US3030959A - Surgical lancet for blood sampling - Google Patents

Description

April 24, 1962 H. GR'UNERT SURGICAL LANOET FOR BLOOD SAMPLING Filed sept. 4, 1959 /N VEN TOP ATT YJ'.

United States Patent O 3,030,959 SURGECAL LAN CET FR BLOD SAWLING Helmuth Grunert, Koln-Hohenberg, Germany, assigner to Prameta, Prazisionsmetallund Kunststolerzeugnisre, G. Baumann 8c Co., Koln-Gsthcim, Germany,

Filed Sept. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 838,310 Claims priority, application Germany Nov. 9, 1959 9 Claims. (Cl. 12S-329) This invention relates to a device for cutting the human skin and more particularly to a puncturing device for obtaining blood samples by making incisions of small depth into the skin.

Devices for blood sampling of the surgical Lancet type having the lancet or puncturing cannula arranged for replacement are known. In these devices, the lanoet can be mounted on the front end of a tiring pin which is under spring pressure, and in retracted position, can be retained by means of a contactor lever. Release is eltected by means of a release member which may consist of a tipping lever. It is also known to provide the firing pin additionally with a retractile spring in order to moderate the impact of the firing pin in released position to prevent of being locked in retracted position and released from this position by means of a release member. it is characterized in that the spindle is designed for housing a replaceable magazine containing a stock of needles and provided with a feeding device for the needle to be used. The magazine `advantageously exhib-its the shape of an elongated pencil lead and lias the form of a sleeve, in the longitudinal vaxis of which the needles are stored one after the other in a line. Advancing of the needles into the spring collet is elfected by a push member which, in operating position, extends into the path of the needle next following the used needle. As this needle is advanced, the needle preceding it is ejected. Retaining of the needle in position of use is accomplished by means of a spring collet which is slotted in axial direction.

The -spindle is advantageously constructed as hollow and houses the spring collet at one end and lthe removable magazine on the other end. .It is also capable of receiving one or several sleeves cooperating with one spring collet, the collet taking support on an abutment by means of a spring so that the needle is retained. The external spindle sleeve is equipped with a driving spring. Moreover, there is provided a return spring pulling the spindle and consequently the collet and the needle back after the incision has been made.

According to a further feature of the invention, release of the spindle being in cocked position is effected by exerting a pressure on that part of the device which is placed on the skin. To this end, this part may be designed as a sleeve which is arranged for displacement in longitudinal direction and cooperates with a ring kept in eccentric position under spring pressure and representing the support member for the cocked spindle.

The puncturing lancet of the invention exhibits several advantages with respect to the constructional design and the possibilities of manipulation and making painless incisions. It is known that especially the use of puncturing devices for mass examinations results in transice mission of infectious diseases because the puncturing member cannot be kept sterile rapidly and safely.

This deliciency is removed in accordance with the invention by the fact that the used needle can be rapidly replaced by a new needle. In the magazine inserted into the puncturing device, there is available a number of sterile needles `which can be brought into the position of use successively without the person handling the device coming into contact with the needles. Ejection of the used needles is effected forcibly so that contact with the non-sterile needles is likewise eliminated. The magazine, i.e. the sleeve containing the needles, is simply and rapidly inserted into the device without a contact between the operator and the individual needles taking place. Thus, here again sterile manipulation is ensured. The depth of incision can be easily adjusted. Of particular advantage is the release of the cocked spindle by exerting a pressure on the front surface of application, i.e. by p-ressing the entire device against the skin. -In particular, release levers are eliminated thereby. All of the moving parts of the puncturing device are arranged in the interior of the housing. The housing itself may be made even and smooth on the outside. It is preferably given the shape of an elongated pencil. I-n this manner, the device can be easily handled and kept clean. The round shape of the puncturing member and its automatic retraction from the skin ensure painless incisions in contrast to the hitherto usual shapes of the incision member while fully achieving the effect desired.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the puncturing device of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views along thelines 2 2 and 3 3 respectively of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view of the puncturing device showing the spindle with the needle in itsforemost punctuning position; and Y FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 with the spindle in released position.

Referring to the drawings, the puncturing device of the invention has acylindrical housing 1 of elongated pencillike shape that receives thespindle 2 in the form of a central tube that is arranged for displacement. 'Ihecentral tube 2 is under the action of aspring 3 tending to advance the tube. This spring surrounds thetube 2 and abuts at one end a stationary intermediate ring 4 which,

for example, is mounted in thehousing 1 adjacent the inner end thereof. The other end of the spring abuts an annular shoulder on thetube 2. Afurther spring 5 serves as a return spring and is located in the housing between the other side of the intermediate ring 4 and a grip member or pullknob 6 which is permanently connected with thecentral tube 2 by a threaded connection at 6a. The forward part of thecentral tube 2 houses thespring collet 9. Arranged within alocking cap 8 inserted into thecentral tube 2 and permanently connected to the central tube is thespring collet 9 subdivided into springy jaws bylongitudinal slots 10. These jaws have a cone 11 enlarging in forward direction and co-operating with the conical abutment 8a of thelocking cap 8. Thespring collet 9 holds thepuncturing needle 12. By means of thecollet spring 13, thecollet 9 is pulled towards theconical abutment 8"l of the sealingcap 8, thereby retaining thepuncturing needle 12.

Arranged in thecentral tube 2 for longitudinal displacement is atube 7 which is under the action of afeeding spring 14 engaging at one end theend ring 15 which is permanently threadably connected with afeed tube 16. The tube lies against a ange of afeeding sleeve 30, which flange in turn takes support on the flange of thespring collet 9. Arranged in thepull knob 6 is afeed push member 17 in whichsleeve 18 with a push knob is inserted. When inserting thesleeve 18, thespring 14 is tensioned and the force produced on thetube 7, acts upon thespring collet 9 against the action of thespring 13 thereby disengaging thechuck jaws 9 from the abutment 8a to release thepuncturing needle 12. The feed motion of thesleeve 18 is limited by thestop 19. When releasing thesleeve 18, the same is returned into its starting position by thefeed spring 14. Thecollet spring 13 is capable of becoming fully effective again in that thejaws 9 press against the abutment 8a in the sealingcap 8 and consequently clamp theneedle 12 tightly. Thesprings 13 and 14 should be adapted to each other such that thespring 14, after compression, is capable of overcoming the tension of thespring 13.

In tensioned retracted position, thecentral tube 2 is retained by a press ring which is held in eccentric position by thespring 21 as in FIGS. l and 2. Threaded on thecylindrical housing 1 is ahead 22 in the front part of which apress sleeve 23 is arranged for displacement in a longitudinal direction. Thispress sleeve 23 is fitted in anintermediate sleeve 24 and is provided at the front end with acap 25 fitted thereon. To provide a dust-proof cover, thepress sleeve 23 may be provided with a sealingcap 26. Thecap 25 of thepress sleeve 23 represents the member to be pressed on the skin, and serves to release thecentral tube 2 held in cocked condition under spring load together with the puncturingneedle 12 chucked in thespring collet 9. To this end, thepress sleeve 23 is provided at its inner end with a chamfer orcone 27 cooperating with theinner cone 28 of thepress 20 held in eccentric position.

The magazine has the form of an elongated pencil lead capable of receiving a predetermined number of needles in itssleeve 29. Thesleeve 29 is arranged in thefeed tube 16 which is held in retracted position by thespring 14. The front end of thesleeve 29 is telescoped into afeed sleeve 30, the bore of which corresponds to that of thesleeve 29. Thefeed sleeve 30 is provided with alongitudinal slot 31. The outer end of thefeed tube 16, by means of anintermediate sleeve 35, carries aleaf spring 32 serving the advance of the needles and having its front end bent off at an angle. The bent-off part, in retracted position of thefeed tube 16, rests on asurface 30a of thefeed sleeve 30 keeping thespring 32 away from the path of the needles. Actuation of thefeed tube 16 is effected by thefeed push member 17 which is displaceable in longitudinal direction and on which thesleeve 18 is litted.

For charging the puncturing device with anew sleeve 29 containing a predetermined number of sterilizedneedles 33, thesleeve 18 is removed so that thesleeve 29 with needles can be inserted down to the stop provided at thefeed sleeve 30. With the device in vertical position, the needles slide downwardly by gravity until the foremost needle 34 has reached the position shown in FIG. l if aneedle 12 from the previous magazine is still contained in thespring collet 9. By pressing on thesleeve 18, thejaws 9 of the collet move out of engagement with theabutment 8"'. At the same time, thefeed tube 16 is advanced together with thefeed push member 17 by pressing thesleeve 18 forward. As thetube 16 is advanced, thespring 32 bent off at an angle is taken along, glides off from the surface 30' and enters the path of theneedles 33. Thespring 32 engages the end face of the next followingneedle 33a from behind. As thetube 16 is further advanced by thesleeve 18, theneedle 33a is likewise advanced until thespring 32 reaches a stop at the spring collet. The needle 34 has been advanced by theneedle 33. Theneedle 12 was ejected, the needle 34 takes the place of theneedle 12 and theneedle 33a that of needle 34. By releasing thesleeve 18, thefeed tube 16 automatically returns into its starting position under the action of thespring 14. Thespring 32 is lifted out of the path of the needles by the surface 30EL and held in inactive position. At the same time, withspring 14 released, thecollet spring 13 becomes effective so that thejaws 9 clamp the foremost needle.

To make the incision, the entire puncturing device is pressed with its front cap against the skin. Thereby, thepress sleeve 23 is displaced inwardly and engages theinner cone 28 of the eccentrically locatedpress ring 20 and moves the same into concentric position, which releases thecentral tube 2. Thespring 3 becomes active and the tip of theneedle 12 jumps beyond the front edge of the cap 2S and produces a puncture. This phase of movement is represented in FIG. 4. Thereafter, the then compressedreturn spring 5 immediately retracts thecentral tube 2 together with the spring collet 9' and theneedle 12 so that the needle is again in the space enclosed by thepress sleeve 23. Thecentral tube 2 is then manually withdrawn into the housing using thepull knob 6 until thecap 8 again is seated behind the ring Z0 and thespring 3 is again compressed. Now the used needle may be replaced by a new sterile needle from the magazine by advancing the sleeve 1S to the front stop and releasing it, whereupon it returns automatically into the starting position.

By adjusting thehead 22, the depth of penetration of the needle may be adjusted by means of marks provided on thehousing 1. The tension of thesprings 3 and 5 may be varied by adjusting the intermediate ring 4 and thepull knob 6.

What is claimed is:

l. In a puncturing device for making an incision in the skin of a person, an elongated housing, a spring loaded hollow spindle slidable in the housing, means for holding the spindle in retracted position, means adapted' to engage the aforesaid means to release the spindle, spring means for returning the spindle towards a partially retracted position, a needle magazine having needles therein arranged in end to end relation receivable in said spindle, chuck means for holding the foremost needle, and means for feeding the needles forwardly to the chuck means; said chuck means including a collet having needle gripping jaws and spring means for holding the jaw engaged ywith a needle, and the means for holding the spindle in retracted position including an eccentrically mounted ring in the outer end of the housing in the path of the spindle and a spring for normally holding the ring in its eccentric position.

2. A puncturing device as in claim l, wherein the spindle releasing means includes a press sleeve slidably mounted in inclosing relation to the adjacent needle at the outer end of the housing and adapted to be moved into contact with the eccentric ring to center the ring relative to the housing and move it out of the path of the spindle.

3. A puncturing device as inclaim 2, wherein the opposed faces of the ring and press sleeve have oppositely inclined surfaces to elfect lateral movement of the ring into concentric position.

4. A puncturing device as in claim l, wherein the spindle releasing means includes a press sleeve slidably mounted in inclosing relation to the adjacent needle at the outer end of the housing and adapted to be moved into contact with the eccentric ring to center the ring relative to the housing and move it out of the path of the spindle, the means for feeding the needles including a feed tube in which the magazine is mounted, a needle guide sleeve at the outer end of the feed tube having a side slot therein and a spring member carried by the feed tube and adapted to extend through said slot for engaging the rear end face of a needle in the magazine and means for moving the feed tube and magazine toward the collet.

5. A puncturing device as inclaim 2, wherein the opposed faces of the ring and press sleeve have oppositely inclined surfaces to effect lateral movement of the ring into concentric position, the means for feeding the needles including a feed tube in which the magazine is mounted, a needle guide sleeve at the outer end of the feed tube having a side slot therein and a spring member carried by the feed tube and adapted to extend through said slot for engaging the rear end face of a needle in the magazine and means for moving the feed tube and magazine toward the collet.

6. A puncturing device as inclaim 1, wherein the spindle releasing means includes `a press sleeve slidably mounted in inclosing relation to the adjacent needle at the outer end of the housing and adapted to be moved into contact with the eccentric ring to center the ring relative to the housing and move it out of the path of the spindle, the means for feeding the needles including a feed tube in which the magazine is mounted, a needle guide sleeve at the outer end of the feed tube having a side slot therein and a spring member carried by the feed tube and adapted to extend through said slot for engaging the rear end face of a needle in the magazine, means for moving the feed tube and magazine toward the collet, and spring means for restoring the last named means to normal position.

7. A puncturing device as inclaim 2, wherein the opposed faces of the ring and press sleeve have oppositely inclined surfaces to effect lateral movement of the ring into concentric position, the means for feeding the needles including a feed tube in which the magazine is mounted,

a needle guide sleeve at the outer end of the feed tubehaving a side slot therein and a spring member carried by the feed tube and adapted to extend through said slot for engaging the rear end face of a needle in the magazine, means for moving the feed tube and magazine toward the collect, and spring means for restoring the last named means to normal position.

8. A puncturing device as inclaim 1, wherein the spindle releasing means includes a press sleeve slidably mounted in inclosing relation to the adjacent needle at the outer end of the housing and adapted to be mo-ved into contact with the eccentric ring to center the ring relative to the housing and move it out of the path of the spindle, and spring means for restoring the last named means to normal position.

9. A puncturing device as inclaim 2, wherein the opposed faces of the ring and press sleeve have oppositely incl-ined surfaces to effect lateral movement of the ring into concentric position, and means for controlling the length of sliding movement of the press sleeve to vary the lenth of projection of a needle beyond the press sleeve.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,583,069 Votruba Jan. 22, 1952 2,345,070 Powell Mar. 28, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 124,247 Swden Mar. 15, 1949 718,328 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1954 399,929 France July 10, 1909 393.189 France Dec. 15. 1908 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,030,959 April 24 1962 Helmuth Gruner-t It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification'.v liffie 8I for' "NoV. 9 1959" read Sept. 5E 1958 Signed and sealed this 28th day of August 1962.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ESTON G. JOHNSON DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

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