Collar lancet device

An improved collar lancet device comprising:

• (a) a lancet housing, said lancet housing including a generally open first end,
• (b) a plunger element slidably disposed in said lancet housing, said plunger element including a receiving end structured and disposed to move towards said generally open end of said lancet housing,
• (c) firing means structured and disposed to rapidly and momentarily urge said plunger element into a piercing orientation wherein said receiving end of said plunger element moves a maximum amount through said generally open end of said lancet housing,
• (d) triggering means structured and disposed to initiate the action of said firing means, and
• (e) a disposable cap element structured to be removably secured on said generally open end of said lancet housing, said disposable cap element comprising:
• a lancet, said lancet including a generally elongate body with a distal end and a proximal end,
• said lancet further including a piercing member extending from said distal end of said generally elongate body,
• a cap body disposed in sheathing relation over said lancet, said cap body including a top end, a substantially open bottom end and surrounding side wall structure,
• said open bottom end of said cap body being structured for secure, yet removable fitted engagement on said generally open first end of said lancet housing such that said cap body substantially encloses said plunger element,
• said top end of said cap body including an aperture disposed therein which is structured and disposed to permit passage of a tip of said piercing member of said lancet therethrough,
• said proximal end of said elongate body of said lancet being structured for secure, fitted engagement in said receiving end of said plunger element such that upon said receiving end of said plunger element being momentarily urged into said piercing orientation said tip of said piercing member of said lancet extends momentarily through said aperture in said top end of the said cap body before retracting to a concealed orientation within said cap body,
• engagement means disposed between said generally elongate body of said lancet and an interior of said surrounding side wall structure of said cap so as to maintain said lancet slidably secured to said cap body,
• said engagement means including at least one guide element having first fixedly secured end and a second slidable guide end, and
• lock means structured and disposed to immovably captivate said second slidable guide end of said guide element upon pulled removal of said cap body from said secure, yet removable fitted engagement on said generally open first end of said lancet housing, thereby preventing further slided movement of said lancet relative to said cap body and retaining said lancet in a sheathed orientation in said cap body.