A test cartridge includes an adjustable lancet. The adjustable lancet is controlled by a controller. The adjustable lancet automatically detects a subject's finger, adjusts the lancet's height, pricks the finger to draw blood, moves a tube to collect the blood, moves the tube away from the finger, and empties the blood from the tube into a vial or receptacle. The adjustable lancet may include safety features to prevent the lancet to trigger when the subject's fingernail is facing the lancet, to control the amount that the lancet pierces the subject's finger, and/or to prevent the reuse of a test cartridge for multiple persons or multiple times by the same person. The adjustable lancet may include a massager wheel and/or a pressure bar to rub the subject's finger after the finger is pierced to facilitate drawing of the blood from the finger.

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 fluid control device includes an inlet configured to be placed directly or indirectly in fluid communication with a bodily fluid source and an outlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with a fluid collection device. The fluid control device has a first state in which a negative pressure differential produced from an external source such as the fluid collection device is applied to the fluid control device to draw an initial volume of bodily fluid from the bodily fluid source, through the inlet, and into a sequestration portion of the fluid control device. The fluid control device has a second state in which (1) the sequestration portion sequesters the initial volume, and (2) the negative pressure differential draws a subsequent volume of bodily fluid, being substantially free of contaminants, from the bodily fluid source, through the fluid control device, and into the fluid collection 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.

The inventive apparatus is a device for collecting a target volume of blood in a collecting bag connected to a collection needle with a flexible tube. The device has a plate for the collecting bag and a clamping device for clamping the flexible tube. The device also has a bearing element having a bearing surface, and a clamping element with a clamping surface. The clamping element is able to move between an open position in which the flexible tube positioned between the bearing and clamping surfaces is not deformed and a closed position in which the flexible tube positioned between the bearing and clamping surfaces is closed off. The device also has a control unit configured to determine the volume of blood collected and move the clamping element from the open position to an intermediate position, when the determined volume of blood collected reaches a predetermined volume.

A device for the uninterrupted administration of fluid to an animal body during a draw of bodily fluid, e.g., blood, is disclosed. A first fluid channel is configured to selectively transport IV fluid to an animal body and to draw a bodily fluid from the body. A sealing member for sealing a bodily fluid draw port defines a concave surface on a first end. The sealing member concave surface forms an interior surface portion of the first fluid channel. A connection member is configured to connect to a catheter to the first fluid channel and defines a concave distal end. A second fluid channel continuously provides IV fluid to a lumen coaxially located within the catheter. The concave surface and the concave distal end are shaped to create fluid flow patterns that quickly and completely remove residual bodily fluid remaining after a draw of bodily fluid is completed.

An apparatus includes a catheter, an introducer having a first member and a second member, a locking mechanism coupled to a distal end of the first member and configured to couple the introducer to a peripheral intravenous line, and an actuator coupled to the catheter. The actuator is configured to move from a first configuration, in which the catheter is disposed within the introducer, toward a second configuration to move the second member to a distal position relative to the first member. A portion of a guide of the second member being distal to the first member when the second member is in the distal position. The actuator is configured to move relative to the second member to be placed in the second configuration when the second member is in its distal position such that the catheter is disposed within and extending past an end of the peripheral intravenous line.

A vascular access system which may be configured for blood draw may include a housing, which may include a distal end, a proximal end, and a slot disposed between the distal end and the proximal end. The slot may include a notch. The vascular access system may include a cannula hub, which may be disposed within the housing and movable with respect to the slot. The cannula hub may include a tab extending through the slot. The vascular access system may include a cannula extending distally from the cannula hub. In response to the tab being disposed within the notch, a distal tip of the cannula may be disposed within the housing. In response to advancing the tab along the slot to a distal end of the slot, the distal tip of the cannula is disposed distal to the distal end of the housing.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or receiving a substance or substances such as blood from subjects. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to devices and methods for receiving or extracting blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin, using devices containing a substance transfer component (for example, one or more needles or microneedles) and a reduced pressure or vacuum chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In some embodiments, the device may contain a “snap dome” or other deformable structure, which may be used, at least in part, to urge or move needles or other suitable substance transfer components into the skin of a subject. In some cases, for example, the device may contain a flexible concave member and a needle mechanically coupled to the flexible concave member such that the needle may be urged or moved into the skin using the flexible concave member. Other aspects of the present invention are directed at other devices for receiving blood (or other bodily fluids, e.g., interstitial fluid), kits involving such devices, methods of making such devices, methods of using such devices, and the like.

An instrument advancement device may include a housing comprising a distal end and a proximal end; an instrument disposed within the housing; an advancement element, wherein in response to movement of the advancement element with respect to the housing, the instrument is configured to advance distal to the distal end of the housing, and a blood sample collection tube inserted into the distal end of the housing, wherein the blood sample collection tube is configured to receive a small volume blood sample.