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.

Implementations of a capillary tube syringe are provided. In some implementations, a capillary tube syringe comprises an elongated hollow outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end and a needle extending from the first end of the outer tube outside the outer tube and extending inside the outer tube. In some implementations, an elongated hollow capillary tube having a proximal end and a distal end extend along the inside of the outer tube. In some implementations, a normally compressed spring is operatively connected to the needle. In some implementations, the spring is configured to expand when activated to retract the needle inside the elongated hollow tube. In some implementations, the capillary tube diameter is less than or equal to 0.865 inches.

A reusable applicator for applying a microneedle patch to a skin of a subject which comprises a base for positioning onto the skin. The base comprises a skin-side end and a holder for holding the microneedle patch in position relative to the skin-side end. Two or more contact parts at the skin-side end can contact the skin. One or more are movable over the skin and away from the other contact 5 parts to stretch the skin at least during penetration of the skin by a microneedle of the patch. The applicator further comprises an interface for an actuator. The actuator actuates in operation a movement of the microneedle patch relative to the skin-side end to penetrate at least into the stratum corneum of the epidermis of the skin with the microneedle. A microneedle patch comprises a skin-adhesive surface for attaching the patch to the skin of a10 subject. The patch has one or more microneedles projecting from the skin-adhesive surface out of the patch. A stiffening body stiffens the patch in at least a parallel direction parallel to the skin-adhesive surface in a region of the skin-adhesive surface which includes the microneedle.

A cannula insertion system to insert a cannula into a human or animal body, includes: one or more sensors to determine a suitable location for insertion of the cannula, a cannula insertion device configured to insert the cannula into the human or animal body, a cannula insertion device positioning system to support and position the cannula insertion device, and a control device arranged to control the positioning system to position, on the basis of the determined location for insertion of the cannula, the cannula insertion device in a suitable position to insert the cannula into human or animal body, where the cannula insertion system includes a blood collection system to collect blood in one or more blood collection tubes supported by the blood collection system, where the blood collection system is movably arranged to at least partly follow movements of the cannula insertion device.

A flow restriction device may include a proximal housing including an internal fluid channel, a distal housing including an internal fluid channel, and an intermediate housing interposed between the proximal and distal housings. The intermediate housing may include an internal chamber, and a slider reciprocally disposed in the internal chamber. The slider may include an internal fluid channel and a seal overlaying an outer surface of slider excluding the fluid channel, and may be reciprocally movable between (i) a first position where the internal fluid channel of the slider is axially aligned with the internal fluid channels of the proximal and distal housings to allow a fluid to flow therethrough, and (ii) a second position where the internal fluid channel of the slider is not aligned with the internal fluid channels of the proximal and distal housings and the seal blocks fluid connection between the proximal and distal housings.

An independent blood filter device depends on flow geometry to deliver blood serum or plasma free of detrimental levels of hemoglobin. It depends critically on an upstream flow rate or pressure differential limiting control element or device that limits the rate of change of pressure differential across the filter element. Pre-evacuated versions can be used to simultaneously draw blood from a living being and provide pressure differential across the filter element between an evacuated collector and a supply end open to atmosphere. A unit pressurized by hand motion employs the external shape of a partially filled blood collection tube as a piston to produce pressure in advance of the control element or device to create the pressure differential across the filter element to a collector vented to atmosphere. The control element or device is disclosed in numerous forms, including specially sized flow constrictions and compliant arrangements.

A flow restriction device may include a male luer connector portion, a female luer connector portion disposed proximally to the male luer connector portion, and a body portion extending between the male and female luer portions, and integrally formed with the male and female luer portions to form a single monolithic piece. The male luer connector portion may have an internal surface defining a lumen thereof, and the female luer connector portion may have an internal surface defining a lumen fluidly connected to the lumen of the male luer connector portion. The body portion may have a recess extending longitudinally therethrough and fluidly communicated with the lumens of the male luer portion and the female luer portion. The recess may define a micro-channel along which fluid flows from the male luer connector portion into the fluid collection device via the female luer connector portion.

Blood sample optimization systems and methods are described that reduce or eliminate contaminates in collected blood samples, which in turn reduces or eliminates false positive readings in blood cultures or other testing of collected blood samples. A blood sample optimization system can include a blood sequestration device located between a patient needle and a sample needle. The blood sequestration device can include a sequestration chamber for sequestering an initial, potentially contaminated aliquot of blood, and may further include a sampling channel that bypasses the sequestration chamber to convey likely uncontaminated blood between the patient needle and the sample needle after the initial aliquot of blood is sequestered in the sequestration chamber.

An apparatus for the uninterrupted administration of fluid to an animal body during clean blood collections is disclosed. Embodiments include an intravenous device defining a first fluid channel, wherein the first fluid channel is configured to selectively transport IV fluid to an animal body and draw a bodily fluid from the body, and a connection member configured to connect to a catheter to the first fluid channel and defining a concave distal end. A second fluid channel continuously provides IV fluid to a lumen coaxially located within the catheter. The concave surface is shaped to create a fluid flow pattern that quickly and completely removes residual bodily fluid remaining at the concave distal end. Embodiments include a concave surface defining an asymmetric funnel shape, a vertex of which is centered on the first fluid channel.

A lancing device including a latch that pivots between a non-blocking position allowing a lancet carrier and a lancet to advance and retract through a first forward and reverse lancing stroke and a blocking position preventing further/excess/secondary oscillation of the lancet carrier and lancet. The pivotal latch can pivot about an axis perpendicular (e.g., for an L-shaped latch) or parallel/coaxial (e.g., for a sleeve latch) to the advancement and retraction motion of the lancet carrier and lancet.