Blood sampling device with lancet damping system

A blood sampling device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a lancet assembly;
• a lancet holder disposed in said housing, said lancet holder being adapted to support said lancet assembly, said lancet holder being movable in a lancing direction between a cocked position and a puncture position;
• a drive spring for forcing said lancet holder from said cocked position to said puncture position;
• and
• means for damping movement of said lancet holder during travel of said lancet holder from said puncture position to an intermediate position between said puncture position and said cocked position.

A blood sampling device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a lancet assembly;
• a lancet holder disposed in said housing, said lancet holder having a corrugated surface disposed thereon and being adapted to support said lancet assembly, said lancet holder being movable in a lancing direction between a cocked position and a puncture position;
• spring means for moving said lancet holder through a range of positions including said cocked and puncture positions and an intermediate position disposed between said cocked and puncture positions;
• means for maintaining said lancet holder in said cocked position;
• means for releasing said lancet holder from said cocked position to cause said spring means to force said lancet holder from said cocked position to said puncture position;
• and
• a damping member which makes contact with said corrugated surface disposed on said lancet holder during movement of said lancet holder.