Disposable manual body puncture instrument box

Abstract

A device and system for decorative piercing of body parts is disclosed, comprising a main housing having a thumb grip section along a rear surface, a column mount comprising separate portions held together, slidably engaged within a column mount track within the main housing such that the separate portions remain held together within the column mount track while supporting the column and disengage upon exiting the column mount track to release the column, and a jaw slidably engaged with the main housing by a jaw track. The jaw track is parallel to the column mount track, and the jaw supports a backing platform for piercing with the column when the jaw and main housing are moved together along the jaw track. The jaw comprises a finger grip section disposed below and opposite the backing platform and opposite the thumb grip section of the main housing.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese invention patent application No. 201780051789.5, entitled "Disposable Manual Body Puncture Instrument Box", which was filed on August 22, 2017, has the earliest priority date of August 23, 2016, and has the application number 201780051789.5.

[0002] Cross-citation of related applications

[0003] This application claims priority to the following U.S. provisional patent application, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference: 35 USC §119(e)

[0004] U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 378,638, filed on August 23, 2016, by Reil et al., is entitled "DISPOSABLE HAND OPERATED CARTRIDGE BODY PIERCING INSTRUMENT". Technical Field

[0005] This invention relates to apparatus and methods for decorative piercing of body parts. In particular, this invention relates to apparatus and methods for disposable manual box-type piercing instruments. Background Technology

[0006] In recent years, body piercing has become an increasingly common practice in the United States and around the world. While body piercing is an ancient procedure, it is rapidly becoming routine, often performed by laypeople without medical experience or training. It is also important to understand that mainstream body piercing has evolved to include piercing body sites other than the ear. For example, piercing tissues near fat deposits or sites such as the navel, eyebrow, and lip is now more common than before. Currently, many manual devices are available for safe, hygienic, and user-friendly body piercing. Examples of such systems are disclosed in Reil's U.S. Patent No. 5,496,343 (granted March 5, 1996), Reil's U.S. Patent No. 5,792,170 (granted August 11, 1998), Reil's U.S. Patent No. 5,868,774 (granted February 9, 1999), Reil's U.S. Patent No. 6,599,306 (granted July 29, 2003), and Reil's U.S. Patent No. 6,796,990 (granted September 28, 2004), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0007] Besides manual puncture using a needle, a wide variety of body puncture systems now exist. These systems essentially consist of a stud (also called an earring or puncture earring) comprising a fixed decorative element with a post (also called a stud, pin, or puncture pin) and a nut (sometimes called a retainer) mounted in a case. During the puncture procedure, the body part (e.g., an earlobe) is placed between the post and the nut, and the post is punctured and engaged with the nut by manual manipulation or by operation of a specialized body puncture system (or “gun,” instrument, or assembly). A particular body puncture assembly employs separate supports for the post and nut, which are engaged separately at different locations on the body puncture assembly before puncture.

[0008] For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,527,563 to Reil, issued July 9, 1985, discloses an earring placement system embodying a type of stud setting member in which sterility is maintained under high hygienic conditions during ear piercing, and a stud or post is secured therein, firmly connected to a back clasp or nut of the stud or post. The improved system utilizes a stud gun with components that contact the earlobe, etc., which are disposable. This system allows for the placement of sterile components and the aseptic placement of the stud and back in the ear without requiring human touch, such as the stud and clasp, or replaceable components of the stud gun, thereby reducing the risks involved in ear piercing.

[0009] Additionally, U.S. Patent No. 4,921,494 to Reil, issued May 1, 1990, discloses a disposable stud holder and an integrated earring holder for retaining a clasp for attachment to an earring stud and providing a guide to direct the stud forward into the clasp. The earring holder is used in conjunction with a stud gun having protrusions, allowing the earring holder to be positioned on its end and thus retained.

[0010] One challenge associated with puncture systems using separate carriers for the nut and stud is that each carrier must be separately installed into the puncture system before use. Separate carriers can be small and difficult to handle. The stud and nut must each be securely held in their respective holders and properly aligned for puncture. Furthermore, during installation, each holder must be firmly engaged with the puncture system. In the case of a stud carrier, sometimes the stud may detach from the carrier and fall to the floor. On the other hand, stud carriers can accidentally detach from the puncture instrument. In any such incident, any detached parts must be discarded, as they are no longer sanitary.

[0011] As with any product, the goal is to produce puncture instruments at a reduced cost. Each additional manufacturing step adds to the cost of the final product. For example, conventional body puncture instruments, currently using separate carriers for the nut and post, have a metal flange that is welded to a cylindrical portion for engaging the nut carrier. While welding the flange is cheaper than machining the entire part from a larger stock, eliminating the need for the welded flange would provide a cheaper alternative. However, such solutions require first meeting the requirement of providing a secure engagement and alignment between the nut carrier and the body puncture instrument.

[0012] Inevitably, variations exist between different manufacturing units of any product. Therefore, it is desirable for the product design to accommodate the full range of manufacturing tolerances between the mating parts generated on the manufactured units. Achieving this improves customer satisfaction and reduces returned defective parts. Existing cylindrical carriers for body puncture instruments are designed to retain the column through a press fit (or interference fit) between the maximum outer dimension of the ornament and the inner diameter of the cylindrical wall. This can generate inconsistent retaining forces applied to the column. The retaining forces resulting from such press-fit joints can vary significantly even when the difference between the ornament dimensions and the diameter of the cylindrical notch is only very small. While improved manufacturing tolerances between parts can address this problem, this also involves additional costs. (For example, molded plastic parts are inexpensive but difficult to maintain tight tolerances. Machined parts would be more precise but more expensive.) Therefore, common manufacturing tolerances between the ornament and the molded plastic cylindrical carrier can easily make the joint between the ornament and the carrier too weak or too rigid. In the former case, the column may detach from the carrier during pre-puncture treatment, and in the latter case, the column may be difficult to remove from the carrier after puncture, resulting in discomfort to the recipient.

[0013] In view of the foregoing, there is a need for simple, accurate, repeatable, and safe apparatus and systems for body puncture. Methods and apparatus for puncture systems are needed to allow for the efficient and hygienic loading of separate carriers for nuts and studs. In particular, such methods and apparatus are needed that provide separate carriers for nuts and studs, making them easier to manipulate and reducing the likelihood of sterile parts detaching during loading. Furthermore, such methods and apparatus are needed to reduce manufacturing costs, for example, by reducing the cost of disposable parts. There is a need to design products with consistent performance without requiring precise manufacturing tolerances. Such methods and apparatus are also needed to employ standard components that can be used with different puncture techniques. As described below, the present invention addresses these and other needs. Summary of the Invention

[0014] This document discloses an apparatus and system for decorative punctures of a body part, comprising: a main housing having a thumb gripping section along its rear surface; a post including separate portions held together, slidably engaged within a post track in the main housing such that the separate portions are held together within the post track while supporting the post and disengage upon leaving the post track to release the post; and jaws slidably engaged with the main housing via a jaw track. The jaw track is parallel to the post track, and the jaws support a backing platform for puncturing the post together as the jaws and main housing move together along the jaw track. The jaws include a finger gripping section disposed below and opposite to the backing platform and opposite to the thumb gripping section of the main housing.

[0015] A typical embodiment of the invention includes a body puncture instrument cartridge comprising a main housing having a thumb grip section along its rear surface; a post supporting a post and slidably engaging with a post track within the main housing; and jaws slidably engaging with the main housing via jaw tracks. The jaw tracks are parallel to the post tracks and support a backing platform for puncturing the body portion with the post as the jaws and main housing move together along the jaw tracks. The jaws include a finger grip section disposed below and opposite the backing platform and the thumb grip section of the main housing. The post may include a tapered hook for clutchless puncture, and the finger grip section and thumb grip section may each include a series of protrusions or ridges to improve grip.

[0016] In some embodiments, the jaws may include a reinforcement disposed behind the finger gripping section. The reinforcement may include a longitudinal reinforcement extending from the finger gripping section parallel to the jaw tracks into the main housing. The reinforcement may also form an additional track between the main housing and the jaws. The reinforcement stabilizes the movement of the jaws and the main housing during puncture.

[0017] In a further embodiment, the column base may include a separate portion that remains together to support the column while being slidably engaged with a column base track within the main housing, such that the separate portion disengages after leaving the column base track to release the column.

[0018] A spring is typically positioned between the main housing and the jaws to prevent the jaws and main housing from moving together. The jaws may include a latch that engages with a jaw track of the main housing against the spring, which forces the jaws and main housing apart. Additionally, the jaws may include a push latch that slides across the post during puncture as the jaws move with the main housing to engage the back end of the post and disengage the post from its track after puncture, when the spring forces the jaws apart from the main housing.

[0019] In some embodiments, the backing platform may include a surface for supporting the user's body portion in a region surrounding the dorsal side of the puncture site and a through-hole aligned with the post. The through-hole may extend vertically to accommodate some vertical movement of the post during puncture.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the backing platform may accommodate a clutch disposed in a vertical slot to engage the column during puncture and then slide out of the vertical slot.

[0021] Similarly, a typical method embodiment of the present invention includes a method of piercing a body portion, comprising the following steps: arranging the body portion against a backing platform of jaws, the jaws being slidably engaged with a main housing having jaw tracks, the body portion being located between the jaws and a post supported in a post base, and the post base being slidably engaged with a post base track within the main housing parallel to the jaw tracks; placing one or more fingers of a user's hand across a finger gripping section, the finger gripping section being located below and opposite to the backing platform of the jaws, and having a reinforcement aligned parallel to the jaw tracks behind the finger gripping section; arranging the user's thumb across the thumb gripping section along the rear surface of the main housing; and applying pressure between the thumb and one or more fingers to move the jaws and the main housing together along the jaw tracks, such that the post pierces the body portion against the backing platform of the jaws. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Now refer to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals always denote corresponding parts: Figure 1A A side view of an exemplary manual body puncture kit embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 1B Another view of an exemplary manual body puncture kit embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 1C A bottom view of an exemplary manual puncture kit embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 1D A top view of an exemplary manual puncture box embodiment of the present invention is shown, illustrating the column carrier opened after puncture; Figure 1E A top view of an exemplary manual body puncture box embodiment of the present invention is shown, illustrating the column carrier opened after puncture; Figure 1F A top front view of an exemplary manual puncture box embodiment of the present invention is shown, illustrating the column carrier opened after puncture; Figure 1G A cross-sectional view of an exemplary manual body puncture kit embodiment of the present invention, ready for use, is shown; Figure 1HA cross-sectional view of an exemplary manual body puncture kit embodiment of the present invention is shown, which is compressed in use to puncture the body portion; Figure 1I A cross-sectional view of an exemplary manual body puncture box embodiment of the present invention is shown, which is released in use to eject the column base; Figure 2A A front perspective view of an exemplary column base for an embodiment of the manual body puncture box of the present invention is shown; Figure 2B A rear perspective view of an exemplary column base for an embodiment of the manual body puncture box of the present invention is shown; Figure 3A A side view of an exemplary conical barb post used in conjunction with an embodiment of the manual body puncture kit of the present invention is shown; Figure 3B A rear perspective view of an exemplary conical hook post used with an embodiment of the manual body puncture box of the present invention is shown; Figure 3C A front perspective view of an exemplary conical hook post used with an embodiment of the manual body puncture box of the present invention is shown; Figure 4A A front perspective view of an exemplary main housing for an embodiment of the manual body puncture box of the present invention is shown; Figure 4B A rear perspective view of an exemplary main housing for an embodiment of the manual body puncture box of the present invention is shown; Figure 4C A front view of an exemplary main housing for an embodiment of the manual body puncture box of the present invention is shown; Figure 5A A left rear perspective view of an exemplary jaw for an embodiment of the manual body puncture box of the present invention is shown; Figure 5B A right rear perspective view of an exemplary jaw for an embodiment of the manual body puncture box of the present invention is shown; Figure 5C A side view of an exemplary jaw for an embodiment of the manual body puncture kit of the present invention is shown; and; Figure 6 An embodiment of the manual body puncture box of the present invention is shown, including jaws with optional gripping portions; and Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for operating an embodiment of the manual body puncture kit of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] In the following embodiments, including preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the invention, and specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced are illustrated by way of illustration. It should be understood that other embodiments and structural changes may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0024] 1.0 Disposable manual box-type puncture instrument

[0025] As described above, various embodiments of the present invention are designed for use with and surround a body puncture box for decorative punctures of body sites. Embodiments of the present invention are particularly suitable for puncturing the nose, but as those skilled in the art will understand, they can be used for puncturing virtually any body site. Embodiments of the present invention provide a manual, compact, and disposable device. Typically, the device is in a sealed, sterile package. The box is pre-loaded with a stud (which includes stud decorations), making it easy to operate for body site punctures and then discard.

[0026] Figures 1A to 1F Various views of an exemplary manual body puncture kit embodiment of the present invention are shown. The body puncture instrument kit 100 includes a main housing 102 having a thumb grip section 104 along its rear surface. A post seat 106 supporting a post 108 is slidably engaged with a post seat track 110 within the main housing 102. Jaws 112 are slidably engaged with the main housing 102 via jaw track 114 parallel to the post seat track 110. As the jaws 112 and the main housing 102 move together along the jaw track 114, the jaws 112 support a backing platform 116 for puncturing the body site using the post 108. The jaws 112 also include a finger grip section 118 disposed below and opposite the backing platform 116, and opposite the thumb grip section 104 of the main housing 102.

[0027] Typically, embodiments of the invention can be made from sterile injection-molded plastic materials; however, any other suitable materials are possible. Any separate molded components for the main housing 102, jaws 112, and post 106 can be formed from opaque plastic. However, it is desirable to mold the post 106 with transparent plastic so that the stud decoration is visible within the post 106 before use. Nevertheless, embodiments of the disposable manual cassette puncture device of the invention can also be manufactured from machined materials (e.g., preferably metals, molding materials, as they are inexpensive to produce and are a priority for any disposable product). Embodiments of the invention are preferably provided in sealed, sterile bubble wrap, such that the device is used once to provide puncture via a pre-installed post and then discarded.

[0028] Figures 1G to 1ICross-sectional views of an exemplary manual body puncture cartridge embodiment of the present invention are shown at different operational stages. The user positions the (other person's) body portion 120 against the backing platform 116. The jaws 112 and the main housing 102 move together with the user's hand, causing the post 108 to puncture the body portion 120. After this, the user allows the jaws 112 and the main housing 102 to separate, causing the post 108 to be released from the post seat 106 and remain through the body portion 120.

[0029] Figure 1G A cross-sectional view of a disposable manual body puncture kit 100 ready for use is shown. As shown, a post 108 is supported within a post seat 106, which is located within a post seat track 110 of a main housing 102. A body portion 120 (e.g., an earlobe, nostril, umbilical flap, etc.) is positioned against a backing platform 116 of a jaw 112. The jaw 112 is slidably engaged in a jaw track 114 of the main housing. A spring 130 is disposed within the main housing 102, forcing the main housing 102 and the jaw 112 apart to prevent the jaw 112 from moving together with the main housing 102. An edge-locked latch 126 attached to the jaw 112 and abutting against an edge within the main housing 102 prevents the jaw 112 from being pushed out of the jaw track 114 of the main housing 102 by the force of the spring 130.

[0030] Figure 1H A cross-sectional view of an exemplary manual body piercing cartridge 100 of the present invention, compressed to pierce body portion 120, is shown. To achieve this, one or more fingers, such as the index finger of a user's hand, are positioned across a finger gripping section 118, which is located below and opposite to the backing platform 116 of the jaws 112, while the user's thumb is positioned across a thumb gripping section 104 along the rear surface of the main housing 102. Pressure is applied between the thumb and one or more fingers to move the jaws 112 and the main housing 102 together along jaw tracks 114, such that a post 108 pierces body portion 120 against the backing platform 116 of the jaws 112. After piercing body portion 120, the hooked tip of the post 108 enters a hole in the backing platform 116 of the jaws 112. A spring 130 is compressed under the pressure of the user's hand, forcing the jaws 112 and the main housing 102 together. Additionally, a push latch 124, including a cantilever spring configuration with an upward ramp, is attached to jaws 112 and has been moved back to the base 106 and popped out behind it.

[0031] Importantly, the jaws 112 include a reinforcement 128 located behind the finger gripping section 118, which is aligned parallel to the jaw track 114 and also enters the main housing 102. The reinforcement 128 stabilizes the movement of the jaws and the main housing during puncture. Typically, the reinforcement includes a longitudinal reinforcement extending parallel to the jaw track 114 from the finger gripping section 118 into the main housing 102; however, other configurations are possible, as those skilled in the art will understand. The width of the reinforcement 128 matches a receiving slot in the main housing 102 to serve as an additional jaw track. Thus, this pair of offset jaw tracks ensures stable alignment movement of the post 108, preventing twisting of the jaws 112 and the backing platform 116.

[0032] Figure 1I A cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the manual body puncture cartridge 100 of the present invention is shown, which is released to eject the post 106. When the user's hand is released, pressure from the spring 130 forces the jaws 112 and the main housing 102 apart. As the jaws 112 move along the jaw track 114 under the force of the spring 130, the push latch 124, which was previously engaged behind the post 106, now pushes the post 106 forward and ejects it from the post track 110. As described in detail below, the post 106 comprises two parts that remain together to close and support the post 108 only when the post 108 is within the post track 110. Once the post 106 leaves the track 110, the two parts of the post 106 separate and release the post 108 from the puncture body portion 120.

[0033] 2.0 Finger and thumb grip section

[0034] Another important feature of the new cartridge is the inclusion of grip sections at opposite ends. These grip sections allow the user to incorporate a series of protrusions or ridges into the finger grip section and thumb grip section respectively to improve grip. It should be noted that the device can be used and operated with the user's hand inverted, with the thumb and fingers spanning the finger grip section 118 and thumb grip section 104 respectively. Thus, the distinct grip sections 118 and 104 are identified, as they are preferred but not necessarily required. Including the grip sections directly on the cartridge 100 allows the user to perform punctures without needing to load the cartridge into a separate instrument or "gun." The cartridge 100 is dispensed from sterile packaging, used once for puncture of the body site 120, and then discarded. This single-use form of the cartridge 100 reduces the risk of infection.

[0035] 3.0 Column base and column with tapered hook

[0036] Embodiments of the invention employ a post 108 supported by a post base 106, which slidably engages with a post base track 110 within a main housing 102. Preferably, the post base 106 includes a separate portion that remains together as long as the post base 106 is slidably engaged within the post base track 110, but disengages after leaving the post base track 110 to release the post 108. For example, the separate portion may include two halves 202A, 202B, each half 202A, 202B having a half slot 206A, 206B for a stud decoration of the post 108, which fit together to completely surround the stud decoration of the post 108 and allow the pointed post tip to extend from the post base 106. Additionally, the two halves can be further aligned by a pin 204A on one half and a mating slot 204B on the other half, the pin and the mating slot engaging each other when assembled around the post 108.

[0037] Figure 2A and Figure 2B A perspective view of an exemplary pillar 106 for an embodiment of the manual puncture cartridge 100 of the present invention is shown. Separate halves 202A, 202B are separated along a vertical plane such that each half 202A, 202B includes a semi-slot 206A, 206B for supporting the pillar 108 when they are coupled together within a pillar track 110 within the main housing 102. To aid alignment of the two halves 202A, 202B when they are joined, mating pins 204A and holes (slots) 204B are provided on each of the two halves 202A, 202B on the vertical plane separating the two halves. The pins 204A and holes 204B may be located on the left and right sides or the right and left sides of the pillar 106.

[0038] Figures 3A to 3C Various views of an exemplary conical hook post for use with an embodiment of the manual body puncture cartridge of the present invention are shown. The cartridge embodiment of the present invention can employ any suitable post 108 design. Post 108 includes a decorative element 302 at one end, which is surrounded in a slot formed by the semi-slots 206A and 206B of the post base 106. The semi-slots 206A and 206B also form channels supporting the shaft 304 of post 108, which extends from the post base 106 toward the backing platform 116 of the jaws 112.

[0039] The dot 306 at the opposite end of shaft 304 can be any suitable form of hook tip. For example, dot 306 can include a cannula, a tapered tip, a hook, or any other known dot for body puncture. In a notable example, dot 306 includes a tapered hook with a tapered end that expands to a diameter wider than the diameter of shaft 304. An inverted tapered section (having the same taper angle as the tapered end) reverses the diameter from the widest diameter to the diameter of shaft 304. This tapered hook shape allows for body puncture (e.g., through the nostril) and retention in place without a gripper to hold the tip. The widened tapered hook prevents the post from dislodging during puncture without a gripper.

[0040] 4.0 Main Shell Rail

[0041] Figures 4A to 4C Various views of an exemplary main housing 102 for an embodiment of the manual body puncture cartridge of the present invention are shown. The main housing 102 includes a pillar rail 110 and a jaw rail 114. Additionally, the main housing 102 includes a recess 404 for receiving a reinforcement 128 secured to the jaws 112, which serves as an additional rail as described above. It should be noted that the shapes of the pillar rail 110, jaw rail 114, and recess 404 can be varied. It is only necessary that they present a protruding cross-section that matches the respective component portions (i.e., the pillar 106, jaws 112, and reinforcement 128 they receive) to provide slidable engagement with them.

[0042] As previously described, jaws 112 include a latch 126 for engaging jaws 112 with jaw tracks 114 of the main housing 102 against a spring 130, which forces jaws 112 and the main housing 102 apart. The latch 126 is designed to engage with jaw tracks 114 of the main housing 102. Figure 1I The horizontal edge of the jaw track 114 at the location of the latch 126 shown engages. Additionally, the main housing 102 includes a spring engagement pin 402 for securing the cylindrical compression spring 130 in place during assembly of the housing 100. This mates with the spring engagement slot 502 of the jaw 112 described below.

[0043] 5.0 Jaws and Backing Platform

[0044] Figures 5A to 5CVarious views of exemplary jaws for an embodiment of the manual body puncture cartridge of the present invention are shown. The backing platform 116 may include a surface for supporting the user body portion in a region surrounding the dorsal side of the puncture site and a through-hole 122 aligned with the post 108. The through-hole 122 may extend vertically to accommodate some vertical movement of the post 108 during puncture. In some cases, the jaws 112 may include a reinforcing beam or reinforcement 128 disposed behind and aligned with the finger grip section 118 to stabilize movement of the jaws 112 and the main housing 102 during puncture.

[0045] Figure 6 An embodiment of the manual body puncture cartridge of the present invention is shown, which includes jaws 112 with optional gripping portions 602. As shown, a backing platform 116 optionally accommodates the gripping portion 602 disposed in a vertical slot to engage the post 108 during puncture and then slide out of the vertical slot. Spring fingers 604 are disposed behind the gripping portion 602 to apply a small amount of pressure to the gripping portion 602 to prevent it from slipping off until the gripping portion 602 engages with the post 108. In this example, the surface of the gripping portion 602 partially serves as the backing platform 116. Any suitable known gripping portion 602 may be adapted to function in conjunction with the jaws 112 of the device 100.

[0046] It is worth noting that the jaws 112 may include a push latch 124 for sliding over the post seat 106 to engage the back end of the post seat 106 as the jaws 112 and the main housing 102 move together during puncture. As the spring 130 forces the jaws 112 and the main housing 102 apart after puncture, the push latch 124 pushes the post seat 106 out of the post seat track 110.

[0047] 6.0 Manual Body Puncture Box Method

[0048] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for operating an embodiment of the manual body puncture kit of the present invention.

[0049] Method 700 begins in step 702 with the body portion positioned against the backing platform of the jaws, the jaws slidably engaged with the main housing via jaw tracks, and the body portion positioned between the jaws and a post supported in a post base, the post base being slidably engaged with a post base track within the main housing parallel to the jaw tracks. In step 704, one or more fingers of the user's hand are placed across a finger gripping section positioned below and opposite the backing platform of the jaws, with a reinforcement aligned parallel to the jaw tracks behind the finger gripping section. In step 706, the user's thumb is placed across the thumb gripping section along the rear surface of the main housing. In step 708, pressure is applied between the thumb and one or more fingers to move the jaws and main housing together along the jaw tracks, causing the post to pierce the body portion against the backing platform of the jaws.

[0050] This summarizes the description including preferred embodiments of the invention. The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the foregoing teachings.

[0051] The scope of this invention is not intended to be limited by this specific embodiment, but rather by the appended claims. The foregoing description, examples, and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the apparatus and methods of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from its scope, the invention exists within the appended claims.

Claims

1. A body puncture instrument box, comprising: The main housing has a thumb grip section along its rear surface; A column base that supports a column and is slidably engaged with a column base track within the main housing; as well as The jaws are slidably engaged with the main housing via a jaw track parallel to the column base track. When the jaws and the main housing move together along the jaw track, the jaws support a backing platform for piercing the body portion using the column. The jaws include a finger gripping section located below and opposite to the backing platform and opposite to the thumb gripping section of the main housing.

2. The body puncture instrument box according to claim 1, wherein the jaws include a reinforcement disposed behind the finger gripping section.

3. The body puncture instrument box according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcement includes a longitudinal reinforcement extending from the finger gripping section parallel to the jaw track into the main housing.

4. The body puncture instrument box according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcement forms an additional track between the main housing and the jaws.

5. The body puncture instrument cartridge of claim 2, wherein the reinforcement stabilizes the movement of the jaws and the main housing during puncture.

6. The body puncture instrument cartridge of claim 1, wherein the column base includes a separating portion that remains together to support the column and simultaneously slidably engages with a column base track within the main housing, such that the separating portion disengages after leaving the column base track to release the column.

7. The body puncture instrument box according to claim 1, further comprising a spring disposed between the main housing and the jaws to prevent the jaws and the main housing from moving together.

8. The body puncture instrument cartridge of claim 7, wherein the jaws include a latch for engaging the jaws with the jaw track of the main housing against the spring, the spring forcing the jaws and the main housing apart.

9. The body puncture instrument cartridge of claim 7, wherein the jaws include a push latch for sliding over the post to engage the back end of the post when the jaws and the main housing move together during puncture, and for disengaging the post from the post track after puncture when the spring forces the jaws to separate from the main housing.

10. The body puncture instrument box of claim 1, wherein the backing platform includes a surface for supporting the user's body portion in a region surrounding the dorsal side of the puncture site and a hole through the backing platform aligned with the post.

11. The body puncture instrument cartridge of claim 10, wherein the through hole extends vertically to accommodate some vertical movement of the column during puncture.

12. The body puncture instrument box according to claim 1, wherein the post includes a conical hook for puncture without a gripping part.

13. The body puncture instrument box of claim 1, wherein the backing platform accommodates a gripper disposed in a vertical slot to engage the post during puncture and then slide out of the vertical slot.

14. The body puncture instrument cartridge of claim 1, wherein the finger gripping section and the thumb gripping section each include a series of protrusions or ridges for improving grip.

15. A method for puncturing a body part, comprising the following steps: The body portion is arranged against the backing platform of the jaws, the jaws being slidably engaged with the main housing via jaw tracks, and the body portion is located between the jaws and a column supported in a column base, and the column base is slidably engaged with a column base track within the main housing parallel to the jaw tracks. One or more fingers of the user's hand are arranged across a finger gripping section, the finger gripping section being located below and opposite to the backing platform of the jaws, and having a reinforcement behind the finger gripping section that is aligned parallel to the jaw track. The user's thumb is positioned across the thumb grip section along the rear surface of the main housing; as well as Applying pressure between the thumb and one or more fingers causes the jaws and the main housing to move together along the jaw track, such that the post abuts against the backing platform of the jaws to pierce the body portion.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the reinforcement forms an additional track between the main housing and the jaws.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: A spring is provided between the main housing and the jaws to prevent the jaws and the main housing from moving together.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the jaws include a latch for engaging the jaws with the jaw track of the main housing against the spring, thereby forcing the jaws and the main housing apart.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the jaws include a push latch for sliding over the post to engage the back end of the post as the jaws and the main housing move together during puncture, and for disengaging the post from the post track after puncture when the spring forces the jaws to separate from the main housing.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the backing platform includes a surface for supporting the user's body portion in a region surrounding the dorsal side of the puncture site and a hole through the backing platform aligned with the post.

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