Tissue penetration device

A method of measuring penetration depth of a lancet during a lancing cycle comprising:

• (a) driving the lancet toward the patient's target tissue;
• (b) measuring a contact point of the lancet with the target tissue;
• (c) advancing the lancet into the target tissue to a position of maximum penetration and removing substantially all force imparted from the lancet driver to the lancet at the position of maximum penetration;
• (d) measuring the elastic recoil displacement of the lancet in a proximal direction due to elastic recoil of target tissue after force from lancet driver is removed;
• and
• (e) subtracting the magnitude of elastic recoil displacement from the magnitude of lancet displacement measured from the contact point to the position of maximum penetration.