A device for the extraction of blood or a blood compound is provided that includes a tube, a piston assembly, a handle assembly that can be clipped to the piston assembly, and a perforable sealing element that prevents the flow of fluid from a sealed interior space of the tube towards a longitudinal interior cavity of the handle assembly located adjacent to a separable area of the handle assembly. In use, the handle assembly is pushed to the bottom of the tube, causing the handle assembly to be clipped to the piston assembly, the handle assembly and the piston assembly are then moved rearwards forming a vacuum in the space, the piston assembly is clipped to an end cap of the tube and the gripping portion of the handle assembly is separated, obtaining a vacuum container with a perforable closure.

A sampling and assay kit comprises a cuvette for holding a quantity of a buffer solution and a sample holder including a capillary tube for obtaining a sample. The sample holder includes a body portion which holds the capillary tube. The body portion when inserted in the cuvette, is effective to position the capillary tube within the cuvette at a predetermined position above the end of the cuvette.

Apparatus, systems and methods for processing a blood sample. One embodiment includes an isolation container having at least one sidewall defining an interior volume. The interior volume includes a medial reservoir in fluid communication with proximal and distal reservoirs. The diameter of the medial reservoir is less than the diameter of the proximal and distal reservoirs. Therefore, the isolation container has an interior volume which is roughly hour-glass shaped with the medial reservoir being a substantially narrowed portion or channel between two wider portions. The isolation container is configured such that the buffy coat layer of fractionated blood will be located within, or may be manipulated to be with the medial reservoir.

Apparatus, systems and methods for processing a blood sample. One embodiment comprises an isolation container having at least one sidewall defining an interior volume. The interior volume includes a medial reservoir in fluid communication with proximal and distal reservoirs. The diameter of the medial reservoir is less than the diameter of the proximal and distal reservoirs. Therefore, the isolation container has an interior volume which is roughly hour-glass shaped with the medial reservoir being a substantially narrowed portion or channel between two wider portions. The isolation container is configured such that the buffy coat layer of fractionated blood will be located within and may be accessed from the reduced cross sectional medial reservoir after a centrifuge or other processing step.

The lancet device includes a housing and a lancet having a puncturing element. The lancet is disposed within the housing and is adapted for axial movement between an initial or pre-actuated position wherein the puncturing element is retained within the housing, and a puncturing position wherein the puncturing element extends through a forward opening in the housing. The lancet device includes a drive spring disposed within the housing for biasing the lancet toward the puncturing position, and a retraction or return spring for returning the lancet to a position within the housing where the puncturing element is disposed within the housing. The retraction spring thereafter maintains engagement with the lancet to assist in preventing the puncturing element from again projecting outward from the forward opening in the housing.

Lancet assemblies for puncturing the skin and creating an incision. Upon activation, the disclosed assemblies are configured to move through a firing sequence in which a puncturing instrument extends through an aperture in the device and then is retracted back into a housing of the device and cannot be re-fired. The assemblies are designed so that the aperture in contact with the incision site does not move relative to the incision site during the firing sequence. Accordingly, the tolerance of the assembly is reduced and the reliability of the incisions created by the assembly, including the depth and width of such incisions, is increased.

The lancet device includes a housing and a lancet having a puncturing element. The lancet is disposed within the housing and is adapted for axial movement between an initial or pre-actuated position wherein the puncturing element is retained within the housing, and a puncturing position wherein the puncturing element extends through a forward opening in the housing. The lancet device includes a drive spring disposed within the housing for biasing the lancet toward the puncturing position, and a retraction or return spring for returning the lancet to a position within the housing where the puncturing element is disposed within the housing. The retraction spring thereafter maintains engagement with the lancet to assist in preventing the puncturing element from again projecting outward from the forward opening in the housing.

The lancet device includes a housing and a lancet having a puncturing element. The lancet is disposed within the housing and is adapted for axial movement between an initial or pre-actuated position wherein the puncturing element is retained within the housing, and a puncturing position wherein the puncturing element extends through a forward opening in the housing. The lancet device includes a drive spring disposed within the housing for biasing the lancet toward the puncturing position, and a retraction or return spring for returning the lancet to a position within the housing where the puncturing element is disposed within the housing. The retraction spring thereafter maintains engagement with the lancet to assist in preventing the puncturing element from again projecting outward from the forward opening in the housing.

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to devices, systems and methods for the collection of bodily fluids involving a single-use actuation and retraction mechanism disposed within a collector.

A sampling and assay kit comprises a cuvette for holding a quantity of a buffer solution and a sample holder including a capillary tube for obtaining a sample. The sample holder includes a body portion which holds the capillary tube. The body portion when inserted in the cuvette, is effective to position the capillary tube within the cuvette at a predetermined position above the end of the cuvette.