Lancing Device Depth-Adjust Mechanism With Soft Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lancing devices with depth-adjustment mechanisms are prone to accidental setting changes and cause increased vibration and pain, especially for users with limited dexterity.
Innovation Solution
A depth-adjustment mechanism featuring a soft stop for the lancet carrier, utilizing an adjustably-positioned stop surface and a resiliently deflectable leg that engages the stop surface to reduce vibration, allowing for adjustable penetration depth without instant stops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a depth-adjustment mechanism with movable stops is used to control lancet penetration depth, then penetration depth control is improved, but vibration and impact force increase causing more pain to the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a resiliently deflectable leg as an intermediary element between the lancet carrier and the stop surface. This leg absorbs the impact when the lancet carrier reaches the extended position, deflecting against the stop surface to provide a soft stop that reduces vibration and impact force transmitted to the patient, while still achieving precise penetration depth control through the adjustable stop surface position.
Solution Approach 2:
The resiliently deflectable leg is pre-positioned to engage the stop surface before the lancet carrier completes its forward motion. This beforehand cushioning allows the leg to gradually absorb the kinetic energy of the advancing lancet carrier, converting the sharp impact into a controlled deceleration that minimizes pain and vibration during the lancing procedure.
2Manufacturing precision
If endcaps are used for depth adjustment, then penetration depth control is improved, but the mechanism becomes susceptible to accidental manipulation and is difficult to operate for people with limited dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotary dial with an eccentric stop surface that can be rotated to different angular positions to adjust penetration depth. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows users to easily change depth settings by simple rotation, and the eccentric geometry ensures that each rotational position corresponds to a specific depth setting, maintaining precision while improving ease of operation for users with limited dexterity.
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 mechanism provides a less painful lancing experience by reducing vibration through a soft stop mechanism, allowing for deeper or shallower penetration adjustments based on user preference.
Implementation Method 1
a resiliently deflectable leg that engages the stop surface and the lancet carrier. The lancet carrier engages and deflects the leg in a forward phase of a lancing stroke, and then the deflecting leg engages the stop surface to stop the forward motion of the lancet carrier
Implementation Method 2
produce a soft (non-instant) stop of the lancet carrier at the extended position to reduce vibration for a less painful lancing experience
Data Source
AI summary
A lancing device with a depth-adjustment mechanism including an adjustably-positioned stop surface, a movable control member operably coupled thereto, and a resiliently deflectable leg that engages the stop surface and a lancet carrier to provide a soft stop for the lancet carrier. The lancet carrier deflects the leg in a forward phase of the lancing stroke, and then the leg contacts the stop surface to stop the forward motion of the lancet carrier at an extended lancing position. The stop surface can be adjustably positioned so that different portions thereof are engaged to stop the lancet carrier at deeper or shallower positions. In example embodiments, the depth-adjustment mechanism includes a rotary dial and an extension arm of the leg, with the dial including a rotary wheel and a rotary shaft extending axially therefrom, the wheel forming the movable adjustment member, and the shaft forming the adjustably positioned stop surface.