The present invention relates generally to a safety lancet, specifically the present invention is a lancet needle arranged in a spring-loaded manner.
At-home blood collection has become more commonplace where smaller amounts of blood will satisfy a given diagnostic procedure. Typically, these collections are facilitated by a kit which includes a collection vessel for the blood and a needle-type apparatus for puncturing the skin to provide blood for collection, i.e., a lancet device.
Although safety lancets are well known in the art, prior attempts are configured such that a user needs to bring the lancet device to their finger with their opposite hand while also holding the device in the other hand. Although many healthy people would proceed with the lancing, i.e., puncturing of the skin to draw blood, without a problem—this does not help patients who may have conditions that cause tremors, e.g., multiple sclerosis, post-stroke, traumatic brain injuries, neurodegenerative diseases that affect parts of the brain (e.g., Parkinson's disease), the use of certain medicines (particular asthma medication, amphetamines, caffeine, corticosteroids, and drugs used for certain psychiatric and neurological disorders), alcohol abuse or withdrawal, mercury poisoning, overactive thyroid disorder, liver or kidney failure, anxiety or panic, and the like.
Thus, there is a long felt need for a device that facilitates lancing a person's finger (or foot), where the device is arranged to have a foundation that sturdily supports the device in an upright position and where the foundation includes gripping means to grip the surface under the foundation—eliminating the need for using both hands for lancing.
The present invention broadly comprises a safety lancet including a foundation, a base extending upwardly from the foundation, a spring extending upwardly from the base at a first end, the spring connected to a lancet body at a second end of the spring, the lancet body having a lancet extending from a lancet holder, a pair of restriction arms extending from the base, the pair of restriction arms having an end arranged to releasably hold the lancet holder of the lancet body, a housing extending from the base, and a sheath, the sheath slidably connected to the housing, the sheath having an aperture arranged colinearly with the lancet arranged on an upper surface of the sheath, the sheath having a distal surface arranged opposite the upper surface, extending from the distal surface are a pair of release means, wherein the pair of release means are arranged to engage the pair of restriction arms when force is imparted on the sheath thereby releasing the spring from a compressed configuration allowing the lancet body to travel in a direction towards the aperture.
The present invention also broadly comprises a safety lancet having a foundation, a base extending upwardly from the foundation, a lancet fixed secured to a top surface of the base, the lancet extending upwardly therefrom, the lancet having a puncture end arranged opposite of the top surface of the base, a housing extending from the base, a sheath, the sheath slidably connected to the housing, the sheath arranged to slidably surround an outside surface of the housing, the sheath having an aperture arranged colinearly with the lancet arranged on an upper surface of the sheath, and at least one spring secured to said upper surface of said base, wherein the at least one spring forcibly maintains the upper surface of the sheath in a position above the puncture end of the lancet.
The present invention also may comprise a safety lancet having a body, the body having a gripping means arranged on a distal surface, the body having a static portion and a dynamic portion, the dynamic portion slideably secured to the static portion, the dynamic portion having an aperture arranged on an upper surface, a lancet secured to a lancet body, the lancet body in communication with a spring, the spring connected to a distal end of the lancet body and the static portion of the body, a pair of restriction arms extending from the static portion of the body, the pair of restriction arms arranged to secure the lancet body to compress the spring, and a pair of release means extending distally from the dynamic portion of the body, the release means arranged to displace the pair of restriction arms secured on the lancet body thereby releasing the compression of the spring upon receiving a force imparted on the upper surface of the dynamic portion of the body.
The present invention also includes a gripping means, the gripping means arranged on a distal surface of the foundation, where the gripping means may comprise a non-slip rubber, a plurality of protrusions, the plurality of protrusion comprising a non-slip rubber, or releasable gripping means such as hook and loop material that is arranged to engage a hook and loop material on a surface of an objection, or structure, or a suction-cup like structure to secure to a surface of an object, or structure. The gripping means of the foundation provide for sturdy positioning of the present invention during use.
A primary object of the invention is to provide a device that facilitates blood collection without requiring a person to use both hands, that is, the present invention may be positioned in an upright position and requires only one hand to actuate the lancet therein. Specifically, the present invention allows actuation, or access, to a lancet therein by imparting force on a sheath of the present invention.
A secondary object of the invention is to provide a gripping means arranged on a distal surface of a foundation of the invention, where the gripping means imparts an increased coefficient of friction between the invention and an external surface that the invention rests thereon.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon study of the following detailed description in view of the drawings and appended claims.
Various embodiments are disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like reference numbers on different drawing figures represent identical structural elements. It should also be appreciated that, while a number of different embodiments and variations of the present invention are shown in the various drawings, the invention as claimed is not intended to be limited to these specific embodiments, as the claims define a broader invention that can take many different shapes and structures. Also, the adjectives, “top”, “bottom”, “right”, “left”, and their derivatives, in the description herebelow, refer to the perspective of one facing the invention as shown in the figure under discussion.
The term “lancet” should be understood to mean a type of surgical knife with a short, wide, pointed double-edged blade, used especially for making punctures and small incisions. The term “lancet” should also be understood to mean that the lancet possesses a pointed tip, or end, and an oppositely arranged “base”, or end, that is mounted onto a structure. The term “lancing” should be understood to mean a thrusting actuation of a lance to initiate impact with the tip or a motion in the direction towards a lance to initiate impact with the tip. The term “actuation” should be appreciated to mean movement of the present invention, i.e., movement of the sheath and the lancet of the present invention or sole movement of the sheath of the present invention.
It should also be appreciated that the corresponding drawings are merely exemplary illustrations of the present invention, those drawings are not to scale and are provided to example the present invention and its respective components.
Adverting now to the figures. At the outset, the figures described infra detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention and an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Specifically,
The following description should be taken in view of
Foundation 10 is arranged to have gripping means on its distal surface. Gripping means may include a rubberized construction of the entirety of foundation 10, specifically a non-slip material, such as a non-slip rubber. The gripping means of foundation 10 may embody a plurality of raised protrusions, where each of the protrusions may be comprised of non-slip material. The gripping means of foundation 10 may embody a plurality of ridges, where each of the ridges may be comprised of a non-slip material, or a combination thereof. The gripping means of foundation 10 may include a hook and loop type fastener that is arranged to engage a like hook and loop type fastener that is attached to an external surface. Although foundation 10 is shown to have generally the same external perimeter of lancet base 20, foundation 10 could have an external perimeter that is greater than the external perimeter of lancet base 20. One with ordinary skill in the art would understand that the gripping means of foundation 10 may take a variety of configurations to provide for substantially no translational movement of safety lancet 100 and 200 on an external surface when in use-specifically to allow for a patient to use a single hand without concern for extraneous movement of safety lancets 100 and 200. The material of gripping means of foundation 10 could comprise, anti-slip tapes or threads and could be comprised of a rubber, PVC or polyurethane and may also include a grit surface of a hard substance, such as silicon carbide. Foundation 10 is shown and described in more detail, infra.
The following description should be taken in view of
The following description should be taken in view of
Channel body 41b extends from distal surface 41a of sheath 40. First channel arm 43a and second channel arm 43b extend distally from channel body 41b. First release means 44a and second release means 44b are arranged on channel body 41b. First release means 44a and second release means 44b of channel body 41b are sloped members and are arranged to interact with constraint end 22a of first lancet restriction arm 21a and constraint end 22b of second lancet restriction arm 21b, to release the compression on spring 24 from constraint ends 22a and 22b. First release means 44a and second release means 44b can take a plurality of forms that would allow their respective interaction with constraint end 22a of first lancet restriction arm 21a and constraint end 22b of second lancet restriction arm 21b to release lancet body 61 therefrom. Specifically, first release means 44a disengages constraint end 22a from lancet body 61 and second release means 44b disengages constraint end 22b from lancet body 61.
The following description should be taken in view of
The following description should be taken in view of
As described above, lancet body 61 is secured in a position that compresses spring 24 via constraint end 22a of first lancet restriction arm 21a and constraint end 22b of second lancet restriction arm 21b. Constraint ends 22a and 22b hold first restriction means 65a and second restriction means 65b of lancet body 61, respectively. Constraint ends 22a and 22b have hooks 22c and 22d, respectively, which are edges, shelves, or ridges, that are arranged to abut that protruding configuration of first restriction means 65a and second restriction means 65b of lancet body 61. Hooks 22c and 22d of constraint ends 22a and 22b keep lancet body 61 in a position that maintains compression on spring 24.
To release the compression imparted on spring 24 from lancet body 61, hooks 22c and 22d of constraint ends 22a and 22b are released by first and second release means 44a and 44b of channel body 41b of sheath 40 when sheath 40 is pushed in a downward direction on housing 30, i.e., exposed length L1 of housing 30 transitions to exposed length L2 of housing 30 when sheath 40 is forcibly slid along the outside of housing 30. First and second release means 44a and 44b of channel body 41b are preferably sloped members that are arranged to interact with tapered tips 22e and 22f of constraint ends 22a and 22b, respectively. When first and second release means 44a and 44b are pushed into tapered tips 22e and 22f of constraint ends 22a and 22b, the force thereon displaces hooks 22c and 22d of constraint ends 22a and 22b from first restriction means 65a and second restriction means 65b of lancet body 61, thereby releasing the compression from spring 24. Specifically, tapered tips 22e and 22f of constraint ends 22a and 22b travel along the surface of first and second release means 44a and 44b as sheath 40 is pushed downwardly until hooks 22c and 22d are displaced from first restriction means 65a and second restriction means 65b of lancet body 61, respectively. When the compression of spring 24 is released, lancet body 61 and lancet 60 travel in the direction towards upper surface 41 of sheath 40, up and through lancet aperture 42, exposing the sharp tip of lancet 60 above the upper surface of lancet aperture 42.
It should be appreciated that only a downward force imparted on upper surface 41 of sheath 40 (or the upper surface of lancet aperture 42 arranged on upper surface 41 of sheath 40) is needed to actuate lancet 60 through lancet aperture 42. Foundation 10, and its respective gripping mechanisms (described infra) keep safety lancet 100 in a substantially upright position during actuation, such that a patient does not need to use their opposite hand to facilitate actuation of safety lancet 100.
Adverting now to
Gripping means 11, illustrated in
It should be appreciated that gripping means 11 of foundation 10 increases the coefficient of friction between an external surface that gripping means 11 of foundation 10 contacts when safety lancets 100 and 200 are resting on the external surface. Coefficient of friction is understood to mean the ratio of the frictional force resisting the motion of two surfaces in contact to the normal force pressing the two surfaces together. Coefficient of friction is symbolized by mu (μ) and follows the formula provided below, where F is the frictional force and N is the normal force:
A low value of coefficient of friction (μ) indicates that the force required for sliding to occur is less than the force required when the coefficient of friction (μ) is high. If safety lancets 100 and 200 did not include gripping means 11, the coefficient of friction would be represented by μ1. When safety lancets 100 and 200 include gripping means 11, the coefficient of friction is represented by μ2. Thusly, gripping means 11 results in a relationship of:
That is, the coefficient of friction between safety lancets 100 and 200 having gripping means 11 and an external surface is greater than the coefficient of friction between safety lancets 100 and 200 not having gripping means and an external surface. This increase in the coefficient of friction afforded by gripping means 11 of safety lancets 100 and 200 helps to prevent either of the safety lancets from moving should a patient have a condition that cause tremors which could make the lancing process, i.e., actuation of lancet 60, more difficult, e.g., safety lancets 100 and/or 200 falling over during the lancing process from patient tremors.
Adverting now to the alternative embodiment of the present invention, safety lancet 200 is shown in
The following description should be taken in view of
Unlike lancet base 20 of safety lancet 100, lancet base 20 of safety lancet 200 fixes lancet body 61 to lancet base 20. Lancet body 61 is buttressed by first support 25a and second support 25b. Lancet body 61, first support 25a and second support 25b may be integral with lancet base 20 of safety lancet 200. Lancet base 20 of safety lancet 200 includes two springs, 24a and 24b that are arranged to interact with sheath 40. Specifically, springs 24a and 24b impart force onto first channel arm 43a and second channel 43b to keep sheath 40 in a position where the tip of lancet 60 is within sheath 40 as shown in
Lancet body 61 of safety lancet 200 does not include the first and second restriction means 65a and 65b like safety lancet 100 (shown in
The following description should be taken in view of
Channel body 41b of safety lancet 200 includes channel 45a within first channel arm 43a and channel 45b of second channel arm 43b (not shown but identical to safety lancet 100 shown in
The notable difference between safety lancet 100 and safety lancet 200 is the movement of lancet 60, where lancet 60 of safety lancet 100 is arranged to move in an upward direction towards aperture 42 when force is imparted onto sheath 40 and inversely, where lancet 60 is fixed secured to lancet base 20 in safety lancet 200 and is only exposed via a downward force imparted on sheath 40 to expose lancet 60 as shown in
The following description should be taken in view of the aforementioned Figures. Foundation 10 and its gripping means 11, housing 30, lancet base 20 are also known as the static portion of the body of safety lancet 100. Sheath 40 is also known as the dynamic portion of the body of safety lancet 100, where the body of safety lancet 100 comprises both the static portion and the dynamic portion. Foundation 10 and its gripping means 11, housing 30, lancet base 20 are also known as the static portion of the body of safety lancet 200. Sheath 40 is also known as the dynamic portion of the body of safety lancet 200, where the body of safety lancet 200 comprises both the static portion and the dynamic portion.
Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Design Application No. 29/792,642, filed on Apr. 13, 2022, and entitled “Safety Lancet” and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/362,903, filed on Apr. 13, 2022, and entitled “Safety Lancet”. Both applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2022/071872 | 4/22/2022 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63362903 | Apr 2022 | US | |
29792642 | Apr 2022 | US |