The present invention generally relates to collecting, determining and/or transmitting information associated with the process of receiving bodily fluid through a device opening and/or delivering substances to a subject. In one aspect, the device includes an information collecting portion and a fluid receiving portion. In another aspect, the two portions are constructed and designed to attach to one another. In one embodiment, actuation of one of the portions causes the other portion to actuate. Methods of time keeping and information transmission are also discussed.

An apparatus includes a housing, defining an inner volume, and an actuator mechanism movably disposed therein. The actuator mechanism is configured to be transitioned from a first configuration to a second configuration to define a pre-sample reservoir fluidically couplable to receive a pre-sample volume of bodily-fluid via an inlet port of the housing. The actuator mechanism is movable from a first position to a second position within the housing after the pre-sample reservoir receives the pre-sample volume such that the housing and the actuator mechanism collectively define a sample reservoir to receive a sample volume of bodily-fluid via the inlet port. The outlet port is in fluid communication with the sample reservoir and is configured to be fluidically coupled to an external fluid reservoir after the sample volume is disposed in the sample reservoir to transfer at least a portion of the sample volume into the external fluid reservoir.

Methods and apparatus are provided for manufacturing an analyte detecting device. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a housing; a penetrating member driver; a cartridge containing a plurality of penetrating members; a display on the cartridge; a linear slider on the housing, the slider coupled to a rod; and the rod moving with the slider, the rod having at least one roller. The device uses the linear motion of the slider to rotate the cartridge, punch open a new cavity and load a new penetrating member.

The current invention is a syringe and swab system for a syringe having a plunger, a barrel, a needle hub, a needle, a needle safety cover, and a swab attached to the distal end of the needle safety cover for placing over an injection site to apply pressure and a vial for holding fluid that may be utilized with the swab.

An apparatus includes a housing, defining an inner volume, and an actuator mechanism movably disposed therein. The actuator mechanism is configured to be transitioned from a first configuration to a second configuration to define a pre-sample reservoir fluidically couplable to receive a pre-sample volume of bodily-fluid via an inlet port of the housing. The actuator mechanism is movable from a first position to a second position within the housing after the pre-sample reservoir receives the pre-sample volume such that the housing and the actuator mechanism collectively define a sample reservoir to receive a sample volume of bodily-fluid via the inlet port. The outlet port is in fluid communication with the sample reservoir and is configured to be fluidically coupled to an external fluid reservoir after the sample volume is disposed in the sample reservoir to transfer at least a portion of the sample volume into the external fluid reservoir.

A microneedle device comprising a hollow microneedle protruding from the rim of an outer open holder can be used for the extraction of interstitial fluid (ISF). Dermal ISF can be extracted with the microneedle device with minimal pain and no blistering for human subjects. Extracted ISF volumes are sufficient for determining transcriptome and proteome signatures. Similar profiles in ISF, serum, and plasma samples, suggest that ISF can be a proxy for direct blood sampling. This minimally-invasive microneedle device enables real-time health monitoring applications using extracted ISF.

A system for extracting and collecting a sample of a fluid of a user, comprising a sample collection device, comprising a sample container arranged to receive said sample; a cap arranged to cooperate with the sample container and having an incision mechanism movable in the cap by a triggering mechanism; a sealing mechanism; a sample extraction device, comprising a vacuum creation mechanism arranged to create vacuum in a vacuum chamber; and a valve control mechanism arranged to release the vacuum from the vacuum chamber to the sample collection device. The system simplifies collection of a fluid (e.g., blood) sample while keeping a high-quality standard for its analysis, minimizes the risk of injury due to handling the sample, reduces the risk of contamination of the collected sample, is compatible with standard blood analysers of central laboratories, requires minimal action from the user, and can collect large volumes of bodily fluid.

The invention relates to a medical injection device having a needle cannula for multiple use and which needle cannula is cleaned between subsequent injections. The needle cannula is preferably cleaned at the distal tip in a cleaning assembly having a hollow cleaning chamber with a variable volume. The distal tip of the needle cannula is maintained inside the cleaning chamber between subsequent injections. The cleaning chamber is defined by an inner surface, a distal seal and a proximal seal. In order to increase the volume of the cleaning chamber during filling of the cleaning chamber one of the seals is formed as a movable plunger which is movable in one direction to expand the volume of the cleaning chamber. To release the movable plunger from the inner surface of the hollow cleaning chamber in order to commence the filling of the cleaning chamber, the movable plunger and the inner wall surface of the hollow cleaning chamber are rotatable in relation to each other during filling of the cleaning chamber.

The present invention provides a surgically invasive pointed article for skin penetration and capillary whole blood extraction whose penetration ability can be disabled after use by deforming the tips. The present invention is made by injection molding a plastic needle 35 having an anchoring means 45 using a first material, followed by another injection molding process to over-mold a first body segment 20 and second body segment 30 using a second material to encase the plastic needle 35 thereby anchoring the plastic needle 35 to prevent further movement of the plastic needle 35. The encasing of the second material provide a barrier isolating the plastic needle 35 from the ambient to protect the tips 50 from damage and once sterilized, to conserve the sterile conditions till point of use. The barrier formed by a second over-molding process comprises a detachable cap 20 and a body 30. The present invention is normally used for blood sampling applications but can also be used for applications such as vaccination or skin allergy testing, and transdermal/intradermal drug delivery.

A system for stimulating autophagy comprising a sample collection kit (either a buccal swab kit or a lancet kit) and one or more compounds that stimulate autophagy. The buccal swab kit has at least one buccal swab, a collection container, a storage device, a shipping package, a set of instructions, and at least one set of gloves. The lancet kit has at least one sterile lancet or an automated lancet device for capillary bloodletting, a sealed packet with an isopropyl alcohol wipe or pad, a collection container, a storage device, and a shipping package. A method of stimulating autophagy in an individual comprising the steps of providing the individual with at least one sample collection kit, testing the sample provided by the individual to determine the individual's level of autophagy, and administering one or more compounds to the individual to stimulate autophagy on a single use or subscription basis.