Single-Use Lancet Release Assembly to Prevent Accidental Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lancing devices face issues with accidental triggering of the lancet, leading to ineffective blood sampling and high manufacturing complexity, making them unsuitable for mass market use.
Innovation Solution
A single-use lancing device with a housing, needle assembly, and a release member featuring a cap and spring mechanism, including latching and stopping mechanisms to prevent accidental activation and simplify assembly, ensuring correct positioning and easy disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complicated arrangements for retaining and releasing the lancet are included to prevent accidental triggering, then the reliability of the lancing device is improved, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The release member integrates multiple functions into a single component: it holds the needle assembly, provides the triggering interface, and incorporates the spring mechanism. This merging reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining reliable prevention of accidental triggering through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The release member serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it acts as a holder for the needle assembly, a trigger mechanism for controlled release, and a spring-loaded safety device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, reducing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If spring activated triggering mechanisms are used to prevent accidental triggering, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to difficulty in retaining components during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The needle assembly is nested within the release member, and the spring is nested within the same structure. This nested arrangement allows all components to be retained within a single housing structure, simplifying the assembly process by eliminating the need for separate retention mechanisms for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The release member cap acts as an intermediary component that facilitates assembly by providing a interface for inserting and securing the release member with the needle assembly and spring. This mediator component makes the assembly process easier by providing clear insertion paths and retention points.
3Ease of operation
If the lancing device is designed to be triggered on contact with the skin to simplify operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to increased risk of accidental triggering
Solution Approach 1:
The release member is designed to be dynamic, allowing it to move between a retained position (preventing triggering) and a released position (allowing needle deployment). This dynamic design enables simple operation through skin contact while maintaining reliability by requiring a specific motion threshold to activate the spring-loaded mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The triggering mechanism changes the parameter of force threshold: normal contact with the skin does not generate sufficient force to trigger the spring-loaded release member, but deliberate pressing action exceeds this threshold. This parameter change allows simple operation while preventing accidental activation from minor contacts.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively reduces accidental lancet triggering, simplifies assembly, and ensures proper deployment of the needle, making it robust and cost-effective for widespread use.
Implementation Method 1
a spring arranged to bias the needle assembly in a forward direction relative to the release member
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a single use lancing device comprising: a housing defining a cavity; a needle assembly comprising a needle and a needle holder, the needle assembly located within the cavity; a release member comprising: a body portion, the body portion having an aperture passing through the body portion along a central longitudinal axis of the release member from a rear opening to a forward opening; and retaining arms; a release member cap configured to be received by the rear opening such that the release member cap at least partially fits within the aperture; and a spring arranged to bias the needle assembly in a forward direction relative to the release member.