The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for receiving blood (or other bodily fluids) from a subject, e.g., from or beneath the skin of a subject. In some cases, the blood (or other bodily fluids) may be deposited on a membrane or other substrate. For example, blood may be absorbed in a substrate, and dried in some cases to produce a dried blood spot. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to devices and methods for receiving blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin, using devices including a substance transfer component (which may contain, for example, one or more microneedles), and directing the blood on a substrate, e.g., for absorbing blood. The substrate, in some embodiments, may comprise filter paper or cotton-based paper. After absorption of some blood onto the substrate, the substrate may be removed from the device and shipped or analyzed. In some cases, the device itself may be shipped or analyzed. For example, in some embodiments, a portion of the device may be sealed such that the substrate is contained within an airtight portion of the device, optionally containing desiccant. Other aspects are generally directed at other devices for receiving blood (or other bodily fluids), kits involving such devices, methods of making such devices, methods of using such devices, and the like.

In some embodiments, the present invention generally relates to the separation of blood within a device to form plasma or serum. In some embodiments, the present invention generally relates to the removal of fluids, such as blood, contained within a device. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to systems and methods for receiving blood from a subject and processing the blood to form plasma or serum. For example, a device may be applied to the skin of a subject to receive blood from the subject and pass the blood through a separation membrane, which separates the blood into plasma and a portion concentrated in blood cells. As another example, blood or plasma may be allowed to clot within the device and serum (the unclotted portion of the blood) may be withdrawn from the device. The device may contain, in some cases, a vacuum source such as a pre-packaged vacuum to facilitate receiving of blood and/or passage of the blood through the separation membrane to produce plasma or serum. In certain embodiments, plasma, serum, or other fluids may be removed from the device by inserting a needle into a portion of the device that has reduced pressure, expelling gas into the device through the needle, then receiving plasma, serum, or other fluids through the needle.

A fluid control device includes an inlet configured to be placed 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 sequestration portion that can be vented or evacuated. The fluid control device has a first state in which an initial volume of bodily fluid can flow from the inlet to the sequestration portion and a second state in which (1) the initial volume is sequestered in the sequestration portion, and (2) a subsequent volume of bodily fluid, being substantially free of contaminants, can flow through at least a portion of the fluid control device and into the fluid collection device. The fluid control device can transition automatically or in response to an actuation of a portion of the fluid control device after the sequestration portion receives the initial volume.

A blood sample collection system, may include a housing, the housing including a blood collection port; and a baffle chamber; a needle formed through the housing and into the blood collection port; and a baffle formed within the baffle chamber to counteract a vacuum within a blood collection tube when pierced by the needle.

The present disclosure relates to a needle extraction syringe (1) for extracting fluid and/or tissue comprising: a barrel (2) having a proximal lumen (6); and a distal lumen (7) for collecting aspirated fluid/tissue; a plunger (3) having a plunger head (9) sealingly engaged inside the barrel (2); and a plunger body (10) with an internal channel (11); a valve (8) located between the plunger head (9) and a distal end of the syringe inside the barrel (2), separating the proximal lumen (6) and the distal lumen (7) such that air can only flow from the distal lumen (7) to the proximal lumen (6) in a first valve configuration; a sealing element (13) located inside the barrel (2) proximal to the plunger head (9), wherein the plunger head (9) and the sealing element (13) define a vacuum chamber (14) having a variable volume therebetween, wherein the vacuum chamber (14) and the internal channel (11) are fluidly disconnected in relation to each other in a first configuration of the syringe and fluidly connected in a second configuration of the syringe.

A fluid control device includes an inlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with a bodily fluid source and an outlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with a fluid collection device, which can produce a negative pressure differential between the outlet and the inlet. A sequestration portion is in fluid communication with the inlet and includes a first flow controller configured to transition from a first state to a second state to place the sequestration portion in fluid communication with the outlet when the negative pressure differential has a first magnitude. A sampling portion is in fluid communication with an outlet and includes a second flow controller configured to transition from a first state to a second state to place the sampling portion in fluid communication with the inlet when the negative pressure differential has a second magnitude greater than the first magnitude.

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 biological fluid sampling device for collecting a blood sample from a separate vascular access device and for ejecting a portion of the collected sample to a point-of-care testing device for analysis is provided. The biological fluid sampling device includes a body enclosing a reservoir. The reservoir has an internal volume sufficient to contain enough blood for use in a diagnostic test. The sampling device further includes: an access lumen extending from a distal end of the body for establishing fluid communication between a separate vascular access device and the reservoir; an outflow lumen also in fluid communication with the reservoir; and a removable vented cap attached to the outflow lumen including a gas permeable vent in gaseous communication between the reservoir and ambient air. In addition, several sample and transfer devices are provided for obtaining a sample from a subject and transferring the sample to a point-of-care testing device.

Methods and devices are provided for sample collection. In one example, a device is provided comprising at least one capillary tube or collection channel directed to a sample vessel, wherein in a one-step removal step of detaching the sample vessel from the collection channel, a vacuum force is created within the sample vessel, due in part of the pulling of the sealed vessel away from the device, wherein this vacuum force draw out residual sample that may still be resident in the collection channel.

Methods and devices are provided for sample collection. In one example, a device is provided comprising at least one capillary tube or collection channel directed to a sample vessel, wherein in a one-step removal step of detaching the sample vessel from the collection channel, a vacuum force is created within the sample vessel, due in part of the pulling of the sealed vessel away from the device, wherein this vacuum force draw out residual sample that may still be resident in the collection channel.