A medical needle assembly includes a stylet having non-circular cross-sectional shape disposed within the needle lumen. The needle and the stylet each define respective electrodes that enable ascertainment of an electrical property of a body substance adjacent the distal tip of the needle. An electrically insulative coating having a uniform thickness covers the stylet. Wire leads enable connection of the electrodes to a measurement module configured to measure an electrical property of a body substance adjacent a distal end of the needle during insertion. Electrical property measurement enables identification of the location of the needle tip within the patient based on the measurement value. A major diameter of the non-circular cross-sectional shape extends across the needle lumen to create first and second flow paths extending along the lumen on opposite sides of non-circular cross-sectional shape. The first and second flow paths enable blood to flow along the lumen during use.

An apparatus for insertion of a medical device in the skin of a subject is provided, as well as methods of inserting medical devices. Embodiments include removing a substantially cylindrical cap from an inserter to expose a substantially cylindrical sleeve, removing a cover from a substantially cylindrical container holding sensor components, and fitting the sensor components into the inserter.

A method of manufacturing a plurality of through-holes in a layer of first material, for example for the manufacturing of a probe comprising a tip containing a channel. To manufacture the through-holes in a batch process, a layer of first material is deposited on a wafer comprising a plurality of pits a second layer is provided on the layer of first material, and the second layer is provided with a plurality of holes at central locations of the pits; using the second layer as a shadow mask when depositing a third layer at an angle, covering a part of the first material with said third material at the central locations, and etching the exposed parts of the first layer using the third layer as a protective layer.

A catheter and associated method for taking a plurality of samples from within a length of a blood vessel. The catheter includes an elongate central body arranged to be inserted into and positioned along a central region of a blood vessel. A plurality of collection areas are defined along the elongate central body for collecting samples at the central region of the blood vessel. A plurality of mixers are provided radially outwardly of the elongate central body and arranged to create a flow of blood from a boundary layer at a wall of the blood vessel to the elongate central body. This enables the collection areas to collect samples from the boundary layer.

Provided is a puncture needle that receives lower puncture resistance than conventional techniques. A puncture needle in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes a needle body (10) that includes a main portion (12) and a distal portion (11) tapering from the main portion (12) and that is rotatable about a central axis (1) of the needle body (10), the needle body (10) including needle parts (15) separated by a boundary along the central axis, each of the needle parts (15) being independently translatable along the central axis (1).

The invention relates to a system for monitoring a position of a distal end of a tube with respect to a blood vessel of a mammal. The system comprises a source for generating an outgoing beam of electromagnetic radiation having a predefined electromagnetic spectrum. The system furthermore comprises a guideway for guiding the outgoing beam to the distal end, and for guiding an incoming beam of electromagnetic radiation reflected by surroundings of the distal end in response to said outgoing beam to a measurement arrangement, which is arranged for measuring a parameter associated with an electromagnetic spectrum of the incoming beam. The system furthermore comprises a comparator arrangement for comparing said parameter with a reference parameter associated with a reference electromagnetic spectrum representing a predefined location of the distal end inside the mammal.

The invention relates to a test element as a single-use article for examining a body fluid, comprising a lancing member that can be inserted into a body part, a collecting area configured thereon for body fluid obtained by the lancing and at least one light guide for an optical measurement in the collecting area. The collecting area is formed by a collection recess of the lancing member which extends in the lancing direction and the light guide is integrated into the lancing member such that it is secure against displacement and the distal end thereof is arranged in a proximal measurement zone of the collection recess.

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.

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.

A method of manufacturing a plurality of through-holes in a layer of first material by subjecting part of the layer of said first material to ion beam milling.

For batch-wise production, the method comprises after a step of providing the layer of first material and before the step of ion beam milling, providing a second layer of a second material on the layer of first material, providing the second layer of the second material with a plurality of holes, the holes being provided at central locations of pits in the first layer, and subjecting the second layer of the second material to said step of ion beam milling at an angle using said second layer of the second material as a shadow mask.