Method and apparatus for penetrating tissue

A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site, the system comprising:

• a drive force generator
• a plurality of penetrating members operatively coupled to said force generator, said force generator moving each of said members along a path out of a housing having a penetrating member exit, into said tissue site, stopping in said tissue site, and withdrawing out of said tissue site;
• a plurality of analyte sensors, each of an analyte sensor of the plurality of analyte sensors being associated with a penetrating member;
• a flexible support member coupling said penetrating members to define an array, said support member being movable and configured to move each of said penetrating members to a launch position associated with said force generator.
• wherein said penetrating member is an elongate member without a molded attachment.
• a coupler on said force generator configured to engage at least a portion of said elongate portion of the penetrating member and drive said member along a path into a tissue site and withdrawn from a tissue site;
• and
• a user interface coupled to a processor, wherein in response to an input at the user interface by a user the processor provides an input to the drive force generator of a lancing penetration parameter selected from at least one of, penetrating member depth of penetration, velocity, braking, or retraction.

A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site, the system comprising:

• an electrically powered drive force generator;
• a plurality of cartridges each containing a penetrating member, each of said cartridges coupled together to define a flexible array;
• a plurality of analyte sensors, each of an analyte sensor of the plurality of analyte sensors being associated with a penetrating member;
• a transport device for moving each of said cartridges into a launch position operatively coupling said penetrating member to the force generator.
• a flexible support member coupling said cartridges to define an array, said support member being movable and configured to move each of said cartridges to said launch position associated with said force generator;
• and
• a user interface coupled to a processor, wherein in response to an input at the user interface by a user the processor provides an input to the drive force generator of a lancing penetration parameter selected from at least one of, penetrating member depth of penetration, velocity, braking, or retraction.

A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site, the system comprising:

• a drive force generator;
• a plurality of penetrating members operatively coupled to said force generator, said force generator moving each of said members along a path out of a housing having a penetrating member exit, into said tissue site, stopping in said tissue site, and withdrawing out of said tissue site;
• a plurality of analyte sensors, each of an analyte sensor of the plurality of analyte sensors being associated with a penetrating member;
• a flexible support member coupling said penetrating members to define an array, said support member being movable and configured to move each of said penetrating members to a launch position associated with said force generator;
• a sterility enclosure covering at least a tip of said penetrating member, said sterility enclosure removed from said penetrating member prior to actuation of the member and positioned so that the penetrating member will not contact said enclosure during actuation;
• and
• a user interface coupled to a processor, wherein in response to an input at the user interface by a user the processor provides an input to the drive force generator of a lancing penetration parameter selected from at least one of, penetrating member depth of penetration, velocity, braking, or retraction.

A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site, the system comprising:

• a drive force generator;
• a plurality of penetrating members operatively coupled to said force generator, said force generator moving each of said members along a path out of a housing having a penetrating member exit, into said tissue site, stoppirg in said tissue site, and withdrawing out of said tissue site;
• a plurality of analyte sensors, each of an analyte sensor of the plurality of analyte sensors being associated with a penetrating member;
• a flexible support member coupling said penetrating members to define an array, said support member being movable and configured to move each of said penetrating members to a launch position associated with said force generator;
• a sterility enclosure creating a sterile environment around at least a tip of said penetrating member, said penetrating member breaching said sterile environment during actuation;
• and
• a user interface coupled to a processor, wherein in response to an input at the user interface by a user the processor provides an input to the drive force generator of a lancing penetration parameter selected from at least one of, penetrating member depth of penetration, velocity, braking, or retraction.

A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site, the system comprising:

• a drive force generator;
• a plurality of penetrating members operatively coupled to said force generator, said force generator moving each of said members along a path out of a housing having a penetrating member exit, into said tissue site, stopping in said tissue site, and withdrawing out of said tissue site;
• a plurality of analyte sensors, each of an analyte sensor of the plurality of analyte sensors being associated with a penetrating member;
• a flexible support member coupling said penetrating members to define an array, said support member being movable and configured to move each of said penetrating members to a launch position associated with said force generator;
• a skin stabilizer device suitable for stretching a surface of a tissue site, said skin stabilizer at least partially surrounding the penetrating member exit;
• and
• a user interface coupled to a processor, wherein in response to an input at the human interface by a user the processor provides an input to the drive force generator of a lancing penetration parameter selected from at least one of, penetrating member depth of penetration, velocity, braking, or retraction.

A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site, the system comprising:

• a drive force generator;
• a plurality of penetrating members operatively coupled to said force generator, said force generator moving each of said members along a path out of a housing having a penetrating member exit, into said tissue site, stopping in said tissue site, and withdrawing out of said tissue site;
• a plurality of analyte sensors, each of an analyte sensor of the plurality of analyte sensors being associated with a penetrating member;
• a flexible support member coupling said penetrating members to define an array, said support member being movable and configured to move each of said penetrating members to a launch position associated with said force generator;
• a user interface coupled to a processor, wherein in response to an input at the user interface by a user the processor provides an input to the drive force generator of a lancing penetration parameter selected from at least one of, penetrating member depth of penetration, velocity, braking, or retraction.

A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site, the system comprising:

• a drive force generator;
• a plurality of penetrating members operatively coupled to said force generator, said force generator moving each of said members along a path out of a housing having a penetrating member exit, into said tissue site, stopping in said tissue site, and withdrawing out of said tissue site;
• a plurality of analyte sensors, each of an analyte sensor of the plurality of analyte sensors being associated with a penetrating member;
• a flexible support member coupling said penetrating members to define an array, said support member being movable and configured to move each of said penetrating members to a launch position associated with said force generator;
• and
• a user interface coupled to a processor, wherein in response to an input at the user interface by a user the processor provides an input to the drive force generator of a lancing penetration parameter selected from at least one of, penetrating member depth of penetration, velocity, braking, or retraction.

A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site, the system comprising:

• a drive force generator;
• a plurality of penetrating members operatively coupled to said force generator, said force generator moving each of said members along a path out of a housing having a penetrating member exit, into said tissue site, stopping in said tissue site, and withdrawing out of said tissue site;
• a plurality of analyte sensors, each of an analyte sensor of the plurality of analyte sensors being associated with a penetrating member;
• a flexible support member coupling said penetrating members to define an array, said support member being movable and configured to move each of said penetrating members to a launch position associated with said force generator;
• an analyte detection member positioned to receive fluid from a wound created by said penetrating member, said detection member configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in the fluid using a sample of less than 1 mL of the fluid;
• and
• a user interface coupled to a processor, wherein in response to an input at the user interface by a user the processor provides an input to the drive force generator of a lancing penetration parameter selected from at least one of, penetrating member depth of penetration, velocity, braking, or retraction.