Lancet assembly and pricking device

A lancet assembly comprising:

• a lancet;
• a lancet engaging part;
• and
• a lancet case housing the lancet and the lancet engaging part;
• wherein the lancet comprises a lancet body, a lancet cap, and a pricking component, the lancet body and the lancet cap being made of resin and the pricking component being made of metal, the pricking component being disposed in both the lancet body and the lancet cap, the tip of the pricking component being covered with the lancet cap, and the lancet cap and the lancet body being integrally connected together by a bridging component;
• wherein the lancet engaging part and the lancet cap are configured to make contact with each other;
• wherein the lancet and the lancet engaging part are configured such that, when the lancet engaging part is forced to be moved forward with respect to the lancet in a pricking direction, the lancet cap is pressed by the lancet engaging part such that the bridging component is broken so that the lancet cap is separated from the lancet body to expose the tip of the pricking component while the pricking component remains disposed in the lancet body;
• wherein the lancet, the lancet engaging part, and the lancet case are configured such that, when the lancet engaging part is forced to be further moved forward after the bridging component is broken, the separated lancet cap moves to the position off a pricking pathway of the pricking component within the lancet case;
• wherein the lancet and the lancet case are configured such that, before the bridging component is broken and the lancet cap is separated from the lancet body, a forward movement of the lancet body is inhibited by engagement between an engagement portion of the lancet case and an engaged portion of the lancet body;
• wherein the lancet engaging part comprises a disengagement portion for releasing the engagement between the engagement portion of the lancet case and the engaged portion of the lancet body;
• wherein the lancet, the lancet engaging part, and the lancet case are configured such that, after the bridging component is broken and the lancet cap is separated from the lancet body, forward movement of the disengagement portion of the lancet engaging part presses and outwardly displaces the engagement portion of the lancet case to release the engagement between the engagement portion of the lancet case and the engaged portion of the lancet body;
• wherein the lancet engaging part comprises a flexible locking portion, and the lancet body comprises a recess portion;
• and
• wherein the lancet, the lancet engaging part, and the lancet case are configured such that, when the lancet engaging part is forced to be moved forward with respect to the lancet case after launch of the pricking component, the flexible locking portion of the lancet engaging part abuts against an inner-wall raised portion of the lancet case to displace the flexible locking portion inwardly so that at least one part of the flexible locking portion is located in the recess portion of the lancet body so as to lock the lancet to the lancet case.