Abstract: A skin incision device has a casing with a bottom surface and a slot formed therein, a cover positioned on the casing and slidable in a direction toward the bottom surface, a blade positioned in the casing adjacent the slot, an actuator cooperative to a position between the cover and interior of the casing, and a carriage. The actuator engages the blade by its horizontal displacement triggered by slidable movement of the cover toward the bottom surface of the casing. The carriage element guides movement of the blade between a pre-actuated position and a post-actuated position. The blade extends outwardly of the bottom surface with a fixed depth of cut during a horizontal movement of the blade through the slot.

Abstract: A skin incision device including a housing having a bottom surface with a slot formed therein, a top positioned on said housing and slidable in a direction toward the bottom surface, a blade pivotally positioned in the housing adjacent said slot, and a spring cooperatively positioned between said top and an interior of the housing. The spring is actuatable by the slidable movement of said top toward the bottom surface of the housing. The spring moves the blade between a pre-actuated position and a post-actuated position.

Abstract: A bleeding time testing system including a bleeding time tester having a cutting blade and a switch actuator, and a tripper affixed onto the body of the tester and cooperative with the switch actuator. The tripper includes a housing, a slide frame slidably interconnected to the housing and having a surface cooperative with the switch actuator, and an actuator button mounted on the housing and cooperative with the slide frame. The actuator button is positioned so as to cause the slide frame to move to the activated position when the actuator is moved downwardly. The actuator button is positioned directly above a centerline of the cutting blade of the tester.

Abstract: A skin incision device has a casing having a bottom surface with a slot formed therein, a cover positioned on the casing and slidable in a direction toward the bottom surface, a blade positioned in the casing adjacent the slot, an actuator cooperatively positioned between the cover and an interior of the casing, and a carriage element. The actuator engages the blade by its horizontal displacement triggered by the slidable movement of the cover toward the bottom surface of the casing. The carriage element guides the movement of the blade between a pre-actuated position and a post-actuated position. The blade moves outwardly through the slot, cuts with a horizontal movement, and returns inwardly through the slot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling samples such as blood samples for hemostasis. The sample is transferred from a test tube into a cuvette which has been released from a supply of cuvettes. Prior to transferring the sample, a needle is introduced into the sample and automatically senses the level or height of the sample in the test tube. The presence of vials of reagent is optically confirmed. Reagents are to be delivered through a delivery tube into the cuvette and the delivery tubes are initially primed with reagent. The presence and orientation of the cuvette are verified and the sample transferred into the cuvette, the reagent automatically delivered into the cuvette, and the reaction such as, but not limited to, blot clotting occurs in the cuvette. The occurrence of the reaction is optically confirmed. The system and method controls the sequential release of stacked cuvettes in addition to confirming the presence and proper orientation of the cuvettes.