Blood Lancet Device with Segmented Cap for Depth Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blood lancet devices with adjustable piercing depth mechanisms are often complex and difficult to operate with one hand, risking unintentional adjustments of the selected depth.

Innovation Solution

A blood lancet device featuring a cap with an adjusting wheel that is rotatable and longitudinally adjustable, coupled with arm-like segments for controlled operation, and a ratchet mechanism for gradual adjustment, ensuring secure and intuitive depth setting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cap element is arranged integrally on the housing and completely encompasses the outlet opening and lancet holder, then the structure is sealed and secure, but the device becomes difficult to adjust with one hand

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural securityVSAvoidadjustability with one hand
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cap element is divided into a first cap portion that remains fixed on the housing and a second cap portion that can be moved relative to the first portion. This segmentation allows the user to adjust the outlet opening position with one hand while maintaining the structural integrity and seal of the overall cap assembly through the connection between the two portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable stops are used in the front area of the blood lancet device to adjust piercing depth, then the piercing depth can be changed, but the device becomes complex and requires the stop to be fixed in a desired position to be changed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiercing depth adjustmentVSAvoidstop adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment function is merged into the cap element itself through the movable second cap portion, eliminating the need for separate adjustable stops. The user adjusts piercing depth by moving the second cap portion to different positions, which simultaneously changes the outlet opening position and sets the piercing depth, all through a single intuitive motion without requiring additional components or complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the outlet opening is made more or less spaced apart from the rest of the housing by rotating a cap element with a thread, then the piercing depth can be adjusted, but the device becomes complex and difficult to operate with one hand

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiercing depth adjustmentVSAvoidone-handed operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cap element is segmented into fixed and movable portions, allowing the user to adjust the outlet opening by moving the second cap portion without needing to rotate the entire cap assembly. This segmentation enables one-handed operation by isolating the adjustment motion to a smaller, more manageable portion of the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The threading mechanism is extracted from the entire cap assembly and localized to only the second cap portion. This allows the user to perform adjustment by moving just the second cap portion rather than rotating the whole cap, making the device much easier to operate with one hand while still achieving the same piercing depth adjustment function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enables easy, one-handed adjustment of piercing depth with enhanced control and safety, preventing unintentional changes and simplifying the operation process.

Implementation Method 1

The adjusting wheel (104, 204) has an internally threaded section and the cylindrical section is provided with an externally threaded section, the threaded sections being functionally connected to one another in such a way that the adjusting wheel is rotatable and adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the base body, i.e. that the rotary movement of the adjusting wheel is carried out by means of the threaded sections

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP2413799B1Blood lancet device including adjustment of the pricking depth
Publication Date: 2013.07.10 GERRESHEIMER REGENSBURGH GMBH
  • EP2413799B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2413799B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2413799B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The application relates to a blood lancet device (101) comprising a base (103) for arranging device components. Said device components include a lancet holder for holding at least one lancet element, at least some sections of said lancet holder being surrounded by the base (103), and a cap (102) which is coupled to the base (103) and is used to dispose an adjusting wheel (104) on an at least partially cylindrical section of the cap (102) in order to adjust a plurality of projection lengths of the lancet element from the blood lancet device (101). The adjusting wheel (104) is surrounded by arm-type segments extending in the longitudinal direction in such a way that the adjusting wheel (104) can be actuated only in the segment-free circumferential sections in order to be able to adjust the projection length.