Lancet device with combined trigger and cocking mechanism

Lancet device including a skin engaging end that includes a lancet opening through which a lancet needle may extend, a movably mounted holding member configured to receive a lancet, and a combined triggering and cocking system structured and arranged to move the holding member to a retracted position during a cocking phase and to cause the holding member to move to an extended position during a triggering phase. A method of puncturing a surface of skin using the lancet device includes disposing the skin engaging end against a user's skin and manually activating the combined triggering and cocking system. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.