Device and system of blood collection, and method thereof

• US 10,136,848 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winnoz Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Winnoz Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Hsiung, Le-Chang, Lin, Fang-Yu, Wu, Jui-Shuan, Ou, Li-Tseng, Chen, Po-Chun, Ou, Chuan Whatt Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): ABOUELELA, MAY A
• Application Number:
  US15/160,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20170332954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 600573, 600583
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150099 by negative pressure, other than vacuum extraction into a syringe by pulling on the piston rod or into pre-evacuated tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150213 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150221 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150229 Pumps for assisting the blood sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150343 Collection vessels for collecting blood samples from the skin surface, e.g. test tubes, cuvettes sampling from within body cavities A61B5/150015, A61B5/150045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles

Abstract

A device for collecting a blood sample is provided. The device includes a collection unit, at least one capillary tube, a vacuum connector, and a storage unit. The collection unit has a top window for receiving the blood sample, a top surface, and a channel communicated with the top window. The at least one capillary tube is disposed in the collection unit and has a top end adjacent to the top window of the collection unit. The vacuum connector extends from the collection unit and communicates with the channel to provide a negative pressure by removing air in the channel. The storage unit is disposed under the collection unit for storing the blood sample.

Claims

1. A device for collecting a blood sample, comprising:

a collection unit comprising;

a top window;

a top surface;

a channel communicated with the top window;

at least one capillary tube having a top end adjacent to the top window;

wherein a distance between the top end of the at least one capillary tube and the top surface of the collection unit is in a range of 1.0 mm to 5.0 mm, such that the top end of the at least one capillary tube is used to contact with a blood drop from a puncture to continuously draw the blood flowing inside or along the at least one capillary tube into a storage unit by disrupting a surface tension of the blood drop, and

a vacuum connector communicated with the channel, extended outwardly from the collection unit, and connected to a pressure control unit to remove air from the channel and create an alternating negative pressure in the channel; and

the storage unit disposed under the collection unit.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pad disposed on the top surface of the collection unit.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the collection unit further comprises a funnel structure surrounding the at least one capillary tube.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the collection unit further comprises at least one holder holding the at least one capillary tube.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one capillary tube is replaced with multiple capillary tubes to form a bunch of capillary tubes.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the vacuum connector comprises a partition plate inside the collection unit and extended toward the storage unit.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the collection unit further comprises a venting connector communicated with the channel and connected to the pressure control unit to create the alternating negative pressure in the channel.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprising a tube, a tank, a vessel, a syringe-like storage unit, an analogue, or any combination thereof is detachable from the collection unit for delivering the blood sample.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprising a storage channel, a storage well, an absorbent material, an analogue, or any combination thereof is non-detachable from the collection unit.

10. A system for collecting a blood sample, comprising:

a cartridge comprising the collection unit and the storage unit according to claim 1; and

a docking station comprising a pressure control unit.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the cartridge is removable from the system.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the collection unit further comprises a puncturing mechanism adjacent to the top window of the collection unit.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a pad disposed on the top surface of the collection unit.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the collection unit further comprises a funnel structure surrounding the at least one capillary tube.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one capillary tube is replaced with multiple capillary tubes to form a bunch of capillary tubes.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the vacuum connector comprises a partition plate inside the collection unit and extended toward the storage unit.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the collection unit further comprises a venting connector communicated with the channel and connected to the pressure control unit to create the alternating negative pressure in the channel.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the storage unit comprising a tube, a tank, a vessel, a syringe-like storage unit, an analogue, or any combination thereof is detachable from the collection unit for delivering the blood sample.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the storage unit comprising a storage channel, a storage well, an absorbent material, an analogue, or any combination thereof is non-detachable from the collection unit.

20. The system of claim 10, further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect a volume of the blood sample.

21. The system of claim 10, further comprising a compression unit disposed above the collection unit for compressing a finger of a user.

22. A method of collecting a blood sample, comprising:

providing a collection unit having a top window, a top surface, and a channel communicated with the top window;

providing at least one capillary tube in the collection unit having a top end adjacent to the top window for guiding a blood drop from the puncture to flow inside or along the at least one capillary tube, wherein a distance between the top end of the at least one capillary tube and the top surface of the collection unit is in a range of 1.0 mm to 5.0 mm, such that the top end of the at least one capillary tube is used to contact with a blood drop from a puncture to continuously draw the blood flowing inside or along the at least one capillary tube into a storage unit by disrupting a surface tension of the blood drop;

removing air from the channel through a vacuum connector to create an alternating negative pressure in the channel by connecting the channel and a pressure control unit, wherein the vacuum connector is communicated with the channel and is extended outwardly from the collection unit; and

storing the blood sample in the storage unit disposed underneath the collection unit.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing a pad on the top surface of the collection unit for a tight contact or warming a puncture site.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the negative pressure is in a range of −

10 kPa to −

80 kPa.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the alternating negative pressure is created in the channel by connecting the channel and the pressure control unit via a venting connector.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising collecting a specific volume of the blood sample using at least one sensor in conjunction with controlling the negative pressure in the channel.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising squeezing a fingertip of a user with a compression unit disposed above the collection unit to obtain the blood sample from the puncture.