Disposable Blood Lancing Device with Plastic Spring Cam Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lancing devices for medical blood sampling are often painful, costly, and not designed for single-use, posing challenges for self-administration by patients, particularly diabetics who need regular blood glucose monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A lancing device featuring a base body with a needle and a needle holding element surrounded by a plastic spring element, allowing independent and automatic extension and retraction of the needle via a cam section, enabling a painless and cost-effective single-use solution for blood sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a needle is used for blood sampling, then blood can be collected, but the process becomes painful
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is pre-loaded into the device in a sterile state, and the device is prepared in advance for single-use. The user simply needs to activate the device by pressing it against the skin, and the needle automatically penetrates and retracts. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex handling during the procedure, reducing pain and ensuring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle penetration and retraction process occurs in a single, rapid motion when the device is activated. The needle quickly penetrates the skin, collects the blood sample, and immediately retracts back into the device housing. This rapid execution minimizes the duration of pain and ensures the blood collection function is completed reliably in one action.
2Reliability
If reusable blood collection systems are used, then cost is reduced, but infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed as a disposable single-use unit with a pre-loaded needle. Each device is manufactured individually in a sterile state, used once for blood collection, and then discarded. This approach ensures sterility and eliminates infection risk, while the simple design and mass production capability keep manufacturing costs low.
3Ease of operation
If a complex mechanism is used for needle retraction, then needle control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle retraction mechanism is designed to automatically return the needle to its initial position within the device housing after blood collection. The spring-loaded mechanism self-activates upon release of the trigger, eliminating the need for manual retraction operations by the user. This improves ease of operation while keeping the mechanism relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex multi-stage mechanical retraction systems found in previous devices are replaced with a simpler spring-loaded automatic return mechanism. The spring stores energy during needle penetration and automatically propels the needle back into the housing after collection, replacing complicated mechanical linkages with a single elastic element.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If manual pressure devices are used for needle insertion, then penetration depth is controlled, but the lancing process becomes painful
Solution Approach 1:
The needle penetration depth is pre-determined by the device design, with the needle length and housing structure configured to allow only the necessary penetration depth for capillary blood collection. The user cannot over-penetrate or under-penetrate, as the mechanical structure enforces the correct depth automatically. This eliminates the need for the user to apply controlled pressure, reducing pain while maintaining precision.
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 facilitates a quick, almost painless lancing process and can be produced in large quantities at a low cost, making it suitable for self-administration by untrained patients, reducing the need for medical visits.
Implementation Method 1
in at least one component (2) arranged in the base body (1) a displaceable or pivotable, preferably arcuate or meandering plastic spring element (4) is arranged for generating a prestress by means of the manual actuation element
Implementation Method 2
This plastic spring element is connected to a cam section (13) that can be displaced or pivoted in the base body (1), with the needle holding element (8) being connected to the cam section (13)
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4c
AI summary
The invention relates to a pricking device for taking blood for medical tests. Said pricking device comprises a base (1; 21; 41; 61), at least one needle (10; 30; 50; 70) which is arranged therein, of which a pointed end (9; 29; 49; 69) can be deployed, and which is provided with a needle retaining element (8; 28; 48; 68) that at least partly embraces the needle (10; 30; 50; 70), and a manual actuating element (12; 32; 52; 72) for inducing a sliding movement (19) of the needle (10; 30; 50; 70) along with the needle retaining element (8; 28; 48; 68) relative to the base (1; 21; 41, 61). A slidable or pivotable plastic spring element (4; 24; 44; 64) is disposed in at least one component (2; 22; 42; 62) located in the base (1; 21; 41; 61) in order to generate a preload by means of the manual actuating element (12; 32; 52; 72) which is connected to a control cam section (13; 33; 53; 73) that is slidable or pivotable within the base (1; 21; 41; 61). The needle retaining element (8; 28; 48; 68) is connected to the control cam section (13; 33; 53; 73) and can autonomously be moved forward and backward (18-20; 38-40) during a releasing process of the plastic spring element (4; 24; 44; 64) by traveling along the sliding or pivoting control cam section (13; 33; 53; 73).