A vacuum assisted lancing system for blood extraction can include a tubular body having a vacuum chamber, a lancing mechanism configured to removably couple with a lance, a vacuum mechanism including a piston slideably coupled within the body, a release mechanism for selectively holding the vacuum mechanism in an energized state, and an opening for allowing fluid communication between the vacuum chamber and an atmosphere surrounding the vacuum chamber. The system can include structure for selectively commencing dissipation of the vacuum and a fixed or adjustable depth controller. A method of manipulating a surface for blood extraction can include coupling the lancing system to the surface, blocking the opening, creating a vacuum, moving the lance coupler from a first position distal from the surface to a second position proximal to the surface, maintaining the vacuum for a period of time, and commencing dissipation of the vacuum by unblocking the opening.

An arrangement for producing a sample of body fluid from a wound opening created in a skin surface at a sampling site includes: a housing, the housing comprising a first opening; a skin interface member disposed in the first opening, the skin interface member comprising an inner member having a second opening, and an outer member at least partially surrounding the inner member and attached to the first opening; and at least one skin-penetration member configured and arranged to project within the second opening. Arrangements having alternatively constructed skin interface members are also described.

The present invention relates to a sensor comprising a housing; at least a sensor element arranged within the housing; plurality of elongate structures providing one or more slots; a front end and a back end provided by the housing; wherein the one or more slots are arranged between the front end and the back end of the housing; and wherein the one or more fingers are configured to receive the sensor element extending within the one or more slots. Furthermore, a device comprising the sensor and a method for manufacturing the sensor is provided.

Methods and systems for collecting blood samples are described. The disclosed methods and systems employ exposure of the skin surface at a sampling location to electromagnetic radiation, such as blue light, to induce vasodilation in the skin in order to increase a rate of capillary perfusion and blood collection. Following or during the exposure process, the skin at the sampling location can be pricked with one or more lancets to generate capillary perfusion sites for the blood collection process. Following collection of a blood sample, some of the disclosed devices and methods can optionally use heat or infrared electromagnetic radiation to increase a clotting rate to close the capillary perfusion sites.

A blood glucose detection device includes a carrier body, a flow-guiding actuator, a microneedle patch, a sensor and a controlling chip. The carrier body has a liquid guiding channel, a compressing chamber and a liquid storage chamber. The flow-guiding actuator seals the compressing chamber. The microneedle patch is attached on the carrier body and has plural hollow microneedles. The sensor is disposed within the liquid storage chamber. The controlling chip is disposed on the carrier body. The plural hollow microneedles puncture the skin of a human subject with minimal invasion. The controlling chip controls the flow-guiding actuator to actuate and the tissue fluid is sucked into the liquid storage chamber through the plural hollow microneedles, whereby the sensor detects the blood glucose of the tissue fluid to generate and transmit the measured data to the controlling chip. The controlling chip can generate monitoring information by calculating the measured data.

The various embodiments disclosed herein are devices that deliver electrical stimulation and/or vibration stimulation to the surface of skin in proximity to insulin injections and/or glucose testing in order to decrease or eliminate the pain of these procedures.

Herein, systems and methods are disclosed including a sample acquisition component (SAC) for user-friendly sample collection, a separation component for optional separation of plasma, and one or more stabilization components for stabilizing analytes. In a particular embodiment, the system and methods are directed towards sample collection and stabilization with optional sample separation. Other embodiments can perform any combination of collection, separation, stabilization or detection.

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.

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.

Herein, systems and methods are disclosed including a sample acquisition component (SAC) for user-friendly sample collection, a separation component for optional separation of plasma, and one or more stabilization components for stabilizing analytes. In a particular embodiment, the system and methods are directed towards sample collection and stabilization with optional sample separation. Other embodiments can perform any combination of collection, separation, stabilization or detection.