Provided herein are devices and methods for extracting blood plasma from ultra-low volumes of blood. In some cases, the devices and methods use positive pressure to force a blood sample through a filter or a membrane. In some cases, the devices and methods use centrifugation to force a blood sample through a filter or a membrane. The devices and methods disclosed herein are suitable for the preparation of high-quality samples containing cell-free nucleic acids.

A dermal patch for collecting a physiological sample includes a housing with a collection chamber, a sample channel and a pin within a receptacle of the housing. The sample channel is configured to direct a physiological sample drawn from a subject to the collection chamber. The pin is removably positioned within the receptacle and is configured to move from an undeployed position to a deployed position. The pin is configured to seal the receptacle when in the undeployed position and is further configured to facilitate generation of negative pressure in the sample channel when the pin is moved from the undeployed to the deployed position.

In one aspect, a dermal patch is disclosed, which comprises at least one needle configured for puncturing a subject's skin so as to allow drawing blood from the subject, a first blood-transfer fluidic channel for receiving at least a portion of the drawn blood, and a serum-separation element fluidly coupled to said first blood-transfer fluidic channel for receiving at least a portion of the drawn blood and separating a serum component thereof. In some embodiments, the dermal patch may include at least one reservoir for storing blood-processing reagent(s).

Disclosed herein is a method of providing a metabololipidomic profile and SPM signature on the progress of the innate host defense response following blood clotting. The method can include the step of taking one or more measurements in a patient's blood sample, wherein the sample is obtained during the time-course of clotting or coagulation or following clotting or coagulation, of pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory mediators (eicosanoids) and specialized pro-resolving mediators SPMs. From these measurements, a personalized metabololipidomic profile can be obtained. By comparing the measurement to that taken from normal or reference blood, a comparison profile can be developed. The profile comparison profile can then be used to make a medical or therapeutic decision.

A catheter and associated method for taking a plurality of samples from within a length of a blood vessel. The catheter includes an elongate central body arranged to be inserted into and positioned along a central region of a blood vessel. A plurality of collection areas are defined along the elongate central body for collecting samples at the central region of the blood vessel. A plurality of mixers are provided radially outwardly of the elongate central body and arranged to create a flow of blood from a boundary layer at a wall of the blood vessel to the elongate central body. This enables the collection areas to collect samples from the boundary layer.

A funnel-shaped extension attachment is provided for a blood collection device. The attachment provides a larger area for collecting a fingertip blood sample from a patient than the collection device itself would otherwise provide. The funnel is preferably easily removable from the collection device after the blood sample is taken. Optional trenches running down one or more corners of the attachment may be used to encourage pulling blood drops from the finger tip through capillary action. A tube may also provide another location to encourage pulling blood drops from the finger tip through capillary action. The funnel attachment may be mated with the collection device at a point of manufacture, or separately shipped and installed over the collection device at a point of use.

A system, mixing-enhanced microfluidic container, and methods for small volume sample collection and/or analysis is disclosed. Namely, the invention is directed to a small volume sample collection system that includes a mixing-enhanced microfluidic container and a durable reusable actuation chuck. The mixing-enhanced microfluidic container is used to collect small volumes of sample fluid and includes a means for mixing the sample fluid with reagents disposed within the microfluidic container. The mixing means utilize an array of surface-attached structures (e.g., a micropost array). The application of an “actuation force,” such as a magnetic or electric field, actuates the surface-attached structures into movement, wherein the actuation chuck in close proximity to the mixing-enhanced microfluidic container provides the “actuation force.”

A system for verifying a sample volume includes a sample reservoir and a volumetric verification device. The sample reservoir defines an inner volume and is configured to receive a volume of bodily fluid. The inner volume of the sample reservoir contains an additive. The volumetric verification device includes a first indicator and a second indicator. The volumetric verification device is configured to selectively engage the sample reservoir to (1) place the first indicator in a first position along a length of the sample reservoir such that the first indicator is substantially aligned with a surface and/or meniscus of the additive and (2) place the second indicator in a second position along the length of the sample reservoir such that the second indicator is substantially aligned with a predetermined fill volume when bodily fluid is transferred to the inner volume.

This invention is in the field of medical devices. Specifically, the present invention provides portable medical devices that allow real-time detection of analytes from a biological fluid. The methods and devices are particularly useful for providing point-of-care testing for a variety of medical applications.

A blood sample collection and/or storage device includes a two-piece housing that encompasses a port at which a fingertip blood sample is collected at a sample port. After the sample is taken, the two-piece housing is moved to a closed position deposit the sample onto a storage membrane Embodiments of the device include a one or more capillaries with movable plungers that dispense fluid from the sample port onto the membrane as the housing is closed. A desiccant, which may be held in place by a backbone structure within the housing, is positioned adjacent the membrane. The housing may also be opened to access the stored sample for further processing.