Blood sampling device with adjustable end cap

Claim 2

A blood sampling device as defined in claim 1 wherein said end cap (60) is securely attached to said housing (12) by frictional retainer means.

Claim 3

A blood sampling device as defined in claim 2 wherein said frictional retainer means comprises an O-ring (72) disposed on said housing (12), said O-ring (72) making frictional contact with an interior portion of said end cap (60).

Claim 4

A blood sampling device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said position marks (80) disposed on said end cap (60) comprises a linear mark having a different length, each of said lengths corresponding to a different puncture depth.

Claim 5

A blood sampling device, comprising: a housing (12) having a reference mark (78) disposed thereon; an end cap (60) adapted to be connected to said housing (12), said end cap (60) having a plurality of position marks (80) disposed thereon, each of said position marks (80) being spaced from one another about the periphery of said end cap (60); a lancet (32) which is movable in a lancing direction between a retracted position in which said lancet (32) does not extend outside of said end cap (60) and an extended position; and an actuator mechanism disposed in said housing (12) for causing said lancet (32) to move from said retracted position to said extended position, said end cap (60) being rotatable with respect to said housing (12) between a plurality of different angular positions including a first angular position in which a first of said position marks (80) disposed on said end cap (60) is aligned with said reference mark (78) disposed on said housing (12) and a second angular position in which a second of said position marks (80) disposed on said end cap (60) is aligned with said reference mark (78) disposed on said housing (12), said end cap (60) being adapted to slide in a direction parallel to said lancing direction from a removed position in which said end cap (60) is separated from said housing (12) to a secured position in which said end cap (60) is securely attached to said housing (12), said end cap (60) having an interior portion with an angled slot (74) disposed within said interior portion, said housing (12) having a stop member (76) that makes contact with said angled slot (74) in said end cap (60), wherein rotation of said end cap (60) relative to said housing (12) causes said stop member (76) of said housing (12) to make contact with a different portion of said angled slot (74) in said end cap (60) to vary the spacing between said end cap (69) and a portion of said housing (12) in a direction parallel to said lancing direction.

Claim 6

A blood sampling device as defined in claim 5 wherein said end cap (60) is securely attached to said housing (12) by frictional retainer means.

Claim 7

A blood sampling device as defined in claim 6 wherein said frictional retainer means comprises an O-ring (72) disposed on said housing (12), said O-ring (72) making frictional contact with an interior portion of said end cap (60).

Claim 8

A blood sampling device as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said position marks (80) disposed on said end cap (60) comprises a linear mark having a different length, each of said lengths corresponding to a different puncture depth.

Claim 9

A blood sampling device, comprising: a housing (12); an end cap (60) adapted to be connected to said housing (12); a lancet (32) which is movable in a lancing direction between a retracted position in which said lancet (32) does not extend outside of said end cap (60) and an extended position in which said lancet (32) is adapted to make a puncture having a depth; an actuator mechanism disposed in said housing (12) for causing said lancet (32) to move from said retracted position to said extended position; attachment means for allowing said end cap (60) to be securely attached to said housing (12) by moving said end cap (60) in a direction parallel to said lancing direction from a removed position in which said end cap (60) is separated from said housing (12) to a secured position in which said end cap (60) is securely attached to said housing (12); and means for adjusting said puncture depth of said lancet (32).

Claim 10

A blood sampling device as defined in claim 9 wherein said end cap (60) has a plurality of position marks (80) disposed thereon, each of said position marks (80) being spaced from one another about the periphery of said end cap (60).