Lancet device with skin movement control and ballistic preload

A method of using a lancet device to puncture the skin of a patient, comprising:

• (a) using a driver mechanism to mechanically propel a skin stabilizer to stabilize the skin to reduce its freedom of movement by putting pressure on the skin at one or more locations surrounding a central area not in contact with the stabilizer when the stabilizer is applied to the skin;
• and
• (b) puncturing the skin with a lancet at the central area thereafter, wherein the central area which is not in contact with the skin stabilizer is not substantially larger than the cross-sectional size of the lancet.

A method of using a puncturing device to puncture an object with a stretchable surface layer, comprising:

• (a) using a driver mechanism to mechanically propel a stabilizer to contact and stabilize one or more areas of the surface layer to reduce its freedom of movement, the one or more areas encircling a central area not in contact with the stabilizer;
• and
• (b) puncturing the surface layer at the central area with a shaft having a sharp end thereafter, wherein the central area which is not in contact with the stabilizer is not substantially larger than the cross-sectional size of the shaft.