JP2019217299A - Injector, lancet assembly, and puncture device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a puncture device which is equipped with a puncture depth adjustment mechanism that is composed of an injector and a lancet assembly.SOLUTION: A puncture depth adjustment mechanism consists of; a projection projecting from a plunger outward in a transverse direction; a cylindrical member equipped with an uneven part and a step part; and a spring member provided side by side to the cylindrical member along an axial direction of the injector. While the uneven part is provided for the cylindrical member in the way that a normal line of a surface forming the uneven part becomes almost parallel to the axial direction of the injector, a complementary shape part having a complementary shape to a part of the uneven part is provided for the injector/casing, and contact between a part of the uneven part of the cylindrical member and the complementary shape part of the injector/casing is held by a pressing force provided by the spring member. When the plunger moves forward before puncture, the plunger cannot move forward more than that by the projection of the plunger colliding with the step part of the cylindrical member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

  The present invention relates to a puncture device used for puncturing a predetermined part of a body with a sharp member (for example, a needle) for the purpose of collecting a body fluid such as blood. In particular, the invention also relates to a lancet assembly (an assembly consisting of a lancet and a lancet holder containing it), which is a component of such a lancing device, and to an injector used in combination with such a lancet assembly.

  Measurement of blood sugar levels in diabetic patients requires blood sampling. Various puncture devices have been used to collect minute blood volumes. Such devices generally consist of a lancet (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,059) and an injector. The lancet is a member used for actual puncturing, while the injector has a function of firing the lancet toward a predetermined location.

  Specifically, the lancet is provided with a "puncture needle", while the injector is provided with a "plunger having a lancet mounting portion and a spring". The plunger spring is used in a compressed state, and releasing the compressed state causes the plunger to move instantaneously. In use, after attaching the lancet to the plunger of the injector, the trigger releases the compressed state of the spring of the plunger. As a result, the plunger with a lancet is fired in the puncturing direction, and puncturing at a predetermined location is performed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,571

  The present applicant has made inventions on the puncture device described below, and has filed an application relating to the invention (WO 2007/018215, filing date: August 8, 2006). , Title of Invention: "Puncturing device and lancet assembly and injector assembly constituting it"). The lancet assembly and the injector assembly according to the present invention will be briefly described with reference to the drawings (hereinafter, the “injector assembly” will be also referred to as “injector”). FIG. 47 shows the appearance of the lancet assembly 100 ', and FIG. 48 shows the appearance of the injector 200'. As shown in FIG. 47, the lancet assembly 100 'includes a lancet 101' and a protective cover 102 '. As shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, the lancet 101 'includes a lancet body 104', a lancet cap 106 ', and a puncture needle 105'. The metal puncture needle 105 'is present over the lancet body 104' and the lancet cap 106 'made of resin. The distal end of the puncture needle 105 'is covered with a lancet cap 106', and the lancet cap 106 'and the lancet body 104' are integrally connected via a weakening member 108 '. As shown in FIGS. 47 and 50, the protective cover 102 'is provided so as to surround a part of the lancet body 104'. After such a lancet assembly 100 'is loaded into the injector 200', the lancet cap 106 'is removed. As a result, the tip of the puncture needle 105 'is exposed, so that the lancet can be used for puncture.

  The injector 200 'shown in FIG. 48 is a device that can be used in combination with the lancet assembly 100' to fire a "lancet body with the tip of the puncture needle 105 'exposed". The injector 200 'has a "plunger 204' that can be engaged with the rear end of the lancet body and fires the lancet body in the puncturing direction" (see FIG. 51). When loading the injector 200 ', the lancet assembly 100' is inserted through the front end opening 214 'of the injector 200' as shown in FIG. After some insertion, the rear portion 116 'of the lancet assembly 100' is gripped by the distal ends 264 ', 266' of the plunger 204 ', as shown in FIG. As insertion continues, plunger 204 'retracts and stores firing energy. That is, when the plunger 204 'is retracted, a spring (not shown) provided on the plunger 204' is compressed (therefore, when the compressed state is released, the plunger is instantaneously moved forward and the lancet is moved). Will be fired). FIG. 53 shows the injector 200 'with the plunger retracted and the firing energy stored.

  When the loading of the lancet assembly 100 'into the injector 200' is completed, the lancet cap 106 'is removed to expose the tip of the puncture needle 105'. The removal of the lancet cap 106 'will be described in detail below. As shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, the lancet body 104 'and the lancet cap 106' are integrally connected by a weakened portion 108 'located therebetween. Such a weakening member 108 ′ can be broken by turning the lancet body 104 ′ and the lancet cap 106 ′ around the puncture needle in a relatively opposite direction (FIG. 53 shows a mode of turning in the G direction). ), Whereby the lancet cap 106 'can be removed. That is, the tip of the puncture needle 105 'is exposed by so-called "twist-off".

  At the time of puncturing, after pressing the front end opening 214 'of the injector 200' to a predetermined site (for example, a fingertip) to be punctured, the press portion 542 'of the trigger member 514' is pressed (see FIG. 54). By pressing the press portion 542 ', the plunger 204' is fired forward (i.e., the compressed spring is released), and the puncture is performed by the puncture needle.

Here, the injector has an important function of firing the lancet, and the present inventors have found that there are still the following items to be improved.

● Although there is a need to change the puncture depth of the puncture needle depending on the puncture site, a puncture device, particularly an injector, is rarely provided with such a mechanism for adjusting the puncture depth. Further, even if such a mechanism is provided, the depth adjustment dial provided on the injector is not always easy to handle. Specifically, when the user turns the depth adjustment dial with his / her fingertip, the change accompanying the adjustment is small (for example, "click when indicating that the adjustment has been made / the scale value has changed when the adjustment dial is rotated"). There was a case where it was difficult for the user to sensibly and clearly determine whether or not the adjustment was performed / whether or not the scale value was appropriately changed.

● When loading the lancet assembly into the injector, it is desired that the lancet assembly be properly held with respect to the injector. However, the specifications of the injector have not always been suitable. Even if such specifications are taken into consideration, in many cases, they cannot be said to exhibit sufficient functions. Specifically, it is conceivable to hold and fix the holder of the lancet assembly with an engagement projection provided on the injector, but the injector itself is made of resin, and therefore, the engagement projection is also made of resin. Therefore, the engagement protrusion is worn out during repeated use, and the holding force is reduced.

The present inventors have also found that the lancet assembly itself still has the following items to be improved.

● The lancet constituting the lancet assembly is used after the cap covering the needle tip is finally removed, but the needle tip may be bent when the cap is removed. Specifically, a load is applied to the needle tip due to the “saw operation” performed to remove the cap, and as a result, the needle tip may be bent or broken. In particular, recently, there has been a tendency to use a fine puncture needle, and the needle tip of such a fine puncture needle is particularly likely to bend. If the needle tip bends, the pain felt by the blood donor at the time of puncture will increase.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a puncture device including a more preferable injector and lancet assembly.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention,
An injector for launching a lancet of a lancet assembly for puncturing, comprising a plunger for firing the lancet in the puncturing direction, and an injector casing containing the plunger,
The puncture depth adjustment mechanism of the injector
A protrusion that projects outwardly from the plunger in the transverse direction thereof,
A cylindrical member having an uneven portion and a step portion, and a spring member provided side by side with the cylindrical member along the axial direction of the injector,
The uneven portion is provided on the cylindrical member so that the normal line of the surface forming the uneven portion is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the injector, while the complementary shape portion having a shape complementary to a part of the uneven portion is provided on the injector member. Provided in the casing, the contact between the part of the concave and convex portion of the cylindrical member and the complementary portion of the injector casing is held by the pressing force provided by the spring member,
When the plunger moves forward during puncturing, the projection of the plunger collides with the step of the cylindrical member, so that the plunger cannot move further forward. In adjusting the position of the plunger, by rotating the cylindrical member about its axis, the step portion at which the protrusion of the plunger collides can be changed to a step portion having a different height, whereby the forward portion of the plunger can be adjusted. An injector is provided, in which the travel distance is changed.

  One of the features of the injector according to the present invention is that the puncture depth adjusting mechanism has a “cylindrical member having an uneven portion and a step portion”. In particular, the uneven portion is provided on the cylindrical member such that the normal of the surface forming the uneven portion of the cylindrical member (that is, the uneven surface) is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the injector, while being complementary to a part of the uneven portion. Is provided on the injector casing, and the pressing force provided by the spring member keeps a part of the concave-convex portion of the cylindrical member and the complementary portion of the injector casing in contact with each other. . This provides a user with a suitable "click feeling" when adjusting the puncture depth by turning the cylindrical member with the fingertip.

  In a preferred aspect of the injector according to the present invention, the uneven portion is provided in an end region of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, and the complementary portion is provided on the inner wall surface of the injector casing. In another preferred aspect, the step portion is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, and the plunger is positioned so that the protrusion of the plunger is positioned inside the cylindrical member and behind the step portion. Is piercing.

  It is preferable that the concave and convex portions of the cylindrical member have a form that is periodically continuous along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical member. When the puncturing depth is adjusted by rotating the cylindrical member, a part of the concave-convex portion of the cylindrical member abutting on the complementary shape portion of the injector casing changes to another part. As described above, when a part of the concave and convex portion of the cylindrical member abutting on the complementary shape portion of the injector casing is changed to another part, it is preferable that the spring member be temporarily contracted. That is, it is preferable that the spring member returns to the original form after contracting once. The spring member may be, for example, a coil spring.

  In another preferred aspect, the cylindrical member is provided with a scale value along the circumferential direction, while the injector casing is provided with a scale opening window for exposing the cylindrical member with the scale value. . In such an embodiment, the scale values of the cylindrical member are composed of the first value sequence and the second value sequence adjacent to each other, and the scale opening windows are provided so as to form a pair on the opposing side surfaces of the injector casing. The first numerical aperture and the second numerical aperture are provided, and the numerical value of the first numerical value sequence is exposed from the first numerical value window, while the numerical value of the second numerical value sequence is exposed from the second numerical value opening window.

Further, in the present invention, an injector that launches the lancet of the lancet assembly for puncturing, comprising a plunger that launches the lancet in the puncturing direction, and an injector casing that contains the plunger,
The lancet assembly holding mechanism of the injector is
A lancet assembly receiving member that is provided at the front end opening of the injector and can accommodate a lancet assembly holder, and a metal holder holding member attached to the lancet assembly receiving member,
An injector is also provided wherein the holder clamping member clamps the holder when the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector such that the holder of the lancet assembly fits in the lancet assembly receiving member.

  One of the features of the injector according to the present invention is that the lancet assembly holding mechanism includes a “lancet assembly receiving member provided at the front end opening of the injector and capable of accommodating a holder of the lancet assembly” and a “lancet assembly receiving member”. Metal holding member attached to the member ". In particular, when the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector such that the holder of the lancet assembly is received in the lancet assembly receiving member, the holder holding member holds the holder. Thus, the lancet assembly can be suitably held by the injector when the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector.

  In a preferred aspect of the injector according to the present invention, the holder holding member has elastic characteristics. In this aspect, the holder of the lancet assembly is held by the holder holding member due to the elastic force of the holder holding member.

  The entire shape of the holder holding member has a substantially ring shape, for example, a partially notched ring shape. Further, the holder holding member is not limited to a single product, and may be composed of a plurality of parts. For example, the holder holding member may have a two-part configuration including a sub-holding member A and a sub-holding member B, and the sub-holding member A and the sub-holding member B may be arranged to face each other.

  It is preferable that the holder holding member has a locally curved portion in which a part thereof is locally curved or bent inward. In the case of the “two-part configuration”, it is preferable that each of the sub-clamping members A and B has a locally curved portion. When the holder holding member has a local curved portion, the local curved portion is in contact with an outer surface portion of the holder of the lancet assembly (an outer peripheral surface of the holder and a holder circumferential ridge provided on the holder) when the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector. Is preferred. Further, the holder holding member is preferably attached so as to be in close contact with the outer surface of the lancet assembly receiving member. It is preferably exposed. It is also preferable that at least a part of the inner surface of the local curved portion has a dome shape (that is, the inner surface of the local curved portion has a dome-shaped portion). That is, the holder contacting surface of the holder holding member preferably has a substantially hemispherical shape.

  When the holder holding member is composed of the sub-holding member A and the sub-holding member B, the lancet assembly receiving members are also referred to as “the sub-receiving member A positioned on the front side of the injector” and “the sub-receiving member positioned on the rear side of the injector”. B ". It is preferable that the sub receiving member A has a ring shape as a whole. In such a case, the sub receiving member A is provided with a pair of rear protruding portions protruding rearward, and the pair of rear protruding portions is preferably positioned on the sub holding member A and the sub holding member B. .

  The injector having the “puncture depth adjusting mechanism” and / or the “lancet assembly holding mechanism” as described above has an ejector. That is, it further has an ejector for discharging the lancet assembly loaded in the injector.

  In a preferred embodiment, the ejector is provided with a resilient portion, while the inner wall surface of the injector casing is provided with a protrusion. When the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector to engage the lancet and the plunger with each other, it is preferable that the elastic portion of the ejector once abuts on the protrusion of the injector and then gets over the protrusion. In particular, it is preferable that the lancet and the plunger be completely engaged when the elastic portion of the ejector gets over the protrusion of the injector.

  The ejector has, for example, a long shape, and it is preferable that an elastic portion is provided at a tip portion of the long shape ejector. Further, it is preferable that the elastic portion has a branched form extending rearward so as to be branched from the ejector body.

  Further, the injector having the puncturing depth adjusting mechanism and / or the lancet assembly holding mechanism preferably has a “recharging mechanism.” Specifically, the injector includes a plunger retracting mechanism for the ejector. In such a case, when the ejector is moved backward after the puncture, the plunger retreating contact portion of the ejector comes into contact with the plunger, and as a result, the pushing received from the ejector "Recharge" is possible because the plunger can be retracted due to pressure.

The present invention also provides a lancet assembly including a lancet and a holder that houses the lancet. In such a lancet assembly, the lancet includes a lancet body, a lancet cap, and a puncture needle, and a metal puncture needle is present in these over the resin lancet body and the lancet cap, and the lancet cap punctures the lancet body. The needle tip is covered. And the lancet cap of the lancet is
Needle tip protection part to protect the puncture needle,
A cap head portion connected to the needle tip protection portion and positioned at the foremost position with the lancet cap; and a pair of rear extension portions connected to the cap head portion and extending rearward from the cap head portion. Then
A rearward extension of the lancet cap extends on and along the outer surface of the body of the holder.

  One of the features of the lancet assembly according to the present invention is that it has a pair of rear extending portions extending rearward from the cap head portion. In particular, the rear extension of the lancet cap extends on and along the outer surface of the body of the holder. Thereby, the inconvenience that the needle tip is bent or broken when removing the cap can be prevented. Here, "the rear extending portion of the lancet cap extends along the outer surface of the holder body on the outer surface thereof" means that at least the central portion of the rear extending portion of the lancet cap ( The central portion of the rear extending portion along the width direction extends along the outer surface of the holder body so as to approach or touch the outer surface.

  In a preferred embodiment, when the lancet cap is removed from the lancet, the rearward extension of the lancet cap can be rotated such that the rearward extension slides on the outer surface of the body of the holder, whereby the needle Bending and breaking of the tip can be more suitably prevented.

  In a preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the rear extension of the lancet cap and the outer surface of the body of the holder are close to or close to each other. It is preferable that at least a part of the inner surface of the rear extension of the lancet cap and at least a part of the outer surface of the body of the holder have complementary shapes. Further, the rear extending portion of the lancet cap has an elongated shape, and preferably extends rearward such that its free end extends outward.

  The lancet assembly of the present invention has a feature in which the rearwardly extending portion of the lancet cap preferably extends. In particular, the rear extension of the lancet cap extends long in view of the relationship with the position of the needle tip and / or the position of the rear end of the needle tip protection portion. More specifically, the rear extension portion extends rearward such that the free end / tip of the rear extension portion of the lancet cap is positioned behind the needle tip position of the puncture needle or the rear end of the needle tip protection portion. Are there. In a preferred embodiment, the rear extension of the lancet cap extends all the way to the lancet body (in other words, it is elongated so that the free end of the rear extension is located above the lancet body). A rearward extension of the shape extends rearwardly from the cap head portion).

  In another preferred embodiment, the opening of the body of the holder is not provided, and the needle tip protection portion of the lancet cap and the lancet body are stored in the holder without protruding from the holder.

  In yet another preferred aspect, the lancet body includes a pair of flexible protrusions and a pair of flexures. It is preferable that the pair of flexible projections is provided on the front side of the lancet body, whereas the pair of bent shape variable portions is provided on the rear side of the lancet body. The variable bending position preferably has a hollow configuration.

  In the case where the lancet body includes the variable bending portion, the holder preferably includes a locked portion for locking the variable bending portion. In such a case, it is particularly preferable that the bent portion of the bent shape variable position portion is positioned such that it can be locked to the locked portion of the holder.

  Furthermore, the present invention also provides a puncture device. That is, a puncture device including the above-described injector and lancet assembly is provided.

  One of the features of the puncture device according to the present invention is that the injector has a suitable “puncture depth adjustment mechanism” and / or “lancet assembly holding mechanism” and a lancet assembly having a suitable “cap removal mechanism”. To configure the puncture device.

  A circumferential ridge may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the holder of the lancet assembly used for the lancing device. In a preferred embodiment, when the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector, the circumferential ridge of the holder once comes into contact with the dome-shaped portion of the holder holding member, and then gets over the dome-shaped portion. When the circumferential ridge of the holder gets over the dome-shaped portion of the holder holding member, a click feeling is provided to the user.

In another preferred embodiment, the holder includes a “further locked portion” for locking the bent portion in the lancet assembly,
When only the lancet is moved forward after the lancet and the plunger are engaged with each other and the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector, the bent portion of the bent shape variable position portion of the lancet body causes the additional engagement of the holder. To the stop. The “locked portion” and the “further locked portion” for locking the bent shape variable position portion have, for example, the form of an opening provided in the holder.

  In the injector provided with the “puncture depth adjusting mechanism” according to the present invention, a user has a suitable click feeling when adjusting the puncture depth.Specifically, the spring member (particularly, the “axial direction of the injector”) is provided. The abutting of a part of the concave and convex portion of the cylindrical member and the complementary portion of the injector casing is maintained by the pressing force provided by the spring member provided side by side with the cylindrical member along the When the cylindrical member is rotated to adjust the depth, a part of the concave and convex portions of the cylindrical member abutting on the complementary shape portion of the injector casing is changed to another part. A click feeling is provided due to the pressing force. More specifically, under the condition that the pressing force of the spring member is always applied, the “part of the concave / convex portion of the cylindrical member” and the “complementary portion of the injector casing” come into contact with the “concave / convex portion of the cylindrical member”. This instantaneously switches to another abutment state between the "other part of the injector casing" and the "complementary part of the injector casing", so that a favorable click feeling is provided to the user.

  Further, the injector provided with the "lancet assembly holding mechanism" according to the present invention has a sufficient function in that the lancet assembly is held by the injector. Specifically, the lancet assembly during or after loading can be appropriately held by the injector by the holder holding member attached to the lancet assembly receiving member. In particular, the lancet assembly can be appropriately held by the injector due to the elastic force of the holder holding member. Since the lancet assembly is held in this manner, for example, when puncturing is performed by pressing the holder of the lancet assembly against the puncture site, the inconvenience of the holder being inclined with respect to the injector (especially, the “lancet assembly receiving member”) is prevented, which is preferable Puncture can be provided. In addition, since the holder holding member is made of metal, it is hardly worn even by repeated use, thereby preventing a decrease in holding force. Similarly, since it is made of metal, it is less susceptible to fluctuations due to temperature, and a constant holding force can be provided regardless of the place of use and the season of use.

  Further, in the lancet assembly provided with the “cap removing mechanism” according to the present invention, when the lancet cap is removed from the lancet, the rearward extending portion of the lancet cap slides on the outer surface of the body of the holder. Can be rotated. Thereby, most of the force exerted on the puncture needle when the cap is removed is changed to the rotational force of the puncture member, and the force exerted on the distal end of the puncture needle can be reduced as much as possible. Accordingly, damage to the puncture needle such as bending or breaking when removing the cap is suitably prevented. Particularly, recently, there has been a tendency to use a fine puncture needle, and even with such a fine puncture needle, the bending of the needle tip can be suitably prevented. When the bending of the puncture needle is prevented, the trajectory of the puncture needle becomes substantially linear, and as a result, the pain felt by the puncture subject (that is, the blood sampling subject) at the time of puncture can be reduced. This is not to be bound by a particular theory, but is considered to be due to the fact that the puncture needle reduces the phenomenon that the puncture site of the blood-collected person is “excavated”. Further, in the lancet assembly of the present invention, where "bending" of the puncture needle is prevented, even if the user is different, the same removal operation can always be ensured, so that the puncture tip is substantially constant. Exposure can be obtained. Therefore, even when the user is different, the puncture trajectory of the puncture needle becomes substantially constant, and the effect of reducing variation among users can be exhibited.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the puncture device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a lancet assembly according to the present invention and a lancet and a holder constituting the lancet assembly. FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view showing the internal structure of the injector of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a use mode of the puncture device of the present invention (before the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector). FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a mode of use of the puncture device of the present invention (when the lancet assembly is loaded in the injector). FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a use mode of the puncture device of the present invention (when the lancet cap is removed). FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a use mode of the puncture device of the present invention (at the time of puncture). FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the injector of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the internal structure and components of the injector of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the internal structure and components of the injector of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a puncture depth adjustment mechanism. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining a puncture depth adjustment mechanism. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a puncture depth adjustment mechanism. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining a puncture depth adjustment mechanism. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a “lancet assembly receiving member” and a “holder holding member” used in the lancet assembly holding mechanism. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram for explaining the lancet assembly holding mechanism. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a temporal change of the puncture device during use (before loading the lancet assembly). FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a temporal change of the puncture device during use (during loading of the lancet assembly). FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a temporal change of the puncture device during use (the engagement of the lancet and the plunger is completed). FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a temporal change of the puncture device during use (loading completed / charge completed). FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a temporal change of the puncture device during use (during puncture). FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a temporal change of the puncturing device during use (after puncturing). FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a temporal change of the puncture device during use (lancet assembly discharge). FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a temporal change of the puncture device during recharging. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of the lancet assembly. FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the lancet assembly. FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the lancet with the cap removed. FIG. 28 shows a preferred modification of the lancet assembly receiving member and the lancet holder. FIG. 29 shows a preferred modified example of the needle tip protection section. FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a lancet assembly having a certain preferred form. FIG. 31 is an external perspective view of the lancet assembly shown in FIG. FIG. 32 is an external plan view of the lancet assembly shown in FIG. FIG. 33 is a plan view of the internal structure of the lancet assembly shown in FIG. FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing a holder holding member and a lancet assembly receiving member having a certain preferred form. FIG. 35 is a perspective view showing a holder holding member and a lancet assembly receiving member having a certain preferred form. FIG. 36 is a perspective view showing a holder holding member, a lancet assembly receiving member, and a lancet holder having a certain preferred form. FIG. 37 is a schematic diagram for explaining a click feeling caused by the holder holding member. FIG. 38 is a perspective view and an end view showing a lancet assembly having a preferred form related to prevention of needle exposure due to half-lance of a lancet. FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view showing a lancet assembly having a preferred form related to prevention of needle exposure due to half-lancet of a lancet (unloaded state before use). FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view showing a lancet assembly having a preferred form related to prevention of needle exposure due to half-lanced lancet (lancet pulled out before use). FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view showing the lancet assembly having a preferred form related to the prevention of needle exposure due to half-lanced lancet (in a no-load state after the lancet assembly is completely loaded). FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view showing the lancet assembly having a preferred form related to the prevention of needle exposure due to half-lancet of the lancet (the lancet is pulled out after the lancet assembly is loaded). FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view showing a lancet assembly having a preferred form related to the prevention of needle exposure due to a half-lancet of a lancet (the lancet is pulled out after the lancet assembly is loaded). FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view (after withdrawal from the injector / before cap removal) of a lancet assembly having a preferred configuration related to preventing needle exposure due to half-lanced lancet. FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view (after withdrawal from the injector / after removal of the cap) showing a lancet assembly having a preferred configuration related to prevention of needle exposure due to half-lance of the lancet. FIGS. 46 (a) to (e) are cross-sectional views showing a puncture device according to a preferred injector configuration related to needle exposure prevention. FIG. 47 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a lancet assembly (prior art). FIG. 48 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the injector (prior art). FIG. 49 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a lancet (prior art). FIG. 50 is a perspective view when the lancet of FIG. 49 is half-divided so that the inside of the lancet can be seen (prior art). FIG. 51 is a perspective view showing a state before the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector (prior art). FIG. 52 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lancet is gripped by the plunger tip by loading the lancet assembly (prior art). FIG. 53 is a perspective view showing a state in which the loading of the lancet assembly has been completed and the plunger cannot be retracted (prior art). FIG. 54 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lancet cap has been removed and a puncturing state has been enabled (prior art).

  The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention relates to an injector, a lancet assembly and a puncture device. First, the configuration of the puncture device will be described, and then the injector and the lancet assembly will be described. Since the puncture device is composed of an injector and a lancet assembly, a detailed description of the puncture device itself will be made substantially as a description of each of the injector and the lancet assembly.

  The term of the direction used in the present specification is, as described above, the `` puncture direction '' in which the plunger of the injector or the lancet body of the lancet assembly moves at the time of puncture, as the `` forward '' direction, and the opposite direction as `` back ''. Direction. In the injector, the direction from the ejector grip to the casing opening corresponds to “forward” / “puncturing direction”, and in the lancet assembly, the direction from the opening end of the case to the puncturing opening is “forward”. / Equivalent to “puncture direction”. The “transverse direction” substantially means a direction orthogonal to the puncturing direction. The directions used in the text of the specification are shown in the drawings.

<< Overall configuration and use mode of puncturing device >>

(Overall configuration of puncturing device)
FIG. 1 shows a lancing device 1000. As shown in FIG. 1, a puncture device 1000 according to the present invention includes a lancet assembly 100 and an injector 200.

  The lancet assembly 100 is a member provided with a puncture needle, and is a member provided for actual puncture. The lancet assembly 100 includes a lancet 130 having a puncture needle and a holder 170 in which the lancet is stored (see FIG. 2). The “assembly” in the “lancet assembly” is used in view of the fact that the lancet and the holder are combined with each other.

  The injector 200 is a member having a firing function, and is used together with a lancet assembly. That is, by using the injector 200, the “lancet provided with a puncture needle” can be fired at a location to be punctured. The injector 200 has at least a plunger 220 for firing the lancet in the puncturing direction, and an injector casing 210 containing the plunger (see FIGS. 1 and 3).

(Use configuration of puncture device)
When using the puncture device, first, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an operation of loading the lancet assembly 100 into the injector 200 is performed. The loading is performed by fitting the lancet assembly 100 into the front end opening 201 of the injector 200 as shown. Specifically, the lancet assembly 100 is inserted into the injector 200 such that the holder 170 of the lancet assembly 100 is partially fitted into the lancet assembly receiving member 202 of the injector 200. During such loading, the lancet will engage the plunger 220 of the injector. Also, prior to or in conjunction with such engagement, the lancet will abut the plunger 220, but since the lancet is pushed into the injector, the plunger will retract within the injector. Specifically, as the insertion of the lancet assembly proceeds, the lancet body 140 (see FIG. 2) held and fixed to the holder 170 presses the plunger 220, and the plunger 220 moves backward. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the plunger 220 is provided with a fire spring 220a. In particular, in the present invention, the fire spring 220a is disposed inside the body tube portion 221 of the plunger 220. Retraction of plunger 220 means that plunger 220 is depressed against the force of fire spring 220a. Therefore, the plunger spring 220a is suitably compressed, and the force required for firing the lancet is stored in the plunger 220. Finally, as shown in FIG. 5, the plunger is retracted until the trigger projection 220b of the plunger 220 is locked with the rear projection 230a of the trigger lever 230 to obtain a cocking state. . The trigger lever 230 is a member for causing a lancet to be fired with respect to a lancet assembly loaded in the injector. In a lancet assembly before or during loading, a lancet (especially a lancet body) is held and fixed to a holder due to engagement between the lancet and the holder, but in a lancet assembly that has been loaded, such a lancet assembly is not fixed. Since the engagement is released, the lancet body provided with the puncture needle is movable with respect to the holder. In other words, it is possible to fire in the puncturing direction.

  When the loading of the lancet assembly into the injector is completed, an operation of removing the lancet cap 150 is performed next, as shown in FIG. At the time of puncturing, after applying the front end of the lancet assembly to a predetermined site (for example, a fingertip) to be punctured, the tip 230b of the trigger lever is pushed toward the inside of the injector (see FIG. 7). As a result, the cocking state between the rear projection 230a of the trigger lever 230 and the projection 220b of the plunger 220 is released, and as a result, the compressed spring 220a instantaneously expands, and the plunger 220 moves forward. Is fired. That is, the “lancet body provided with a puncture needle” attached to the plunger 220 is fired in the forward puncture direction, and puncture is performed. FIG. 7 shows a mode in which puncturing is performed by pushing the front end 230b of the trigger lever toward the inside of the injector 200, that is, a mode in which the puncture needle 143 is exposed from the front end of the lancet assembly.

  Hereinafter, the injector 200 and the lancet assembly 100 constituting the puncture device 1000 will be described in detail.

《Overall configuration and function of injector》
8 to 10 show an injector 200 according to the present invention. FIG. 8 shows the appearance of the injector 200, and FIGS. 9 and 10 show the internal structure of the injector 200 and main components of the injector 200. Specifically, in FIGS. 9 and 10, “plunger 220”, “cylindrical member 240 of puncturing depth adjusting mechanism”, “spring member 250 of puncturing depth adjusting mechanism”, “lancet of lancet assembly holding mechanism” An assembly receiving member 202, a holder holding member 260 of the lancet assembly holding mechanism, an ejector 270, and the like are shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the casing 210 of the injector 200 is a member that includes various components of the injector including the plunger 220. The injector casing 210 is preferably made of a resin material. Further, the injector casing 210 may be composed of, for example, two divided sub-members, and may be a combination thereof. The casing 210 may be provided with leg projections 218 functioning as leg portions as shown in FIG. When the leg projections 218 are provided, the injector 200 can be stably installed as a whole (more specifically, the injector 200 can be substantially horizontally stabilized so that the leg projections 218 contact the installation surface). Can be set aside).

  The plunger 220 is disposed along the axial direction of the injector 200, that is, along the longitudinal direction of the injector 200, and has a function of firing a lancet (particularly, a lancet body) in the puncturing direction. As shown in FIG. 10, the distal end 222 of the plunger 220 is adapted to engage with the rear end 145 of the lancet body 140 (see FIG. 2). When the lancet assembly 100 is loaded into the injector 200, the front end 222 of the plunger 220 and the rear end 145 of the lancet body 140 engage. Further, when the lancet body 140 is inserted rearward with the loading, the plunger 220 is pushed rearward (see FIGS. 17 and 18). As a result, the fire spring 220a of the plunger 220 is compressed, and the force required for firing the puncture needle is stored in the plunger 220.

(Puncture depth adjustment mechanism)
The injector 200 of the present invention has a “puncture depth adjusting mechanism”. Such a puncture depth adjustment mechanism is provided inside the injector. Members that contribute to the puncture depth adjustment mechanism are mainly the “plunger protrusion 225”, the “cylindrical member 240”, and the “spring member 250” (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

  The plunger protrusion 225 is provided on the plunger 220 and protrudes outward from the plunger 200 in the transverse direction. The protrusion 225 cooperates with the cylindrical member 240 during puncturing. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the protrusion 225 preferably has a flat front end face, and the normal of the front end face is in the axial direction of the injector (that is, the longitudinal axis of the injector). Is preferably substantially parallel to

  As shown in FIG. 11, the cylindrical member 240 includes an uneven portion 242 and a step portion 246. As shown in the figure, it is preferable that the concavo-convex portion 242 is provided in an end region of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 240. Further, it is preferable that the uneven portion 242 has a form that is periodically continuous along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical member. On the other hand, step portion 246 is preferably provided on the inner peripheral surface of cylindrical member 240. Since the step portion 246 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 240, it is indicated by a dotted line in the lower perspective view of FIG. Such concavo-convex portions 242 and / or step portions 246 may constitute a separate part from cylindrical member 240 or may be integrated with cylindrical member 240 (“integrated”). In the case of, the concave and convex portion 242 and / or the step portion 246 may be integrally formed when the cylindrical member 240 is formed, that is, the form of the outer peripheral surface and / or the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 240 is itself. , Irregularities 242 and / or steps 246). The plunger 220 is installed through the cylindrical member 240 such that the protruding portion 225 is located inside the cylindrical member 240 and behind the step portion 246.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the spring member 250 is provided side by side with the cylindrical member 240 along the axial direction of the injector (that is, the axis in the longitudinal direction of the injector). That is, the spring member 250 and the cylindrical member 240 are arranged adjacent to each other along the longitudinal direction of the injector. It can be said that such a spring member 250 is provided in the injector casing such that its spring expansion and contraction is expressed in the axial direction of the injector (that is, in the longitudinal direction of the injector). The spring member 250 may be, for example, a coil spring as illustrated.

  In such a puncture adjusting mechanism, when the plunger 220 moves forward during puncturing, the protruding portion 225 of the plunger moves in the “A direction” (puncturing direction) as shown in FIG. Finally, the plunger 220 cannot move forward any further by colliding with the step portion 246 of the second position. As a result, the cylindrical member 240 is rotated about its axis, and the step 246 where the projection 225 collides is changed to a step of a different height (for example, from the step 246a to 246b). Thus, the distance that the plunger 220 can move forward during puncturing can be changed. That is, the puncture depth can be adjusted.

  The irregularities 242 of the cylindrical member are such that the normals of the surfaces (242a, 242b, 242c,...) Forming the irregularities are substantially parallel to the axial direction of the injector (see FIG. 9). The injector casing 210 is provided with a complementary portion 215 having a shape complementary to a part of the uneven portion 242. FIG. 9 clearly shows the complementary portion 215 provided on the inner wall surface of the injector casing. The complementary shape portion 215 may be formed integrally with the inner wall surface of the injector casing (that is, a part of the inner wall surface of the injector casing has a shape complementary to a part of the uneven portion 242). May have). In the injector puncture depth adjusting mechanism according to the present invention, the contact state between a part of the concave and convex portion 242 of the cylindrical member and the complementary shape portion 215 of the injector casing is maintained by the pressing force provided by the spring member 250. ing. As shown in FIG. 13, a spring member 250 is provided on the rear end side of the cylindrical member 240 adjacent to the cylindrical member 240, so that the cylindrical member 240 is urged forward. is there. Therefore, the uneven portion 242 provided at the front end of the cylindrical member 240 is in a state of pressing against the complementary shape portion 215 of the injector casing 210.

  When adjusting the puncture depth by rotating the cylindrical member, as shown in FIG. 13, a part 242a of the concave and convex part 242 of the cylindrical member abutting on the complementary shape part 215 of the injector casing becomes another part 242b. Will be changed to Even during such a change, since the cylindrical member 240 is still urged forward due to the spring member 250, the complementary shape portion 215 and the other portion 242b fit each other vigorously. The result is a close, resulting in a "click feeling". That is, when the puncture depth is adjusted by turning the cylindrical member with the fingertip, a suitable click feeling is provided to the user.

  From the viewpoint of the spring member 250, the form of the spring member 250 temporarily changes when adjusting the puncturing depth. Specifically, when a part 242a of the concave and convex part 242 abutting on the complementary part 215 of the injector casing is changed to another part 242b, the spring member 250 is temporarily contracted. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, after the “contact state between the complementary shape part 215 and the part 242 a of the uneven part” is released, the next “the complementary state of the complementary part 215 and another part 242 b of the uneven part” When switching to the "contact state", the spring member 250 once contracts and then returns to the original form.

  The puncture adjustment mechanism according to the present invention is provided with an "adjustment dial" that is more easily understood by the user. This will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the cylindrical member 240 is provided with a scale value 248 along the circumferential direction, while the injector casing is provided with a scale opening window 216 for exposing the scale value of the cylindrical member. I have. As shown, the scale value 248 of the cylindrical member is composed of a first value sequence 248a and a second value sequence 248b adjacent to each other. Correspondingly, the graduation opening window 216 of the injector casing comprises a first opening window 216a and a second opening window 216b. More specifically, a scale opening window 216 is configured by a first opening window 216a and a second opening window 216b provided to form a pair on opposing side surfaces of the injector casing.

  Such first numerical value sequence 248a and second numerical value sequence 248b are suitably combined with first opening window 216a and second opening window 216b. Specifically, as shown, individual numbers in the first numerical sequence 248a of the cylindrical member 240 are exposed from the first opening window 216a of the injector casing, and individual numerical values in the second numerical sequence 248b of the cylindrical member 240 are also different. The number is exposed from the second opening window 216b.

  In such an adjustment dial, the first numerical sequence 248a displayed from the first opening window 216a and the first numerical sequence 248b displayed from the second opening window 216b are independent of each other. In this regard, in the conventional injector, the scale values are provided in a single row, and are displayed from "two opening windows provided as a pair on opposite sides of the injector casing", In that respect, it was not always favorable. Specifically, in the related art, it is difficult to adjust the arrangement of the number exposed from one opening window and the number exposed from the other opening window, and if the relative position of the paired opening windows is not necessarily suitable. Did not. For example, while one opening window can be provided at the center of the body, the other opening window needs to be provided so as to be shifted above or below the center of the body. In the adjustment dial according to the present invention, the first numerical sequence 248a displayed from the first opening window 216a and the first numerical sequence 248b displayed from the second opening window 216b are independent from each other. Has been avoided. In addition, since the numerical sequence is divided into two in the first place, the numerical value itself of each numerical sequence can be increased, and an injector that is easy for the user to see can be provided. That is, although the present invention is a compact injector, the numerical display of the adjustment dial is not smaller than necessary, and a user-friendly injector is provided.

(Lancet assembly holding mechanism)
The injector of the present invention has a “lancet assembly holding mechanism”. Such a mechanism is a mechanism for suitably holding the holder of the lancet assembly loaded or loaded in the injector with respect to the injector. Members that contribute to the lancet assembly holding mechanism are mainly the “lancet assembly receiving member 202” and the “holder holding member 260” (see FIG. 9).

  As shown in FIG. 9, the lancet assembly receiving member 202 is provided at the front end opening of the injector, and receives the lancet assembly inserted at the time of use. That is, the lancet assembly can be loaded into the injector such that a part of the holder 170 of the lancet fits in the receiving member 202 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). As shown, the lancet assembly receiving member 202 preferably has a cylindrical shape as a whole.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the lancet assembly receiving member 202 is preferably provided with a circumferential groove 202a on the outer surface of the body thereof and a notch 202b in the groove region. As shown, the notch 202b may have an opening form.

  The holder holding member 260 is attached to the lancet assembly receiving member 202 as shown in FIGS. The holder holding member 260 is preferably a member made of metal such as SUS, for example. The holder holding member 260 is a member that can exhibit elastic characteristics. In particular, in a state provided in the injector, the holder holding member 260 is preferably a member that can be elastically deformed in the outside and inside directions of the injector (for example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. It is preferable that a force to return to the original shape in the opposite direction when the sheet is spread to the holder holding member 260).

  Further, as illustrated, the entire form of the holder holding member 260 may be a substantially ring form, for example, a partially notched ring form. Such a "partially notched ring-shaped holder holding member 260" is particularly easily elastically deformed with the "partially notched portion" as a base point.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 15, the holder sandwiching member 260 has a locally curved portion 265 partially curved or bent inward. As shown in the drawing, the local bending portion 265 may be provided with two local bending portions (265a and 265b) so as to form a pair. The number of such local curved portions 265 is not particularly limited to two, but may be one, or may be three or more.

  As shown in FIG. 15, it is preferable that at least a part of the inner surface of the local curved portion 265 has a dome shape (or “hemispherical shape”). More specifically, it is preferable that a part of the inner surface of the local curved portion 265 (reference numeral 265 ′ in FIG. 15) is locally locally raised, and the protrusion is continuously smoothly curved. It is preferable that the curved surface is formed as described above.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 15, the holder holding member 260 is attached to the outside of the lancet assembly receiving member 202 as a whole so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lancet assembly receiving member 202. More specifically, the holder holding member 260 is preferably provided so as to be fitted into the circumferential groove 202a of the holder holding member 260. Here, the locally curved portion 265 of the holder holding member 260 is provided so as to be positioned at the notch opening 202 b of the lancet assembly receiving member 202. Therefore, on the inner peripheral surface of the lancet assembly receiving member 202, the local curved portion 265 of the holder holding member 260 is moved from the cutout portion 202b of the lancet assembly receiving member 202 (for example, as shown in FIG. 15, an open cutout portion). It is exposed.

  As shown in FIG. 16A, it is preferable that the local curved portion 265 of the holder holding member 260 is located slightly inside the inner side surface of the lancet assembly receiving member 202. More specifically, the top of the dome-shaped portion 265 ′ of the local curved portion 265 is preferably located at least inside the inner side surface of the assembly receiving member 202.

  FIG. 16B shows a state where the lancet assembly holder 170 is inserted into the lancet assembly receiving member 202. As can be seen from FIG. 16B, the holder 170 inserted or inserted into the lancet assembly receiving member 202 is held by the holder holding member 260 with the local curved portion 265 as a base point. More specifically, when the dome-shaped portion 265a of the local curved portion 265 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the holder 170, the holder holding member 260 is slightly expanded outward, and the resulting “holder holding member 260” The holder 170 is suitably held by the elastic force of "".

  Since the lancet assembly is suitably held, for example, when the lancet assembly holder is pressed against the puncture site to perform puncture, the holder is prevented from being inclined with respect to the injector (especially, the “lancet assembly receiving member”). To provide the desired puncture. Further, since the holder holding member is made of metal in the first place, the holder holding member is hardly worn by repeated use, and a decrease in holding force is suitably prevented.

  Incidentally, since the contact between the local curved portion 265 and the outer peripheral surface of the holder 170 is “point contact” due to the dome-shaped portion 265 ′, excessive resistance to insertion of the holder 170 is prevented. It has become. That is, in the lancet assembly holding mechanism according to the present invention, the holder 170 to be inserted into the injector is suitably held by the lancet assembly receiving member 202 (for such holding, the "friction" between the holder 170 and the holding member is required). Although the "resistance" effectively contributes), even in such a mode in which the frictional resistance is generated, smooth insertion of the holder is appropriately secured.

(Mechanism related to ejector)
Next, the "mechanism related to the ejector" of the injector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 23 show the time sequence from the loading operation of the lancet assembly 100 to the completion of loading, puncturing, and discharge of the lancet assembly 100 after puncturing. In other words, FIGS. 17 to 23 show the chronological changes of the lancet assembly 100 and the injector 200 (that is, the puncture device composed thereof) in the order of the numbers.

  The injector of the present invention has an ejector 270 (see FIG. 10). Such an ejector 270 is used essentially for ejecting “used lancet assembly”, that is, used for ejecting “lancet assembly that has already been subjected to the puncturing process” from the injector.

  FIG. 22 shows the lancet assembly 100 and the injector 200 after puncturing. As can be seen from the illustrated embodiment, the ejector 270 is arranged such that the distal end 272 of the ejector 270 can abut on the rear end of the holder 170 of the lancet assembly 100. Therefore, by moving the ejector forward, the holder 170 is pressed by the ejector 270 from behind. As shown in FIG. 23, when the ejector is driven, the lancet assembly 100 is moved forward so as to separate from the injector. Therefore, the used lancet assembly 100 is finally discharged from the injector.

  In the injector of the present invention, the ejector 270 functions not only for discharging the lancet assembly 100 but also when loading the lancet assembly 100. Specifically, the ejector 270 also has a role of giving a “click feeling” indicating completion of loading (more specifically, completion of engagement between the lancet and the plunger) when the lancet assembly 100 is loaded.

  A portion that particularly contributes to giving a “click feeling” indicating the completion of the loading is an elastic portion 275 provided on the ejector 270 (see FIGS. 10 and 17). When the elastic portion 275 cooperates with the protrusion 212 (see FIG. 17) provided on the inner wall surface of the injector casing 210, a “click feeling” indicating completion of the loading is provided. This will be described in detail below.

  When the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector to engage the lancet and the plunger with each other, the ejector 270 is pushed inside the injector due to the ejector 270 being pressed backward by the holder 170 of the lancet assembly 100. Move backward. Specifically, the rear end of the lancet assembly to be loaded comes into contact with the front end of the ejector 270 of the holder 170, and as a result, the ejector is pressed rearward and moved with the contact portion as a base point. When the ejector 270 moves backward as described above, the elastic portion 275 of the ejector 270 once comes into contact with the protrusion 212 of the injector, and then gets over the protrusion 212. At the time of overcoming, the backward movement of the ejector is temporarily stopped and then released immediately, so that the user (the user who is holding the holder 170 and inserting it into the injector) has a "click feeling". Brought.

  In particular, when the elastic portion 275 of the ejector has climbed over the protrusion 212 of the injector, the lancet and the plunger are completely engaged, and the holder 170 of the lancet assembly 100 is finally accommodated in the lancet assembly receiving member 202. And the loading is substantially complete. That is, the "click feeling" and the "completion of the engagement between the lancet and the plunger" / "the loading completion" are interlocked with each other. The completion of loading can be grasped more clearly and intuitively.

  FIG. 18 shows a state immediately before the elastic portion 275 of the ejector gets over the protrusion 212 of the injector, whereas FIG. 19 shows a state just after the elastic portion 275 of the ejector gets over the protrusion 212 of the injector. Is shown. As can be seen from FIGS. 18 and 19, when the elastic portion 275 passes over the protrusion 212, the lancet (particularly, the lancet body 140) and the plunger (particularly, the tip end portion 222) are completely engaged, and The holder 170 of the lancet assembly 100 finally fits in the lancet assembly receiving member 202, and the loading is substantially completed.

  The ejector has a long shape, for example, and it is preferable that an elastic portion 275 is provided at the tip of the long ejector (see FIG. 10). Further, the elastic portion 275 preferably has a branched form extending rearward so as to branch off from the ejector body (see FIG. 10). Since the elastic properties can be suitably exhibited by these, the ejector can suitably play the role of giving a “click feeling” when the lancet assembly is loaded.

  In the present invention, the ejector 270 also has an indicator mechanism for indicating that the loading of the lancet assembly into the injector has been completed. Specifically, the ejector 270 has an indicator window 276 at the rear end thereof, so that the indicator display 227 provided at the rear end of the plunger 220 is exposed (FIG. 10).

  More specifically, when the lancet assembly 100 is loaded into the injector 200, when the trigger projection 220b of the plunger 220 is locked with the rear projection 230a of the trigger lever 230, a cocking state is obtained. The indicator display 227 of the jar 220 is appropriately exposed from the indicator window 276 of the ejector 270 (see FIGS. 5 and 20).

  That is, the loaded state of the lancet assembly can be indirectly grasped from the exposed state of the indicator display section 227 of the plunger 220, and furthermore, it can be grasped whether or not the loading is completed.

  Furthermore, in the injector of the present invention, the ejector 270 not only serves for "discharge of the lancet assembly" and "generation of a click feeling when loading the lancet assembly", but also has a function relating to "recharge".

  The mode of “recharge” is shown in FIGS. FIG. 24A shows the lancet assembly 100 and the injector 200 after puncturing. FIG. 24B shows a state in which the ejector 270 is moved rearward relative to the injector casing 210 in order to “recharge”, and FIG. At the time when is completed.

  In the ejector 270, a portion contributing to recharging is a plunger retreating contact portion 277 (see FIGS. 24A and 24B). As shown in the figure, the plunger retreating contact portion 277 preferably has a stepped shape. More specifically, the plunger retreat abutting portion 277 abuts on the rear end of the holder when the “used lancet assembly” is discharged, and the “ejector protruding distal end portion 272” It is preferable to form a rear end portion (see FIGS. 10 and 24 (A) and 24 (B)).

  On the other hand, the portion of the plunger 220 that contributes to recharging is the body tube portion 221. That is, it is the body tube portion 221 in which the fire spring 220a is installed. Particularly, it is the front edge portion 221A of the body tube portion 221 (see FIGS. 10 and 24A).

  After the puncture, when the ejector 270 is moved backward, the plunger retreating contact portion 277 of the ejector 270 contacts the plunger 220. More specifically, the plunger retreating contact portion 277 of the ejector contacts the front edge portion 221A of the body cylinder portion 221 of the plunger (see FIGS. 24A and 24B). Therefore, if the ejector continues to move backward, the plunger 220 retreats due to the pressing force received from the ejector 270, and finally, as shown in FIG. The trigger protrusion 220b is locked again with the rear protrusion 230a of the trigger lever 230, so that the cocking state can be obtained again. That is, the "recharge" is completed, and the puncture-enabled state can be obtained again.

《Overall configuration and functions of lancet assembly》
FIGS. 25 to 28 and FIG. 2 show the lancet assembly 100. FIG. 25 shows an external view of the lancet assembly 100, and FIG. 26 shows the lancet holder in a form in which a half of the lancet holder is cut along the longitudinal direction so that the internal structure of the lancet assembly 100 can be easily understood. FIG. 27 is a sectional view of the lancet 130 (with the cap removed). FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II ′ of FIG. Further, an exploded view and a development view of the assembly are shown in FIG. 2 so that the components of the lancet assembly 100 can be easily understood.

  As shown in FIGS. 26 and 2, the lancet assembly 100 has a structure in which a lancet 130 is housed in a holder 170. That is, the lancet assembly 100 of the present invention is substantially composed of the "lancet 130" and the "holder 170" and two parts.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 2, the lancet 130 is accommodated in the holder 170 without the needle tip protection portion 152 of the lancet cap 150 and the lancet body 140 protruding from the holder 170.

  Hereinafter, each component of the lancet assembly 100 will be described.

(holder)
The lancet assembly holder 170 is, for example, generally cylindrical in shape, as shown in FIGS. The size of the holder 170 is small, and as shown in FIG. Note that the shape of the holder 170 is not necessarily limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be, for example, a rectangular tube shape.

  The holder 170 may be formed of any type of resin material as long as it is a resin material used for a general lancet. The holder 170 has an opening rear end 171 and a puncturing opening end 172 at a position facing the rear end 171 (see FIG. 2). The puncturing opening end 172 corresponds to a portion applied to a predetermined site (for example, a fingertip) to be punctured.

  As shown in FIGS. 25 and 2, a raised portion 173 is provided on the outer surface of the holder. Preferably, the plurality of raised portions 173 are provided annularly so as to be arranged in the circumferential direction of the holder body. The plurality of ridges 173 engage the guide ridges (reference numeral 202c in FIG. 15) of the lancet assembly receiving member 202 of the injector when the holder is inserted into the injector, thereby providing a smooth insertion. Is realized.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 2, in the lancet assembly 100 of the present invention, an opening (a partially notched opening or the like) is not provided in the body of the holder 170. A step portion 174 is provided on the inner wall of the holder 170 to prevent the body portion of the lancet from moving forward (see particularly FIG. 26). As shown in the figure, the surface 174A formed by the step portion 174 has a form in which the normal is directed rearward so as to be substantially parallel to the axis of the holder. In addition, a locking portion 175 is also provided on the inner wall of the holder (particularly, see FIG. 26). The locking portion 175 serves to prevent the body portion of the lancet from moving backward before use, and also serves to prevent the lancet body 140 from moving forward after use. As shown in the figure, it is preferable that the locking portion 175 has a form protruding rearward toward the center inside the injector.

(Lancet)
The lancet 130 is combined with the holder 170. The lancet 130 is also small like the holder 170, and has a body size that can fit in the holder 170. As shown, the lancet 130 includes a lancet body 140, a lancet cap 150, and a puncture needle 143. The puncture needle 143 is located in the lancet body 140 and the lancet cap 150 made of resin, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, and the distal end 143 a of the puncture needle 143 is moved by the lancet cap 150. Covered. Therefore, for example, the puncture needle 143 is not shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 26 and FIG. 2, the lancet cap 150 and the lancet body 140 are integrally connected via slight contact points. Such a lancet 130 can be manufactured by so-called insert molding in which a puncture needle is inserted into a mold to mold a resin (for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like). Can be manufactured together with the insert molding. Thus, the "slight contacts" can be formed from the same resin material as the lancet cap 150 and the lancet body 140.

  The lancet cap 150 is connected to the “needle tip protection section 152 for protecting the puncture needle”, “coupled to the needle tip protection section, and the cap head section 154 positioned at the forefront of the lancet cap” and “connected to the cap head section. And a pair of rear extending portions 156 extending rearward from the cap head portion.

  The lancet body 140 is provided while being temporarily held by the holder 170, and the lancet body 140 includes an element for that purpose. Specifically, the lancet body 140 includes a pair of flexible projections 142 and a pair of bent shape variable portions 144. A pair of flexible protrusions 142 are provided on the front side of the lancet body, while a pair of bent shape variable portions 144 are provided on the rear side of the lancet body. As shown in FIG. 26, the flexible protrusion 142 engages with the locking portion 175 of the holder inner wall, and the bent shape variable position portion 144 (particularly, the bent portion 144A) becomes the step portion 174 (particularly, the holder inner wall). In particular, the lancet body 140 is temporarily held by the holder 170 by engaging with the step surface 174A). The former engagement mainly prevents the rearward movement of the lancet body relative to the holder 170, while the latter engagement mainly prevents the relative forward movement of the lancet body with respect to the holder 170. . In use, when the loading of the lancet assembly into the injector is completed, the variable bending portion 144 is displaced inward due to a balance with or abutment with the front end 222 of the plunger member. Therefore (see FIGS. 18 and 19), the lancet body can move forward, and can be fired.

  In the lancet body 140, the body of the puncture needle 143 is fixed. Therefore, at the time of puncturing, the lancet body 140 is fired forward together with the puncture needle 143. In addition, the lancet body 140 has an engaging portion 145 at a rear end thereof for engaging with a mounting portion (reference numeral 222 in FIG. 10) of the plunger 220 of the injector. That is, when the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector, the rear end 145 of the lancet body can be engaged with the front end 222 of the plunger 220, so that the plunger is retracted with the insertion of the holder. Thus, the force required for firing the puncture member is stored in the plunger.

(Removal of lancet cap)
The lancet assembly 100 of the present invention has a pair of rear extending portions 156 extending rearward from the cap head portion 154 (preferably, the pair of rear extending portions 156 have a symmetrical form. There). In particular, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 26, the rear extension 156 of the lancet cap extends on the outer surface 170A of the body of the holder 170 along the outer surface 170A in the longitudinal direction of the lancet. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the needle tip from being bent or broken when removing the cap.

  More specifically, rearward extension 156 can be rotated such that rearward extension 156 of lancet cap 150 slides on outer surface 170A of the body of the holder when lancet cap 150 is removed from lancet 100. Thereby, it is possible to suitably prevent the needle tip 143a of the puncture needle 143 from being bent or broken. In other words, in the present invention, the rear extending portion 156 is a grip portion (particularly, "a grip portion for the user to grip when removing the lancet cap"), and therefore, the rear extending portion 156. The lancet cap is removed by rotating the rear extension 156 so as to slide the outer surface 170A of the holder body. Because the rearward extension 156 is a gripping portion, the raised portion preferably extends along the width direction of the rearwardly extended portion (ie, a ridge extending not in the axial direction of the lancet but in a direction perpendicular thereto). (A portion) may be provided on the outer surface of the rear extending portion 156 (for example, the rear extending portion has an external surface configuration as shown in FIGS. 30C and 30D which will be referred to later). May be). More preferably, the “plurality of raised portions extending along the width direction of the rear extension” are located closer to the free end 156B of the rear extension (position closer to the free end than the fixed end). May be provided.

  Preferably, at least the central portion of the rearward extension of the lancet cap ("the central portion 156 'when along the widthwise direction of the rearwardly extending portion") is close to and / or in contact with the outer surface of the holder body. The lancet extends longitudinally along the outer surface of the holder body. See FIG. 2 for "central portion 156 '". More preferably, the inner surface 156A of the rear extension 156 of the lancet cap and the outer surface 170A of the body of the holder are close to or close to each other (see FIG. 26). Specifically, the inner side surface 156A of the rear extending portion 156 may be in contact with the outer side surface 170A of the holder body, or 0 mm (not including "0") to 2 mm, preferably 0 mm ("0" The inner surface 156A of the rear extension portion 156 and the outer surface 170A of the holder body are positioned with a slight gap of 1 mm to 1 mm, more preferably 0 mm (excluding "0") to 0.5 mm. May be. That is, the term “close” as used herein means the distance between the inner surface 156A of the rear extending portion 156 and the outer surface 170A of the holder body (in particular, “the minimum distance between the inner surface 156A and the outer surface 170A”. )) Is 0 mm (not including “0”) to 2 mm, preferably 0 mm (not including “0”) to 1 mm, and more preferably 0 mm (not including “0”) to 0.5 mm. Refers to an aspect. In one preferred aspect, at least a portion of the inner surface of the central portion 156 'of the rear extension of the lancet cap contacts the outer surface 170A of the holder body. It is also preferable that at least a portion of the inner surface 156A of the rear extension portion 156 of the lancet cap and at least a portion of the outer surface 170A of the body of the holder have complementary shapes. For example, at least a portion of the inner surface 156A at the central portion 156 'of the rearward extension of the lancet cap (more preferably, "all of the inner surface 156A at the central portion 156'") is opposed to the outer surface 170A of the holder body opposite thereto. Has a complementary form.

  As shown in FIG. 26, the rear extension portion 156 of the lancet cap has a form that is large / long extended rearward. For example, the rear end 156B of the rear extension portion 156 of the lancet cap is positioned rearward relative to the position of the needle tip 143a of the puncture needle 143 (or the position of the rear end 152A of the needle tip protection portion 152). The extension 156 extends rearward. Preferably, the rear extension 156 extends long until the free end 156B of the rear extension 156 reaches the lancet body 140 (in other words, the free end 156B of the rear extension extends above the lancet body 140). The elongated rearward extending portion 156 extends rearward from the cap head portion so as to be positioned at the rear end. Furthermore, for example, when the lancet holder 170 is provided with a constricted portion whose diameter is reduced as a whole, the free end 156B of the rearwardly extending portion is positioned at the constricted portion (that is, the constricted portion). Preferably, the rear extension 156 extends (so that the free end 156B is positioned thereon).

  Due to the various characteristic forms as described above, when removing the lancet cap, the user grips only the rear extension 156 (that is, the rear extension 156 without gripping the cap head 154). ), The rear extending portion 156 can be more suitably slid with respect to the outer side surface 170A of the body of the holder, and as a result, bending and breaking of the needle tip 143a can be more suitably prevented.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 26, the rear extending portion 156 of the lancet cap has an elongated shape, and preferably extends rearward such that its free end 156B extends outward. . Thereby, the rear extending portion 156 can be suitably gripped when the cap is removed, and a smoother “sliding rotation” can be realized.

  In addition, the lancet assembly cannot rotate the lancet cap around the axial direction before loading into the injector, but can rotate after the loading into the injector is completed. This is related to the local protrusion 152a in the tip region of the needle tip protection section 152 (see FIGS. 26 and 2). Specifically, before loading into the injector, rotation is prevented by the local protrusion 152a of the needle tip protection portion 152 of the lancet cap engaging with the inner wall surface (for example, a groove formed in the inner wall) of the holder. Have been. On the other hand, after the loading into the injector is completed, the lancet cap is moved slightly forward with respect to the holder so that such engagement is not possible. Specifically, when loading the lancet assembly 100 into the injector 200, the cocking of the plunger 220 by locking the trigger projection 220b with the rear projection 230a of the trigger lever 230 as shown in FIGS. Immediately after the state is obtained, the lancet is pressed forward by a plunger in a state of being biased forward. As a result, the lancet moves slightly forward with respect to the holder, that is, the lancet cap moves slightly forward, and the local protrusion 152a of the needle tip protection portion 152 of the lancet cap and the inside of the holder. The engagement with the wall surface (for example, a groove formed in the inner wall) is released. Therefore, after the loading is finally completed, the lancet cap can be rotated about the axial center.

(Safety function of used lancet assembly)
In the lancet assembly discharged from the injector after the puncture, the puncture needle is not exposed to the outside.

  Specifically, when ejecting the lancet assembly from the injector after puncturing, the ejector is moved forward to press the holder 170 of the lancet assembly 100 forward. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the holder 170 moves forward relative to the lancet body 140 (that is, from a different viewpoint, the lancet body 140 moves with respect to the holder 170). As a result, the flexible projection 142 of the lancet body is engaged with the locking portion 175 of the inner wall of the holder. Therefore, due to the engagement, the used lancet body 140 (that is, the lancet body 140 having the puncture needle) cannot move forward in the holder, and the puncture needle is exposed to the outside. Nothing. Further, as shown in the figure, the tip portion 146 of the lancet body is held at the base region of the locking portion 175, so that the lancet body 140 cannot be moved backward in the holder 170.

  The injector, lancet assembly and lancing device according to the present invention may be embodied in various suitable forms. This will be described below.

(Preferable form with lancet assembly receiving member and lancet holder)
The “plurality of ridges 202c of the lancet assembly receiving member 202” and the “plurality of ridges 173 on the outer surface of the lancet holder” may have a longer shape. Specifically, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 28, the “guide ridge 202c ″ of the lancet assembly receiving member 202” may extend long on the inner surface of the lancet assembly receiving member 202, that is, the lancet assembly receiving member 202 The receiving member 202 may extend deep from the open end toward the bottom. In other words, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 28, the guide groove 202d ″ formed by the adjacent guide protrusion 202c ″ may extend deeper from the open end toward the bottom. Similarly, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 28, the raised portion 173 ″ of the lancet holder may also extend long on the outer surface of the holder. In such a long form, when the holder is inserted into the injector, the “ridge 173 ″ of the holder” and the “guide projection 202c ″ of the receiving member” are preferably engaged with each other, The desired insertion is achieved. In particular, the position of the lancet holder is easily determined immediately before the engagement of the lancet and the plunger. As a result, the inconvenience that only the lancet holder rotates and the position is twisted immediately before the plunger grips the lancet body is prevented.

(Preferred form with needle tip protection part)
The needle tip protection section 152 of the lancet cap may have a form as shown in the lower side of FIG. Specifically, the needle tip protection portion 152 ″ for protecting the puncture needle may have a hollow portion 152b ″ near the tip 143a of the puncture needle. As shown in the figure, a hollow portion 152b ″ having a form that partially surrounds the periphery of the tip of the puncture needle from the front side may be provided in the needle tip protection portion 152 ″. With such a needle tip protection portion 152 ″, a particularly advantageous effect can be obtained when a lancet is manufactured. Specifically, at the time of molding the lancet (when the resin material is injected into the mold), the resin material flows and fills the mold as shown by the dotted arrow in FIG. This reduces the load on the tip. That is, the load applied to the distal end of the puncture needle from the resin material during molding of the lancet is reduced, and inconvenience such as bending of the needle tip is effectively prevented.

(Preferred form with lancet assembly)
The lancet assembly may have a form as shown in FIG. The lancet assembly 100 shown in each of FIGS. 30 (A) to 30 (H) can be rotated by an operation (an operation of gripping the rear extending portion 156 and rotating the cap about the axial direction of the lancet) when removing the lancet cap. It has a form that is actively encouraged by the user. As can be seen from the illustrated embodiment, such a “rotational mowing operation” may be promoted from the viewpoint of a visual effect given to the user, or may be promoted from the viewpoint of the operability of the user. May be.

  For example, in the lancet assembly shown in FIG. 30A, the lancet cap (particularly, the rear extending portion 156) has two outer curved surfaces 156M and 156N. Specifically, two outer curved surfaces 156M and 156N extend along the longitudinal direction of the rear extension. More specifically, the outer curved surface 156M and the outer curved surface 156N are provided adjacent to each other in such a manner that their side end portions are shared. In the lancet assembly 100 shown in FIG. 30A, when the rear extension portion 156 of the lancet cap is gripped with a fingertip, the lancet assembly 100 moves in the “b direction” (ie, in the direction of pulling out the cap) rather than in the “a direction” (ie, the direction in which the cap is pulled out). (The direction in which the cap is rotated about the axial center) increases the resistance received by the fingertip. In other words, it is natural for the user to move the rear extending portion 156 in the “b direction” (the direction in which the cap is rotated around the axial direction), and therefore, the “rotational cutting operation” is actively promoted. Is done.

  FIGS. 31 to 33 show an external perspective view, an external plan view, and an internal structural plan view of the lancet assembly 100 shown in FIG. 30 (A) (more precisely, the lancet assembly having FIGS. 30 (B) to 30 (H) having a lancet cap similar to that of FIG. 30 (A)). ), The rear extension portion 156 of the lancet cap has a form extending largely rearward. In particular, as shown in FIG. 33, the free end / tip 156B of the rear extension portion 156 of the lancet cap is relative to the position of the needle tip 143a of the puncture needle 143 (or the position of the rear end 152A of the needle tip protection portion 152). A rear extending portion 156 extends so as to be positioned rearward. Preferably, the rear extension 156 extends long and rearward until the free end 156B of the rear extension 156 reaches the lancet body 140 (in other words, the free end 156B of the rear extension extends from the lancet body 140). An elongated rearward extension 156 extends rearward from the cap head so as to be positioned upwardly).

  As shown in FIGS. 31 to 33, in the lancet assembly 100 shown in FIG. 30A, it is preferable that the holder 170 be provided with a circumferential raised portion 180. As will be described later, such a circumferential raised portion 180 can produce advantageous effects in cooperation with the holder holding members (particularly, the sub-holding members A and B) when the lancet assembly 100 is loaded into the injector 200.

(Preferable form with holder holding member, lancet assembly receiving member and lancet holder)
The holder holding member is not limited to a single product, and may be composed of a plurality of parts. As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, the holder holding member 260 has a two-part configuration including, for example, a sub-holding member A (260A) and a sub-holding member B (260B). The sandwiching member B may be disposed to face. The sub holding members A (260A) and the sub holding members B (260B) are members made of a metal such as SUS, for example.

  In the case of the “two-part configuration”, it is preferable that each of the sub-clamping members A and B has a locally curved portion. As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, even in the case of the “two-part configuration”, it is preferable that the local curved portions (265A, 265B) locally curved or bent inward are provided. As shown in the drawing, a part of the sub-clamping member A (260A) extends forward, and its front extending portion is curved or bent inward. That is, the locally curved portion 265A of the sub-clamping member A (260A) has a form in which the injector locally extends frontward and is curved or bent inward. The same applies to the sub-clamping member B (260B), and the local curved portion 265B of the sub-clamping member B (260B) has a form in which the injector locally extends forward and is curved or bent inward. ing. Further, it is preferable that at least a part of the inner side surface of the local bending portion has a dome shape, that is, as shown in the drawing, the local bending portion (each of the sub-clamping member A (260A) and the sub-clamping member B (260B) 265A, 265B) preferably has a dome-shaped portion (265A ', 265B'). This means that the holder contact surface of the holder holding member has a substantially hemispherical shape.

  When the holder holding member 260 includes the sub holding members A (260A) and the sub holding members B (260B), it is preferable that the lancet assembly receiving member 202 is formed of a plurality of sub members. As shown in FIG. 34, the lancet assembly receiving member 202 includes a “sub receiving member A (202A) positioned on the front side of the injector” and a “sub receiving member B (202B) positioned on the rear side of the injector”. It is preferable to have a two-part configuration consisting of In such a case, it is preferable that the sub receiving member A (202A) has a ring shape as a whole.

  When the sub-clamping member A (260A) and the sub-clamping member B (260B) have local curved portions, when the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector, the respective local curved portions (265A, 265B) are placed on the outer surface of the holder of the lancet assembly. It is preferable to touch the part. The sub-clamping member A (260A) and the sub-clamping member B (260B) are preferably mounted on the outer surface of the lancet assembly receiving member, respectively, and are particularly mounted on the outer surface of the sub-receiving member B (202B). Is preferred. The front end of the sub receiving member B (202B) is provided with two notches formed by cutting out a part thereof, and a local curved portion is positioned with respect to the notch. It is preferable that a sub-clamping member A (260A) and a sub-clamping member B (260B) are provided so as to be able to be used. In other words, when viewed from the inside of the lancet assembly receiving member, the local curved portions (265A, 265B) of the sub-clamping member A (260A) and the sub-clamping member B (260B) are notched portions of the lancet assembly receiving member. The holder holding member 260 and the lancet assembly receiving member 202 are combined with each other so that the holder holding member 260 and the lancet assembly receiving member 202 are exposed.

As shown in FIG. 34, the sub receiving member A (202A) is provided with a pair of rear protrusions (202A ₁ , 202A ₂ ) protruding rearward. 202A ₁ , 202A ₂ ) is preferably positioned so as to cover the sub sandwiching members A and B (260A, 260B). More specifically, the one of the rear projecting portion (202A ₁₎ is positioned so as to cover the sub-clamping member A (260A), so that the other of the rear projecting portion (202A ₂₎ hangs over the sub-clamping member B (260B) Is preferably positioned. Thereby, the attachment and fixation of the sub holding member A (260A) and the sub holding member B (260B) to the sub receiving member B (202B) become more reliable, and the holding effect of the holder holding member 260 is more suitably achieved. Will be.

  The "holder holding member 260" and the "lancet assembly receiving member 202" as shown in FIGS. 34 and 35 are used in combination with the "lancet assembly 100" shown in FIGS. Is played. Especially when the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector, a further advantageous effect can be obtained. This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 36 and 37.

  FIG. 36 shows a state where the loading of the lancet assembly 100 into the injector has been completed. As can be seen from the illustrated embodiment, in the puncture device that has been completely loaded, the circumferential ridge 180 of the holder is positioned behind the dome-shaped portion (265A ', 265B') of the holder holding member. This means that when the loading is completed, the circumferential raised portion 180 of the holder once abuts on the dome-shaped portion (265A ', 265B'), and then gets over the dome-shaped portion (265A ', 265B'). (See also FIGS. 37A and 37B). In this way, when the circumferential ridge 180 of the holder gets over the dome-shaped portion (265A ', 265B') of the holder holding member, the user is provided with a suitable click feeling ". , The click feeling "can reliably grasp the completion of the loading of the lancet assembly.

(One suitable form related to needle exposure prevention)
38 to 45, a description will be given of "a preferred embodiment related to needle exposure prevention". In particular, a description will be given of “a suitable lancet assembly form related to prevention of needle exposure due to lancet half missing”. In the lancet assembly having such a configuration, the lancet is prevented from falling out of the holder even if the lancet is biased forward unintentionally or accidentally, and similarly undesired when the lancet cap is removed. Alternatively, even when the lancet is accidentally biased forward, the needle tip does not protrude from the holder.

  In the lancet assembly 100 having such a configuration, the lancet body 140 includes the variable bent shape portion 144 and the holder 170 includes the locked portion 190A for locking the variable bent shape portion. The bent portion 144A of the position portion 144 is positioned so as to be lockable to the locked portion 190A of the holder (see FIG. 39). As shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, the locked portion 190A may have an opening form, and the bent portion 144A of the bent shape variable position portion 144 is locked to the holder wall defining such an opening. I can do it.

  When the lancet is inadvertently or accidentally urged forward with respect to the lancet assembly 100 in the state shown in FIG. 39, as shown in FIG. 40, the bent portion 144A of the bent shape variable portion (particularly, its outer surface portion) Is locked to the locked portion 190A of the holder, so that the lancet does not fall out of the holder.

  FIG. 41 shows a state in which the loading of the lancet assembly 100 into the injector 200 has been completed. That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 41, the loading of the lancet assembly 100 into the injector 200 is completed by the engagement of the lancet body 140 and the plunger (particularly, the cylindrical mounting portion 222 at the distal end). If the lancet is urged forward unintentionally or accidentally to the lancet assembly 100 in the state shown in FIG. 41 (for example, when a force is applied to pull the lancet forward when the lancet cap is removed), FIG. As shown at 42, the bent portion 144A (particularly, the outer surface portion) of the bent shape variable position portion 144 is locked to the “further locked portion 190B” of the holder, so that the lancet does not fall out of the holder. Has become. The “further locked portion 190B” may have an opening form similarly to the locked portion 190A, and therefore, the bending of the bent shape variable portion 144 may be formed in the holder wall defining such an opening. Portion 144A can be locked. That is, even when the lancet is unintentionally or accidentally urged forward when the lancet cap is removed, the needle tip does not protrude from the holder (see also FIGS. 43 to 45). ).

(Another preferred form related to needle exposure prevention)
Next, with reference to FIG. 46, "another preferred embodiment related to needle exposure prevention" will be described. In particular, an injector suitably configured for such prevention will be described. In such an injector, at the stage after the loading of the lancet assembly is completed and before the removal of the lancet cap (hereinafter, also referred to as “the stage before removing the cap after loading”), the injector is inadvertently or accidentally removed. Even if the trigger lever is operated, safety is suitably ensured.

  Specifically, at the stage before the cap is removed after the loading is completed, the trigger lever of the injector is pushed (that is, the trigger lever is pushed from the outside toward the inside of the injector), and then the lancet assembly is removed from the injector. Even if it is pulled out, there is no risk of needle exposure in the lancet assembly. More specifically, in the lancet assembly pulled out as described above, even if the lancet cap is removed, the needle tip of the puncture member is not exposed to the outside.

  A portion that contributes to the puncture device that ensures such safety is a protrusion provided on the trigger lever 230 (a trigger member that causes a lancet to be fired by a lancet assembly mounted on the injector). Specifically, it is a protrusion indicated by reference numeral 230c in FIG. The trigger lever is provided with a rear projection 230a for temporarily preventing the lancet assembly loaded in the injector from moving forward of the lancet, and a further position is provided at a position on the front side of the rear projection 230a. A projection 230c "is provided. As can be seen from the illustrated form, the “further protrusion 230c” is preferably provided side by side with and adjacent to the rear protrusion 230a.

  In this aspect, after the lancet and the plunger are engaged with each other and the lancet assembly is completely loaded into the injector, and before the lancet cap is removed, the operation of the trigger lever is performed, and the lancet assembly is moved. Even if it is withdrawn from the injector, the advancement of the plunger connected to the lancet is prevented by the "further protrusion 230c" of the trigger lever, resulting in the above safety.

  This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. The lancet (especially, the lancet body 140) and the plunger (especially, the cylindrical mounting portion 222 at the tip thereof) are engaged with each other so that the lancet assembly is sufficiently loaded in the injector, that is, "cap removal after loading". In the “previous stage”, the trigger lever 230 is essentially operated after the lancet cap 150 is subsequently removed. However, the trigger lever 230 cannot be operated unintentionally or accidentally prior to the removal of the lancet cap 150. When the trigger lever is operated prior to the removal of the lancet cap, the puncture device enters a state shown in FIG. Specifically, when the distal end 230b of the trigger lever is pushed toward the inside of the injector and the trigger lever is operated (see FIG. 7), the rear projection 230a of the trigger lever 230 and the projection 220b of the plunger 220 are operated. The cocking state with is released. Accordingly, the plunger 220 is positioned further forward due to the release of the compressed state of the fire spring, and the puncture device takes the form shown in FIG. 46 (a). When the lancet assembly 100 is withdrawn from such a state, more specifically, when the lancet assembly 100 is withdrawn from the injector 200, the plunger 220 engaged with the lancet 130 will move forward. . Although the plunger 220 moves forward, since the trigger protrusion 220b provided on the plunger 220 is locked to the “further protrusion 230c”, such movement itself is immediately prevented (FIG. 46B). reference).

  Subsequently, if the lancet assembly is continuously pulled out, the engagement between the lancet and the plunger is finally released. At this time, as shown in FIG. The bent portion 144A (particularly, the outer surface portion) of the bent shape variable position portion 144 is locked to the “further locked portion 190B” of the holder. Specifically, at the time of the disengagement, the bent shape variable position portion 144 of the lancet partially housed in the cylindrical mounting portion 222 of the plunger comes off from the cylindrical mounting portion 222. The shape variable portion 144 returns to its original form. Thereby, the bent portion 144A of the bent shape variable position portion 144 can be locked to the “further locked portion 190B” of the holder. In such a locked state, the position of the tip of the lancet is located at the same position as the tip of the lancet holder 170 or behind it. Therefore, in the lancet assembly 100 finally removed from the injector, even if the cap 150 is removed, the needle tip (that is, the needle tip 143a of the puncture needle) is not exposed from the holder 170 (FIG. 46D and FIG. 46 (e)).

It is confirmed that the present invention described above has the following aspects.
First aspect : An injector for firing a lancet of a lancet assembly for puncturing, comprising a plunger for firing the lancet in a puncturing direction, and an injector casing containing the plunger,
The puncture depth adjustment mechanism of the injector
A protrusion that projects outwardly from the plunger in the transverse direction thereof,
A cylindrical member having an uneven portion and a step portion, and a spring member provided side by side with the cylindrical member along the axial direction of the injector,
The uneven portion is provided on the cylindrical member so that the normal line of the surface forming the uneven portion is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the injector, while the complementary shape portion having a shape complementary to a part of the uneven portion is provided on the injector member. Provided in the casing, the contact between the part of the concave and convex portion of the cylindrical member and the complementary portion of the injector casing is held by the pressing force provided by the spring member,
When the plunger moves forward during puncturing, the projection of the plunger collides with the step of the cylindrical member, so that the plunger cannot move further forward. In adjusting the position of the plunger, by rotating the cylindrical member about its axis, the step portion at which the protrusion of the plunger collides can be changed to a step portion having a different height, whereby the forward portion of the plunger can be adjusted. An injector whose travel distance is changed.
Second aspect : In the first aspect, the uneven portion of the cylindrical member has a form that is periodically continuous along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical member,
An injector characterized in that when the puncture depth is adjusted by rotating the cylindrical member, a part of the concave and convex portion of the cylindrical member abutting on the complementary shape portion of the injector casing is changed to another part.
Third aspect : In the second aspect, the spring member is temporarily contracted when a part of the concave and convex portion of the cylindrical member abutting on the complementary shape portion of the injector casing changes to another part. And the injector.
Fourth aspect : The injector according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the spring member is a coil spring.
Fifth aspect : In any one of the first to fourth aspects, while the cylindrical member is provided with a scale value along the circumferential direction, the injector casing has a scale value for exposing the scale value of the cylindrical member. There is a scale opening window,
The scale values of the cylindrical member are composed of a first numerical sequence and a second numerical sequence adjacent to each other, and a scale opening window is provided on the opposite side of the injector casing. An injector, comprising: an opening window, wherein the numbers in the first numerical sequence are exposed from the first opening window, while the numbers in the second numerical sequence are exposed from the second opening window.
Sixth aspect : In any one of the first to fifth aspects, the uneven portion is provided in an end region of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, and the complementary portion is provided on the inner wall surface of the injector casing. An injector characterized in that:
Seventh aspect : In any one of the first to sixth aspects, the step portion is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, and the plunger is positioned such that the protruding portion of the plunger is positioned inside the cylindrical member. Characterized in that the injector penetrates the cylindrical member.
Eighth aspect : an injector for firing a lancet of a lancet assembly for puncturing, comprising: a plunger for firing the lancet in a puncturing direction; and an injector casing containing the plunger,
The lancet assembly holding mechanism of the injector is
A lancet assembly receiving member that is provided at the front end opening of the injector and can accommodate a lancet assembly holder, and a metal holder holding member attached to the lancet assembly receiving member,
When the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector such that the holder of the lancet assembly is received in the lancet assembly receiving member, the holder holding member holds the holder.
Ninth aspect : The injector according to the eighth aspect, wherein the holder of the lancet assembly is held by the holder holding member by the elastic force exerted by the holder holding member.
Tenth aspect : The injector according to the eighth aspect or the ninth aspect, wherein the entire shape of the holder holding member has a partially cutout ring shape.
Eleventh aspect : In any one of the eighth to tenth aspects, the holder holding member has a two-part configuration including a sub holding member A and a sub holding member B, and the sub holding member A and the sub holding member An injector, wherein a member B is disposed to face the injector.
Twelfth aspect : In any one of the eighth to eleventh aspects, the holder holding member has a locally curved portion (locally bent portion) in which a part thereof is curved or bent inward,
An injector characterized in that a local curved portion comes into contact with an outer surface of a holder of the lancet assembly (an outer peripheral surface of the holder and a circumferential ridge provided on the holder) when loading the lancet assembly into the injector.
Thirteenth aspect : In the twelfth aspect, the holder holding member is attached so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lancet assembly receiving member,
An injector characterized in that a local curved portion of a holder holding member is exposed from a notch of a lancet assembly receiving member on an inner peripheral surface of the lancet assembly receiving member.
Fourteenth aspect : The injector according to any one of the eighth to thirteenth aspects, wherein at least a part of the inner surface of the local curved portion has a dome shape (dome shape portion).
Fifteenth aspect : The lancet assembly receiving member according to any one of the twelfth aspect to the fourteenth aspect dependent on the eleventh aspect, wherein the lancet assembly receiving member is positioned at a front side of the injector and at a rear side of the injector. An injector having a two-part configuration including a sub receiving member B provided therein, wherein the sub receiving member A has a ring shape as a whole.
Sixteenth aspect : In the fifteenth aspect, the sub receiving member A is provided with a pair of rear protruding portions protruding rearward, and the pair of rear protruding portions is provided on the sub holding members A and B. An injector characterized by being positioned to cover.
Seventeenth aspect : An injector for launching a lancet of a lancet assembly for puncturing,
A plunger for firing the lancet in the puncturing direction, an injector casing containing the plunger, and an ejector for discharging a lancet assembly loaded in the injector,
While the ejector has an elastic portion, the injector casing has a projection on the inner wall surface, and when the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector to engage the lancet and the plunger with each other, the elastic portion of the ejector is provided. The injector once abuts the projection of the injector and then gets over the projection.
Eighteenth aspect : The injector according to the seventeenth aspect, wherein the lancet and the plunger are completely engaged when the elastic portion of the ejector passes over the protrusion of the injector.
Nineteenth aspect : The injector according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect, wherein the ejector has an elongated shape, and the distal end of the elongated ejector is provided with an elastic portion.
Twentieth aspect : The injector according to any one of the seventeenth aspect to the twentieth aspect, wherein the elastic portion has a branched form extending rearward so as to branch off from the ejector body.
Twenty-first aspect : An injector for launching a lancet of a lancet assembly for puncturing,
A plunger for firing the lancet in the puncturing direction, an injector casing containing the plunger, and an ejector for discharging a lancet assembly loaded in the injector,
The ejector is provided with a plunger retraction contact part,
When the ejector is moved backward after puncturing, the plunger retraction abutment of the ejector abuts on the plunger, whereby the plunger is retracted due to a pressing force received from the ejector.
Twenty-second aspect : A lancet assembly including a lancet and a holder accommodating the lancet,
The lancet has a lancet body, a lancet cap, and a puncture needle, and a metal puncture needle is present in these over the resin lancet body and the lancet cap. Covered,
Lancet cap,
Needle tip protection part to protect the puncture needle,
A cap head portion connected to the needle tip protection portion and positioned at the foremost position with the lancet cap; and a pair of rear extension portions connected to the cap head portion and extending rearward from the cap head portion. Then
A lancet assembly wherein the rearward extension of the lancet cap extends on and along the outer surface of the holder body.
Twenty-third aspect : In the twenty-second aspect, the free end of the rear extending portion of the lancet cap is larger than the position of the needle tip of the puncture needle or the installation position of the needle tip protection part (particularly, “the rear end of the needle tip protection part”) A lancet assembly wherein the rearward extension extends rearwardly to be positioned rearwardly.
Twenty-fourth aspect : The lancet assembly according to the twenty-second or twenty-third aspect, wherein the inner surface of the rear extension of the lancet cap and the outer surface of the body of the holder are close to or close to each other.
Twenty-fifth aspect : In any one of the twenty-second to twenty-fourth aspects, at least a part of the inner surface of the rear extending portion of the lancet cap and at least a part of the outer surface of the body of the holder are complementary to each other. A lancet assembly characterized by having.
Twenty-sixth aspect : In any of the above-mentioned twenty-second to twenty-fifth aspects, when the lancet cap is removed from the lancet, the rearward extension of the lancet cap slides on the outer surface of the body of the holder. (I.e., when removing the lancet cap, the rear extension portion gripped by the user slides on the outer surface of the body of the holder and rotates).
Twenty-seventh aspect : In any of the above-mentioned twenty-second to twenty-sixth aspects, the lancet body has the bent shape variable position portion, while the holder has the locked portion for locking the bent shape variable position portion. And
A lancet assembly characterized in that a bent portion of the variable bending shape portion (that is, a bent portion located at an intermediate portion of the variable bending shape portion) is positioned so as to be locked to a locked portion of the holder. .
Twenty-eighth aspect : A puncture device comprising the injector of any of the first to twenty-first aspects and the lancet assembly of any of the twenty-second to twenty-seventh aspects.
Twenty-ninth aspect : In the twenty-eighth aspect dependent on the fourteenth aspect,
A circumferential ridge is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the holder of the lancet assembly,
A puncture device characterized in that when the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector, the circumferential ridge of the holder once abuts on the dome-shaped portion of the holder holding member, and then gets over the dome-shaped portion.
Thirtieth aspect : In the twenty-eighth aspect or the twenty-ninth aspect according to the twenty-seventh aspect, the holder further comprises a locked portion for locking the bent shape variable position portion,
When only the lancet is moved forward after the lancet and the plunger engage with each other and the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector, the bent portion of the bent shape variable portion of the lancet body (that is, the bent shape variable portion) Puncturing device, wherein a bent portion located at an intermediate portion of the holder is locked to a further locked portion of the holder.
31st aspect : In any one of the 28th aspect to the 30th aspect subordinate to the eighth aspect,
The injector further comprising a trigger lever for triggering firing of a lancet in a lancet assembly loaded in the injector;
The trigger lever has a rear projection for temporarily preventing the lancet assembly loaded in the injector from moving forward of the lancet, and further additional projections are provided at positions on the front side of the rear projection. A puncture device comprising a part.
Twenty-second aspect : In the thirty-first aspect, after the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector by engaging the lancet and the plunger with each other, the trigger member is operated before the lancet cap is removed, and the lancet is operated. A puncture device, wherein when the assembly is withdrawn from the injector, advancement of the plunger connected to the lancet assembly is prevented by the additional projection of the trigger lever.

  As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that not only various forms are conceivable in the present invention, but also various modifications can be made. For example, the puncture needle 143 has a needle-like shape at the tip end as shown in the figure, but is not necessarily limited to such a shape. For example, the puncture needle 143 may be in the form of a "blade" in which one side of the tip is sharpened.

Cross-reference of related applications

  This application claims priority under the Paris Convention based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-31017 (filing date: February 19, 2015, title of invention: "Injector, lancet assembly and lancing device"). All content disclosed in that application is incorporated herein by this reference.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 lancet assembly 130 lancet of lancet assembly 140 lancet body 142 flexible protrusion of lancet body 143 puncture needle 143a Needle tip (needle tip) of puncture needle
144 Bent portion with variable bending shape of lancet body 144A Bent portion with variable bending shape portion 145 Rear end of lancet body 146 Front end of lancet body 150 Lancet cap 152 Protection tip of lancet cap 152A Protection tip of lancet cap Rear end 152 '' lancet cap needle tip protection part (preferred modified example)
152a Local ridge provided on needle tip protection section 152b '' Hollow section provided on needle tip protection section (preferred modified example)
154 Cap head portion of lancet cap 156 Rear extension portion of lancet cap 156M, 156N Outside curved surface of rear extension portion 156A Inner side surface of rear extension portion 156B Free end of rear extension portion 170 Holder of lancet assembly 170A Body of holder Outer surface 171 Opening end of holder 172 Opening end of holder 173 Raised portion provided on outer surface of holder 173 '' Raised portion provided on outer surface of holder (preferred modified example)
174 Stepped portion provided on holder inner wall 174A Surface formed by stepped portion 175 Locking portion provided on holder inner wall 180 Peripheral raised portion of holder 190A Holder locked for locking bent position variable portion Portion 190B Further holder locked portion for locking the variable bending shape portion 200 Injector 201 Front end opening of injector 202 Lancet assembly receiving member of lancet assembly holding mechanism 202A Sub receiving member A
202A ₁ , 202A ₂ A pair of rear protruding portions of sub receiving member A 202B Sub receiving member B
202a A circumferential groove provided on the outer surface of the body of the lancet assembly receiving member 202b A notch opening provided on the body of the lancet assembly receiving member 202c Guide protrusion of the lancet assembly receiving member 202c '' Guide ridge of the lancet assembly receiving member (Preferred modification example)
202d Guide groove of lancet assembly receiving member 202d '' Guide groove of lancet assembly receiving member (preferred modified example)
210 Injector casing 212 Projecting portion provided on inner wall surface of injector casing 215 Complementary shaped portion provided on inner wall surface of injector casing 216 Scale opening window provided on injector casing 216a First scale opening Window 216b Second opening window for graduation 220 Plunger 220a Plunger fire spring 220b Plunger trigger projection 220c Plunger return spring 221 Plunger body tube 221A Front side of plunger body tube Edge 222 Plunger tip (tubular attachment to which lancet is attached)
225 Projecting portion for adjusting the depth of the plunger 227 Indicator display portion provided at the rear end of the plunger 230 Trigger lever (trigger member)
230a Rear projection of trigger lever 230b Front end of trigger lever 230c Further projection of trigger lever (projection for preventing needle tip exposure)
240 Cylindrical member of puncture depth adjusting mechanism 242 Uneven portion provided on cylindrical member of puncturing depth adjusting mechanism 242a, 242b, 242c ... Surface forming uneven portion 246 Provided on cylindrical member of puncturing depth adjusting mechanism Step portions 246a, 246b, 246c... Different height portions 248 Scale values provided on the cylindrical member of the puncture depth adjusting mechanism 248a First value sequence of scale values 248b Second value sequence of scale values 250 Puncture depth Spring member of adjustment mechanism 260 Holder holding member of lancet assembly holding mechanism 260A Sub holding member A
260B Sub-clamping member B
265 (265a, 265b) Local curved portion of holder clamping member 265 'Dome-shaped portion of local curved portion 265A Local curved portion of sub-clamping member A 265A' Dome provided on local curved portion (inner surface) of sub-clamping member A Shaped portion 265B Local curved portion of sub-clamping member B 265B 'Dome-shaped portion provided on local curved portion (inner side) of sub-clamping member B 270 Ejector 272 Tip end of ejector 275 Elastic portion provided on ejector 276 Ejector Indicator window provided 277 Ejector plunger retraction abutment 1000 Puncturing device

100 'lancet assembly 101' lancet 102 'protective cover 104' lancet body 105 'puncturing member 106' lancet cap 108 'weakening member 200' injector 204 'plunger 214' front opening of injector 264 ', 266' tip of plunger Part 514 'Trigger member 542' Press part of trigger member

Claims (31)

An injector for launching a lancet of a lancet assembly for puncturing, comprising a plunger for firing the lancet in the puncturing direction, and an injector casing containing the plunger,
The puncture depth adjustment mechanism of the injector
A protrusion that projects outwardly from the plunger in the transverse direction thereof,
A cylindrical member having an uneven portion and a step portion, and a spring member provided side by side with the cylindrical member along the axial direction of the injector,
The uneven portion is provided on the cylindrical member so that the normal line of the surface forming the uneven portion is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the injector, while the complementary shape portion having a shape complementary to a part of the uneven portion is provided on the injector member. Provided in the casing, the contact between the part of the concave and convex portion of the cylindrical member and the complementary portion of the injector casing is held by the pressing force provided by the spring member,
When the plunger moves forward during puncturing, the projection of the plunger collides with the step of the cylindrical member, so that the plunger cannot move further forward. In adjusting the position of the plunger, by rotating the cylindrical member about its axis, the step portion at which the protrusion of the plunger collides can be changed to a step portion having a different height, whereby the forward portion of the plunger can be adjusted. An injector whose travel distance is changed. The uneven portion of the cylindrical member has a form that is periodically continuous along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical member,
When adjusting the puncture depth by rotating the cylindrical member, a part of the concave and convex portion of the cylindrical member abutting on the complementary shape portion of the injector casing is changed to another part. 2. The injector according to 1. The injector according to claim 2, wherein the spring member temporarily contracts when a part of the concave and convex portion of the cylindrical member abutting on the complementary shape portion of the injector casing changes to another part. . The injector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the spring member is a coil spring. While the cylindrical member is provided with scale values along the circumferential direction, the injector casing is provided with a scale opening window for exposing the scale value of the cylindrical member,
The scale values of the cylindrical member are composed of a first numerical sequence and a second numerical sequence adjacent to each other, and a scale opening window is provided on the opposite side of the injector casing. The number of a 1st numerical sequence is exposed from a 1st opening window, and it consists of an opening window, The number of a 2nd numerical sequence is exposed from a 2nd opening window, The Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The injector according to any one of the above. The uneven portion is provided in an end region of an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, and the complementary shape portion is provided on an inner wall surface of the injector casing. injector. The step portion is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, and the plunger penetrates the cylindrical member so that the protrusion of the plunger is positioned inside the cylindrical member. 7. The injector according to any one of 6. An injector for launching a lancet of a lancet assembly for puncturing, comprising a plunger for firing the lancet in the puncturing direction, and an injector casing containing the plunger,
The lancet assembly holding mechanism of the injector is
A lancet assembly receiving member that is provided at the front end opening of the injector and can accommodate a lancet assembly holder, and a metal holder holding member attached to the lancet assembly receiving member,
When the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector such that the holder of the lancet assembly is received in the lancet assembly receiving member, the holder holding member holds the holder. The injector according to claim 8, wherein the holder of the lancet assembly is held by the holder holding member by the elastic force of the holder holding member. The holder holding member has a two-part configuration including a sub-holding member A and a sub-holding member B, and the sub-holding member A and the sub-holding member B are arranged to face each other. 10. The injector according to 8 or 9. The holder holding member has a locally curved portion in which a part thereof is locally curved or bent inward,
The injector according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein a local curved portion contacts an outer surface of a holder of the lancet assembly when loading the lancet assembly into the injector. A holder holding member is attached to an outer surface of the lancet assembly receiving member,
The injector according to claim 11, wherein a local curved portion of the holder holding member is exposed from a notch of the lancet assembly receiving member on an inner surface of the lancet assembly receiving member. The injector according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the inner side surface of the locally curved portion has a dome-shaped portion. The lancet assembly receiving member has a two-part configuration including a sub-receiving member A positioned on the front side of the injector and a sub-receiving member B positioned on the rear side of the injector. 14. The injector according to claim 11, wherein the injector has a ring shape. The sub receiving member A is provided with a pair of rear protruding portions protruding rearward, and the pair of rear protruding portions is positioned on the sub holding member A and the sub holding member B, An injector according to claim 14. An ejector for discharging the lancet assembly loaded in the injector,
While the ejector has an elastic portion, the injector casing has a projection on the inner wall surface, and when the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector to engage the lancet and the plunger with each other, the elastic portion of the ejector is provided. The injector according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the injector once comes into contact with a projection of the injector, and then gets over the projection. 17. The injector according to claim 16, wherein the lancet and the plunger are fully engaged when the elastic portion of the ejector passes over the protrusion of the injector. 18. The injector according to claim 16, wherein the ejector has a long shape, and an elastic portion is provided at a tip end of the long shape ejector. The injector according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the elastic portion has a branch configuration extending rearward so as to branch from the ejector body. The ejector is provided with a plunger retraction contact part,
When the ejector is moved backward after the puncture, the plunger retreating contact portion of the ejector abuts on the plunger, whereby the plunger is retracted due to the pressing force received from the ejector. An injector according to any one of claims 1 to 19. A lancet assembly including a lancet and a holder storing the lancet,
The lancet has a lancet body, a lancet cap, and a puncture needle, and a metal puncture needle is present in these over the resin lancet body and the lancet cap. Covered,
Lancet cap,
Needle tip protection part to protect the puncture needle,
A cap head portion connected to the needle tip protection portion and positioned at the foremost position with the lancet cap; and a pair of rear extension portions connected to the cap head portion and extending rearward from the cap head portion. Then
A lancet assembly wherein the rearward extension of the lancet cap extends on and along the outer surface of the holder body. The rear extension portion extends rearward such that the free end of the rear extension portion of the lancet cap is positioned behind the needle tip position of the puncture needle or the rear end of the needle tip protection portion. 22. The lancet assembly according to claim 21, 23. The lancet assembly according to claim 21, wherein the inner surface of the rear extension of the lancet cap and the outer surface of the body of the holder are close to or close to each other. 24. Any of claims 21 to 23, wherein at least a part of the inner surface of the rear extension of the lancet cap and at least a part of the outer surface of the body of the holder have complementary forms. A lancet assembly described in Crab. 25. The lancet cap according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein when the lancet cap is removed from the lancet, the rearward extension of the lancet cap can be rotated such that the rearward extension slides on the outer surface of the body of the holder. Lancet assembly. The lancet body has a bent shape variable position portion, while the holder has a locked portion for locking the bent shape variable position portion,
The lancet assembly according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein a bent portion of the bent shape variable position portion is positioned so as to be locked to a locked portion of the holder. A puncture device comprising the injector according to any one of claims 1 to 20 and the lancet assembly according to any one of claims 21 to 26. A circumferential ridge is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the holder of the lancet assembly,
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, when loading the lancet assembly into the injector, the circumferential ridge of the holder once abuts on the dome-shaped part of the holder holding member, and then gets over the dome-shaped part. Item 28. The puncture device according to Item 27. The holder is provided with a further locked portion for locking the bent shape variable position portion,
When only the lancet is moved forward after the lancet and the plunger are engaged with each other and the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector, the bent portion of the bent shape variable position portion of the lancet body further locks the holder. 29. The lancing device according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the lancing device is dependent on a part. The injector further comprising a trigger lever for triggering firing of a lancet in a lancet assembly loaded in the injector;
The trigger lever has a rear projection for temporarily preventing the lancet from moving forward in the lancet assembly loaded in the injector, and further has a projection at a position on the front side of the rear projection. 30. The puncture device according to claim 27, wherein the puncture device is dependent on claim 8. After the lancet assembly is loaded into the injector by the engagement of the lancet and the plunger, the trigger member is operated before the lancet cap is removed, and the lancet assembly is pulled out of the injector. 31. The lancing device according to claim 30, characterized in that advancement of the plunger in connection with the is blocked by a further projection of the trigger lever.

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