Body fluid sampling element

Abstract

A sampling element (110) for generating a sample of a body fluid is disclosed. The sampling element (110) comprises a housing (114), the) housing having a chamber (122) with at least one puncture element (112) stored therein. A tip (132) of the puncture element (112) is movable through at least one puncture opening (124) of the housing (114) in order to perforate a skin portion of a user. The sampling element (110) further comprises at least one compression element (150), which is adapted to increase a pressure of the body fluid within a body tissue of the user in a region of puncturing when pressed onto the skin portion of the user. The compression element (150) is movably mounted to the housing (114). The sampling element (110) comprises at least one locking mechanism (168) for releasably locking the compression element (150) in at least two positions. The at least two positions comprise a first position (170) and a second position (172), the second position (172) being offset from the first position (170). In a further aspect of the invention, an analytical device (204) is disclosed, the analytical device (204) being adapted for using the sampling element (110) of the invention.

1 . An analytical device for generating a sample of a body fluid, comprising:
 a sampling element comprising
 a housing comprising a chamber with at least one puncture element stored therein, wherein a tip of the puncture element is movable through at least one puncture opening of the housing in order to perforate a skin portion of a user; 
 at least one compression element, wherein the compression element is adapted to increase a pressure of a body fluid within a body tissue of the user in a region of puncturing when pressed onto the skin portion of the user,
 wherein the compression element comprises a first, ring-shaped protrusion which fully or partially surrounds the puncture opening of the housing and is positioned to contact the skin portion of the user, 
 wherein the compression element is movably mounted to the housing, the compression element having a first position prior to use of the sampling element, and a second position after use of the sampling element; 
 
 a second protrusion positioned to prevent use of the sampling element when the compression element is in the second position; and 
   a locking mechanism configured for releasably locking the compression element in the first position and for non-releasably locking the compression element in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The analytical device of  claim 1  in which the second position is offset from the first position. 
     
     
         3 . The analytical device  claim 1 , wherein the analytical device further comprises at least one detector adapted to detect at least one detection reaction of a test chemical of the sampling element. 
     
     
         4 . The analytical device of  claim 1  and further including at least one coupling element adapted for driving the puncture element to perform a puncture motion. 
     
     
         5 . The analytical device of  claim 4 , wherein the analytical device further comprises at least one trigger adapted to initiate the coupling element to drive the puncture motion, wherein the trigger is adapted to be actuated by the compression element when the compression element is moved from the first position into the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The analytical device of  claim 1  and further comprising at least one release element, the release element being adapted for releasing the locking mechanism of the sampling element in the first position before performing the puncture motion in order to allow for the compression element of the sampling element to be moved from the first position into the second position. 
     
     
         7 . The analytical device of  claim 6 , wherein the release element comprises at least one release element bar adapted to be pushed in between at least a part of the compression element and the housing of the sampling element in order to release the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The analytical device of  claim 6  and further including at least one coupling element adapted for driving the puncture element to perform a puncture motion. 
     
     
         9 . The analytical device of  claim 8 , wherein the coupling element and the release element are driven via a link mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The analytical device of  claim 9 , wherein the link mechanism comprises at least one lever connected both to the coupling element and the release element. 
     
     
         11 . An analytical device for generating a sample of a body fluid, comprising:
 a sampling element comprising
 a housing comprising a chamber with at least one puncture element stored therein, wherein a tip of the puncture element is movable through at least one puncture opening of the housing in order to perforate a skin portion of a user; 
 at least one compression element, wherein the compression element is adapted to increase a pressure of a body fluid within a body tissue of the user in a region of puncturing when pressed onto the skin portion of the user,
 wherein the compression element comprises a first, ring-shaped protrusion which fully or partially surrounds the puncture opening of the housing and is positioned to contact the skin portion of the user, 
 wherein the compression element is movably mounted to the housing, the compression element having a first position prior to use of the sampling element, and a second position after use of the sampling element; 
 
 a second protrusion positioned to prevent use of the sampling element when the compression element is in the second position; and 
   the protrusion being positioned to prevent the sampling element from being received within the analytical device when the compression element is in the second position.   
     
     
         12 . The analytical device of  claim 11  in which the second position is offset from the first position. 
     
     
         13 . The analytical device of  claim 11  and further including at least one coupling element adapted for driving the puncture element to perform a puncture motion. 
     
     
         14 . The analytical device of  claim 13 , wherein the analytical device further comprises at least one trigger adapted to initiate the coupling element to drive the puncture motion, wherein the trigger is adapted to be actuated by the compression element when the compression element is moved from the first position into the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The analytical device  claim 11 , wherein the analytical device further comprises at least one detector adapted to detect at least one detection reaction of a test chemical of the sampling element. 
     
     
         16 . An analytical device for generating a sample of a body fluid, comprising:
 a sampling element comprising
 a housing comprising a chamber with at least one puncture element stored therein, wherein a tip of the puncture element is movable through at least one puncture opening of the housing in order to perforate a skin portion of a user; 
 at least one compression element, wherein the compression element is adapted to increase a pressure of a body fluid within a body tissue of the user in a region of puncturing when pressed onto the skin portion of the user,
 wherein the compression element comprises a first, ring-shaped protrusion which fully or partially surrounds the puncture opening of the housing and is positioned to contact the skin portion of the user, 
 wherein the compression element is movably mounted to the housing, the compression element having a first position prior to use of the sampling element, and a second position after use of the sampling element; 
 
 a second protrusion positioned to prevent use of the sampling element when the compression element is in the second position; and 
   the sampling element being a single-use, disposable sampling element.   
     
     
         17 . The analytical device of  claim 16  in which the second position is offset from the first position. 
     
     
         18 . The analytical device of  claim 16  and further including at least one coupling element adapted for driving the puncture element to perform a puncture motion. 
     
     
         19 . The analytical device of  claim 18 , wherein the analytical device further comprises at least one trigger adapted to initiate the coupling element to drive the puncture motion, wherein the trigger is adapted to be actuated by the compression element when the compression element is moved from the first position into the second position. 
     
     
         20 . The analytical device  claim 16 , wherein the analytical device further comprises at least one detector adapted to detect at least one detection reaction of a test chemical of the sampling element.