US3741197A - Percussion apparatus for blood sampling - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for taking blood samples which involves strapping a blood collector tube to the part of the body from which the sample is to be taken. The blood collector tube has a resilient collapsible funnel which, when compressed, allows a lancet to puncture the dermis and epidermis. A striker member is placed on the end of the tube and a piston, normally held in a spring compressing position by a latch is released thus allowing the spring to impact on the base of the tube, compressing the funnel member and allowing the lancet to puncture the skin.

Description

0 United States Patent 1 1 1111 3, Sanz et al. [4 June 26, 1973 [54] PERCUSSION APPARATUS FOR BLOOD 2,399,011 4/1946 Erikson 128/275 SAMPLING 3,134,380 5/1964 Armad r 128/253 X 2,639,709 5/1953 Volgenau.... 128/276 Inventors: Manuel C- Sanz, Grand y, 2,699,784 1/1955 Krayl 128/333 Geneva; Georges Revillet, Onex, 3,604,424 9/1971 Windom 128/295 h f 't d f f Zerla FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Asslgnee: F systems 1,938,871 2/1970 Germany 128/DIG. 5 phlladelphlar 771,890 8/1934 France 128/DIG. s [22] Filed: Sept. 3, 1971 Primary Examinerl(yle L Howell [211 App! 18l423 Attorney-Gerry .l. Elman, Carl A, Castellan et al.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Sept. 4, 1970 Switzerland 1. 13352/70 A apparatus for taking blood Samples which involves strapping a blood collector tube to the part of the body [52] CL 128/DIG' 5 4 from which the sample is to be taken. The blood collec [51] Int Cl A6) 5/14 tor tube has a resilient collapsible funnel which, when 58] Fieid 2 R 2 G compressed, allows a lancet to puncture the dermis and [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,623,475 11/1971 Sanz et a1 128/2 R 3,626,929 12/1971 Sanz et al 128/2 R 3,635,213 1/1972 Lal-lay 128/2 R epidermis. A striker member is placed on the end of the tube and a piston, normally held in a spring compressing position by a latch is released thus allowing the spring to impact on the base of the tube, compressing the funnel member and allowing the lancet to puncture the skin.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIEN IEO JUN 26 I975 SHEEI 1 0f 4 Priority is hereby claimed on the basis of Swiss application, Ser. No. 13,352/70, filed Sept. 4, 1970.

This application relates to an apparatus and method for taking blood samples from the limbs of a patient. Copending U.S. Pat. Application 'Ser. Nos. 843,096 and 843,016 now U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,623,475 and 3,626,929, respectively both filed on 18 July 1969 and entitled Blood collector device" and Apparatus for obtaining a percutaneous and digital blood sample, respectively describe, firstly a device for collecting a percutaneous digital blood sample, comprising a tubular body or receptacle in the mouth of which is mounted a funnel member of resilient material which communicates at the bottom thereof with the receptacle and inside which are provided a pair of lancets for incising the dermis, and secondly, a stationary apparatus for automatically taking a blood sample which also uses the tubes just described.

Experience has shown that these two devices could only properly be used for taking blood samples from fingers of a certain size and that it was practically impossible to use this apparatus on the fingers of young children, in particular new-born babies. Due to the structural design of the stationary device, only digital blood-sample-taking operations can be performed.

Furthermore, it has been found that it could at times be useful to be able to take a blood sample with a tube similar to that described in the specification of copending U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,475 without having to resort to the apparatus described in the specification of copending U.S. Pat. No. 3,626,929.

The instant invention lies in the provision of an apparatus which enables this last requirement to be performed and which at the same time enables the above enumerated drawbacks to be overcome. The instant apparatus is intended to perform exclusively with a device of the kind described in the specification of copending U.S. Pat. No. 3,623475. It imparts an axial striking action of sufficient force to drive the lancets of the collector tube into both the epidermis and dermis of the part of the body from which blood is to be taken, thereby making the necessary incisions for a sample of the blood to issue. It is to be noted, however, that the instant apparatus, as opposed to the apparatus described in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 3,626,929, does not massage the part of the body where the incisions are made to cause the blood to flow towards the incisions. Such a massaging has to be performed by the operator, by hand or in any other suitable way.

The instant apparatus includes a blood collector tube of the type described in copending U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,475 and further includes a strap by which said blood collector tube is attached to, e.g., the foot of an infant, and an impacting mechanism which receives the end of said tube and employs a spring loaded piston to thrust the blood collector tube against the skin of the user, thereby causing the flexible funnel member of the tube to collapse and allowing the tube lancets to puncture the skin.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved blood sampling apparatus and method for taking blood samples.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved blood sampling apparatus which may be strapped to a patient for the sampling operation.

Still further, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus comprising a blood collector tube with lancets which is strapped to a patient and an impacting device which receives the tube and imparts a force to it to puncture the patients skin.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent when reference is had to the accompanying specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a blood collector device of the kind described in the specification of our U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,475;

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the blood collector tube of FIG. 1 and its relationship to the securing strap;

FIG. 3 shows the blood collector tube strapped to a finger;

FIG. 4 shows the blood collector tube strapped to the heel of a foot FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are vertical sections of the blood collector tube and the impacting member in various stages of its operation on a human foot.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the tube is designated generally as and comprises a tubular receptacle 1 at the top end of which is secured afunnel member 2 of resilient material, e.g. plastic or rubber. Themember 2 has a lower, plug-like portion 2' with a passage 2A in which is inserted aconduit 3 extending into the tubular receptacle 1 and communicating with the cup-like portion 2" of thefunnel member 2 at its top end. At the base of the cup are an upstanding lancet 4, although more than one lancet can be employed, and apad 5 of absorbent material. The lancet is adapted to perform a puncture of the dermis and of the epidermis of the person from which a blood sample is to be taken and the pad serves to absorb the liquid that issues from the tissues when first being cut. Aremovable cover 6 serves to seal off the device and can be removed simply by pulling ontab portion 6. The tube may have information pertaining to the patient magnetically encoded on amagnetizable band 3 on the circumference of tube 1. Vent passages such as 4 are provided around the pe riphery of portion 2' to allow entrapped air to escape as the tube is being filled.

To take a blood sample with the device of FIG. 1, the latter is inserted into the opening 7 of a strap 8 (FIGS. 2A and 2B) which has one end portion lined with bent overbristles 9 that are closely set and resistant, and its other end portion provided with a plurality of small hook-like elements 10. Thebristles 9 andelements 10 are similar to Velcro fasteners.

When thestrap 8 is folded over around a finger as in FIG. 3, or even a foot as, e.g., the foot of a young child as in FIG. 4, thehooks 10 engage with thebristles 9 and hold the strap sufficiently tightly on the finger or the foot for the mouth of the funnel-like member 2 to be pressed against the finger or the foot.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, astriker member 200 is adapted to receive the lower portion of the described blood collector device and impart a force thereto in the direction of arrow F (FIGS. 3 and 4) to cause an incision by lancet 4 of the epidermis and of the dermis of the body portion against which the device is being applied. 1

Thestriker apparatus 200 comprises a generally tubular casing 11 having an internal passage which is subdivided into three passages, 12, 13 and 14 of decreasing diameter, starting with passage 12.

- Slidahly mounted inpassages 12 and 13 is apiston 15 having a downwardly extendingrod 16 which projects out of the casing through aplug 17 closing off portion 12. The striking end ofpiston 15 is formed with a circumferential groove 15A and an axial recess 158.

In passage 12 there is mounted a centrally apertureddisc 18 which surrounds thepiston rod 16, and acoil spring 19 compressed between theplug 17 and thedisc 18.

Acoil spring 20 is housed inpassage 13 and engages, at one end, thepiston 15 and, at its other end, a shoulder 13A that is formed between theportions 13 and 14. Thespring 20 is so designed that it exerts a much smaller axial force than that ofspring 19, but is sufficient to keeppiston 15 in the position shown in FIG. A.

The casing 11 is formed also with a radial and axially extendingslot 21 which communicates with thepassage 13 and in which is pivotally mounted alever 22 on apivot pin 23 that is subject to the action of acoil spring 24 tending to urge thelever 22 in the direction of arrow F (FIGS. 5A and 5B).

Thelever 22 acts as the control member of the apparatus to institute the impacting action.

The method of operation commences with securing the bloodcollector tube to the selected part of the body by means of itsstrap 8 whereby its funnel member is pressed against the surface of this part. Thestriker apparatus 200 is put into place as shown in FIG. 5A by slipping the casing 11 over the tubular receptacle 1, the latter occupying the passage portion 14in the casing 11.

Therod 16 is then pulled outwards in the direction of arrow F (FIG. 58) against the action of thespring 19 until the circumferential groove A ofpiston 15 comes to lie opposite a nose 22A on the end oflever 22. Thelever 22 then moves in the direction of arrow F under the action of thespring 24 and the nose clicks into the grove 15A to lock thepiston 15 and thecompressed spring 19 in a cocked position (FIG. 5B).

Pressure is then exerted on the top end of thelever 22 in the direction of arrow F to cause the latter to rock in a direction opposite to F and hence to cause the nose 22A to withdraw from the groove 15A ofpiston 15 thereby releasing the latter which is then violently propelled upwards (FIG. 5C).

As is apparent from FIGS. 5A to SC, the energy of thespring 19 is transmitted to thepiston 15 via theap ertured disc 18 but the action of this spring on the piston ceases when thedisc 18 comes to bear on the shoulder 12A between thepassages 12 and 13.

After thedisc 18 impacts on shoulder 12A the piston l5 and its associatedrod 16 continue to move upwards by inertia and initially compress the weaker spring and then strike the tip of the tubular receptacle 1 of the blood collector device. Upon being struck, the tubular receptacle 1 is propelled axially towards the patientss body, the cup-like portion of thefunnel member 2 yields and collapses and the lancet 4 (FIG. 1) is driven into the epidermis and dermis thereby performing the desired incision for taking a blood sample.

when thepiston 15 has carried out its striking action and upon all of its kinetic energy having passed to the tubular body I and to thespring 20, the latter, through having been compressed, then forces thepiston 15 and itsrod 15 back downwards until the piston comes into engagement with theapertured disc 18 as shown in FIG. 5A.

Thus, the only force left acting on the collector device is'that due to the resilient cup-like portion ofits funnelmember 2 which then can return from its collapsed position to its normal rest position, thereby extracting the lancet 4 from the patient's skin.

Once thestriker apparatus 200 has performed its striking action it is removed from the collector device by slipping its casing 11 axially along the tubular receptacle l.

To gather blood in the tubular receptacle 1 of the collector device, it suffices to massage the incised portion of the body either manually for instance, with a roller by successive motions directed towards the incision thereby causing blood to flow towards the latter and to issue therefrom into thefunnel member 2 of the device, whence it passes into the tubular receptacle 1 through the conduit 3 (FIG. 1).

While only embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many obvious changes and modifications can be made without'departing from the scope of the appended claims.

We claim: I

1. A device for collecting a percutaneous digital blood sample from infants and the like comprising the combination of a tubular body closed at one end and open at the other end and adapted to collect the blood, a funnel member having a resilient funnel portion and a discharge end and engaged at said discharge end in the open end of said body and a mass of absorbent material located within said funnel portion, and at least one incisor lancet in said funnel portion projecting through and beyond said mass and located wholly within said funnel member, said funnel member providing an open passage from said funnel portion to the interior of said tubular body to allow for blood flow, flexible strap means connected to said tubular body below said funnel member for securing the funnel portion to a human body, and elongated striker means receiving the closed end of said tubular body and coaxial therewith, said striker means including a biased striker member and a means to release said member to allow it to impart a longitudinal force to the closed end of said tubular body to obtain a blood sample.

2. A device according to claim 1, and including a capillary tube forming an extension of said funnel member and said passage and extending to a location adjacent to the closed end of the tubular body.

3. A device according toclaim 2, wherein one end of the capillary tube is located within the discharge end of the funnel member, and is integral with said lancet.

4. A device according to claim I and including a base plate supported in a lower part'of said funnel portion, said lancet being integral with said base plate.

5. A device according to claim 1, including means for allowing entrapped air to vent from said tubular body comprising a passage located in the discharge end of termined position, one spring being weaker than the other which is compressed when said striker piston is withdrawn to allow the velocity imparted by said compressed spring to said piston to overcome said weaker spring thus allowing said piston to impact the closed end of said tubular body.

8. A device as in claim 1 wherein said tubular body has a magnetizable layer on the body surface thereof.

Claims (8)

1. A device for collecting a percutaneous digital blood sample from infants and the like comprising the combination of a tubular body closed at one end and open at the other end and adapted to collect the blood, a funnel member having a resilient funnel portion and a discharge end and engaged at said discharge end in the open end of said body and a mass of absorbent material located within said funnel portion, and at least one incisor lancet in said funnel portion projecting through and beyond said mass and located wholly within said funnel member, said funnel member providing an open passage from said funnel portion to the interior of said tubular body to allow for blood flow, flexible strap means connected to said tubular body below said funnel member for securing the funnel portion to a human body, and elongated striker means receiving the closed end of said tubular body and coaxial therewith, said striker means including a biased striker member and a means to release said member to allow it to impart a longitudinal force to the closed end of said tubular body to obtain a blood sample.

2. A device according to claim 1, and including a capillary tube forming an extension of said funnel member and said passage and extending to a location adjacent to the closed end of the tubular body.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein one end of the capillary tube is located within the discharge end of the funnel member, and is integral with said lancet.

4. A device according to claim 1 and including a base plate supported in a lower part of said funnel portion, said lancet being integral with said base plate.

5. A device according to claim 1, including means for allowing entrapped air to vent from said tubular body comprising a passage located in the discharge end of said funnel.

6. A device according to claim 1 where said striker means includes a tubular aperture receiving the closed end of said tubular body, said striker member comprising a striker piston rod, spring means normally biasing said striker piston in a predetermined position, latch means for maintaining said piston in a second position which compresses at least a portion of said spring means, said latch means adapted to be released by a user to allow said compressed spring means to impart a velocity to said piston to effect an impact with the closed end of said tubular body to collapse said funnel portion and allow said lancet to penetrate into a human body.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said spring means comprises two opposed compression springs, said springs acting to maintain said piston in said predetermined position, one spring being weaker than the other which is compressed when said striker piston is withdrawn to allow the velocity imparted by said compressed spring to said piston to overcome said weaker spring thus allowing said piston to impact the closed end of said tubular body.

8. A device as in claim 1 wherein said tubular body has a magnetizable layer on the body surface thereof.

Images