LANCET APPARATUS AND METHODS

摘要

A one-time-use, self-powered, restricted entry lancet apparatus which provides a smaller incision in a surface or epidermal layers of a lancing site than in subsurface or dermal layers. Two embodiments of the invention are disclosed. Generally, each embodiment includes a housing, a blade component, a rotary spring and an actuator. The blade generally has a proximal portion and a distal section. The proximal portion is disposed within the housing and is displaced laterally in a first direction during a lancing procedure. During the lancing procedure, the distal section is extended from the housing through an open exit slot and is rotated about an abutment member of the exit slot to be laterally displaced in a direction opposite the first direction. This rotation about the abutment results in an incision pattern which has a smaller cut in the epidermis than in the dermis. Thus, surface trauma is reduced while a broad cut is made in capillary rich regions of the dermal layers.