Disposable skin perforator and blood testing device

Claim 2

A skin perforator for puncturing the skin, said perforator of the type comprising a housing having a contact surface for placement adjacent to the skin to be punctured, an aperture in said contact surface, a puncturing member operatively mounted within said housing for movement towards and through said aperture, upon the application of applied force said puncturing member penetrating into the skin, wherein the improvement comprises: a shutter means for automatically occluding the aperture of said skin perforator from movement of said puncturing member therethrough following initial puncture of the skin, wherein said shutter means is formed from a unitary disk positioned between said puncturing member and said contact surface in said housing.

Claim 3

The skin perforator as recited in claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprises a shield portion and a spring portion, said spring portion capable of accepting applied tension and having a memory so as to predictably advance said shield portion over said aperture in said contact surface upon removal of said tension.

Claim 4

The skin perforator as recited in claim 1 wherein said shutter means further comprises a stop member for retaining said shutter means in a tensioned position.

Claim 5

The skin perforator as recited in claim 1 further comprising a pad attached to said contact surface to absorb blood or exudate flowing from a puncture site formed by the penetration of said barb.

Claim 6

The skin perforator as recited in claim 4 wherein said pad is treated with at least one reagent for medical analysis.

Claim 7

The skin perforator as recited in claim 4 wherein said pad is impregnated with a skin preparatory agent comprising one or more from the group consisting of ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, benzalkonium chloride, iodine, and topical antimicrobials.

Claim 8

The skin perforator as recited in claim 1 wherein said shutter means is activated by the initial puncture of the skin.

Claim 9

The skin perforator as recited in claim 7 wherein said activation is initiated by the application of said applied force.

Claim 10

A skin perforator for obtaining a sample of, blood by puncturing the skin comprising: a) a pressure plate containing an aperture formed therein wherein said pressure plate is adapted to be placed adjacent to the area of skin to be punctured; b) a cover plate having a resilient convex panel formed therein, said cover plate being attached to said pressure plate and said convex panel having a point penetrating barb and directed inward toward said aperture in said pressure plate wherein a pressure applied to the convex panel and directed toward said pressure plate overcomes the resistance of said convex panel and said convex panel undergoes at least a partial inversion to cause said barb to suddenly and rapidly penetrate the skin causing a puncture, said convex panel having a memory so as to resiliently return to its original convex shape upon removal of said pressure thereby withdrawing the barb from the skin, and c) a shutter means capable of automatically occluding the aperture of said pressure plate from movement of said puncturing member therethrough following the initial penetration wherein said shutter means is formed from a unitary disk positioned between said puncturing member and said contact surface in said housing.

Claim 11

A skin perforator for obtaining a sample of, blood by puncturing the skin comprising: a) a pressure plate containing an aperture formed therein wherein said pressure plate is adapted to be placed adjacent to the area of skin to be punctured; b) a cover plate having a resilient convex panel formed therein, said cover plate being attached to said pressure plate and said convex panel having a point penetrating barb and directed inward toward said aperture in said pressure plate wherein a pressure applied to the convex panel and directed toward said pressure plate overcomes the resistance of said convex panel and said convex panel undergoes at least a partial inversion to cause said barb to suddenly and rapidly penetrate the skin causing a puncture, said convex panel having a memory so as to resiliently return to its original convex shape upon removal of said pressure thereby withdrawing the barb from the skin, and c) a shutter means capable of automatically occluding the aperture of said pressure plate from movement of said puncturing member therethrough following the initial penetration wherein said shutter means is formed from a unitary disk positioned between said puncturing member and said contact surface in said housing.

Claim 12

The skin perforator as recited in claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprises a shield portion and a spring portion, said spring portion capable of accepting applied tension and having a memory so as to predictably advance said shield portion over said aperture in said contact surface upon removal of said tension.

Claim 13

The skin perforator as recited in claim 9 wherein said skin perforator further comprises a stop member for retaining said shutter in a tensioned position.

Claim 14

The skin perforator as recited in claim 9 wherein said shutter means is activated by the initial puncture of the skin.

Claim 15

The skin perforator as recited in claim 12 wherein said activation is initiated by the application of said applied force.