US6071249A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for obtaining blood for diagnostic tests
Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
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Filing: 1997-12-02
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Granted: 2000-06-06
•
Expires: 2017-12-02
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for obtaining a sample of blood from a patient for subsequent diagnostic tests, e.g., glucose monitoring. In one aspect of the invention, the method comprises the steps of: (a) forming an unobstructed opening in the area of the skin from which the sample of blood is to be extracted; and (b) extracting the sample of blood from the unobstructed opening in the skin, with the aid of a vacuum and a stretching of the skin. In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for carrying out the method described previously is provided. The apparatus comprises: (a) a device for forming an unobstructed opening in an area of skin from which said sample is to be extracted, preferably a lancing assembly; and (b) a vacuum pump. Preferably, the apparatus also includes a housing. It has also been discovered that an improved design and construction of the nosepiece can provide enhanced collection of blood from the unobstructed opening in the skin. It has been discovered that by controlling the construction of the interior cavity of the nosepiece, collection of blood can be improved.
Inventors
- 👤 David D. Cunningham
- 👤 Timothy P. Henning
- 👤 Eric B. Shain
- 👤 Douglas F. Young
- 👤 Michael G. Lowery
- 👤 Hugh W. Graham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/15; A61B5/151; A61B5/15186; A61B5/145; A61B5/14532; A61B5/1468; A61B5/1486; A61B5/150007; A61B5/150015; A61B5/150022; A61B5/150053; A61B5/150061; A61B5/150068; A61B5/150076; A61B5/150099; A61B5/150206; A61B5/150221; A61B5/150267; A61B5/150374; A61B5/150381; A61B5/150412; A61B5/150503; A61B5/150534; A61B5/150664; A61B5/15101; A61B5/15103; A61B5/15107; A61B5/15113; A61B5/15115; A61B5/15125; A61B5/15188; A61B5/1519; A61B5/15192; A61B5/15194; A61B5/157; A61B5/41; A61B5/411; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/02; A61B2562/0295; A61B5/150358
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A nosepiece suitable for use with a vacuum aided blood vacuum aided collection apparatus, said nosepiece comprising: (a) a lower base having an opening therein; (b) an upper base having an opening therein; (c) an interior wall joining said upper base and said lower base, the area of said opening in said upper base being less than the area of said opening in said lower base; and (d) a seal attached to said lower base of said nosepiece, the distance between the lowermost point of said seal and the lowermost point of said upper base be such that skin, when stretched into said nosepiece, comes as close as possible to said upper base or contacts said upper base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A nosepiece suitable for use with a vacuum aided blood vacuum aided collection apparatus, said nosepiece comprising: (a) a lower base having an opening therein; (b) an upper base having an opening therein; (c) an interior wall joining said upper base and said lower base, the area of said opening in said upper base being less than the area of said opening in said lower base; and (d) a seal attached to said lower base of said nosepiece, the distance between the lowermost point of said seal and the lowermost point of said upper base be such that skin, when stretched into said nosepiece, comes as close as possible to said upper base or contacts said upper base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nosepiece of claim 1, further including at least one passageway for vacuum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nosepiece of claim 1, wherein said opening in said upper base is circular in shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nosepiece of claim 1, wherein said opening in said upper base is oval in shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nosepiece of claim 1, wherein said interior wall is tapered.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The nosepiece of claim 1, wherein said interior wall is comprised of stepwise cylindrical sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
A nosepiece suitable for use with a vacuum aided blood collection apparatus, said nosepiece comprising: (a) a lower base having an opening therein; (b) an upper base having an opening therein; (c) an interior wall joining said upper base and said lower base, the area of said opening in said upper base being less than the area of said opening in said lower base, wherein said opening in said upper base is surrounded by a rim; and (d) a seal attached to said lower base of said nosepiece, the distance between the lowermost point of said seal and the lowermost point of said rim be such that skin, when stretched into said nosepiece, comes as close as possible to said rim or contacts said rim.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
A nosepiece suitable for use with a vacuum aided blood collection apparatus, said nosepiece comprising: (a) a lower base having an opening therein; (b) an upper base having an opening therein; (c) an interior wall joining said upper base and said lower base, the area of said opening in said upper base being less than the area of said opening in said lower base, wherein said opening in said upper base is surrounded by a rim; and (d) a seal attached to said lower base of said nosepiece, the distance between the lowermost point of said seal and the lowermost point of said rim be such that skin, when stretched into said nosepiece, comes as close as possible to said rim or contacts said rim.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The nosepiece of claim 1, further including a seal attached to said lower base of said nosepiece.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nosepiece of claim 8, wherein said seal is in the form of an annular ring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
92 words
A nosepiece suitable for use with a vacuum aided blood collection apparatus, said nosepiece comprising: (a) a lower base having an opening therein; (b) an upper base having an opening therein; and (c) an interior wall joining said upper base and said lower base, the area of said opening in said upper base being less than the area of said opening in said lower base, further including a seal attached to said lower base of said nosepiece, wherein said seal is capable of moving between a first position and a second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
A nosepiece suitable for use with a vacuum aided blood collection apparatus, said nosepiece comprising: (a) a lower base having an opening therein; (b) an upper base having an opening therein; and (c) an interior wall joining said upper base and said lower base, the area of said opening in said upper base being less than the area of said opening in said lower base, further including a seal attached to said lower base of said nosepiece, wherein said seal is capable of moving between a first position and a second position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nosepiece of claim 8, wherein said seal is formed from rubber or an elastomeric material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nosepiece of claim 8, wherein said seal is formed from an adhesive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The nosepiece of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the diameter of the opening in the lower base to the diameter of the opening in the upper base is at least about 3 to 1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The nosepiece of claim 1, wherein the distance between the lowermost point of said seal and the lowermost point of said upper base ranges from about 1.5 mm to about 8.0 mm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nosepiece of claim 7, further including at least one passageway for vacuum.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nosepiece of claim 7, wherein said opening in said upper base is circular in shape.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nosepiece of claim 7, wherein said opening in said upper base is oval in shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nosepiece of claim 7, wherein said interior wall is tapered.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The nosepiece of claim 7, wherein said interior wall is comprised of stepwise cylindrical sections.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nosepiece of claim 7, wherein said seal is in the form of an annular ring.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nosepiece of claim 7, wherein said seal is formed from rubber or an elastomeric material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nosepiece of claim 7, wherein said seal is formed from an adhesive.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The nosepiece of claim 7, wherein the ratio of the diameter of the opening in the lower base to the diameter of the opening in the upper base is at least about 3 to 1.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The nosepiece of claim 7, wherein the distance between the lowermost point of said seal and the lowermost point of said rim ranges from about 1.5 mm to about 8.0 mm.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nosepiece of claim 10, further including at least one passageway for vacuum.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nosepiece of claim 10, wherein said opening in said upper base is circular in shape.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nosepiece of claim 10, wherein said opening in said upper base is oval in shape.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
11 words
The nosepiece of claim 10, wherein said interior wall is tapered.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The nosepiece of claim 10, wherein said interior wall is comprised of stepwise cylindrical sections.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The nosepiece of claim 10, wherein said seal is formed from rubber or an elastomeric material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
The nosepiece of claim 10, wherein said seal is formed from an adhesive.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The nosepiece of claim 10, wherein the ratio of the diameter of the opening in the lower base to the diameter of the opening in the upper base is at least about 3 to 1.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-06 | 2003-12-06 | 2004-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-06 | 2007-12-06 | 2008-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-06 | 2011-12-06 | 2012-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |