There are provided a blood examination kit with which the procedure carried out by an examination subject is simplified and a method of separating plasma or serum. The blood examination kit includes a blood collection instrument including a diluent and a first container that has an opening formed on one end side and accommodates the diluent; an absorption instrument including a first lid portion member that is arranged on one end side and can seal the opening of the first container, and an absorption member that is arranged on the other end side and absorbs a blood sample; and a separation and sealing instrument including a filtration member that separates plasma or serum from the blood sample diluted with the diluent, a second container that holds the filtration member on the other end side, accommodates the separated plasma or serum, and can be inserted into the first container, a second lid portion member that is arranged on one end side of the second container and can seal the opening of the first container, and a valve member that closes a flow channel between the first container and the second container.

A system and method for preparing a diagnostic fluid sample for use with a fluid assay system. The method comprises the steps of: amplifying the fluid sample to increase the number of cells subject to being tested; drawing a first volume of the fluid sample into a first syringe of a dual-barrel syringe and dispensing the first volume of the fluid sample through a media filter. The method further comprises the steps of placing the bacteria-laced filter into a lysis module; dispensing a first portion of a lysis buffer into the lysis module from the second syringe of the dual-barrel syringe; and dispensing a second portion of the lysis buffer through the media filter into a disposable cartridge of a fluid assay system.

The present invention generally relates, in certain aspects, to relatively small devices applied to the skin, modular systems, and methods of use thereof. In some aspects, the device is constructed and arranged to have more than one module. For instance, the device may have a module for delivering to and/or withdrawing fluid from the skin and/or beneath the skin of a subject and a module for transmitting a signal indicative of the fluid delivered to and/or withdrawn from the skin and/or beneath the skin of the subject, a module for analyzing a fluid withdrawn from the skin and/or beneath the skin of the subject, or the like. In some embodiments, the modules are connectable and/or detachable from each other, and in some cases, the connections and/or detachments may be performed while the device is in contact with the subject, e.g., while affixed to the subject. In some embodiments, the device may be repeatedly applicable to the skin of the subject to deliver to and/or withdraw fluid from the skin and/or beneath the skin of a subject, e.g., at the same location, or at different locations on the skin of the subject. In some aspects, the devices may be self-contained and/or have a relatively small size, and in some cases, the device may be sized such that it is wearable and/or able to be carried by a subject. For example, the device may have a mass and/or dimensions that allow the device to be carried or worn by a subject for various periods of time, e.g., at least about an hour, at least about a day, at least about a week, etc., or no more than about an hour, no more than about 10 min, etc.

A miniature safety blood lancet for minimizing pain includes a needle body, an activation sleeve, a housing and a spring. The activation sleeve is arranged in the housing. The needle body is arranged in the activation sleeve. The housing, the activation sleeve and the needle body are slidably connected. The activation sleeve is provided with an inner wall. The inner side of the middle of the inner wall is provided with an unlocking arm, and the outer side of the bottom of the inner wall is provided with a buckle. A needle cap is arranged at the front end of the needle body. The unlocking arm of the activation sleeve is snap-fitted with a self-locking protrusion of the needle cap and an inverted buckle of the housing, respectively. The spring is arranged between the bottom of the needle body and the housing.

Systems, devices and methods are provided for inserting at least a portion of an in vivo analyte sensor for sensing an analyte level in a bodily fluid of a subject. A sensor insertion component may include a small diameter needle disposed at an angle of about 7 to about 10 degrees to a skin normal insertion force vector with a flexible elongate sensor and sharpened tip supported by a U-shaped protector along an intermediate portion. Advancing the needle into the subject along the vector causes stretching of the skin around the needle, allowing entry of the sensor tip into the body. A bump may be provided on a distal portion of the sensor for engagement by the U-shaped protector and transmission of an insertion force to the sensor tip.

A pen format liquid collection device includes an elongate generally tubular housing (12, 112, 212, 312) able to be held by hand and having an opening at one end, and at least one liquid take-up element (30, 130, 230, 330) mounted in the housing so as to be positioned or positionable to project at the opening, the at least one liquid take-up element then further postionable by hand manipulation of the housing to contact a volume of liquid to thereby take-up a sample of the liquid to be analysed. At least one retention element (230a, 330a) is supported in the housing. The at least one liquid take-up element and the at least one retention element are arranged whereby they are relatively movable into contact, and the at least one retention element is adapted on contact to in turn take-up the sample and retain the sample or a component thereof for in situ analysis or later recovery while protected within the housing. The liquid take-up element is preferably a capillary.

Devices associated with on-body analyte sensor units are disclosed. These devices include any of packaging and/or loading systems, applicators and elements of the on-body sensor units themselves. Also, various approaches to connecting electrochemical analyte sensors to and/or within associated on-body analyte sensor units are disclosed. The connector approaches variously involve the use of unique sensor and ancillary element arrangements to facilitate assembly of separate electronics assemblies and sensor elements that are kept apart until the end user brings them together.

An inserting device includes a main casing, a bracket, a first elastic component, an inserting assembly and a second elastic component. The main casing has a position-limiting portion and a first holding portion. The bracket is disposed in the main casing and has a second holding portion. The first elastic component is disposed between the main casing and the bracket, and the first holding portion holds the bracket. The inserting assembly is disposed in the main casing. The second elastic component is disposed between the inserting assembly and the bracket. The position-limiting portion limits the second holding portion, such that the second holding portion holds the inserting assembly on the bracket. When the bracket is released by the first holding portion, the bracket, the second elastic component and the inserting assembly move by the elastic force of the first elastic component, the second holding portion is departed from the position-limiting portion, and the inserting assembly is restored by an elastic force of the second elastic component. Moreover, a blood collection device including the inserting device is also provided.

Devices associated with on-body analyte sensor units are disclosed. These devices include any of packaging and/or loading systems, applicators and elements of the on-body sensor units themselves. Also, various approaches to connecting electrochemical analyte sensors to and/or within associated on-body analyte sensor units are disclosed. The connector approaches variously involve the use of unique sensor and ancillary element arrangements to facilitate assembly of separate electronics assemblies and sensor elements that are kept apart until the end user brings them together.

Blood sampling device comprising a lancet body supporting a lancet tip, said lancet being moveably mounted within a housing, an urging member configured to urge said lancet forwardly in said housing in use from a primed position in which said lancet tip is located within a passage to a lancing position in which said lancet tip projects through an aperture in the forward end of the housing and a removable safety cap. The housing and said safety cap comprise cooperating abutment surfaces and cooperating stop surfaces, with the safety cap being rotatable in a first direction from a first blocked position in which said cooperating abutment surfaces are in abutment alignment to prevent removal of said safety cap from said housing to a second position in which said cooperating abutment surfaces are not in abutment alignment such that said safety cap can be removed from said housing; and wherein said stop surfaces cooperate to limit further rotation of said safety cap in said first direction when said safety cap is in said second position.