Lancet Removal Tool

Abstract

A lancet removal tool 26 comprises an elongate hollow body 28 having an opening 32 at one end. The opening 32 is bounded by resilient fingers 36 which can flex to expand the opening 32 to engage the body 16 of the lancet 14 . Withdrawal of the tool 26 after engagement with the lancet body 16 causes the lancet 14 to be removed from the lancet device. Subsequently, the lancet 14 can be moved from the opening 32 into the interior of the tool 26 . The tool 26 and the removal procedure enables lancets 14 to be removed without risk of injury or infection from contact with the contaminated needle 18 of the lancet 14.

1 . A lancet removal tool for removing a lancet from a lancet device, the lancet having a lancet body defining a transverse lancet body dimension of a predetermined size, the lancet removal tool comprising a hollow body including a resilient element, the hollow body having an opening defined at least partially by the resilient element, wherein the opening is expandable against a resilient action of the resilient element from a rest condition, in which a transverse dimension of the opening is smaller than the predetermined size of the transverse lancet body dimension, to an expanded condition, in which the opening is sufficiently large to receive the lancet body, and wherein the lancet removal tool is arranged and configured to receive the entire lancet within the hollow body and to prevent excessive tilting of the lancet. 
     
     
         2 . The lancet removal tool as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the resilient element comprises a finger. 
     
     
         3 . The lancet removal tool as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the hollow body includes a plurality of resilient elements. 
     
     
         4 . The lancet removal tool as claimed in  claim 3 , in which two of the resilient elements are disposed opposite each other. 
     
     
         5 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The lancet removal tool as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the lancet removal tool is arranged and configured to receive a plurality of lancets within the hollow body and to prevent excessive tilting of each of the plurality of lancets. 
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The lancet removal tool as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the hollow body is provided with a removable end cap at the end of the hollow body away from the opening. 
     
     
         13 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The lancet removal tool as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the removable end cap comprises a cylindrical center bore having a smaller diameter than that of the of hollow body. 
     
     
         19 . The lancet removal tool as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the removable end cap is releasably fitted to the hollow body. 
     
     
         20 . The lancet removal tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resilient element increases in thickness in the direction towards the opening of the lancet removal tool.