Lancet device

Abstract

A lancet device including a housing with an at least partially open interior, a cocking seat moveably coupled with the housing and structured to define an open interior therewith, a lancet with a piercing tip moveably disposed within the open interior, and a biasing assembly engaging the lancet. The cocking seat is structured to engage the lancet and move the lancet against a force of the biasing assembly so as to increase a potential energy of the biasing assembly. A release element is provided to at least partially disengage the lancet from the cocking seat such that the potential energy of the biasing assembly moves the lancet relative to the cocking seat and drives the piercing tip of the lancet at least temporarily into a piercing orientation.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A lancet device comprising: 
 a) a housing, said housing including an at least partially open interior;    b) a lancet moveably disposed at least partially within said housing and including a piercing tip;    c) a biasing assembly engaging said lancet;    d) a cocking seat, said cocking seat structured to engage said lancet and move said lancet against a force of said biasing assembly so as to increase a potential energy of said biasing assembly;    e) a release element structured to at least partially disengage said lancet from said cocking seat such that said potential energy of said biasing assembly drives said piercing tip of said lancet at least temporarily into a piercing orientation; and    f) said cocking seat structured to move said lancet into releasing engagement with said release element.    
     
     
         2 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said lancet includes an engagement assembly interposed between said cocking seat and said lancet and structured to maintain said moving engagement between said lancet and said cocking seat until disengaged by said release element.  
     
     
         3 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 2  wherein said engagement assembly includes an engagement element extending from said lancet into engaging relation with a retention lip on said cocking seat.  
     
     
         4 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 3  wherein said release element is structured to engage said engagement element upon substantial movement of said lancet against said force of said biasing assembly so as to release said engagement element from said engaged relation with said retention lip.  
     
     
         5 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 4  wherein said release element extends at least partially into an interior of said housing and is structured to inwardly bias said engagement element.  
     
     
         6 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 4  further comprising a single use pivot operatively associated with said engagement element, said release element structured pivot said engagement element about said single use pivot so as to release said engagement element from said engaged relation with said retention lip, and so as to result in deformity of said single use pivot sufficient to prevent repositioning of said engagement element in engaging relation with said retention lip.  
     
     
         7 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said cocking seat is structured to engage a body section in a vicinity of a portion to be pierced by said piercing tip, and said housing is structured to engage a support element, such that a decrease in a relative spacing between the body section and the support element results in movement of said cocking seat, and accordingly said lancet, against said force of said biasing assembly.  
     
     
         8 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said biasing assembly includes a spring.  
     
     
         9 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a secondary biasing element between said cocking seat and said lancet and structured to return said lancet to a retracted orientation after said piercing tip has moved into said piercing orientation.  
     
     
         10 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a removable cover element structured to cover said piercing tip prior to use.  
     
     
         11 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 10  wherein said cover element is structured to protrude from said cocking seat so as to be grasped for removal thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 11  wherein said cocking seat is structured to shield said piercing tip of said lancet after said cover assembly is removed and before said lancet is driven into said piercing orientation.  
     
     
         13 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a guide track structured to guide generally linear movement of said lancet into said piercing orientation.  
     
     
         14 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said release element is structured to be exteriorily actuated so as to disengage said lancet from said cocking seat, said rlease element further structured to to disengage said lancet from said cocking seat only after substantial movement of said lancet against said force of said biasing assembly results in positioning of said lancet in a releasable orientation.  
     
     
         15 . A lancet device comprising: 
 a) a housing, said housing including an at least partially open interior;    b) a cocking seat moveably coupled with said housing and structured to define an open interior therewith;    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 cocking seat structured to engage said lancet and move said lancet against a force of said biasing assembly so as to increase a potential energy of said biasing assembly; and    f) a release element structured to at least partially disengage said lancet 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.    
     
     
         16 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 15  wherein said cocking seat structured to move said lancet into releasing engagement with said release element.  
     
     
         17 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 15  wherein said release element is structured to be exteriorily actuated so as to disengage said lancet from said cocking seat.  
     
     
         18 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 15  wherein said cocking seat is structured to move said lancet against said force of said biasing assembly and into a releasable orientation.  
     
     
         19 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 18  wherein said release element is structured to be exteriorily actuated so as to disengage said lancet from said cocking seat only when said lancet is disposed in said releasable orientation.  
     
     
         20 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 19  further comprising a stopper element structured to prevent further movement of said lancet against said force of said biasing assembly upon movement of said lancet into said releasable orientation.  
     
     
         21 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 20  wherein said stopper element is structured to abut said cocking seat.  
     
     
         22 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 15  wherein said lancet comprises a lancet receiving assembly and a lancet body removably coupled thereto, said lancet body containing said piercing tip.  
     
     
         23 . A lancet device as recited in  claim 15  further comprising a single use pivot operatively associated with said cocking seat, said single use 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.