A biological fluid collection device that receives a sample and provides flow-through blood stabilization technology and a precise sample dispensing function for point-of-care and near patient testing applications is disclosed. A biological fluid collection device of the present disclosure is able to effectuate distributed mixing of a sample stabilizer within a blood sample and dispense the stabilized sample in a controlled manner. In this manner, a biological fluid collection device of the present disclosure enables blood micro-sample management, e.g., passive mixing with a sample stabilizer and controlled dispensing, for point-of-care and near patient testing applications.

A puncturing tool for small animals which has a novel structure, facilitates confirmation of the connection state of a capillary tube, and can prevent inadvertent detachment of the capillary tube. A puncturing tool for small animals includes a connecting part for a capillary tube on the proximal end side of a hollow needle, wherein the connecting part has a tapered peripheral wall that expanding and extending in a direction away from the hollow needle, and a tapered peripheral wall has an elastic fitting part, through which the capillary tube is inserted, projecting inward from a middle portion of the tapered peripheral wall in the length direction thereof.

A biological fluid separation device and a separation process that allows for efficient separation of plasma from a blood sample is disclosed. A biological fluid separation device of the present disclosure is adapted to receive a blood sample having a cellular portion or cells and a plasma portion or plasma. A biological fluid separation device of the present disclosure separates plasma from cells using a track-etched membrane and cross-flow filtration.

A needle set includes a needle guard and a winged needle. The needle guard has upper and lower jaws, each of the upper and lower jaws defining a channel and coming together at a hinge. The upper and lower jaws are separated by slots in sides of the needle guard, which slots divide the sides into upper and lower side walls, respectively. The winged needle can be inserted between the upper and lower jaws, with wings of the winged needle passing through the slots. The hinge has an opening and a tube connected to the winged needle passes through the opening.

An independent blood filter device depends on flow geometry to deliver blood serum or plasma free of detrimental levels of hemoglobin. It depends critically on an upstream flow rate or pressure differential limiting control element or device that limits the rate of change of pressure differential across the filter element. Pre-evacuated versions can be used to simultaneously draw blood from a living being and provide pressure differential across the filter element between an evacuated collector and a supply end open to atmosphere. A unit pressurized by hand motion employs the external shape of a partially filled blood collection tube as a piston to produce pressure in advance of the control element or device to create the pressure differential across the filter element to a collector vented to atmosphere. The control element or device is disclosed in numerous forms, including specially sized flow constrictions and compliant arrangements.

A catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. A wedge adapter may be retained within the lumen and have a wedge coupled thereto. The wedge may be configured to retain an end of a catheter such that a tip of the catheter extends through the distal end of the catheter adapter. A control feature may extend through an end or side wall of the catheter adapter. The control feature may be configured to manipulate the wedge to control a position of the tip of the catheter to open a fluid path within a vasculature.

Systems and methods for autonomous intravenous needle insertion are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a system for autonomous intravenous insertion include a robot arm, one or more sensors pivotally attached to the robot arm for gathering information about potential insertion sites in a subject arm, a medical device pivotally attached to the robot arm, and a controller in communication with the sensors and the robot arm, wherein the controller receives the information from the sensors about potential insertion sites, and the controller selects a target insertion site and directs the robot arm to insert the medical device into the target insertion site.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure describe a diversion device that traps an initial flow of blood in a diversion chamber of the diversion device. The diversion chamber may be defined, in part, by a housing shell, a housing base, and a filter. The filter may be a porous material that allows air, but not blood, to flow through it. After the diversion chamber is filled, a subsequent flow of blood may be directed into a collection vessel through an internal conduit of the diversion device.

Systems and methods for autonomous intravenous needle insertion are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a system for autonomous intravenous insertion include a robot arm, one or more sensors pivotally attached to the robot arm for gathering information about potential insertion sites in a subject arm, a medical device pivotally attached to the robot arm, and a controller in communication with the sensors and the robot arm, wherein the controller receives the information from the sensors about potential insertion sites, and the controller selects a target insertion site and directs the robot arm to insert the medical device into the target insertion site.

Blood sample optimization systems and methods are described that reduce or eliminate contaminates in collected blood samples, which in turn reduces or eliminates false positive readings in blood cultures or other testing of collected blood samples. A blood sample optimization system can include a blood sequestration device located between a patient needle and a sample needle. The blood sequestration device can include a sequestration chamber for sequestering an initial, potentially contaminated aliquot of blood, and may further include a sampling channel that bypasses the sequestration chamber to convey likely uncontaminated blood between the patient needle and the sample needle after the initial aliquot of blood is sequestered in the sequestration chamber.