Latch mechanism for preventing lancet oscillation in a lancing device
Inventors
PUSEY, Lauren R. • Lamps, Greg
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9844331-B2
Publication Date
2017-12-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A lancing device including a latch that pivots between a non-blocking position allowing a lancet carrier and a lancet to advance and retract through a first forward and reverse lancing stroke and a blocking position preventing further/excess/secondary oscillation of the lancet carrier and lancet. The pivotal latch can pivot about an axis perpendicular (e.g., for an L-shaped latch) or parallel/coaxial (e.g., for a sleeve latch) to the advancement and retraction motion of the lancet carrier and lancet.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a device for lancing skin in which a lancet is driven along a lancing stroke defined by a lancing stroke axis, with the lancet carrier movable from a retracted position through a forward portion to an advanced position and then through a return portion. A latch mechanism permits lancet carrier travel through the lancing stroke while preventing excess oscillation of the lancet carrier, and a latch member pivots between a blocking position, an intermediate non-blocking position, and a press non-blocking position, with the latch member spring-biased to the blocking position.
A charging mechanism is operable to charge a drive mechanism, and operating the charging mechanism prior to the lancing stroke moves a latch-pivoting element into engagement with a charge-pivot cam surface of the latch member. This engagement pivots the latch member from the blocking position to the intermediate non-blocking position, where a latch retainer retains the latch member to prevent reverse pivoting. As the lancet carrier travels along the forward portion of the lancing stroke, the latch retainer is withdrawn from engagement, allowing reverse pivoting of the latch member to the press non-blocking position with interference between a pressed surface of the lancet carrier and a pressing surface of the latch member.
During the return portion of the lancing stroke, the pressed surface clears the interference and the latch member reverse pivots back to the blocking position. With the latch member in the blocking position, if the lancet carrier is driven along the forward portion of the lancing stroke a second time, a drive-stop surface engages and blocks a latch-engaging element of the lancet carrier to prevent excess lancet-carrier oscillation. The latch member further includes a spring-deflection surface and an anti-pivot surface, where the spring-biased latch retainer is in a charged state biasing against the spring-deflection surface when blocked, and then moves into engagement with the anti-pivot surface to retain the latch member in the intermediate non-blocking position when pivoted out of the blocking position.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides two independent claims. Both share the same overall latch-mechanism architecture, with latch pivoting among blocking, intermediate non-blocking, and press non-blocking positions controlled by a charging mechanism, a latch retainer, and interference/drive-stop structures, together with spring-deflection and anti-pivot surface behavior.
Latch mechanism with pivoting blocking, intermediate non-blocking, and press non-blocking positions
A latch mechanism operable to permit the lancet carrier to travel through the lancing stroke but prevent excess oscillation of the lancet carrier, wherein the latch member pivots between a blocking position, an intermediate non-blocking position, and a press non-blocking position, and is spring-biased to the blocking position.
Charging mechanism engagement to pivot latch member to intermediate non-blocking position
Operating the charging mechanism to charge the drive mechanism moves the latch-pivoting element into engagement with the charge-pivot cam surface of the latch member to pivot the latch member from the blocking position to the intermediate non-blocking position, wherein the latch retainer retains the latch member in the intermediate non-blocking position to prevent reverse pivoting.
Forward-stroke interference and withdrawn retainer to pivot latch member to press non-blocking position
As the lancet carrier travels along the forward portion of the lancing stroke the latch retainer is withdrawn from engagement and the latch member reverse pivots to the press non-blocking position with the pressed surface of the lancet carrier interfering with the pressing surface of the latch member to prevent reverse pivoting back to the blocking position.
Return-stroke clearance to pivot latch member back to blocking position
As the lancet carrier travels along the return portion of the lancing stroke the pressed surface clears interference with the pressing surface of the latch member and the latch member reverse pivots to the blocking position.
Second-forward-drive stop to prevent excess oscillation
With the latch member in the blocking position, if the lancet carrier is driven along the forward portion of the lancing stroke a second time the drive-stop surface engages and blocks the latch-engaging element of the lancet carrier to prevent excess lancet-carrier oscillation.
Spring-deflection and anti-pivot retention behavior of latch retainer
The latch member further includes a spring-deflection surface and an anti-pivot surface, wherein when the latch member is in the blocking position, the spring-biased latch retainer is in a charged state biasing against the spring-deflection surface, and when the latch member is pivoted out of the blocking position, the spring-biased latch retainer moves into engagement with the anti-pivot surface to retain the latch member in the intermediate non-blocking position.
Across both independent claims, the claim coverage centers on controlling a latch member pivoting among blocking, intermediate non-blocking, and press non-blocking positions using a charging mechanism and a latch retainer, including stroke-dependent interference and clearance, a drive-stop feature for a second forward actuation while blocked, and spring-deflection and anti-pivot retention behavior.
Stated Advantages
Prevent excess oscillation of the lancet carrier.
Prevent reverse pivoting of the latch member from the intermediate non-blocking position.
Prevent reverse pivoting of the latch member back to the blocking position during the forward portion of the lancing stroke.
Prevent reverse pivoting of the latch member back to the blocking position to maintain the press non-blocking position.
Prevent excess lancet-carrier oscillation during a second drive along the forward portion of the lancing stroke.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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