Fingertip blood sampling kit

Abstract

To provide a fingertip blood sampling kit that comprises a blood collector, and a base for supporting the blood collector.SOLUTION: A blood collector 120 has a blood collecting opening 123. A support base 110 is constituted to support the blood collector in such a manner that the blood collecting opening is directed upward. In some embodiments, the base can also be constituted so that the blood collecting opening can be directed upward at an angle larger than 25° with respect to a horizontal plane.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fingerstick blood collection kit. [Background technology]

[0002] Typically, a blood collection tube is used for fingertip blood collection. The fingertip is punctured to induce bleeding, and the blood is then drawn into the blood collection tube. A typical fingertip blood collection kit is designed so that the user does not hold the blood collection tube in their hand, but places it on a support stand. This allows the user to stably bring the blood into contact with the blood collection tube.

[0003] A conventional fingertip blood collection method will be described with reference to FIG. 1 . A blood collection tube 20 is placed on a support stand 10. Many support stands 10 are designed so that the blood collection tube 20 is angled slightly upward from horizontal. As far as the inventors know, there are no blood collection kits that allow the blood collection tube 20 to be angled upward by more than 25°. A user punctures their fingertip 50 to allow bleeding. To prevent the formed blood droplet 51 from spilling from the fingertip, the user brings the fingertip 50 close to the blood collection tube 20 with the surface of the finger facing upward, and brings the blood droplet 51 into contact with the blood collection port. This causes the blood in the droplet 51 to be absorbed into the blood collection tube 20 by capillary action. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] This conventional method has several problems. For example, the side of the blood collection tube 20 is nearly parallel to the surface of the finger 50. This causes at least a portion of the blood to flow along the outside of the blood collection tube 20 and not be absorbed into the inside of the blood collection tube 20. It is inefficient and undesirable to not be able to recover even a portion of the blood obtained by invasive, i.e., painful, puncture. Another problem is that the blood collection tube 20 must be a capillary tube. Without capillary action, blood cannot be absorbed. To maintain capillary function during use, the inside of the blood collection tube must be treated to be hydrophilic, and hydrophilicity must be maintained throughout the storage period before use. Therefore, strict requirements are placed on cleaning and packaging.

[0005] The technology of the present disclosure is proposed to solve these problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure provides a blood collection kit including a blood collection device and a base for supporting the blood collection device. The blood collection device has a blood collection port. The base is configured to support the blood collection device so that the blood collection port faces upward. In some embodiments, the base may be configured so that the blood collection port faces upward at an angle greater than 25° from horizontal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] With this configuration, the user can hold the blood droplet formed on the surface of the fingertip by puncturing downward and contact it with the blood collection port of the blood collection tube supported on the support base, allowing the blood to be drawn into the blood collection tube through the blood collection port. Furthermore, it has been found that blood from the punctured fingertip can be smoothly introduced into the blood collection tube. Furthermore, minute amounts of fingertip blood can be collected efficiently and / or with minimal loss.

[0008] The above effects are not necessarily limited, and may be combined with or include the above effects. Instead of the effect, any of the effects shown in this specification or other effects that can be understood from this specification The effect may be achieved.

[0009]

[0013] Further aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein only illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described. As will be realized, the present disclosure is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 shows a conventional blood collection kit. [Figure 2] 1 shows a perspective view of a blood collection kit in use, according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a blood collection device and a support base of a blood collection kit according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a support base and a blood collection device placed on the support base. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views illustrating the manner of use of a blood collection kit according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a blood collection device and a support base of a blood collection kit according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be embodied in one or more of these specific details. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other examples may be used to avoid obscuring the invention. Therefore, features and procedures well known to those skilled in the art are not described.

[0012] <Amount of blood collected> The amount of blood collected does not have to be large. In some embodiments, the amount of blood collected may be 20 μL or less. For example, the blood collection tube may be configured to collect blood in an amount of 20 μL or less. The volume of the blood collection tube may be 20 μL, 15 μL, 10 μL, 5 μL, or less. In some embodiments, the blood collection tube may be configured to collect a constant amount of blood. For example, the inner diameter and length of the capillary may be set, and blood may be collected so that the capillary is filled. This allows a constant amount of blood to be collected. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the amount of blood collected from the blood collection tube may not be constant.

[0013] When a large amount of blood needs to be collected from the fingertip, it is difficult to point the fingertip downwards. When puncturing, the bleeding side faces upwards. When rotating the finger, the blood moves along the surface of the fingertip. This reduces the amount of blood collected and stains the fingertip with blood. In contrast, if the amount to be collected is small, the finger can be rotated so that it faces downwards while maintaining the droplet shape.

[0014] <Blood collection device> The blood collector has a blood collection port for contacting and collecting fingertip blood inside. A blood collection tube is provided inside the blood collector and is fluidly connected to the blood collection port. Blood entering through the blood collection port is retained inside the blood collection tube. The blood collection tube may be a capillary tube in part or in whole.

[0015] In some embodiments, the blood collector may have a tubular or longitudinally elongated shape. The blood collection port may be located at one end of the tubular axis. The capillary tube may be located within the blood collector and extend in the tubular axis.

[0016] In some embodiments, the blood collection device may have a vent port in fluid communication with the blood collection port and the blood collection tube. When blood is introduced into the blood collection tube, air can be expelled through the vent port. The vent port may be located at the end of the tube opposite the blood collection port in the axial direction.

[0017] <Support stand> The support base or stand is placed on a horizontal surface (such as the top surface of a desk or table) during use and is used to hold the blood collection device in that state.

[0018] In some embodiments, the support base and blood collector may be configured so that, when the blood collector is placed on the support base, the longitudinal direction of the blood collector or the blood collection port faces upward at an angle of 25° or more from the horizontal. The angle may be 25°, 30°, 35°, 40°, 45°, 50°, 55°, 60°, 65°, 70°, 75°, 80°, or any greater. In some embodiments, the angle may be greater than 45°, so that the blood collection port faces more upward. The angle may be 90°. The blood collector may be configured to stand on its bottom surface, and the support base may be configured to support the blood collector from the sides to prevent it from tipping over.

[0019] In some embodiments, the support base and blood collector may be configured so that a user can direct a drop of blood formed on the surface of the fingertip by puncturing downward and bring it into contact with the blood collection port of a blood collection tube supported by the support base, thereby causing the blood collection tube to draw blood from the blood collection port.

[0020] In some embodiments, the support base may contact the blood collector at at least two points (support points) to fix the angle of the blood collector. For example, the support base may support the blood collector at both one end of the bottom of the blood collector in the axial direction and at the side of the blood collector. In some embodiments, the support base may contact or support the blood collector at a line or a surface. In some embodiments, the support base may have a penetration, and the blood collector may be placed in the penetration, with the bottom of the blood collector supported by the horizontal surface on which the support base is placed. For example, the penetration may function to prevent the upright blood collector from tipping over. In some embodiments, the support base may have a protrusion, and the protrusion may be inserted into a hole (such as a hole or vent provided for this purpose) in the blood collector, thereby maintaining the posture of the blood collector. In some embodiments, the penetration may be provided vertically. In some embodiments, the penetration may be provided at an angle relative to the vertical direction.

[0021] In some embodiments, a portion or all of the surfaces of the blood collection device that come into contact with blood may be hydrophilic. For example, a portion or all of the surfaces of a blood collection tube may be hydrophilic. For example, the end or edge of the blood collection port comes into contact with blood. This portion may be hydrophilic. This, for example, enhances the effect of capillary action and makes blood collection more efficient. For example, the outer surface or side of the blood collection device is not configured to come into contact with blood. This portion may be hydrophobic. This, for example, can prevent or reduce blood from flowing down the outer wall and becoming uncollectible. In some embodiments, the surface of the blood collection tube and the edge of the blood collection port may be hydrophilic, and the outside of the blood collection device may be hydrophobic. In some embodiments, the portion that comes into contact with blood may be more hydrophilic than the portion that does not come into contact with blood. Alternatively, conversely, the portion that does not come into contact with blood may be more hydrophobic than the portion that comes into contact with blood. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity may be defined relatively.

[0022] Hereinafter, several embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0023] <Embodiment 1> Figure 2 shows a blood collection kit 100 according to one embodiment. Kit 100 includes a blood collection device 120 and a support base 110. Support base 110 is designed to be placed on a horizontal surface during use, allowing a user to place blood collection device 120 thereon.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of each taken along the center. As shown in FIG. 3A, the blood collector 120 is tubular and extends in the axial direction. In the figure, its center line 121 is indicated by a dashed line. The blood collector 120 has a blood collection tube 122 in a part of or inside thereof, and has a blood collection port 123 at one end in the axial direction of the tube that is connected to the blood collection tube 122 and opens to the outside. In some embodiments, the blood collection tube 122 may have a capillary tube in part or in its entirety. Liquid that comes into contact with the blood collection port 123 is introduced into the blood collection tube 122 from the blood collection port 123 and is retained inside the blood collection tube 122.

[0025] Blood collector 120 has vent port 125 connected to blood collection tube 122 at a position different from blood collection port 123. Blood collector 120 has vent part 124 connected to blood collection tube 122 inside, and vent port 125 connected to vent part 124 and opening to the outside at the other end. This allows air inside blood collection tube 122 to be discharged to the outside through vent port 125 when blood is introduced into blood collection tube 122 from blood collection port 123.

[0026] Vent section 124 and vent port 125 may have a function other than ventilation. For example, blood collected in blood collection tube 122 may be extracted from blood collection port 123 by applying pressure from vent port 125.

[0027] The stand 110 shown in FIG. 3B is used by placing it on a horizontal surface (e.g., the top surface of a desk, table, etc.). The stand 110 is placed so that its bottom surface 113 is in contact with the horizontal surface. In this state, the stand 110 is configured to receive and support the blood collector 120 so that the blood collection port 123 faces upward. The stand 110 supports the blood collector 120 with two supports 111, 112. The first support 111 supports the end of the blood collector 120 opposite the blood collection port 123 in the axial direction (the end with the vent hole 125). The second support 112 supports the side of the blood collector 120 from below. The positions of these two supports 111, 112 determine the angle of the axial direction 121 of the blood collector 120 placed thereon.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of stand 110 and blood collector 120 placed thereon. Stand 110 is placed on top surface (horizontal surface) 210 of desk 200 with its bottom surface 113 facing downward. Blood collector 120 is supported by first support portion 111 and second support portion 112 of stand 110 and placed on stand 110 with blood collection port 123 facing upward. In this case, tube axis direction 121 of blood collector 120 is inclined at a predetermined angle θ with respect to horizontal surface 210. In FIG. 4, angle θ of blood collector 120 is illustrated as 55° for illustrative purposes, but the present disclosure should not be interpreted as being limited to this angle.

[0029] In this state, the user pricks finger 150 to form a droplet 151 of blood. The user places finger 150 close to blood collection port 123 of blood collector 120, with droplet 151 facing downward (FIG. 5A). When blood droplet 151 comes into contact with blood collection port 123, capillary action causes it to be collected from blood collection port 123 into blood collection tube 122. While capillary action is thought to be responsible for the collection of blood at this time, capillary action does not necessarily occur in all areas of blood collection port 123 and blood collection tube 122. For example, capillary action may be responsible near blood collection port 123, while blood 152 in blood collection tube 122 away from blood collection port 123 may move downward due to gravity. Alternatively, capillary action may not be essential. Some force may be applied, causing blood 151 to enter blood collection port 123 into blood collection tube 122 and be collected.

[0030] <Embodiment 2> FIG. 6 shows a blood collection kit 200 according to an embodiment. The kit 200 comprises a blood collector 220 and a base 210 for supporting the blood collector 220. The support base 210 has a vertical penetration 211 at approximately the center thereof. The blood collector 221 is inserted into the penetration 211 and can stand upright in an approximately vertical position. The penetration 211 surrounds the blood collector 220 from the sides, preventing the blood collector 220 from tipping over.

[0031] The present disclosure includes the following embodiments: A001 A fingerstick blood collection kit, a blood collection tube configured to collect blood; a support base that supports the blood collection tube with the blood collection port of the blood collection tube facing upward; A fingertip blood collection kit. A005 A fingertip blood collection kit according to any one of the embodiments of A001, The subject can direct the blood droplet formed on the surface of the fingertip by puncturing downward and bring it into contact with the blood collection port of the blood collection tube supported by the support base, so that the blood can be sucked into the blood collection tube from the blood collection port. Fingerstick blood collection kit. A011 A fingertip blood collection kit according to any one of the embodiments of A001, The amount of blood collected is 20 μL or less. Fingerstick blood collection kit. A012 A fingertip blood collection kit according to any one of the embodiments of A001, The amount of blood collected is 15 μL or less. Fingerstick blood collection kit. A021 A fingertip blood collection kit according to any one of the embodiments of A001, The support base is configured to support the blood collection tube with the blood collection port of the blood collection tube facing upward and the longitudinal direction of the blood collection tube at an angle of more than 25° from a horizontal plane. Fingerstick blood collection kit. A031 A fingertip blood collection kit according to any one of the embodiments of A001, The edge of the blood collection port and the surface of the blood collection tube are hydrophilic, and / or The outer surface of the blood collection tube is hydrophobic. Fingerstick blood collection kit. A101 A fingerstick blood collection kit, a blood collection tube configured to collect a volume of blood of 20 μL or less; a support base that supports the blood collection tube with the blood collection port of the blood collection tube facing upward and with the longitudinal direction of the blood collection tube at an angle of more than 25° from a horizontal plane; Equipped with The subject can direct the blood droplet formed on the surface of the fingertip by puncturing downward and bring it into contact with the blood collection port of the blood collection tube supported by the support base, so that the blood can be sucked into the blood collection tube from the blood collection port. Fingerstick blood collection kit.

[0032] Several embodiments and examples of the present disclosure have been described above, but these embodiments and examples exemplify the present disclosure. For example, the above embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present disclosure, and additional changes in dimensions, configurations, materials, and circuits may be made as necessary. Note that embodiments that combine any one or more features of the present disclosure described above are also within the scope of the present disclosure. The claims encompass numerous modifications to the embodiments without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments and examples disclosed herein are provided for illustrative purposes and should not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A fingerstick blood collection kit, a blood collection tube configured to collect a volume of blood of 20 μL or less; a support base that supports the blood collection tube with the blood collection port of the blood collection tube facing upward and with the longitudinal direction of the blood collection tube at an angle of more than 25° from a horizontal plane; Equipped with Fingerstick blood collection kit.

2. The fingertip blood collection kit according to claim 1, The subject can direct the blood droplet formed on the surface of the fingertip by puncturing downward and bring it into contact with the blood collection port of the blood collection tube supported by the support base, so that the blood can be sucked into the blood collection tube from the blood collection port. Fingerstick blood collection kit.

3. The fingertip blood collection kit according to claim 1, the support base supports the blood collection tube with the blood collection port of the blood collection tube facing upward and the longitudinal direction of the blood collection tube at an angle of 25° or more from a horizontal plane; Fingerstick blood collection kit.

4. The fingertip blood collection kit according to claim 1, The edge of the blood collection port and the surface of the blood collection tube are hydrophilic, and / or The outer surface of the blood collection tube is hydrophobic. Fingerstick blood collection kit.

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