Lancing Device Release Mechanism Prevents Accidental Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lancing devices often accidentally trigger the lancet before it is correctly positioned on the skin, leading to ineffective blood sampling and waste of single-use devices, due to complex and costly designs intended to prevent accidental triggering.
Innovation Solution
A simple, robust lancing device design featuring a housing with a needle assembly, a spring, and a release member with retaining arms that can be moved between primed and deployed positions, including a removable safety member and a shearable needle cover for sterilization and protection, allowing for easy assembly and reduced manufacturing costs.
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 device is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The release member integrates multiple functions: it acts as both the retaining mechanism (through retaining arms that engage with the needle assembly) and the releasing mechanism (through movement to a deployed position). This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components while maintaining reliable prevention of accidental triggering.
Solution Approach 2:
The release member serves multiple purposes within the device: it retains the needle assembly in the primed position, controls the deployment of the needle, and potentially interfaces with the triggering mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while ensuring reliable operation.
2Ease of operation
If the lancet is designed to be triggered on contact with the skin, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability decreases due to accidental triggering
Solution Approach 1:
The device is maintained in an armed/primed position with the needle retained by the release member before actual use. The user must intentionally activate the release mechanism (through deliberate pressing or triggering action) to deploy the needle. This preliminary armed state allows the device to be ready for immediate use while preventing accidental deployment, as the final activation step requires intentional user action.
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 the likelihood of accidental lancet triggering, ensuring reliable blood sampling while being cost-effective and simple to manufacture, with the needle safely retracting after use to prevent reuse and disease transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a spring arranged to bias the needle assembly in a forward direction relative to the release member
Data Source
AI summary
A single use lancing device comprising: a housing (10) defining a cavity; a needle assembly (12) comprising a needle (50) and a needle holder (52) and located within the cavity; a release member (16); and a spring (14) arranged to bias the needle assembly in a forward direction relative to the release member; wherein the release member comprises retaining arms (38) and is movable relative to the housing between a primed position in which the retaining arms are arranged to cooperate with the housing to restrain the needle assembly in a primed position, and a deployed position in which the restraining arms are arranged to release the needle assembly to deploy the needle.