The present invention relates to a sampling device, a sampling system and a method of sampling, and in particular a method of analysis, for application to a living entity.

A microfluidic flow controller for receiving analyte fluid and calibration fluids wherein the flow controller is configured to switch between (i) an analysis mode in which analyte fluid is passed to an analysis module and (ii) a calibration mode in which the analyte fluid is passed to an alternative destination and calibration fluid is passed to the analysis module, thereby maintaining flow rate of analyte fluid from a source and maintaining a steady flow rate of fluid through the analysis module in both analysis mode and calibration mode. The flow controller may vary the ration of multiple calibration fluids during a calibration mode. Means for accurately positioning sensors within a flow conduit of the analysis module is also described. Sensors are also described for use with or without the microfluidic flow controller for the detection of metabolites and molecules. The sensors may or may not comprise enzymes and may be used with a sensing reagent, also described.

The disclosure relates to a microfabricated sensor (1) comprising at least one hollow microneedle (2) for minimal invasive extraction of a sample of bodily fluid, a fluid channel (3) connected to the at least one microneedle for receiving a sample of bodily fluid extracted by the at least one microneedle, a microwave transmission line (4) coupled to and extending along at least a portion of the fluid channel, such that the dielectric properties of the fluid in the fluid channel provide an influence on the electrical properties of the transmission line. The disclosure further relates to a method of microfabricating such a sensor and a method of sensing the level of a component in bodily fluid of a patient by providing such a sensor.

A catheter for implantation into tissue, the catheter comprising a tubing having a lumen and defining an outer boundary between the catheter and the tissue when the catheter is implanted in the tissue, a healing dummy being insertable in the lumen with clearance so as to prevent tissue ingrowth from the tissue into the lumen when the healing dummy is within the lumen, wherein the healing dummy is removable from the lumen by pulling the healing dummy relative to the tubing out of the lumen, and a perfusion insert being insertable in the lumen when the healing dummy is removed from the lumen, being configured for supplying a perfusion fluid to the tissue so as to initiate interaction between the perfusion fluid and tissue, and being configured for collecting perfusion fluid after interaction with tissue.

A system and method for monitoring the health of dialysis patients with Raman spectroscopy measurements of one or more target analytes is described. The methods include irradiating one or more fluids of interest with light to produce one or more spectrum and detecting the spectrum with a detector. The fluids of interest are preferably those related to dialysis, including hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In a preferred embodiment, the fluids are irradiated with monochromatic light, and one or more Raman spectra are detected as a result of the irradiation. The fluids may be irradiated within the dialysis tubing itself, or removed from the dialysis tubing and irradiated in a separate chamber. The Raman spectra of one or more target analytes of a dialysis patient may be followed over time or compared to one or more reference spectra, thereby providing information on the health of dialysis patients.

The specification and drawings show an embodiment of the present invention in the form of a device comprising one or more biosensors either placed or imbedded in a catheter, needle or combination of the two. The catheter or needle comprises exclusionary slits upstream of the biosensor(s), angled so that fluid flows in through the slits and down past the biosensors. The wires connecting the biosensors to external monitoring and/or analytical apparatus are wired through the catheter or needle material. Also provided herein are methods for detection of small molecules using the device described herein.

A blood analysis system for analysis and correction of blood of a subject includes a centrifugation unit to receive blood of a subject. The centrifugation unit is configured to hold capturing molecules for chemical capture of molecules and/or ions that deactivate at least one of coagulation and complement pathways in the blood and centrifuge to suspend cellular components with a minimal plasma along with the capturing molecules. The blood analysis system includes a correction unit coupled to the centrifugation unit to receive the minimal plasma having the capturing molecules and the cellular components from the centrifugation unit. The correction unit is configured to extract the capturing molecules from the minimal plasma, prior to infusing the minimal plasma having the cellular components along with replaced captured molecules and/or ions back to the subject and discarding the extracted capturing molecules.

A system and method for monitoring the health of dialysis patients with Raman spectroscopy measurements of one or more target analytes is described. The methods include irradiating one or more fluids of interest with light to produce one or more spectrum and detecting the spectrum with a detector. The fluids of interest are preferably those related to dialysis, including hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In a preferred embodiment, the fluids are irradiated with monochromatic light, and one or more Raman spectra are detected as a result of the irradiation. The fluids may be irradiated within the dialysis tubing itself, or removed from the dialysis tubing and irradiated in a separate chamber. The Raman spectra of one or more target analytes of a dialysis patient may be followed over time or compared to one or more reference spectra, thereby providing information on the health of dialysis patients.

A system for calculating cardiac output of a patient on an extracorporeal blood oxygenation circuit includes measuring first oxygenated blood flow rate by a pump in the extracorporeal circuit and a corresponding arterial oxygen saturation and recirculation in the extracorporeal circuit, then changing the pump flow rate, such as decreased, to produce a corresponding change in arterial oxygen saturation (wherein such change is outside of normal operating variances or drift), which change in the arterial oxygen saturation and recirculation are measured. From the first flow rate and the second flow rate along with the corresponding measured recirculation and the arterial oxygen saturation, the CO of the patient can be calculated, without reliance upon a measure of venous oxygen saturation. The system also includes an accommodation of oxygenation by the lungs of the patient during the extracorporeal blood oxygenation.