Automatic retractable lancet assembly

Claim 2

An automatic retractable lancet assembly (20) comprising: a housing (22) having an aperture (39); a lancet (24) movably mounted in said housing (22) with its point (44) lying adjacent the interior side of said aperture (39); a depressible plunger (30) movably mounted in said housing (22) in the end thereof opposite from said lancet (24); a first spring (26) mounted inside said housing (22) in a compressed condition and adapted to decompress upon said plunger (30) being depressed into said housing (22) and cause the movement of said lancet (24) outward of said aperture (39) for penetration of the skin of a patient, said first spring (26) adapted to become dissociated from said lancet (24) after said lancet completes its outward movement; and a second spring (28) mounted inside said housing (22) in a substantially decompressed condition before said plunger (30) is depressed, adapted to become compressed during outward movement of said lancet (24) and further adapted to decompress when said first spring (26) becomes dissociated from said lancet (24) to cause said lancet to be automatically retracted back inside said housing (22).

Claim 3

The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said plunger (30) is mounted coaxially inside said housing (22).

Claim 4

The assembly of Claim 1 wherein a slidable sleeve (34) is positioned on said housing (22) for moving said lancet (24) outwardly upon decompression of said first spring (26).

Claim 5

The assembly of Claim 3 wherein said sleeve (34) is positioned to restrain said first spring (26) in a compressed condition before said plunger (30) is depressed.

Claim 6

The assembly of Claim 4 wherein a flexible skirt (32) is positioned on said housing (22) for maintaining the sleeve (34) in position for compressing said first spring (26).

Claim 7

The assembly of Claim 5 wherein said plunger (30) includes a plurality of flexible arms (61) adapted to flex outwardly upon depression of said plunger (30) and contact said flexible skirt (32) and cause said skirt (32) to flex outwardly to thereby become disengaged from said sleeve (34) thereby releasing the restraining force applied to said first spring (26) so that said sleeve (34) moves distally to cause outward movement of said lancet (24).

Claim 8

The assembly of Claim 6 wherein said sleeve (34) includes a plurality of inclined surfaces (64) adapted to be engaged by said flexible arms (61) upon depression of said plunger (30) for causing said flexible arms (61) to flex outwardly.

Claim 9

The assembly of Claim 3 wherein said housing (22) includes openings (41) around its periphery and said sleeve (34) includes a plurality of feet (51) each extending through one of said openings (41) for engaging said lancet (24).

Claim 10

The assembly of Claim 8 wherein said feet (51) are included on a plurality of flexible legs (50) on said sleeve (34), said legs (50) adapted to flex outwardly upon distal movement of said sleeve (34) whereby said feet (51) become disengaged from said lancet (24) after said second spring (28) has become compressed, said disengagement of said feet (51) thereby releasing the restraining force applied to said second spring (28) so that said second spring (28) becomes decompressed and thereby automatically retracts said lancet (24) back inside said housing (22).

Claim 11

The assembly of Claim 9 wherein said housing (22) includes a plurality of inclined surfaces (42) adapted to be engaged by said flexible legs (50) upon distal movement of said sleeve (34) for causing said legs (50) to flex outwardly.

Claim 12

The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said housing (22) is substantially cylindrically shaped.

Claim 13

The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said housing (22) and said plunger (30) are made of plastic and said lancet (24) is made of metal.

Claim 14

An automatic retractable lancet assembly (20) comprising: a housing (22); a sharp-pointed lancet (24) movably mounted inside said housing (22); means for actuating the movement of said lancet (24) outwardly from said housing (22) and for thereafter becoming dissociated from further movement of said lancet (24); and means operable subsequent to the outward movement of said lancet (24) for automatically retracting said lancet (24) back inside said housing (22).

Claim 15

An automatic retractable lancet assembly (20) comprising: a housing (22); a sharp-pointed lancet (24) movably mounted inside said housing (22); means for actuating the movement of said lancet (24) outwardly from said housing (22) and for thereafter becoming dissociated from further movement of said lancet (24); and means operable subsequent to the outward movement of said lancet (24) for automatically retracting said lancet (24) back inside said housing (22).

Claim 16

An automatic retractable lancet assembly (20) comprising: a substantially cylindrical housing (22) having an aperture (39); a sharp-pointed lancet (24) movably mounted in said housing (22) with its point (44) lying adjacent the interior side of said aperture (39); a depressible plunger (30) coaxially mounted inside said housing (22) in the end thereof opposite from said lancet (24) including a plurality of flexible arms (61) adapted to flex outwardly upon depression of said plunger (30); a first spring (26) mounted inside said housing (22) restrained in a compressed condition, before said plunger (30) is depressed, by a slidable sleeve (34) positioned on said housing (22), said sleeve (34) including a plurality of flexible legs (50) each having a projecting foot (51) thereon for engaging said lancet (24); a flexible skirt (32) positioned on said housing (22) for maintaining the sleeve (34) in position for compressing said first spring (26) and adapted to flex outwardly upon the outward flexing of said plunger arms (61) so that said skirt (32) becomes disengaged from said sleeve (34) to release the restraining force applied to said first spring (26) causing said sleeve (34) to move distally and thereby move said lancet (24) outwardly from said housing (22); and a second spring (28) mounted inside said housing (22) in a substantially decompressed condition before said plunger (30) is depressed adapted to become compressed after said sleeve (34) moves distally and causes outward movement of said lancet (24), said flexible legs (50) of said sleeve (34) adapted to flex outwardly after distal movement of said sleeve (34)whereby said feet (51) become disengaged from said lancet (24) after said second spring (28) has become compressed, said disengagement of said feet (51) thereby releasing the restraining force applied to said second spring (28) so that said second spring (28) becomes decompressed and thereby automatically retracts said lancet (24) back inside said housing (22).

Claim 17

An automatic retractable lancet assembly (20) comprising: a substantially cylindrical housing (22) having an aperture (39); a sharp-pointed lancet (24) movably mounted in said housing (22) with its point (44) lying adjacent the interior side of said aperture (39); a depressible plunger (30) coaxially mounted inside said housing (22) in the end thereof opposite from said lancet (24) including a plurality of flexible arms (61) adapted to flex outwardly upon depression of said plunger (30); a first spring (26) mounted inside said housing (22) restrained in a compressed condition, before said plunger (30) is depressed, by a slidable sleeve (34) positioned on said housing (22), said sleeve (34) including a plurality of flexible legs (50) each having a projecting foot (51) thereon for engaging said lancet (24); a flexible skirt (32) positioned on said housing (22) for maintaining the sleeve (34) in position for compressing said first spring (26) and adapted to flex outwardly upon the outward flexing of said plunger arms (61) so that said skirt (32) becomes disengaged from said sleeve (34) to release the restraining force applied to said first spring (26) causing said sleeve (34) to move distally and thereby move said lancet (24) outwardly from said housing (22); and a second spring (28) mounted inside said housing (22) in a substantially decompressed condition before said plunger (30) is depressed adapted to become compressed after said sleeve (34) moves distally and causes outward movement of said lancet (24), said flexible legs (50) of said sleeve (34) adapted to flex outwardly after distal movement of said sleeve (34)whereby said feet (51) become disengaged from said lancet (24) after said second spring (28) has become compressed, said disengagement of said feet (51) thereby releasing the restraining force applied to said second spring (28) so that said second spring (28) becomes decompressed and thereby automatically retracts said lancet (24) back inside said housing (22).