Method and apparatus for obtaining blood for diagnostic tests

用以从病人采集血样继而进行诊断测试如血糖检测的方法和设备。在本发明的一个方面中，方法包括以下步骤：(a)在所从采集血样的皮肤部位形成无障碍开口；(b)从皮肤内无障碍开口在真空和伸展皮肤的辅助下采集血样。在本发明的另一个方面中，提供一种用以进行上述方法的设备。设备具有：(a)一装置，用以在所从采集所述血样的皮肤部位形成无障碍开口；(b)一真空泵。设备最好还具有壳体。在本发明的再一个方面中，提供一种气动刺破组件。气动刺破组件用气体差压将柳叶刀刺入皮肤组织。在本发明的再一个方面中，提供一种制品，可用以收集血液并检测血液中分析物。制品具有用以确定血液中分析物量的合用检测元件，可结合计量器予以使用，计量器测量由制品检测元件发生的信号。 Method and apparatus for obtaining a sample of blood from a patient for subsequent diagnostic tests, e.g., glucose monitoring. In one aspect of the invention, the method comprises the steps of: (a) forming an unobstructed opening in the area of the skin from which the sample of blood is to be extracted; and (b) extracting the sample of blood from the unobstructed opening in the skin, with the aid of a vacuum and a stretching of the skin. In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for carrying out the method described previously is provided. The apparatus comprises: (a) a device for forming an unobstructed opening in an area of skin from which said sample is to be extracted, preferably a lancing assembly; and (b) a vacuum pump. Preferably, the apparatus also includes a housing. In a further aspect of the invention, a pneumatic lancing assembly is provided. The pneumatic lancing assembly uses differential gas pressure to thrust a lancer into skin tissue. In another aspect of this invention, an article is provided for an article capable of both collecting blood and detecting an analyte in that blood. The article, which contains an appropriate detection element for determining the amount of analyte in the blood, can be used in conjunction with a meter that measures the signal generated by the detection element of the article.