A blood collection tube holder embodying two coaxially alignable needles, the first needle being a forwardly facing venipuncture needle and the second needle being a rearwardly facing fluid discharge needle. The first and second needles are satisfactorily supported by a frontal attachment and body, respectively, that are disposed in relative sliding engagement along an interface that is transverse to the first and second needle and that extends at least from the second needle to an opening into a needle retraction chamber that projects rearwardly from the body. The subject device is configured to receive and support a conventional blood collection tube of the type used to collect blood samples.

Blood collection devices having a retractable needle are provided. Activation of the retraction mechanism causes release of propellant from a propellant chamber, which drives a retraction assembly carrying the needle into a body of the device.

An improved diagnostic analyte monitoring device has partially retractable hollow guide needles for the intradermal placement of diagnostic elements fixedly connected to measuring means within this device obviating the need to remove the guide needle and to connect the diagnostic elements to measuring means after placement into the skin. A flexible surface adhering to the skin serves for the subcutaneous implantation of the diagnostic elements within the guide needles and partial retraction of the guide needles exposes the active surface to body fluid, actuated by means designed for easy handling and safe operation. Concentration-time profiles of endogenous and exogenous analytes measured with the device are used to improve drug treatment modalities on an individualized basis.

Blood collection devices having a retractable needle are provided. Activation of the retraction mechanism causes release of propellant from a propellant chamber, which drives a retraction assembly carrying the needle into a body of the device.

A lancing device comprising a housing and a lancet. The lancet comprises a needle and is configured to be movable within the housing from an operational position to a retracted position. The lancing device further comprises a shroud coupled movably to the housing and initially covering the needle, and a biasing member coupled between the lancet and the shroud. The shroud is configured to, when pressed against a sampling site, move rearwards relative to the housing and, at a first point of the rearward movement, allow the needle to contact the sampling site and subsequently, at a second point of the rearward movement, release energy stored in the biasing member to drive the lancet from the operational position to the retracted position. The housing comprises lancet retaining features configured to retain the lancet in the operational position until the shroud reaches the second point of the rearward movement.