Blood and interstitial fluid sampling device

A device for use in a body fluid sampling device for obtaining a sample through the skin, comprising:

• a standoff member adapted for contacting the skin;
• a sample collection tube positioned in the standoff member for receiving the fluid sample;
• a lancet member movably positioned in the standoff member adjacent to the tube for piercing the skin;
• electrodes positioned in the standoff member adapted for connection to a sensor to sense the presence of fluid within the standoff member;
• and
• electrodes positioned in the collection tube for connection to a sensor to sense the presence and amount of fluid within the collection tube.

A device for obtaining a sample of body fluid through the skin comprising:

• a housing member adapted to contain a needle for piercing the skin;
• a drive means in the housing for urging the needle to protrude from the end of the housing sufficient to penetrate the skin;
• a stop member to limit the depth of needle penetration into the skin by the drive means;
• a sample container communicating with the needle for receiving the sample from the needle;
• means for retracting the needle from the skin;
• means for drawing the sample of fluid which accumulates on the surface of the skin into the sample container upon needle retraction;
• wherein the needle is adapted to pierce the skin at an angle less than 90°;
• and
• the device stimulates the skin prior to or during the piercing of the skin.

A method for collection a sample of a body fluid comprising:

• mechanically massaging a skin area;
• piercing the skin to create a wound;
• mechanically massaging a skin area adjacent the wound;
• collecting a fluid sample from the wound or the surface of the skin;
• inserting a device to pierce the skin and oscillating the device in the wound;
• and
• partially retracting the device and collecting the sample while the device is partially inserted in the wound.

A method, comprising:

• piercing skin at an angle less than 90° relative to the skin with a piercing member of a sampling device to form an incision in the skin;
• collecting a body fluid sample from the incision with the sampling device;
• wherein the piercing member includes a needle;
• wherein the sampling device includes a test strip;
• and
• wherein said collecting includes moving the test strip toward the incision so that the test strip absorbs the body fluid sample.