A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site includes a single drive force generator. A plurality of penetrating members are operatively coupled to the force generator. The force generator moves each of the members along a path out of a housing with a penetrating member exit, into the tissue site, stops in the tissue site, and withdraws out of the tissue site. A flexible support member couples the penetrating members to define a linear array. The support member is movable and configured to move each of the penetrating members to a launch position associated with the force generator.

Method and Apparatus for Penetrating tissue

A tissue penetration device and method of using same. The tissue penetration device may optionally include sampling and analyzing functions, which may be integrated. An embodiment provides control of a lancet used for sampling blood. Electric field coils or solenoids may drive the lancet using electromagnetic force. Advancement and retraction of a lancet may be controlled by a feedback loop monitoring the position and velocity of the lancet embodiments of the lancet driver can be configured to follow a predetermined tissue lancing profile. Embodiments of the invention include a lancet and method for using a lancet to maintain the patency of the wound tract once the lancet has cut into the skin.

Tissue penetration device

A body fluid sampling system is provided for use on a tissue site. In one embodiment, the system comprises a cartridge; a penetrating member driver; a plurality of penetrating members arranged in a radial configuration on the cartridge wherein sharpened distal tips of the penetrating members point radially outward; wherein an active one of the penetrating members may be operatively coupled to the penetrating member driver, the penetrating member driver moving the active one along a path out of a housing having a penetrating member exit, into the tissue site, stopping in the tissue site, and withdrawing out of the tissue site; and a plurality of analyte detecting members, wherein at least one of the analyte detecting members is positioned to receive fluid from a wound created by the active one of the penetrating members, wherein the detecting members are not pierced by the active one of the penetrating members.

Method and apparatus for body fluid sampling and analyte sensing

A tissue penetration device and method of using same that may include a lancet module or sampling module. The sampling module may optionally be in a cartridge configuration and include sampling and analyzing functions, which may be integrated.

Sampling module device and method

A device for sampling body fluid, the device comprising, a main body (105), a lancet (120) disposed within the main body, a carrier (110) disposed within the main body fixedly attached to the lancet, a biasing means (150) in communication with the lancet and the carrier, an annular space (130) disposed within the main body adjacent the lancet, and a means for measuring a body fluid. Wherein the means for measuring the body fluid may include micro-porous test strips, an electronic testing device, an optical/reflectance testing measuring device, or a visual inspection.

Lancet device having capillary action

Blood samples can be collected without substantial contamination from ambient air, such that the blood sample may be analysed accurately for gaseous components such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. An embodiment of the device (100) has integrated actuation, lancing (102), and sample acquisition components (100), which in some embodiments are miniatuized and/or disposable.

Blood sampling apparatus and method

A method and apparatus comprising a companion cartridge containing a reagent storage system, a calibration fluid system, an assay element storage system, a carrier fluid system, and a waste retrieval system connected to a sensing cartridge to conduct chemical analysis. The companion cartridge can be adapted for assays related to blood chemistry, hematology, immuno-diagnostics, and DNA testing.

Companion cartridge for disposable diagnostic sensing platforms

A system and method for measuring flow rate within a fluid-bearing passageway include introducing heat fluctuations into the flow and then non-invasively monitoring the effects of the heat fluctuations propagating to or from one or more interrogation regions In one embodiment, the non-invasive monitoring detects fluctuations in the refractive index of the flowing fluid as a result of variations in the temperature of the fluid In another embodiment, electrical conductivity of the fluid is monitored The heat fluctuations may be introduced using an optical heat generator, such as an infrared laser, or may be introduced using an electrical member, such as a heater coil Determining the refractive index along the interrogation region may be achieved by monitoring characteristics on an interference pattern, but other optical arrangements may be utilized

Non-invasive fluid flow sensing based on injected heat tracers and indirect temperature monitoring

An apparatus and method for pumping and optionally mixing of small quantities of biological fluid wherein the pumping mechanism is segregated from the biological fluid being pumped. The micro-pump pushes the biological fluid by compressing a cartridge housing the blood and reagents with collapsible walls with a roller or ball bearing, synchronized perpendicular plungers, or an acutely-angled member to push the biological fluid by collapsing the walls of the cartridge in the direction of flow.

Fluidically isolated pumping and metered fluid delivery system and methods

The flow channel (10) has a heater inducing temperature perturbations, an interrogation unit (24) operating with a capacitative cell or an optical system including a detector taking measurements, a rate-determining instrument (18) connected to the detector which monitors a specific characteristic, e.g. resistance or refractive index, hence determining fluid flowrate. An Independent claim is included for the corresponding method of measurement.

Non-contacting flow monitoring system suitable for e.g. medical or analytic applications, comprises a heat source inducing thermal perturbations detectable downstream

Catherine K. Templin

Papers

Blood sampling apparatus and method

Companion cartridge for disposable diagnostic sensing platforms

Non-invasive fluid flow sensing based on injected heat tracers and indirect temperature monitoring

Fluidically isolated pumping and metered fluid delivery system and methods

Non-contacting flow monitoring system suitable for e.g. medical or analytic applications, comprises a heat source inducing thermal perturbations detectable downstream