Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A blood sampling device, comprising: a housing; a lancet assembly comprising: a lancet having a sharp tip; a lancet body which supports said lancet, said
lancet body having at least two angularly spaced ribs
which extend outwardly from a central portion of said
lancet body; and a protective cap covering said sharp tip of said
lancet, said protective cap being attached to said lancet
body so that said protective cap is twistably removable
from said lancet body; a lancet holder which is movable in a lancing direction
between a cocked position and a puncture position, said lancet
holder having an aperture formed therein, said aperture having
a cylindrical shape and being substantially unobstructed so
that said lancet body may be inserted into said aperture in any
angular orientation relative to said lancet holder; an actuator mechanism disposed in said housing for causing
said lancet holder to move from said cocked position to said
puncture position; and means for preventing significant rotational movement of
said lancet body relative to said lancet holder when said
lancet body is disposed in said aperture formed in said lancet
holder and when said protective cap is subject to an angular
force sufficient to twist said protective cap off of said
lancet body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
A blood sampling device as defined in claim 1 wherein
said aperture is defined by a plurality of curved interior
surfaces and wherein said preventing means comprises a
plurality of grooves formed in said lancet holder, each of said
grooves separating an adjacent pair of said curved interior
surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A blood sampling device as defined in claim 1 wherein
said aperture is defined by at least four curved interior
surfaces and wherein said preventing means comprises four
grooves formed in said lancet holder, each of said grooves
separating an adjacent pair of said curved interior surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
239 words
A blood sampling device, comprising: a housing; a lancet assembly comprising: a lancet having a sharp tip; a lancet body which supports said lancet, said
lancet body having at least two angularly spaced ribs
which extend outwardly from a central portion of said
lancet body; and a protective cap covering said sharp tip of said
lancet, said protective cap being attached to said lancet
body so that said protective cap is twistably removable
from said lancet body; a lancet holder which is movable in a lancing direction
between a cocked position and a puncture position, said lancet
holder having an aperture formed therein, said aperture having
a cylindrical shape and being substantially unobstructed so
that said lancet body may be inserted into said aperture in any
angular orientation relative to said lancet holder; a drive spring for forcing said lancet holder from said
cocked position to said puncture position; means for maintaining said lancet holder in said cocked
position; means for releasing said lancet holder from said cocked
position to cause said drive spring to force said lancet holder
from said cocked position to said puncture position; and means for preventing significant rotational movement of
said lancet body relative to said lancet holder when said
lancet body is disposed in said aperture formed in said lancet
holder and when said protective cap is subject to an angular
force sufficient to twist said protective cap off of said
lancet body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A blood sampling device as defined in claim 4 wherein
said aperture is defined by a plurality of curved interior
surfaces and wherein said preventing means comprises a
plurality of grooves formed in said lancet holder, each of said
grooves separating an adjacent pair of said curved interior
surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A blood sampling device as defined in claim 4 wherein
said aperture is defined by at least four curved interior
surfaces and wherein said preventing means comprises four
grooves formed in said lancet holder, each of said grooves
separating an adjacent pair of said curved interior surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
191 words
A blood sampling device, comprising: a housing; a lancet assembly comprising: a lancet having a sharp tip; a lancet body which supports said lancet, said
lancet body having at least two angularly spaced ribs
which extend outwardly from a central portion of said
lancet body; and a protective cap covering said sharp tip of said
lancet, said protective cap being attached to said lancet
body so that said protective cap is twistably removable
from said lancet body; a lancet holder which is movable in a lancing direction
between a cocked position and a puncture position, said lancet
holder having an aperture formed therein, said aperture having
a cylindrical shape and being substantially unobstructed so
that said lancet body may be inserted into said aperture in any
angular orientation relative to said lancet holder, said
aperture being defined by a plurality of curved interior
surfaces and said lancet holder having a plurality of grooves
formed therein, each of said grooves separating an adjacent
pair of said curved interior surfaces; and an actuator mechanism disposed in said housing for causing
said lancet holder to move from said cocked position to said
puncture position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A blood sampling device as defined in claim 7
wherein said aperture is defined by at least four curved
interior surfaces and wherein four grooves are formed in said
lancet holder, each of said grooves separating an adjacent pair
of said curved interior surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A blood sampling device as defined in claim 7
wherein said aperture is defined by at least six curved
interior surfaces and wherein six grooves are formed in said
lancet holder, each of said grooves separating an adjacent pair
of said curved interior surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
A blood sampling device as defined in claim 7
wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a drive spring for
forcing said lancet holder from said cocked position to said
puncture position and wherein said blood sampling device
additionally comprises: means for maintaining said lancet holder in said cocked
position; and means for releasing said lancet holder from said cocked
position to cause said drive spring to force said lancet holder
from said cocked position to said puncture position.