Claims
- 1. A lancet device comprising:
a) a housing, said housing including an at least partially open interior; b) a cocking seat defined in said housing; c) a lancet moveably disposed at least partially within said open interior and including a piercing tip; d) a biasing assembly engaging said lancet; e) said lancet including an engagement element; f) said cocking seat structured to engage said lancet at said engagement element and retain said lancet against a force of said biasing assembly; g) a release element structured to at least partially disengage said engagement element from said cocking seat such that said potential energy of said biasing assembly moves said lancet relative to said cocking seat and drives said piercing tip of said lancet at least temporarily into a piercing orientation; and h) said engagement element including a single use pivot structured to render said engagement element inoperative to retain said lancet on said cocking seat after said release element disengages said engagement element from said cocking seat.
- 2. A lancet device as recited in claim 1 wherein said cocking seat is stationary relative to said housing.
- 3. A lancet device as recited in claim 1 wherein said cocking seat is structured to move said lancet into releasing engagement with said release element.
- 4. A lancet device as recited in claim 1 wherein said release element is structured to be exteriorily actuated so as to disengage said engagement element from said cocking seat.
- 5. A lancet device as recited in claim 1 wherein said single use pivot is structured to be deformed upon said release element disengaging said lancet from said cocking seat so as to prevent repositioning of said lancet in engaged, pre-fired relation with said cocking seat.
- 6. A lancet device as recited in claim 1 wherein said single use pivot is defined by a breakable hinge structured to break upon said engagement element being disengaged from said cocking seat by said release element, thereby preventing re-use thereof.
- 7. A lancet device as recited in claim 6 wherein said breakable hinge is defined by a reduced thickness section of said engagement element.
- 8. A lancet device as recited in claim 1 wherein said cocking seat comprises a ledge defined in said housing.
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part application of previously filed, now pending application having Ser. No. 10/134,995, filed on Apr. 29, 2002.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10134995 |
Apr 2002 |
US |
Child |
10716385 |
Nov 2003 |
US |