Dermal lance with nerve stimulus
OwnerJames Braig, David Callicoatinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In some arrangements, a dermal lance apparatus is adapted to pierce a person's skin to obtain bodily fluids for medical testing. The lance can stimulate nerves in the person's skin to reduce or eliminate pain during the lancing procedure. After the nerves are stimulated, the lance can form the opening at a lance point. The lance can use mechanical motion to stimulate the person's skin. Alternatively, the lance can affect the temperature of the person's skin for effective stimulation.
Claims20
An apparatus for forming an opening at a lancing point located on the skin of a person, said apparatus comprising:
- a generally rigid frame;
- a lance connected to said frame and configured to act along a line of action, said lancing point being located at the intersection of said line of action and the skin of the person, upon placement of the apparatus in operative engagement with the skin;
- and
- a stimulator connected to said frame and configured to stimulate the skin at said lancing point while said lance is not acting on said lancing point.
An apparatus for drawing a bodily fluid from the skin of a person, said apparatus comprising:
- a generally rigid frame;
- a lance operatively connected to said frame, said lance defining a line of action;
- and
- a stimulator operatively connected to said frame, said stimulator being movable from a first position on said line of action to a second position offset from said line of action.
A method of forming an opening at a lancing point on the skin of a person, said method comprising:
- positioning a lancing apparatus in operative engagement with the skin of the person;
- with said lancing apparatus, stimulating the skin at the lancing point;
- and
- after said stimulation, lancing the skin at the lancing point while said lancing apparatus remains in operative engagement with the skin of the person.
An apparatus for stimulating a lancing point located on the skin of the patient, said apparatus comprising:
- a generally rigid housing;
- a lance connected to the housing and operable to form an opening at said lancing point;
- and
- a thermal stimulator connected to the housing and configured to change the temperature of the skin at the lancing point.
An apparatus for forming an opening at a lancing point located on the skin of a person, said apparatus comprising:
- a generally rigid frame;
- a lance connected to said frame and configured to act along a line of action, said lancing point being located at the intersection of said line of action and the skin of the person, upon placement of the apparatus in operative engagement with the skin;
- and
- means for stimulating the skin at said lancing point while said lance is not acting on said lancing point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.