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.

A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

A photoacoustic apparatus is used that has: a detecting unit that detects photoacoustic waves generated by an object containing contrast agent in first blood vessels of circulating blood and in second blood vessels; and a signal processing unit that generates contrast agent distribution and acquires contrast agent concentration change in the circulating blood. The signal processing unit acquires the position of the first blood vessels on the basis of a time-series change of the contrast agent distribution and the contrast agent concentration change, and lowers the concentration at the position of the first blood vessels on the basis of the contrast agent distribution.

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 means 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.

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a device for obtaining biological tissue. In some embodiments, the device can include a first row of a plurality of hollow tubes; a second row of a plurality of hollow tubes, adjacent the first row of hollow tubes; a third row of a plurality of hollow tubes, adjacent the second row of hollow tubes, the first, second and third rows forming an array of hollow tubes; wherein each hollow tube can include at least one point at the distal end of the hollow tube, the plurality of rows forming a two dimensional array of hollow tubes; wherein an inner diameter of the at least one tube is less than about 1 mm, the distal end of each of the hollow tubes is configured to be inserted into a biological tissue donor site to remove a portion of tissue therefrom when each of the hollow tubes is withdrawn from the donor site.

A lancet driver is provided wherein the driver exerts a driving force on a lancet during a lancing cycle and is used on a tissue site. The driver comprises of a drive force generator for advancing the lancet along a path into the tissue site, and a manual switch for a user interface input.

A lancet driver is provided wherein the driver exerts a driving force on a lancet during a lancing cycle and is used on a tissue site. The driver comprises of a drive force generator for advancing the lancet along a path into the tissue site, and a manual switch for a user interface input.

The present invention relates to methods and devices for extraction of bodily fluids from tissue by creating microscopic openings in the outermost layers of the skin and drawing out the fluid. One embodiment of the invention is a cylindrical hollow member, made of electrically conducting material, with sharpened edges.

A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

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.