Abstract: A system for withdrawing blood from a body part that avoids formation of a drop of blood on the skin surface of the body part after blood removal. The system includes a collecting unit to withdraw blood, a lancing member configured for insertion into the body part and having a capillary to collect blood, and a pressure piece configured to apply pressure to the body part and having an actuator operably connected thereto. The pressure piece is movable relative to a support configured to exert pressure on the body part, and the actuator is configured to reduce the compressive force of the pressure piece after removing an amount of blood, whereby forming a drop of blood on the skin surface of the body part can be avoided.

Abstract: A system for withdrawing blood from a body part that avoids formation of a drop of blood on the skin surface of the body part after blood removal. The system includes a collecting unit to withdraw blood, a lancing member configured for insertion into the body part and having a capillary to collect blood, and a pressure piece configured to apply pressure to the body part and having an actuator operably connected thereto. The pressure piece is movable relative to a support configured to exert pressure on the body part, and the actuator is configured to reduce the compressive force of the pressure piece after removing an amount of blood, whereby forming a drop of blood on the skin surface of the body part can be avoided.

Abstract: A system and method for carrying out the withdrawal of body fluid with as little body fluid as possible visible to the user at the end of the process. The present invention provides a pressure piece for exerting pressure on a body part. The pressure piece is moved relative to a support for the body part, and in the final phase of fluid withdrawal, the compressive or resistive force of the pressure piece on the body part is reduced in order to avoid the escape of body fluid from the puncture site. The support results in a defined positioning of the body part that rests against it for the lancing process, whereas the relative movement of the pressure piece enables an additional increase in pressure and thus an improved collection of fluid.

Abstract: A device for sampling, transporting and/or disposal of fluid media in the nl and ?l-range comprises a substrate with an open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively, the substrate with the open or closed groove or capillary respectively is bent or arcuated at least at one location. The substrate comprises at least one end into which the open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively is extended, which end is shaped according to its application or use as e.g. needle-like, straight-lined cut, tip-like, at least most half circle-shape, rounded, etc.

Abstract: Body fluid sampling device comprising a skin-piercing element having a fluid pathway for receiving body fluid, at least a portion of said fluid pathway is open to the environment and further comprising a fluid receiving means being spaced from said fluid pathway so that fluid in said pathway will not contact the fluid receiving means initially. Said fluid receiving means may have a test zone for performing an analytical reaction. Fluid from said channel is contacted with said fluid receiving means either by bringing the fluid receiving means and the fluid into mechanical contact or by electrically transporting fluid from the channel onto the fluid receiving means.

Abstract: An analytical device for analysis of chemical or biological samples, a method of using such a device, based on rotation of the device, integrated sample dosing and optical detection, and a system comprising such a device are disclosed. The analytical device comprises a device body having a liquid processing unit. The liquid processing unit comprises a mixing chamber for mixing a sample with a reagent, a sample dosing chamber for delivering a defined volume of the sample to the mixing chamber, and a reagent channel for delivering the reagent to be mixed with the sample, wherein the mixing chamber also serves as a detection chamber.

Abstract: Body fluid sampling device comprising a skin-piercing element having a collection zone for receiving body fluid. In one embodiment, the collection zone includes a plurality of holes, e.g., 3 or more holes, or 50 to 100 holes. The hole size may be small, e.g., having a diameter of 0.01 to 0.5 mm. The holes may or may not extend through the lancet. In some embodiments, the holes have a depth of 50 to 500 ?m. In other embodiments, the collection zone is porous, or is a roughened area. The collection zone can take up a very small volume of body fluid, e.g., 3 to 10 nL, in a very short time period, e.g., less than 0.5 seconds. In other embodiments, the device further comprises a fluid receiving means spaced apart from the collection zone so that body fluid in the collection zone will not contact the fluid receiving means initially.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device for piercing a body part and determining whether a sufficient volume of blood has been withdrawn. A lancing element is rapidly inserted into a body part in a forward phase and retracted quickly to a lesser puncturing depth. Subsequently, the lancing element is retracted slower than during the first retraction movement and the distance retracted during the second retraction is shorter than the first retraction movement. During the second retraction movement, body fluid is collected in a collection phase by a capillary structure of the lancing element. Contact between the lancing element and the body fluid is detected after the forward phase at the beginning and the end of a waiting period.

Abstract: A microfluidic system comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion comprises a material which is able to change its volume when activated by an exciting factor, characterized by the fact that the first portion and the second portion define a zone which, when the first portion is not yet activated by the exciting factor, shows a first topography devoid of any fluidic pathway and which, after activation by the exciting factor, shows a second topography which is adapted to contain at least one fluidic pathway. The microfluidic system further comprises a tight cover surface situated above the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: A device for sampling, transporting and/or disposal of fluid media in the nl and ?l-range comprises a substrate with an open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively, the substrate with the open or closed groove or capillary respectively is bent or arcuated at least at one location. The substrate comprises at least one end into which the open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively is extended, which end is shaped according to its application or use as e.g. needle-like, straight-lined cut, tip-like, at least most half circle-shape, rounded, etc.

Abstract: Body fluid sampling device comprising a sampling element having a fluid pathway (11) for receiving body fluid, at least a portion of the fluid pathway is open to the environment and further comprising a fluid receiving means (40) being spaced from the fluid pathway so that fluid in the pathway will not contact the fluid receiving means initially. The fluid receiving means has two or more test zones (45) for performing analytical reactions. Fluid from the channel is contacted with the fluid receiving means either by bringing the fluid receiving means and the fluid into mechanical contact or by electrically transporting fluid from the channel onto the fluid receiving means.

Abstract: A device for sampling, transporting and/or disposal of fluid media in the nl and ?l-range comprises a substrate with an open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively, the substrate with the open or closed groove or capillary respectively is bent or arcuated at least at one location. The substrate comprises at least one end into which the open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively is extended, which end is shaped according to its application or use as e.g. needle-like, straight-lined cut, tip-like, at least most half circle-shape, rounded, etc.

Abstract: A device for sampling, transporting and/or disposal of fluid media in the nl and ?l-range comprises a substrate with and open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively, the substrate with the open or closed groove or capillary respectively is bent or arcuated at least at one location. The substrate comprises at least one end into which the open closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively is extended, which end is shaped according to its application or use as e.g. needle-like, straight-lined cut, tip-like, at least most half circle-shape, rounded, etc.

Abstract: Body fluid sampling device comprising a skin-piercing element having a fluid pathway for receiving body fluid, at least a portion of said fluid pathway is open to the environment and further comprising a fluid receiving means being spaced from said fluid pathway so that fluid in said pathway will not contact the fluid receiving means initially. Said fluid receiving means may have a test zone for performing an analytical reaction. Fluid from said channel is contacted with said fluid receiving means either by bringing the fluid receiving means and the fluid into mechanical contact or by electrically transporting fluid from the channel onto the fluid receiving means.

Abstract: Body fluid sampling device comprising a skin-piercing element (10) having a fluid pathway (11) for receiving body fluid, at least a portion of the fluid pathway is open to the environment and further comprising a fluid receiving element (40) being spaced from the fluid pathway so that fluid in the pathway will not contact the fluid receiving element initially. The fluid receiving element may have a test zone (45) for performing an analytical reaction. Fluid from the channel is contacted with the fluid receiving element either by bringing the fluid receiving element and the fluid into mechanical contact or by electrically transporting fluid from the channel onto the fluid receiving element.

Abstract: The sheet metal or substrate material 22 is constructed by a photo-chemical machining or milling method. In this exemplary process, an etching mask 24 is applied to both sides of the substrate 22 and covers the structure of the flat-shaped member 12, which is to be uncovered in a subsequent etching step. The mask 24 is formed by coating the substrate 22 with a photoresist and is exposed through a photomask having the desired pattern that is arranged in front of the mask, whereby the photoresist is polymerized or hardened in the covered areas while the other areas are rinsed away after development.

Abstract: Body fluid sampling device comprising a sampling element having a fluid pathway (11) for receiving body fluid, at least a portion of the fluid pathway is open to the environment and further comprising a fluid receiving means (40) being spaced from the fluid pathway so that fluid in the pathway will not contact the fluid receiving means initially. The fluid receiving means has two or more test zones (45) for performing analytical reactions. Fluid from the channel is contacted with the fluid receiving means either by bringing the fluid receiving means and the fluid into mechanical contact or by electrically transporting fluid from the channel onto the fluid receiving means.

Abstract: Body fluid sampling device comprising a sampling element having a fluid pathway (11) for receiving body fluid, at least a portion of the fluid pathway is open to the environment and further comprising a fluid receiving means (40) being spaced from the fluid pathway so that fluid in the pathway will not contact the fluid receiving means initially. The fluid receiving means has two or more test zones (45) for performing analytical reactions. Fluid from the channel is contacted with the fluid receiving means either by bringing the fluid receiving means and the fluid into mechanical contact or by electrically transporting fluid from the channel onto the fluid receiving means.

Abstract: Method of hollow micro-projections having side walls and at least one opening in a side wall, by a molding technique. The hollow micro-projections are defined by a first, negative mold defining the exterior shape of the micro-projections and a second, positive mold defining the hollow interior shape of the micro-projections. The method includes injecting a moldable material into the space between the two molds, in a state where they have been brought together. The positive and negative molds each have an essentially cylindrical geometry. In the process of bringing the molds together, the mold halves are laterally off-set with respect to each other, such that the distance between an inner wall of the negative mold and the positive mold in the area, ranges from zero to a finite distance. Micro-projections and arrays of micro-projections are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hollow out-of-wafer-plane micro-needle protruding from a support member, the micro-needle includes a body portion having a longitudinal central axis, an inner lumen within the body portion and extending through the support member and into the protruding micro-needle, a closed pointed tip portion closing off the inner lumen in the tip region, the central axis extending through the tip portion, and at least one side opening in the body portion having an axis that intersects the central axis, the at least one side opening communicating with the inner lumen.