Methods for intra-mold sterilization of a plastic-embedded metal component of a product, such as a medical lancet having a metal needle embedded within a plastic lancet body. For example, a lancet needle is retained within a mold, plastic is injected to encapsulate the needle, and a specified minimum temperature is maintained for a specified minimum cycle time. In example forms, the specified minimum mold temperature is at least about 370 degrees Fahrenheit and the specified minimum cycle time is at least about 10 seconds.

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 invention provides analyzers that improve tests for detecting specific cellular, viral, and molecular targets in clinical, industrial, or environmental samples. The invention permits efficient and specific selection and sensitive imaging detection of individual microscopic targets at low magnification. Automated embodiments allow efficient walk-away, on-demand, random-access high-throughput testing. The analyzers perform tests without requiring wash steps thus streamlining engineering and lowering costs. Thus, the invention provides analyzers that can deliver rapid, accurate, and quantitative, easy-to-use, and cost-effective tests for analytes.

The invention provides devices that improve tests for detecting specific cellular, viral, and molecular targets in clinical, industrial, or environmental samples. The invention permits efficient detection of individual microscopic targets at low magnification for highly sensitive testing. The invention does not require washing steps and thus allows sensitive and specific detection while simplifying manual operation and lowering costs and complexity in automated operation. In short, the invention provides devices that can deliver rapid, accurate, and quantitative, easy-to-use, and cost-effective tests.

Methods for intra-mold sterilization of a plastic-embedded metal component of a product, such as a medical lancet having a metal needle embedded within a plastic lancet body. For example, a lancet needle is retained within a mold, plastic is injected to encapsulate the needle, and a specified minimum temperature is maintained for a specified minimum cycle time. In example forms, the specified minimum mold temperature is at least about 370 degrees Fahrenheit and the specified minimum cycle time is at least about 10 seconds.

A diagnostic tape unit and a process for producing it are provided, in which disposable, test units are applied to a rollable transport tape which is wound onto an unwinding spool and is connected to a take-up spool such that the test units can be successively made available to a user by winding on the transport tape. One or both of the leading end and trailing end of the transport tape is connected to their corresponding spools by means of an auxiliary tape.

A master tool is provided with an ink pattern on a major surface thereof. The ink pattern is formed by a screen printing process. A stamp-making material is applied to the major surface of the master tool to form a stamp having a stamping pattern being negative to the ink pattern of the master tool. The stamping pattern is inked with an ink composition and contacted with a metalized surface to form a printed pattern on a metalized surface of a substrate according to the stamping pattern. Using the printed pattern as an etching mask, the metalized surface is etched to form electrically conductive traces on the substrate.

The invention provides devices that improve tests for detecting specific cellular, viral, and molecular targets in clinical, industrial, or environmental samples. The invention permits efficient detection of individual microscopic targets at low magnification for highly sensitive testing. The invention does not require washing steps and thus allows sensitive and specific detection while simplifying manual operation and lowering costs and complexity in automated operation. In short, the invention provides devices that can deliver rapid, accurate, and quantitative, easy-to-use, and cost-effective tests.

Device for the in-vivo and/or in-vitro enrichment of target structures in a sample liquid, including at least one functional portion, which is provided with receptors for enriching the target structures. In order to improve the enrichment of the target structures in the sample liquid, it is provided according to the invention that the functional portion has a helical shape, which is produced by twisting a symmetrical starting cross section about a twisting axis. The invention likewise discloses a method for producing this device.

A biological liquid collection device designed to draw blood using an atmospheric-balanced vacuum to ensure the blood is exposed to the sample atmospheric partial pressure oxygen and partial pressure carbon dioxide levels as found in standard arterial blood gas syringes, resulting in blood gas sample stabilization during collection and a superior vacuum shelf-life by reducing the gas permeation rate through the plastic tube. The biological liquid collection device comprises a collection module for receiving a biological liquid sample, an evacuated container having an open end and a closed end wherein the evacuated container contains the collection module therein, and a closure for closing the open end of the evacuated container. The evacuated container comprises a gas composition that is substantially equal to the gas composition of the atmosphere outside of the evacuated container. A method for forming the atmospherically balanced vacuum collection device is also provided.