Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A device for making an adjustably sized incision in skin. The device comprises a housing having a slotted opening; a blade disposed within the housing for making an incision in skin; a blade triggering mechanism disposed within the housing, for propelling the blade through the slotted opening of the housing a given distance to make an incision of a predetermined size in the skin; and incision size adjusting mechanism associated with the housing for selectively adjusting the size of the incision. The incision size adjusting mechanism includes a cam disposed within the housing, the cam being manually movable relative to the housing for allowing the size of the incision to be adjusted by variably limiting the given distance the blade is propelled through the slotted opening of the housing according to the cam's position relative to the housing. In one embodiment, the cam adjusts the size of the incision by varying the incision's depth into the skin to produce blood sample volumes which are selectively increased or decreased according to a selected depth of the incision. This feature makes the device especially suitable for making skin incisions in adults or children. In another embodiment, the cam adjusts the size of the incision by varying the incision's depth into the skin and the incision's length in the skin to produce blood sample volumes which are selectively increased or decreased according to a selected depth and length of the incision. This feature makes the device especially suitable for making skin incisions in infants and toddlers.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim