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.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or receiving a substance or substances such as blood, from subjects, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin. In one aspect, the present invention is generally 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 fluid transporter (for example, one or more microneedles), and a storage chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In some cases, the device may be self-contained, and in certain instances, the device can be applied to the skin, and activated to receive blood from the subject. The device, or a portion thereof, may then be processed to determine the blood and/or an analyte within the blood, alone or with an external apparatus. For example, blood may be received from the device, and/or the device may contain sensors or agents able to determine the blood and/or an analyte suspected of being contained in the blood. In another aspect, the present invention is generally directed to arrangements of skin insertion objects such as microneedles and methods of forming and arranging skin insertion objects. 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.

A sample collection and testing device for analyzing blood is provided that includes a controller, a fluid flow pathway, a pump configured to move fluid through the fluid pathway, and an optical fluid measurement element configured to measure a light intensity of the fluid in the fluid flow pathway. The controller is configured to: start the pump to move a blood sample in the fluid flow pathway, receive a signal from the optical fluid measurement element indicating a detection of a leading edge of the blood in the fluid flow pathway, stop the pump to stop the moving of the blood in the pathway, receive a plurality of light intensity measurements from the optical measurement element, each light intensity measurement measured at a corresponding point of time, and provide a mapping of the light intensity measurements into an indication of a coagulation of the blood sample over a time period.

A flushable catheter device has an outer tube with a first distal end opening to be introduced into a blood vessel and defining a first lumen. An inner tube is disposed in the first lumen with a second distal end opening proximally spaced from the first distal end opening and defining a second lumen. A space axially disposed between the end openings defines an outflow/inflow inhibiting portion which inhibits a flow of fluid out from the first lumen into the into the vessel as a result of a perfusion of a flushing fluid being supplied through the first lumen and into the second lumen.

A bloodletting syringe, including: a hollow needle that can be placed under skins, a barrel connected to the hollow needle, and a pump outlet being connected to the barrel, wherein the pump outlet is a one-way port. When pumping, the pump outlet is opened, air is pumped out of the barrel and hollow needle, when the pumping is stopped, the pump outlet is automatically closed; air pressure in the barrel becomes lower than the pressure outside of the barrel. The bloodletting syringe, bloodletting syringe systems and bloodletting methods of the present invention can be used to remove blood stasis in muscles and tissues safely and with great control by medical staff.

Provided is a puncture needle that receives lower puncture resistance than conventional techniques. A puncture needle in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes a needle body (10) that includes a main portion (12) and a distal portion (11) tapering from the main portion (12) and that is rotatable about a central axis (1) of the needle body (10), the needle body (10) including needle parts (15) separated by a boundary along the central axis, each of the needle parts (15) being independently translatable along the central axis (1).

An arrangement for producing a sample of body fluid from a wound opening created in a skin surface at a sampling site includes at least one skin-penetration member having a first end configured to pierce the surface of the skin, and a inner lumen in communication with the first end; at least one actuator operatively associated with the at least one skin-penetration member; and at least one catalyst device configured to cause perfusion of body fluid at the sampling site; wherein the at least one actuator is configured to locate the at least one skin-penetration member so as to obstruct the wound opening while transporting body fluid through the inner lumen. Associated methods are also described.

A blood flow assist device includes a flexible sleeve, at least one blood flow stimulator incorporated into the sleeve, and an actuator assembly coupled to the blood flow stimulator. The sleeve has a first portion configured to receive at least a portion of a arm and a second portion configured to engage a portion of a hand. The first and second portions of the sleeve properly position each blood flow stimulator on the arm. The actuator assembly individually controls and selectively actuates each blood flow stimulator to apply a stimulus to the arm to control blood flow through a vein in the arm or hand having a vein access device connected thereto. The blood flow assist device may be paired with a blood processing device, with a controller of the blood processing device controlling the actuator assembly based on a pressure and/or flow rate of blood into the blood processing device.

An apparatus and method for collecting a predetermined amount of blood or other fluid using an automated sampling system is provided.

A method for obtaining large volumes of blood from farmed fish especially farmed salmon includes providing a container to which a negative internal pressure is applied. Input tubes to the container include valves to control the flow of fluid into the container through the input tubes. Needles at the distal ends of the tubes are used to access blood vessels of a fish. On opening of the valve associated with the tube connected to the needle accessing the fish blood vessel, the negative pressure in the container draws blood from the fish into the container. Multiple input tubes can be used to access the blood vessels of a corresponding number of fish at the same time to rapidly collect blood from an entire harvest of fish. The method preserves valuable plasma proteins, and prevents contamination of the blood.