A finger receptacle having an elongated, flexible sleeve having a length defined between a proximal end and a distal end, the sleeve further comprising a support base, a ceiling and a top surface defining a longitudinal axis X, whereby the sleeve is adapted to bias toward a radially contracted state and when urged into a radially expanded state effects a radial compression action about the length to releasably secure a finger within the receptacle; and at least one angled projection extending from the ceiling and top surface at the distal end of the sleeve, the at least one angled projection angled inwardly from the longitudinal axis X of the ceiling and adapted to contact a nail of the finger releasably secured in the sleeve at the distal end of the receptacle to effect a second compression action. The invention further related to devices of blood capture and blood collection and those that incorporate said receptacle or a finger compression sleeve.

A vein imager includes: a housing with first and second portions respectively proximate to first and second ends of the imager; a first light source that emits a first wavelength; an optical detector responsive to the first wavelength and which converts a received vein image into a signal; a second light source that emits a second wavelength; one or more buttons protruding from the housing; and at least one exit opening in the housing for emission of light from the light sources. The first housing portion houses the light sources, the optical detectors, and includes the exit opening. The second housing portion, which houses a battery, is narrower than the first portion to be hand-holdable permitting single-handed lifting and use of the imager, which single-hand lifting and use does not cover the exit opening, and simultaneously permits actuation of the one or more buttons while holding the second housing portion.

It is known in the art to use an apparatus to enhance the visual appearance of the veins and arteries in a patient to facilitate insertion of needles into those veins and arteries. This application discloses a number of inventions that add additional data collection and presentation capabilities to a handheld vein enhancement apparatus and a set of processes for the collection of blood and the delivery of IV medicines that use the handheld device to mediate the process.

A collection device (10) which directs a flow of blood into a container (14) and provides a controlled blood flow path that ensures blood flow from a collection site to a collection container is disclosed.

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.

A hand-held device is provided for precisely positioning a needle tip at a desired target position into a non-homogeneous material, including a blood vessel. The hand-held device includes a casing hand-held by an operator, a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and carrying the needle, the shaft mounted in the casing and coupled to the casing to move as a single piece therewith along the longitudinal axis. The hand-held device further includes a sensor unit to provide signals indicative of a physical characteristic of the material wherein the needle tip has to be inserted, and a control unit configured to determine, based on the signals received from the sensor unit, whether the needle tip has reached the target position and to operate a decoupling unit to decouple the shaft and the needle from the casing or to operate an actuating unit to actively move the shaft relative to the casing.

The present invention is a Miniature Vein Enhancer that includes a Miniature Projection Head. The Miniature Projection Head may be operated in one of three modes, AFM, DBM, and RTM. The Miniature Projection Head of the present invention projects an image of the veins of a patient, which aids the practitioner in pinpointing a vein for an intravenous drip, blood test, and the like. The Miniature projection head may have a cavity for a power source or it may have a power source located in a body portion of the Miniature Vein Enhancer. The Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to one of several improved needle protectors, or the Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to a body similar to a flashlight for hand held use. The Miniature Vein Enhancer of the present invention may also be attached to a magnifying glass, a flat panel display, and the like.

A device for collecting a physiological sample from a subject includes a lancet with a needle that is configured to puncture the subject’s skin and a cartridge configured to engage with the lancet. The lancet is configured to transition the needle from an undeployed position to a deployed position in response to engagement with the cartridge, thereby allowing the needle to puncture the subject’s skin.

A dermal patch system for collecting a physiological sample includes a cartridge configured to attach to the skin of a subject. The cartridge includes a bottom material layer, a middle material layer, a top material layer, and a sample collection pad. The top layer and the middle layer define a vacuum pin receptacle and the vacuum pin is disposed within the vacuum pin receptacle. The vacuum pin creates a vacuum within the cartridge when moved to a deployed position. The system further includes a lancet with a needle(s). The lancet is configured to move the needle(s) from an undeployed position to a deployed position when engaged with into the cartridge. The needle(s) is configured to draw a physiological sample from the subject when the needle(s) is in the deployed position. The vacuum created by the vacuum pin draws the physiological sample to the sample collection pad.

A device for collecting a physiological sample from a subject includes a lancet and a cartridge configured to couple to the lancet. The needle is configured to puncture the subject's skin. The lancet is configured to automatically deploy the needle when coupled to the lancet which allows the needle to puncture the subject's skin and draw a physiological sample. The device further includes a vial disposed within the cartridge. The vial is configured to receive the drawn physiological sample.