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 medical device includes a catheter having proximal and distal ends, and defining a lumen, an introducer having proximal and distal ends, and defining an inner volume configured to movably receive the catheter. The distal end of the introducer has a lock configured to couple the introducer to an intravenous line, the introducer having a flexible member arranged within the inner volume configured to limit deflection of the catheter as the catheter is moved within the introducer, and an actuator movably coupled to the introducer. The actuator has a first portion disposed outside the introducer and a second portion disposed in the inner volume of the introducer and coupled to the catheter. The actuator configured to move relative to the introducer to move the catheter between first and second positions, such that the first portion is disposed within the intravenous line when the introducer is coupled to the intravenous line.

Described here are meters and methods for sampling, transporting, and/or analyzing a fluid sample. The meters may include a meter housing and a cartridge. In some instances, the meter may include a tower which may engage one or more portions of a cartridge. The meter housing may include an imaging system, which may or may not be included in the tower. The cartridge may include one or more sampling arrangements, which may be configured to collect a fluid sample from a sampling site. A sampling arrangement may include a skin-penetration member, a hub, and a quantification member.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for monitoring and/or providing feedback for drugs or other pharmaceuticals taken by a subject. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to devices and methods for determining a species within the skin of a subject; and producing feedback to a subject based on the determination of the species. The feedback may be, for example, visual, audible, tactile, a change in temperature, etc. In some cases, information regarding the determination of the species may be transmitted to another entity, e.g., a health care provider, a computer, a relative, etc., which may then provide feedback to the subject in some fashion. In some cases, the feedback may be directly indicative of the species, e.g., whether the species is present, the concentration of the species, whether a by-product of a reaction involving the species is present, whether a compound affected by the species is present, etc. However, the feedback may also be indirect in some embodiments. For example, the subject may be presented with an external reward, e.g., based on the determination of the species within the skin. For instance, a reward such as cash, coupons, songs, discounts, personal items, etc., may be offered based on the level of compliance of the subject. Still other aspects of the invention are generally directed to kits involving such devices (with or without the drug to be monitored), methods of promoting such systems, or the like.

A method for performing an assay to determine the presence or concentration of an analyte contained in a sample of body fluid by using a device comprising at least one analyte quantification member and a sensor associated therewith, the method includes: applying a first sample to the analyte quantification member; and detecting the presence or absence of an adequate sample volume; wherein upon detection of the absence of an adequate sample volume, initiating a finite timed period, and signaling the user to introduce a second sample of body fluid to the analyte quantification member. Associated arrangements and devices are also disclosed.

Described here are meters and methods for sampling, transporting, and/or analyzing a fluid sample. The meters may include a meter housing and a cartridge. In some instances, the meter may include a tower which may engage one or more portions of a cartridge. The meter housing may include an imaging system, which may or may not be included in the tower. The cartridge may include one or more sampling arrangements, which may be configured to collect a fluid sample from a sampling site. A sampling arrangement may include a skin-penetration member, a hub, and a quantification member.

Determining sleep patterns of a user includes detecting a plurality of point clouds, each corresponding to a different position of the user at different times, forming a plurality of bounding boxes, each corresponding to coordinates of captured points of one of the point clouds, creating a wake/sleep classifier based on features of the point clouds, determining sleep positions of the user as a function of time based on the bounding boxes, and determining sleep patterns of the user based on the sleep positions of the user and on results of the sleep/wake classifier. Detecting a plurality of point clouds may include using a tracking device to capture movements of the user. The features of the point clouds may include intermediate data that is determined using scalar velocities of points in the point clouds, absolute velocities of points in the point clouds, and/or counts of points in the point clouds.

An automatically locking safety device, e.g., for use in a blood collection procedure, can include a housing, first and second needle covers that are at least partly received in the housing, and a needle that is at least partly received in at least one of the first and second needle covers. The needle can include a proximal tip configured for placement into a patient and a distal tip configured for placement into a blood collection vial. In some embodiments, the first and second needle covers are biased by a biasing member. In some cases, one or both of the first and second needle covers can be locked to prevent axial movement thereof after the blood collection procedure. In certain embodiments, a distal end of the device is configured to connect with a medical connector, such as a needleless IV access device.

Described here are meters and methods for sampling, transporting, and/or analyzing a fluid sample. The meters may include a meter housing and a cartridge. In some instances, the meter may include a tower which may engage one or more portions of a cartridge. The meter housing may include an imaging system, which may or may not be included in the tower. The cartridge may include one or more sampling arrangements, which may be configured to collect a fluid sample from a sampling site. A sampling arrangement may include a skin-penetration member, a hub, and a quantification member.

An incentive spirometer has a housing (1) with a vertical cylinder (4) connected at its upper end to one end of a gas passage (8) that is connected at its opposite end to an inlet tube (10) and mouthpiece (11). A piston (20) in the cylinder is moved up when the patient inhales through the mouthpiece and thereby creates a reduced pressure at the upper end of the cylinder. The spirometer also includes a flow sensor (30) located in the gas passage (8) that generates a wireless signal indicative of gas flow along the passage. A monitor (40), such as a suitably programmed mobile phone, is located separately of the spirometer housing (1) and responds to the output of the sensor (30). The monitor (40) records and provides feedback to the user indicative of his use of the apparatus.