Multi-lancet Device Sterility Cap Repositioning Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lancing devices are inconvenient and prone to infection or contamination due to the need for frequent replacement of lancets, which can lead to reduced compliance with testing regimens, especially for individuals requiring multiple blood samples.
Innovation Solution
A compact, multi-use lancing device featuring a lancet carousel with a sterility cap repositioning mechanism and lancet advancing mechanism, allowing for sequential use and automatic advancement of lancets, ensuring sterility and convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple lancets are stored in a multi-lancet device, then the convenience and compliance with testing regimens are improved, but the risk of infection or contamination increases due to potential re-use of lancets
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the lancet storage into multiple separate chambers or positions within a single device, allowing multiple individual lancets to be stored and accessed sequentially. Each lancet remains isolated until use, preventing contamination while providing convenient multi-use functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The device pre-loads multiple sterile lancets into the multi-lancet device before use. Each lancet is prepared and positioned in advance within its own protective chamber, ensuring sterility is maintained until the moment of use, thereby eliminating the need for repeated cap handling during the testing regimen.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If lancets are frequently replaced to maintain sterility, then infection risk is reduced, but the inconvenience and reduced compliance with testing regimens increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-lancet device serves multiple functions: it stores multiple sterile lancets, advances them sequentially, maintains their sterility, and enables repeated blood sampling without requiring external cap handling. This universal device replaces the need for separate cap removal and replacement operations, providing both sterility and convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The device automatically manages the sterility protection mechanism through its internal advance mechanism. Instead of requiring the user to manually remove and replace caps, the device self-manages lancet presentation and protection, advancing the next sterile lancet automatically after each use.
3Ease of operation
If a sterility cap repositioning mechanism is added to automatically manage lancet sterility, then the convenience and compliance are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterility cap repositioning mechanism is merged with the lancet advance mechanism into a single integrated system. The same mechanical action that advances the lancet also manages the sterility cap position, combining two functions into one mechanism and minimizing additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The advance mechanism serves dual purposes: it positions the next lancet for use and simultaneously manages the sterility cap repositioning. This multi-functional mechanism eliminates the need for separate cap handling components, achieving sterility management without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A lancing device has a carousel of lancets removably received in a housing. In exemplary embodiments, the lancing device includes a sterility cap positioning mechanism that removes sterility caps from the lancets for actuation and afterwards replaces the sterility caps onto the lancets. Preferably, the lancing device includes a lancet advancing mechanism that automatically advances sequential lancets of the lancet carousel for charging and actuating, and a drive mechanism for actuating the lancets. Also provided are replacement lancet carousels, which include a cylindrical carrier with axial openings and a plurality of the lancets axially oriented in the openings.