An apparatus for performing phlebotomy through a peripheral intravenous line. The apparatus includes an introducer and a catheter configured to advance the catheter through a peripheral intravenous line. A y-adapter with a port of larger diameter is configured to receive the catheter and place in fluid communication with the peripheral intravenous line. When advanced the catheter is configured to transport a bodily fluid (i.e. blood) to a volume outside of the body.

Disclosed is a syringe apparatus. Syringe apparatus has a barrel including an inner surface, an open end, and an inlet end; a plunger including a plunger head received in slidable sealing contact with the inner surface of the barrel and forming a reservoir therein; and an extensible member, optionally including an additive, is contained in the reservoir. Extensible member can be coupled between the inlet end and the plunger head and is extensible in length L as a bio-liquid (e.g., whole blood) is drawn into the reservoir. Methods of mixing or adding an additive such as an anticoagulant, coagulant, or marker, to a bio-liquid are provided, as are other aspects.

A tissue penetrating system has a housing member, a plurality of penetrating members positioned in the housing member and a plurality of sample chambers. Each sample chamber is associated with a penetrating member. A tissue stabilizing member has a tissue interface surface configured to be applied to a tissue surface and provide for spontaneous flow of blood for sample capture. The tissue stabilizing member is coupled to the housing.

A blood sampling device includes a housing and a lancet supporting a lancet needle or tip, the lancet and needle being urged or urgeable in a pricking direction. A trigger mechanism is moveable to a fire position for releasing the lancet to travel in the pricking direction. A removable safety cap initially covers the lancet needle. The lancet has an initial position in which movement of the trigger mechanism to the fire position is blocked and an intermediate position in which the trigger mechanism may be moved to the fire position. The intermediate position is obtainable only on removal of the safety cap.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for receiving blood (or other bodily fluids) from a subject, e.g., from or beneath the skin of a subject. In some cases, the blood (or other bodily fluids) may be deposited on a membrane or other substrate. For example, blood may be absorbed in a substrate, and dried in some cases to produce a dried blood spot. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to devices and methods for receiving blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin, using devices including a substance transfer component (which may contain, for example, one or more microneedles), and directing the blood on a substrate, e.g., for absorbing blood. The substrate, in some embodiments, may comprise filter paper or cotton-based paper. After absorption of some blood onto the substrate, the substrate may be removed from the device and shipped or analyzed. In some cases, the device itself may be shipped or analyzed. For example, in some embodiments, a portion of the device may be sealed such that the substrate is contained within an airtight portion of the device, optionally containing desiccant. Other aspects are generally directed at other devices for receiving blood (or other bodily fluids), kits involving such devices, methods of making such devices, methods of using such devices, and the like.

A needle guide assembly for inserting a needle into the body of a patient in order to access a subcutaneous target, such as a vessel, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the needle guide assembly comprises a needle guide body that is configured to at least indirectly and removably attach to an image producing device, such as an ultrasound probe. The needle guide body defines at least first and second elongate guide channels. Each guide channel defines a unique insertion angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe. Further, each guide channel is configured to accept needles of differing gauges. In other embodiments other needle guide assemblies are disclosed that include multiple guide channels for inserting a needle at a variety of insertion angles into the patient's body. Related methods are also disclosed. In yet other embodiments, needle guide assemblies including needle stop features are disclosed.

A lancing device includes: a cover section, a part of which is provided with an opening; a main body held on the cover section and configured to be movable in a predetermined direction from the opening relative to the cover section; a lancing unit which is launched in the predetermined direction; and an operating section configured to launch the lancing unit when the operating section is pushed by applying a force in the predetermined direction, wherein the lancing unit is launched when the force is applied to the operating section in the predetermined direction with regulating a movement of the main body in the predetermined direction, and the main body moves, instead of pushing the operating section, by applying the force in the predetermined direction without regulating the movement of the main body in the predetermined direction is disclosed.

A blood analyzer device has a housing with a top section coupled to a bottom section, a driver and a plurality of penetrating members housed in a disposable positionable in the housing. A gripper engages each penetrating member. A manually actuated button advances the disposable to move penetrating members into launch positions. A power is source coupled to the driver. A display is at the housing.

A lancing device includes a housing, a lancing unit capable of reciprocating relative to the housing, an elastic member for causing the lancing unit to reciprocate, and a resistance generator for applying resistance to the lancing unit in motion. The reciprocating motion of the lancing unit includes a puncture section or interval and a retreat section following the puncture section. The puncture section includes a puncture point at which a lancing element of the lancing unit can prick the skin of a human subject, for example. The resistance generator is configured to apply a greater resistance to the lancing unit in the retreat section than in the puncture section.

A microneedle has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and defines a lumen. The proximal end portion is configured to be coupled to a cartridge to place the lumen in fluid communication with the cartridge. The proximal end portion includes a base surface that is configured to be placed in contact with a surface of a target tissue. The distal end portion of the microneedle includes a beveled surface. The beveled surface defines a tip angle of less than about 20 degrees and a ratio of a bevel height to a bevel width of less than about 2.5.