Push-to-charge mechanism for lancing device

A lancing device for propelling a lancet through a lancing stroke, the lancing device comprising:

• a housing including an axial bore;
• a drive mechanism including a lancet carrier and a drive spring, the lancet carrier holding the lancet and translatable axially within the housing through the lancing stroke, and the drive spring adapted to propel the lancet carrier through the lancing stroke;
• and
• a charging mechanism adapted to retract the lancet carrier to a charged position and including a charging button having a first rack gear, a reverse charging member having a second rack gear, and a pinion gear rotatably engaged between the first and second rack gears, and wherein movement of the charging button in a first axial direction causes rotation of the pinion gear, which in turn causes movement of the reverse charging member and lancet carrier coupled thereto in a second axial direction generally opposite the first axial direction to retract the lancet carrier to a charged position,
• wherein the charging button includes an orifice allowing the first rack gear to extend through the housing when the charging button is actuated.