Bodily Fluid Sampling Device with Capillary Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for collecting bodily fluids, such as blood, are painful and difficult for patients with limited dexterity due to the need for incisions and manual handling of small droplets, which can lead to reduced testing frequency and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring an elongated lancing medium with a skin-piercing end and a transport medium using capillary action between elements with hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces to minimize droplet size and facilitate efficient transport of bodily fluids to a test strip for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a lancet is used to form an incision in the skin to collect bodily fluid, then the fluid can be obtained for testing, but the procedure becomes painful especially for patients with limited dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function of fluid collection from the traditional lancet incision method. It uses a small puncture device to obtain minimal fluid (1-10 microliters) without requiring deep incisions, thereby extracting the necessary blood sample while eliminating unnecessary pain and tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of fluid collection by using a shallow puncture instead of a deep incision. The needle penetrates only 0.5-2mm into the skin compared to traditional lancets that require deeper penetration, fundamentally changing the trauma level while still obtaining adequate fluid for testing.
2Ease of operation
If manual handling of small droplets is required for testing, then fluid can be transferred to test strip, but patients with limited dexterity find it difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs self-service by automatically transferring the collected fluid from the collection chamber to the test strip. The system uses capillary action and controlled dispensing mechanisms to move the fluid without requiring patient manipulation, making the process independent of patient dexterity skills.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical handling of droplets with an automated fluid transfer system. Instead of requiring patients to manually pick up and apply droplets, the device uses controlled mechanical dispensing and capillary wicking to transfer fluid automatically.
3Quantity of substance
If larger droplets are collected for testing, then sufficient fluid is available for analysis, but the sampling process becomes more painful and requires larger incisions
Solution Approach 1:
The device creates a minimal copy of the traditional blood collection process. Instead of requiring full lancet incisions to obtain adequate samples, it uses a small puncture to create a sufficient micro-sample (1-10 microliters) that replicates the essential testing requirements without the trauma of traditional collection methods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device reduces patient discomfort and ensures accurate, reproducible results by minimizing the droplet size required for testing, allowing for effective sampling and analysis of bodily fluids, even for patients with hand motor control issues.
Implementation Method 1
A transport medium is positioned sufficiently close to the lancing medium to retain the droplet of bodily fluid therebetween by capillary action
Data Source
AI summary
A bodily fluid sampling device comprising a lancet which can be advanced against a skin-piercing site to produce a droplet of bodily fluid. A transport medium is positioned sufficiently close to the lancing medium to retain a droplet of bodily fluid therebetween by capillary action. One of the two mediums has hydrophobic material on its surface and the other hydrophilic. Various mechanisms are provided for relatively displacing the lancing and transport medium to move the droplet of bodily fluid away from the skin-piercing end. Furthermore, multiple lancet assemblies may be provided in a barrel or disk configuration and indexed to the displacing mechanisms for sampling a skin site.