Provided are systems and methods for preserving a cervico-vaginal fluid sample.

Provided herein is a method for sterilely filtering amniotic fluid from selected caesarean sections of an individual. The amniotic fluid is first centrifuged at 5,000 to 10,000 rpm for 30 to 60 minutes and filtered through filters with about 5 to about 10 m pore size. Next, the fluid is sequentially filtered through a series of membrane filters with the pore sizes 1 m and 0.45 or/and 0.2 m. The filtrate is then aseptically transferred to and sealed in syringes or vials. The fluid is subsequently lyophilized to obtain the lyophilisate of amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid is reconstituted by adding sterile water to the lyophilisate, and the reconstituted fluid is used for wound healing, cosmetic, orthopedic or ophthalmic applications, particularly for the treatment of dry eyes.

The present invention is directed to the parenteral procurement of bodily-fluid samples. The present invention is also directed to systems and methods for parenterally procuring bodily-fluid samples with reduced contamination from dermally-residing microbes. In some embodiments, a bodily-fluid withdrawing system is used to withdraw bodily fluid from a patient for incubation in culture media in one or more sample vessels. Prior to withdrawing bodily fluid into the one or more sample vessels for incubation, an initial volume of withdrawn bodily fluid is placed in one or more pre-sample reservoirs and is not used for the incubation in culture media.

A system for aseptic collection of mammalian amniotic fluid. The system includes a cannula having an attachment end and external end. The attachment end provides a concentric opening to a hollow chamber disposed about a central passage. The hollow chamber has a port disposed adjacent to the external end permitting at least a partial suction to be established within the hollow chamber, the attachment end thereby suctionally attached to a surface when the attachment end is disposed upon the surface. The central passage provides access to a central portion of the surface surrounded by the concentric opening of the hollow chamber. An extraction needle is disposed within the central passage of the cannula and presented to the central portion of the surface. The extraction needle penetrates the central portion of the surface and extracts amniotic fluid there beneath. An associated method of use is also provided.

The present invention relates to the field of medical diagnostics and more specifically, to identification of amniotic fluid.

An apparatus includes a housing, a flow control mechanism, and an actuator. At least a portion of the flow control mechanism is movably disposed within the housing. The apparatus further includes an inlet port and an outlet port, and defines a fluid reservoir. The outlet port is fluidically coupled to a second fluid reservoir and is fluidically isolated from the first fluid reservoir. The actuator is configured to move the flow control mechanism between a first configuration, in which the inlet port is placed in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir such that the fluid reservoir receives a first flow of bodily-fluid, and a second configuration, in which the inlet port is placed in fluid communication with the outlet port.

A medical needle arrangement (100, 1000, 1400) is disclosed. The needle arrangement (100, 1000, 1400) comprises: a needle sheath (104, 002, 1402), and a needle (202, 1102, 1406) comprising: an elongated portion and a sealing member (204, 1003, 1403) being arranged to a front end of the elongated portion. The needle arrangement is adapted to bet set in: a closed position, in which the sealing member (204, 1003, 1403) is arranged to abut at least a portion of a front end surface of the needle sheath (104, 1002, 1402) thereby restricting intrusion of foreign matter in an area between the needle sheath and the needle, and an open position, in which a gap (1204, 1506) is formed between the sealing member (204, 1003, 1403) and the front end surface of the needle sheath (104, 1002, 1402). Embodiments include needle arrangement for injection, for aspiration, and for biopsy purposes.

Disclosed are a method of wound healing and an apparatus for the collection, processing and application of amniotic fluid at a wound site to improve healing. The apparatus includes a canister or bag positioned along the vacuum line through which the amniotic fluid and placental aspirate is suctioned. The canister or bag also has a sterile syringe port, through which amniotic fluid can be extracted and later processed. The processed material can then be applied to the wound site of the patient. The apparatus and method disclosed allow for the processing of the amniotic fluid to take place in the same room as the surgical procedure. A kit is provided but not limited to including an amnion rupture tool, a canister or bag for collection, Yankauer suction tip, tubing, and a dual syringe mixing sprayer for reapplication.

The present invention is directed to the parenteral procurement of bodily-fluid samples. The present invention is also directed to systems and methods for parenterally procuring bodily-fluid samples with reduced contamination from dermally-residing microbes. In some embodiments, a bodily-fluid withdrawing system is used to withdraw bodily fluid from a patient for incubation in culture media in one or more sample vessels. Prior to withdrawing bodily fluid into the one or more sample vessels for incubation, an initial volume of withdrawn bodily fluid is placed in one or more pre-sample reservoirs and is not used for the incubation in culture media.

An apparatus includes a housing, a fluid reservoir, a flow control mechanism, and an actuator. The housing defines an inner volume and has an inlet port that can be fluidically coupled to a patient and an outlet port. The fluid reservoir is disposed in the inner volume to receive and isolate a first volume of a bodily-fluid. The flow control mechanism is rotatable in the housing from a first configuration, in which a first lumen places the inlet port is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and a second configuration, in which a second lumen places the inlet port in fluid communication with the outlet port. The actuator is configured to create a negative pressure in the fluid reservoir and is configured to rotate the flow control mechanism from the first configuration to the second configuration after the first volume of bodily-fluid is received in the fluid reservoir.