A fluid sample optimization device for optimizing a fluid sample collected by a fluid collection device from a fluid source, where a first portion of the fluid sample potentially has contaminants. The device includes an inlet configured to connect with the fluid source, an outlet configured to connect with the fluid collection device, a sample path connected between the inlet and the outlet, and a contaminant containment reservoir connected between the inlet and the outlet. The contaminant containment reservoir has an air permeable fluid resistor proximate the outlet, and is arranged to receive the first portion of the fluid sample from the fluid source to displace air therein, such that upon receipt of the first portion of the fluid sample and containment of the contaminants in the contaminant containment reservoir, subsequent portions of the fluid sample are conveyed by the sample path from the inlet to the outlet when subsequent pressure differentials are applied between the inlet and the outlet. The fluid sample optimization device can further include a displaceable plug between the inlet and the sample path, that can be displaced by the subsequent pressure differentials to allow the subsequent portions of the fluid to be conveyed through the sample path.

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.

This invention relates to a medical device (20, 40, 60) for use in aiding the successful placement of a needle tip in a blood vessel. The medical device comprises a resiliently deformable collapsible body (21) defining a pressure chamber therein. The body further comprises a port (29) for engagement of a hub of a needle, the port defining a fluid passageway from the exterior of the body to the interior of the pressure chamber. The device further comprises means to generate an audible noise (31, 41) upon expansion of the collapsible body from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. In this way, as the tip of the needle enters the lumen of the blood vessel, the collapsible body is configured to transition from a contracted to an expanded configuration, thereby causing the auditory cue. This auditory cue indicates to the medical professional that the tip of the needle is in the lumen of the blood vessel.

A flow restriction device may include a housing and an insert body. The housing defines a first lumen, a second lumen, and a cavity disposed between the first lumen and the second lumen. The insert body can be disposed within the cavity. The insert body includes a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending through the first and second ends, an outer surface, and a channel. The channel is defined on the outer surface. The channel extends between the first and second ends. The channel includes a first portion that extends in a first direction away from the longitudinal axis and a second portion that extends in a second direction toward the longitudinal axis. The channel and an inner surface of the cavity define a fluid passage in fluid communication with the first lumen and the second lumen.

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.

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.

A flow restriction device including a housing forming a fluid flow path with a resilient valve positioned between first and second segments of the fluid path, where a segment of the fluid path includes a spiral or involute shape, and where the resilient valve is responsive to a change in pressure along the fluid path such that the resilient valve can move or bias toward the fluid path to restrict a fluid flow through the fluid path, thereby reducing a flow rate and pressure of the fluid, and where the fluid is blood, reducing the hemolysis index of the blood, and in some instances the resilient valve stopping the fluid flow through the fluid flow path responsive to exceeding a pressure along the fluid path to reduce the hemolysis index of the blood.

A retractable needle assembly includes a housing having a sidewall defining a hollow bore, and an elongate plunger, the distal end of the plunger forming a reservoir within the hollow bore for containing a fluid therein. The plunger is adapted for slideable movement within the hollow bore. The assembly includes a hub disposed within the hollow bore and at least partially supporting a cannula therewith, and a needle retraction member engaged with the hub for manually selectable advancement with respect to a portion of the housing. The needle retraction member may be advanced from an initial position in which at least a portion of the needle is disposed outside the housing, to a retracted position in which the needle is fully surrounded by the housing. The elongate plunger may be advanced about the hub for extracting the fluid into the reservoir or expelling the fluid from the reservoir.

Systems and methods to assist a practitioner to confirm location of a distal tip of a needle within a patient include confirming tactile feedback from a needle insertion to a point of loss of resistance of fluid flow and by viewing a display showing color of a tissue plane at the distal tip of the needle at the point of loss of resistance.