Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for generating a variable liquid vacuum with an accompanying stable gas flow rate. In particular, when a suction device suctions a liquid and gas mixture it is advantageous to provide a variable vacuum or vacuum to apply to the liquid component while the flow rate of the gas stays constant or essentially constant.

This invention is in the field of medical devices. Specifically, the present invention provides fluidic systems having a plurality of reaction sites surrounded by optical barriers to reduce the amount of optical cross-talk between signals detected from various reaction sites. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing fluidic systems and methods of using the systems.

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.

Methods and devices are provided for sample collection and sample separation. In one embodiment, a device is provided for use with a formed component liquid sample, the device comprising at least one sample inlet for receiving said sample; at least a first outlet for outputting only a liquid portion of the formed component liquid sample; at least a second outlet for outputting the formed component liquid sample at least a first material mixed therein.

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 disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to the collection of bodily fluids through the use of gravity and microfluidic properties by way of a collector. The collector can make use of microfluidic networks connected to collection sites on the skin of a subject to gather and shuttle blood into a reservoir by a combination of capillary action and gravitational forces. The collected fluid is moved through the microfluidic networks and into the reservoir by a variety of approaches.

The present invention provides a coronary sinus inspiration catheter comprising a catheter head section and an extension tube, which are hollow tubular structures, the catheter head section and a distal section of the extension tube are substantially arc-shaped, the catheter head section comprises an arc section and a bend section, and its length is about 4-10 cm, the distal end is small (3-6 F) and the tube diameter of the catheter head section increase gradually toward the proximal end (6-12 F), the catheter head section is bent at a 15-45° angle at the position which has a distance of 0.5-1.5 cm from the distal end, the bend section is a straight or slightly arc-shaped structure. The catheter head section is provided with an end hole and a plurality of side holes, and is equidistantly provided with radiopaque markers from the distal end to the proximal end.

Various collection devices, systems and methods relating to the use of devices with open microfluidic channels disposed within a housing defining a lumen. These devices make use of microneedles passed through apertures to induce fluid flow into microfluidic channel networks for collection and analysis. The device can be actuated via button when placed on the skin of a patient to collect a fluid sample, such as a blood draw.

In some embodiments, a wound monitoring and/or treatment system includes a dressing and/or housing configured to be placed in or over wound and/or skin of a patient, sensor configured to measure patient data, and controller configured to receive patient data measured by the sensor, selectively store at least some of the patient data in a memory, and communicate, via a transceiver, at least some of the data stored in the memory to an external computing device. The controller can be configured to, in response to determining that the dressing and/or housing is placed in or over the wound and/or skin, communicate, via the transceiver, to the external computing device a confirmation. The controller can be configured to, in response to receiving, via the transceiver, from the external computing device an authorization to collect patient data, store at least some of the patient data measured by the sensor in the memory.

A test cartridge includes an adjustable lancet. The adjustable lancet is controlled by a controller. The adjustable lancet automatically detects a subject's finger, adjusts the lancet's height, pricks the finger to draw blood, moves a tube to collect the blood, moves the tube away from the finger, and empties the blood from the tube into a vial or receptacle. The adjustable lancet may include safety features to prevent the lancet to trigger when the subject's fingernail is facing the lancet, to control the amount that the lancet pierces the subject's finger, and/or to prevent the reuse of a test cartridge for multiple persons or multiple times by the same person. The adjustable lancet may include a massager wheel and/or a pressure bar to rub the subject's finger after the finger is pierced to facilitate drawing of the blood from the finger.