Vacuum Lancing System with Adjustable Depth and Manual Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current blood extraction devices, especially vacuum-assisted lancing systems, are inadequate for pain reduction and efficiency when used on areas other than fingers and toes, and are often cumbersome or require maintenance, leading to suboptimal blood collection and reduced patient compliance due to pain sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A portable, maintenance-free vacuum-assisted lancing system with a tubular body, a lancing mechanism, and a vacuum mechanism that includes a piston and a release mechanism for creating and dissipating vacuum, allowing for efficient blood extraction from various skin areas with minimal pain through vibration and adjustable depth control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If vacuum assisted lancing is used on heavily vasculated areas (fingers and toes), then sufficient blood quantity can be extracted, but pain sensitivity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the vacuum pressure levels and lancing depth to optimize blood extraction from alternative sites. By modifying these parameters, the system achieves sufficient blood quantity from less sensitive areas without requiring the high vacuum forces needed for finger lancing, thereby reducing pain while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using traditional finger lancing sites that guarantee blood flow but cause pain, the patent inverts the approach by using alternative body sites (abdomen, arm, leg) that are less sensitive to pain. The system compensates for potentially lower blood flow at these sites through controlled vacuum application, effectively reversing the traditional site selection paradigm.
2Reliability
If mechanized vacuum pumps are used in blood extraction devices, then vacuum assistance is achieved, but portability is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy mechanized vacuum pump from the portable device and replaces it with a simple manual vacuum mechanism. This removal of the bulky mechanical component maintains the essential vacuum assistance function while dramatically improving portability and eliminating maintenance requirements for complex mechanical parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes complex mechanized vacuum pump systems with simpler manual vacuum generation methods. This replacement eliminates the need for heavy motors, batteries, and complex mechanical components while retaining the core vacuum assistance functionality needed for effective blood extraction.
3Reliability
If mechanized vacuum pumps with batteries are used, then vacuum function is provided, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by using manual vacuum generation that requires no external power sources or complex mechanical systems. The device can be operated and maintained by the user themselves without requiring battery replacement, motor repair, or specialized service, dramatically simplifying the maintenance burden while maintaining reliable vacuum function.
4Adaptability or versatility
If lancing depth is increased to extract blood from less sensitive areas, then alternative sites can be used, but pain and tissue damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the lancing depth adjustable rather than fixed. The system allows dynamic adjustment of penetration depth to match the specific anatomical characteristics of different body sites, ensuring sufficient depth to reach blood vessels in alternative locations while preventing excessive penetration that would cause unnecessary pain or tissue damage.
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 system enables efficient and pain-reduced blood extraction from less sensitive areas, improving patient compliance and accuracy in blood glucose monitoring without the need for frequent maintenance or battery replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum mechanism including a piston and a release mechanism for creating and dissipating vacuum
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum mechanism including a piston slideably coupled within the body
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum assisted lancing system for blood extraction can include a tubular body having a vacuum chamber, a lancing mechanism configured to removably couple with a lance, a vacuum mechanism including a piston slideably coupled within the body, a release mechanism for selectively holding the vacuum mechanism in an energized state, and an opening for allowing fluid communication between the vacuum chamber and an atmosphere surrounding the vacuum chamber. The system can include structure for selectively commencing dissipation of the vacuum and a fixed or adjustable depth controller. A method of manipulating a surface for blood extraction can include coupling the lancing system to the surface, blocking the opening, creating a vacuum, moving the lance coupler from a first position distal from the surface to a second position proximal to the surface, maintaining the vacuum for a period of time, and commencing dissipation of the vacuum by unblocking the opening.