Puncture instrument

0001The invention relates to a puncturing device with the features specified in the preamble of claim 1. Such a puncturing device is from the<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US2005125019A1"><text>US 2005/125019 A1</text></patcit> and the <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US2006155215A1"><text>US 2006/155215 A1</text></patcit> known.

0002In order to remove a small amount of body fluid, for example blood and / or interstitial fluid, from a body part, for example a finger, for analytical-diagnostic purposes, lancets are used which are pierced with a puncturing device into the corresponding body part to produce a puncture wound.

0003In order to enable an efficient and painless extraction of samples, the piercing depth can usually be adjusted and thus adapted to the individual requirements of a user. The puncture depth should be on the one hand large enough to deliver a sufficient amount of body fluid, on the other hand to be as low as possible in order to avoid unnecessary pain.

0004From the <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="EP1427327B1"><text>EP 1 427 327 B1</text></patcit> a puncturing device is known in which the position of a stop inside the device is adjustable, which stops a stitch movement and thus limits the stroke occurring during a stitch movement to the extent required for a desired piercing depth. The disadvantage of this is that when stopping a lancet can be caused by a stop vibrations, which lead to painful transverse movements of the lancet.

0005From the <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US6022366A"><text>US Pat. No. 6,022,366</text></patcit> a puncturing device is known in which the length of a lancet holder can be adjusted to adjust the puncture depth. However, this requires a device cap to be removed, which is troublesome for many users. There is also the risk that a user injured in a lancet in the device.

0006From the <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US20070055298A1"><text>US 2007/0055298 A1</text></patcit> a puncturing device is known in which a screwed end cap is used for Stechtiefeneinstellung. This end cap forms a support member having an opening for attachment to a body part in which a puncture wound is to be created. By turning the screwed cap, this moves in the sting direction relative to the lancing drive of the device, so that it is possible to set a desired puncturing depth. This has the disadvantage, however, that a gap is formed between the cap and the device housing when the cap is moved away from the housing in order to reduce the piercing depth by a screwing movement in the stitching direction. Such a gap is difficult to clean. In addition, it easily accumulates dirt in it.

0007Object of the present invention is to show a way how can be achieved without the disadvantages mentioned above in a puncturing device adjustability of puncture depth.

0008This object is achieved by a puncturing device with the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

0009In a puncturing device according to the invention, an adjustment of the puncturing depth is achieved by a change in the position of the support element relative to the puncturing drive. Advantageously, therefore, the same stroke can be performed independently of the desired piercing depth with each lancet stitch. A premature stopping of a lancet, which could cause painful vibrations, can thus be avoided.

0010The support element of a puncturing device according to the invention is rotatably mounted by means of a thread and movable in the stinging direction on an intermediate piece which is rotatably movable relative to the housing. An adjustment of a desired piercing depth can therefore be easily made even for users whose manual mobility is limited by age or illness, by the intermediate piece is rotated relative to the support element. This rotational movement causes a movement of the support element in the stitching direction relative to the lancing drive. As a result of this movement, the distance of the support element from the lancing drive and thus the set lancing depth changes. Preferably, the rotational movement also causes a change in the distance of the support element from the housing.

0011By means of the intermediate piece according to the invention, it can be advantageously avoided that a gap which is difficult to clean arises between the support element and the housing and in which dirt could accumulate.

0012A rotational movement of the support element relative to the housing is prevented by a guide. By preventing a rotational movement of the support element relative to the housing of the puncturing device, the support element and in particular its opening always maintains the same orientation with respect to the lancing drive of the puncturing device. This is important for lancing devices that work with a drum magazine containing several lancets, since the opening of the support element must be positioned in alignment with the lancet of the drum magazine coupled to the lancet drive for a stitch.

0013The guide may, for example, comprise a straddling guide element which is arranged between two stops against which it is movable in the stinging direction. The guide element may be formed, for example, as a nose or spring on the support element. It is also possible that the stops are formed on the support element and a rigidly mounted on the housing guide member projects between these attacks.

0014A lancing device with a receptacle for a drum magazine, for example, from <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="EP1669028A1"><text>EP 1 669 028 A1</text></patcit> which is hereby incorporated by reference in the present application, in particular with regard to possible embodiments of a drum magazine and a lancing drive cooperating therewith. Preferably, the receiving compartment is arranged in a Stechtiefenverstelleinrichtung formed by the support element and the intermediate piece.

0015The thread, by means of which the support element is rotatably attached to the intermediate piece, may be provided on the support element and / or on the intermediate piece. It is sufficient to provide a groove or notch on one of these two parts, which forms a thread. As a mating thread is sufficient in itself a single projection which engages in this thread. To prevent tilting and jamming, however, it is advantageous to provide a plurality of such projections, in particular three projections, which engage, for example, as threaded sockets in the thread.

0016The support element sits at least in part in the intermediate piece, which may be formed, for example, as a sleeve. The smaller the set piercing depth, the further the support element projects out of the intermediate piece. By the support element is surrounded by the intermediate piece, the puncturing device can be cleaned better. It is preferred that the support element is surrounded when setting a minimum stitch depth over a majority of its length from the intermediate piece.

0017Preferably, the puncturing device has a rail for attachment to a measuring device, as can be seen from the <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="EP1032307B1"><text>EP 1 032 307 B1</text></patcit> is known. A meter with an attached lancing device forms a system with which a user can obtain and evaluate a body fluid sample. Such a system can advantageously be operated with one hand in order to obtain a sample by means of a stitch and then to evaluate it, for example for measuring the glucose concentration.

0018Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained with reference to an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact"><dt>FIG. 1a</dt><dd>An embodiment of a puncturing device according to the invention</dd><dt>FIG. 1b</dt><dd>an embodiment of an associated measuring device;</dd><dt>FIG. 1c:</dt><dd>a schematic sectional view of the <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1a</figref> shown lancing device with attached measuring device;</dd><dt>FIG. 1d:</dt><dd>an exploded view too <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1a</figref>;</dd><dt>FIG. 2:</dt><dd>a puncture depth adjustment device of the puncturing device;</dd><dt>FIG. 3:</dt><dd>a sectional view too <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 2</figref>;</dd><dt>FIG. 4:</dt><dd>a side view too <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 2</figref>;</dd><dt>FIG. 5:</dt><dd>a sectional view of the Stechtiefenverstelleinrichtung with retracted support element;</dd><dt>FIG. 6:</dt><dd>a side view too <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 5</figref>;</dd><dt>FIG. 7:</dt><dd>the Stechtiefenverstelleinrichtung in an exploded view; and</dd><dt>FIG. 8:</dt><dd>a sectional view too <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 7</figref>,</dd></dl>

0019The <figref idref="f0001">FIGS. 1a</figref> and <figref idref="f0002">1d</figref> show an embodiment of a puncturing device 1 with an associated drum magazine 2, in which a plurality of lancets 4 are included. The puncture device 1 has a housing 3, which has a in<figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1a</figref> surrounds illustrated lancing drive 5. Suitable piercing drives with which lancets can be set in a stitch movement, are well known in the art and therefore require no further explanation at this point. Rotor drives can be used particularly advantageously in which a drive spring 5b is tensioned by turning a tensioning element 5a, which causes a drive rotor 5c to rotate in one pass, which has a control cam 5d which causes a lancet holder 5f to advance by means of a coupling mechanism 5e, which advances a lancet 4 of the drum magazine 2 and then pulls back, so that a puncture wound is generated in a body part applied to the opening 12 of the device.

0020The puncturing device 1 further has a indexing mechanism 6, with which an inserted drum magazine 2 can be rotated stepwise, so that the annularly arranged in it lancets 4 can be aligned in succession on the opening 12 and used for a stitch.

0021The puncture device 1 has on one side a rail 7, with which it is connected to a in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1b</figref> shown measuring device 8 can be attached. <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1c</figref> shows a schematic sectional view of the measuring device 8 with attached lancing device 1. As in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1c</figref> sees, the lancing device 1 is inserted for attachment to the meter 8, so that the rail 7 engages in a matching recess of the measuring device 8.

0022The measuring device 8 has a display device 9 for displaying measurement results and operating elements 22 for actuation. Incidentally, the measuring device 8 may be designed as commercially available devices for measuring the glucose concentration of a blood sample and may operate, for example, with test elements which permit photometric or electrochemical concentration determination. By attaching the puncture device 1 to the measuring device 8, a system is created which can be operated with one hand in order to carry out a sampling pass for sampling and subsequently to record a sample obtained thereby for a measurement.

0023The peculiarity of the illustrated lancing device 1 is in the <figref idref="f0003">FIGS. 2 to 8</figref> To Stechtiefenverstelleinrichtung 10 include a support element 11 with an opening 12 for application to a body part in which a puncture wound is to be generated, and an intermediate piece 13, on which the support element 11 by means of a in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 7</figref> shown thread 14 is rotatably mounted and movable in the stinging direction. Advantageously, the puncturing depth can be adjusted in this way even when the puncturing device 1 is attached to the measuring device 8.

0024In the illustrated embodiment, the intermediate piece 13 is fixed to a carrier 15 which is removable from the device housing 3. In principle, however, it is also possible to integrate the carrier 15 into the housing 3 and to fasten the intermediate piece 13 directly to the housing 3.

0025A rotational movement of the intermediate piece 13 relative to the support element 11 causes, because of the thread 14 acting between these two parts, that the support element 11 is moved in the stitching direction. Since the lancing drive causes the same lancet stroke for each stitch movement, a reduced lancing depth results for the housing 3 or the support 15 at an increased distance between the support element 11. If, however, the distance between the support element 11 and the housing 3 or the carrier 15 is reduced, that is, the support element 11 is screwed deeper into the intermediate piece 13, this results in an increased piercing depth. In that<figref idref="f0003">FIGS. 2 to 4</figref> is the Stechtiefenverstelleinrichtung 10 in a setting for a small piercing depth, in the <figref idref="f0003">FIGS. 5 and 6</figref> shown in a setting for a high piercing depth.

0026In the illustrated embodiment, the thread 14 acting between the support element 11 and the intermediate piece 13 comprises a groove in the support element 11. In this groove engage projections 16 on the inside of the intermediate piece 15 a. In principle, however, it would also be possible to provide corresponding projections 16 on the support element 11 and to equip the intermediate piece 15 with a complete thread.

0027The Stechtiefenverstelleinrichtung 10 has a linear guide 17 a, 17 b which prevents a rotational movement of the support member 11 relative to the carrier 15 and thus also relative to the housing 3. This guide 17a, 17b is formed by a stiffening guide element 17a, which in the manner of a tongue-and-groove connection between two stops 17b, against which it is movable in the stinging direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide member 17a is formed as a nose, which engages in a matching recess of the carrier 15.

0028The guide 17a, 17b causes the azentrisch arranged opening 12 of the support member 11, regardless of the set depth depth always maintains its orientation with respect to the housing 3 and thus with respect to the lancing drive contained therein and consequently provided for use each lancet of an inserted Drum magazine aligned with the opening 12 is aligned.

0029Trained as a sleeve spacer 13 is locked to the annular carrier 15 formed. This latching takes place in the illustrated embodiment by engagement of one or more projections 18 of the carrier 15 in an annular groove 19 of the intermediate piece 13. In this way, the intermediate piece 13 relative to the carrier 15 is rotatable and simultaneously fixed in the axial direction. It is also possible to rotatably connect the intermediate piece 13 with the housing by means of a further thread. Preferably, in this case, the thread, by means of which the support element 11 is rotatably attached to the intermediate piece 13, is opposite to the second thread, by means of which the intermediate piece 13 is rotatably connected to the housing 3, for example via the carrier 15.

0030The carrier 15 can be removed from the housing 3 of the puncturing device 1 in order to exchange a drum magazine 2 in a receiving compartment of the puncturing device 1 provided for this purpose. In the illustrated embodiment, the drum magazine 2 is arranged in the Stechtiefenverstelleinrichtung formed by the carrier 15, the intermediate piece 13 and the support member 11.

0031In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier 15 is locked to the housing 3 and has corresponding latching elements 20, which are formed in the illustrated embodiment as recesses into which mating locking elements of the housing 3 engage. On its underside facing the housing 3, the carrier 15 has an indentation 21 into which a fixing element of the housing 3 engages in order to hold the carrier 15 against rotation in a predetermined position on the housing 3.

0032<b><u>reference numerals</u></b><dl id="dl0002" compact="compact"><dt>1</dt><dd>lancing device</dd><dt>2</dt><dd>drum magazine</dd><dt>3</dt><dd>casing</dd><dt>4</dt><dd>lancet</dd><dt>5</dt><dd>lancing drive</dd><dt>5a</dt><dd>clamping element</dd><dt>5b</dt><dd>driving spring</dd><dt>5c</dt><dd>drive rotor</dd><dt>5d</dt><dd>cam</dd><dt>5e</dt><dd>coupling mechanism</dd><dt>5f</dt><dd>Lancet holder</dd><dt>6</dt><dd>Advancing mechanism</dd><dt>7</dt><dd>rail</dd><dt>8th</dt><dd>gauge</dd><dt>9</dt><dd>display</dd><dt>10</dt><dd>Lancing depth adjustment device</dd><dt>11</dt><dd>support element</dd><dt>12</dt><dd>opening</dd><dt>13</dt><dd>connecting piece</dd><dt>14</dt><dd>thread</dd><dt>15</dt><dd>carrier</dd><dt>16</dt><dd>head Start</dd><dt>17a</dt><dd>guide</dd><dt>17b</dt><dd>guide</dd><dt>18</dt><dd>projections</dd><dt>19</dt><dd>ring groove</dd><dt>20</dt><dd>locking element</dd><dt>21</dt><dd>indentation</dd><dt>22</dt><dd>controls</dd></dl>