The present invention provides a device for collecting a fluid specimen. The device comprises a water-absorbing end part formed by bonding a first porous water-absorbing film and a second porous water-absorbing film. Preferably, the second porous water-absorbing film and the first porous water-absorbing film are sponge films.

Devices and methods for withdrawing bodily fluid from a patient are disclosed herein. A handheld device configured in accordance with the present technology can include a housing having an opening, a skin-piercing assembly located at least partially within the housing, and an actuator movable relative to the housing along a deployment direction. The skin-piercing assembly can include a skin-piercing feature and a biasing member. The biasing member can be coupled to the skin-piercing feature to bias the skin-piercing feature along the deployment direction. Movement of the actuator along the deployment direction to a predetermined position can increase a load on the biasing member to at least a partially loaded state. Movement of the actuator along the deployment direction beyond the predetermined position can release the load on the biasing member so that the biasing member actively drives the skin-piercing feature along the deployment direction.

A syringe-based device includes a housing, a pre-sample reservoir, and an actuator. The housing defines an inner volume between a substantially open proximal end portion and a distal end portion that includes a port couplable to a lumen-defining device. The pre-sample reservoir is fluidically couplable to the port to receive and isolate a first volume of bodily fluid. The actuator is at least partially disposed in the inner volume and has a proximal end portion that includes an engagement portion and a distal end portion that includes a sealing member. The engagement portion is configured to allow a user to selectively move the actuator between a first configuration such that bodily fluid can flow from the port to the pre-sample reservoir, and a second configuration such that bodily fluid can flow from the port to a sample reservoir defined at least in part by the sealing member and the housing.

A personal hygiene device may have a main body with an absorbent material configured to absorb a fluid, a sensor disposed within the main body, and a controller configured to communicate with the sensor. The sensor has a conductor and an insulator containing at least a portion of the conductor, and the sensor is configured to detect a first electrical value and a second electrical value that is different from the first electrical value. The sensor is also configured to transmit a signal to the controller upon detection of the second electrical value.

A bodily-fluid transfer device includes a housing, a pre-sample reservoir, and an actuator. The housing defines an inner volume between a substantially open proximal end portion and a distal end portion that includes a port couplable to a lumen-defining device. The pre-sample reservoir is fluidically couplable to the port to receive a first volume of bodily fluid. The actuator is at least partially disposed in the inner volume and has a proximal end portion that includes an engagement portion and a distal end portion that includes a sealing member. The engagement portion is configured to allow a user to selectively move the actuator between a first configuration such that bodily fluid can flow from the port to the pre-sample reservoir, and a second configuration such that bodily fluid can flow from the port to a sample reservoir defined at least in part by the sealing member and the housing.

A fluid-handling cassette comprising a plurality of diaphragm valves and pumps is configured to have its actuation ports located along a thin or narrow edge of the cassette. Actuation channels within the cassette lead from the actuation ports to actuation chambers of the valves and pumps in a space between plates that comprise the cassette. The individual plates have a nominal thickness that is sufficient to provide a rigid ceiling for the actuation channels, but sufficiently thin to minimize the overall thickness of the cassette. The cassette can be plugged into or unplugged from an actuation receptacle or a manifold by its narrow edge. A plurality of such cassettes can be stacked together or spaced apart from each other to form a cassette assembly, providing for a convenient way to install and remove the cassette assembly from its actuation receptacle. The arrangement allows for an improved way of connecting a complex cassette assembly to its associated pressure distribution manifold without the use of a plurality of flexible connecting tubes between the two.

A system for displaying a plurality of hemostatic indexes is disclosed. The system includes a communication receiver configured to receive the hemostatic indexes and a graphical user interface (GUI) connected to the communication receiver and configured to simultaneously display the hemostatic indexes. The hemostatic indexes are derived from a plurality of independent measurements, such as the mechanical measurements determined using the sonorheometry systems and processes.

A syringe-based device includes a housing, a pre-sample reservoir, and an actuator. The housing defines an inner volume between a substantially open proximal end portion and a distal end portion that includes a port couplable to a lumen-defining device. The pre-sample reservoir is fluidically couplable to the port to receive and isolate a first volume of bodily fluid. The actuator is at least partially disposed in the inner volume and has a proximal end portion that includes an engagement portion and a distal end portion that includes a sealing member. The engagement portion is configured to allow a user to selectively move the actuator between a first configuration such that bodily fluid can flow from the port to the pre-sample reservoir, and a second configuration such that bodily fluid can flow from the port to a sample reservoir defined at least in part by the sealing member and the housing.

A needle assembly for sampling fluid from a patient including a needle guard, an insertion needle, and a needle housing. The distal end of the needle guard includes a nose portion and a flexible nose extension defining a fluid collection reservoir. The proximal end of the needle guard includes a push feature. The insertion needle has a sharpened distal tip, a proximal needle end and a shaft defining a lumen extending therebetween. The needle housing is operably coupled to the proximal needle end and is slideably coupled to the needle guard. The needle housing includes a flash chamber including a wall defining a cavity. The cavity is in fluid communication with the lumen of the insertion needle and is sealed at one end by a gas permeable flash plug. The push feature selectively engages the flash plug to divert captured bodily fluids to the fluid collection reservoir for sampling.

An apparatus and method for testing a patient for distinguishing symptoms of a heart attack and GERD. A saliva specimen holder is configured to collect a saliva sample. A blood specimen holder with a well configured to collect a blood sample, a D-dimer testing zone, and a membrane in fluid communication with the well and the D-dimer testing zone. The membrane is configured to fluidly communicate a blood sample to the D-dimer testing zone. A composition on the membrane in the D-dimer testing zone is configured, when mixed with blood containing a D-dimer protein, to provide an indicator. A processor is programmed to analyze the collected blood sample to determine whether a D-dimer protein is detected in the blood sample and to analyze the saliva sample and to send information to the display indicating whether or not pepsin was detected.