Contact Activated Lancet Device

A lancet device comprising:

• a housing having a rearward end and a forward end having an opening extending therethrough;
• a shield movable through the opening of the forward end of the housing, the shield comprising a retaining hub adjacent a rearward end thereof, the retaining hub comprising a pivotal lever;
• a lancet structure comprising a puncturing element, the lancet structure disposed within the housing and adapted for movement between a pre-actuation position wherein the puncturing element is disposed within the housing and a puncturing position, wherein the puncturing element extends through a forward end of the shield, and the lancet structure is in interference engagement with the lever of the retaining hub at the rearward end of the shield thereby maintaining the lancet structure in the retracted position;
• and
• a drive spring disposed between the housing and the lancet structure for biasing the lancet structure against the lever of the retaining hub,
• wherein movement of the shield toward the rearward end of the housing causes an internal contact within the housing to engage the lever of the retaining hub, thereby causing pivotal movement of the lever to release the lancet structure from interference engagement with the lever, permitting the drive spring to drive the lancet structure through the shield toward the puncturing position.

A method of actuating a lancet device comprising:

• providing a lancet device comprising:
• a housing;
• a lancet structure disposed within the housing and including a puncturing element retained within the housing;
• a drive spring biasing the lancet structure toward a puncturing position in which the puncturing element extends through a forward end of the housing;
• and
• a retaining hub retaining the lancet structure within the housing against a bias of the drive spring, the retaining hub comprising a pivotal lever in interference engagement with the lancet structure;
• and
• contacting the lever with an actuator to pivot the lever, thereby sequentially causing the lancet structure to move toward a rearward end of the housing to compress the drive spring and release the interference engagement between the lever and the lancet structure, thereby causing the drive spring to drive the lancet structure toward the puncturing position.

A lancet device comprising:

• a housing;
• a lancet comprising a puncturing element axially movable within the housing and retained within the housing, the lancet movable toward a puncturing position wherein the puncturing element extends through a forward end of the housing;
• a shield extending through a forward end of the housing and moveable with respect to the housing;
• and
• an annular retaining hub comprising at least one class 1-type lever being pivotal about a fulcrum, the lever having a first position with respect to the fulcrum wherein the hub restricts movement of the lancet with respect to the shield, and a second position with respect to the fulcrum wherein the hub does not restrict movement of the lancet with respect to the shield, the second position enabling the lancet to achieve a puncture position through the forward end of the shield,
• wherein movement of the shield with respect to the housing causes movement of the lever from the first position to the second position, thereby releasing the lancet from interference engagement with the lever.

A lancet device comprising:

• a housing;
• a lancet structure comprising a puncturing element, the lancet structure disposed within the housing and adapted for movement between a pre-actuated position and a puncturing position wherein the puncturing element extends through an end of the housing;
• a biasing member for biasing the lancet structure toward the puncturing position;
• a retaining hub retaining the lancet structure in the pre-actuated position against the bias of the drive spring, the retaining hub comprising a lever, the lever providing interference engagement with the lancet structure;
• and
• an actuator adapted to pivot the lever thereby releasing the lever from interference engagement with the lancet structure, permitting the biasing member to drive the lancet structure toward the puncturing position.

A lancet device comprising:

• a housing having a rearward end and a forward end having an opening extending therethrough;
• a shield movable through the opening of the forward end of the housing, the shield comprising a retaining hub adjacent a rearward end thereof, the retaining hub comprising a pivotal lever;
• a lancet structure comprising a puncturing element, the lancet structure disposed within the housing and adapted for movement between a pre-actuation position wherein the puncturing element is disposed within the housing and a puncturing position wherein the puncturing element extends through a forward end of the shield, and the lancet structure is in interference engagement with the lever of the retaining hub thereby maintaining the lancet structure in the retracted position;
• and
• a biasing member in cooperation with the lancet structure for biasing the lancet structure against the lever of the retaining hub,
• wherein movement of the shield causes pivotal movement of the lever to release the lancet structure from interference engagement with the lever, permitting the biasing member to drive the lancet structure through the shield toward the puncturing position.

A method of actuating a lancet device comprising:

• providing a lancet device comprising:
• a housing;
• a lancet structure disposed within the housing and including a puncturing element retained within the housing;
• a biasing member biasing the lancet structure toward a puncturing position in which the puncturing element extends through an end of the housing;
• and
• a retaining hub retaining the lancet structure within the housing against a bias of the biasing member, the retaining hub comprising a pivotal lever in interference engagement with the lancet structure;
• and
• contacting the lever with an actuator to pivot the lever, causing a release of the interference engagement between the lever and the lancet structure, thereby causing the biasing member to drive the lancet structure toward the puncturing position.

A lancet device comprising:

• a housing;
• a lancet comprising a puncturing element axially movable within the housing and retained within the housing, the lancet movable toward a puncturing position wherein the puncturing element extends through a forward end of the housing;
• a shield extending through a forward end of the housing and moveable with respect to the housing;
• and
• an annular retaining hub comprising at least one lever being pivotal about a pivot point, the lever having a first position with respect to the pivot point wherein the hub restricts movement of the lancet with respect to the shield, and a second position with respect to the pivot point wherein the hub does not restrict movement of the lancet with respect to the shield, the second position enabling the lancet to achieve a puncture position through the forward end of the shield,
• wherein movement of the shield with respect to the housing causes movement of the lever from the first position to the second position, thereby releasing the lancet from interference engagement with the lever.