independent claim centers on a modular self-contained inner housing with an axially moving drive plunger, a retention interface to couple the inner housing to an outer lancing device housing, and a depth-adjust interface that axially repositions the inner housing to adjust lancing depth while maintaining a constant lancing stroke length relative to the inner housing.
Self-contained modular drive core with axially moving drive plunger in a channel
A self-contained modular drive core comprising an inner housing configured to be mounted at least partially within the lancing device housing, the inner housing having a channel extending therethrough; a drive plunger translationally mounted to move axially within the channel and movable relative to the inner housing along a lancing stroke between an advanced position and a retracted position; and a drive mechanism for advancing the drive plunger, the drive mechanism coupled between the inner housing and the drive plunger.
Retention feature coupling inner housing to lancing device housing
At least one retention feature on an external portion of the inner housing to engage a cooperating interface of the lancing device housing and movably couple the inner housing to the lancing device housing.
Depth-adjust interface maintaining constant stroke length while adjusting lancing depth
A depth-adjust interface operable between the inner housing and the lancing device housing, whereby adjustment of a depth control feature of the lancing device housing axially repositions the inner housing relative to the lancing device housing to adjust a lancing depth while maintaining a constant lancing stroke length of the drive plunger relative to the inner housing.
Lancing device including the self-contained modular drive core
A lancing device comprising a lancing device housing and a self-contained modular drive core, where the self-contained modular drive core includes an inner housing mounted at least partially within the lancing device housing, the inner housing having a channel extending therethrough; a drive plunger translationally mounted to move axially within the channel and movable relative to the inner housing along a lancing stroke between an advanced position and a retracted position; and a drive mechanism for advancing the drive plunger coupled between the inner housing and the drive plunger.
Movable coupling via retention features in lancing device
At least one retention feature on an external portion of the inner housing to engage a cooperating interface of the lancing device housing and movably couple the inner housing to the lancing device housing.
Depth-adjust mechanism repositioning inner housing to adjust depth with constant stroke length
A depth-adjust mechanism operable between the inner housing and the lancing device housing, whereby adjustment of a depth control feature of the lancing device housing axially repositions the inner housing relative to the lancing device housing to adjust a lancing depth while maintaining a constant lancing stroke length of the drive plunger relative to the inner housing.
Across both independent claims, the core inventive concept is an inner-housing-based, self-contained modular drive core with an axially moving drive plunger, a retention feature interface that movably couples the inner housing to a lancing device housing, and a depth-adjust interface or mechanism that axially repositions the inner housing to adjust lancing depth without changing the drive plunger’s lancing stroke length relative to the inner housing.
Stated Advantages
Adjust lancing depth while maintaining a constant lancing stroke length of the drive plunger relative to the inner housing.
Documented Applications
Lancing devices with different external housing configurations using a common internal drive core.
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