Claims
- 1. An apparatus suitable for obtaining a sample of blood for analysis in a diagnostic test, comprising:
(a) a housing having a sealable chamber located therein and a sealable opening in fluid communication with said sealable chamber, (b) a power source, (c) a vacuum pump operably connected to said power source, said vacuum pump in communication with said sealable chamber, (d) a lancing assembly positioned in said housing, said lancing assembly capable of moving a lancet towards said sealable opening, and (e) a fluid collector positioned in said sealable chamber, said fluid collector in fluid communication with said sealable opening.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises:
(a) a body portion, and (b) a door portion, said door portion positionable over said body portion and including said sealable opening.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said fluid collector is positioned in a slot in said door portion.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said slot locates said fluid collector adjacent said sealable opening when said door portion is positioned over said body portion.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said body portion contains at least one slot for inserting said fluid collector.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said body portion includes at least one electrical connection.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said door portion includes at least one electrical connection.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said body portion comprises a movable projection containing a slot, said fluid collector positioned in said slot.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said movable projection includes at least one electrical connection.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises:
(a) a body portion, (b) an interior cover portion positionable over said lancing assembly, and (c) a door portion positionable over said interior cover portion and including said sealable opening.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said interior cover portion contains at least one alignment channel to position said fluid collector.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said door portion contains at least one alignment fixture to position said fluid collector.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the housing further comprises a projection.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said fluid collector is positioned in at least one slot in said projection.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said at least one slot is parallel to the upper surface of said interior cover.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said at least one slot is not parallel to the upper surface of said interior cover.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said projection includes at least one electrical connection.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heating element.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid collector comprises a biosensor.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said biosensor comprises a glucose detector.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid collector comprises a reflectance strip.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said reflectance strip comprises a glucose detector.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reflectometer.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display operably connected to said power source and said fluid collector.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch operably connected to said vacuum pump and said lancing assembly through said power source.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising electronics.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the electronics control power to said vacuum pump.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the electronics control power to a heating element.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the electronics control power to the lancing assembly.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising more than one of said fluid collector.
- 31. A method for obtaining a sample of blood for a diagnostic test, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) placing a blood collection device over a region on the surface of the skin from which said sample is to be obtained, (b) forming a seal between said blood collection device and said surface of the skin, (c) creating a vacuum sufficient to result in said surface of the skin becoming stretched and engorged with blood, (d) triggering a lancing assembly and causing a lancet to penetrate said skin, (e) retracting said lancet, (f) withdrawing blood toward and onto a fluid collector, and (g) releasing the vacuum.
- 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of generating a signal indicative of glucose level.
- 33. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of causing said fluid collector to move to a position near the position where said lancet penetrated said skin.
- 34. The method of claim 33, wherein said movement of the fluid collector is created by the release of a latch.
- 35. The method of claim 33, wherein said movement of the fluid collector is created by a four-bar linkage.
- 36. The method of claim 33, wherein said movement of the fluid collector is created by a pivoting projection.
CROSS REFERENCES TO COPENDING APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/759,698, filed Dec. 6, 1996 and a continuation-in-part of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/036,395, filed Jan. 24, 1997.
[0002] This relates to three patent applications, each entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING BLOOD FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, Attorney's Docket Nos. 6005.US.P1, 6005.US.P2, and 6005.US.P3, filed on even date herewith. The specifications, drawings and claims of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. All of the foregoing applications are commonly owned by the assignee of this invention.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60036395 |
Jan 1997 |
US |
Divisions (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08982721 |
Dec 1997 |
US |
Child |
09612722 |
Jul 2000 |
US |
Parent |
08759698 |
Dec 1996 |
US |
Child |
09612722 |
Jul 2000 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09612722 |
Jul 2000 |
US |
Child |
09972444 |
Oct 2001 |
US |