METHODS FOR DELIVERY OF BODILY FLUIDS ONTO A FIBROUS SUBSTRATE
The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to devices, systems and methods for the collection of bodily fluids. The collector can make use of microfluidic networks connected to collection sites on the skin of a subject to gather and shuttle blood into a removable cartridge. The collected fluid is supplied to substrate for drying, storage and transport.
1 . A system for collecting blood from a subject, the system comprising:
a blood collection device configured to be positioned against skin of the subject, wherein the blood collection device is actuatable to puncture the skin of the subject and to collect blood from the subject;
a collection cartridge having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first portion, wherein the collection cartridge defines a lumen extending at least partially between the first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion includes a connector configured to be coupled to the blood collection device to create a hermetic seal with the blood collection device and to receive a flow of the blood from the blood collection device;
a substrate positioned within the lumen, wherein the substrate is formed from a porous material and has a fixed saturation volume, and wherein the substrate is configured to receive the flow of the blood and to sequentially fill with the blood in a direction extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion of the collection cartridge; and
an overflow reservoir positioned in the lumen proximate to the second end portion of the collection cartridge, wherein the overflow reservoir is configured to collect the flow of the blood after the substrate has sequentially filled to the fixed saturation volume.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the overflow reservoir is an absorbent pad.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the overflow reservoir has a fixed saturation volume that is greater than the fixed saturation volume of the substrate.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the porous material is a fibrous matrix.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the porous material is paper.
6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the connector has a circular cross sectional-shape along a plane extending perpendicular to the direction extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the substrate has a rectangular shape.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the substrate is one of multiple substrates positioned within the lumen, wherein individual ones of the substrates are (a) formed from a porous material and have a fixed saturation volume and (b) configured to receive the flow of the blood and to sequentially filled with the blood in the direction extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion of the collection cartridge.
9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the substrate is suspended within the lumen.
10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a gasket configured to seal the interface between the connector and blood collection device to create the hermetic seal.
11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the substrate is configured to wick the blood in the direction extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion of the collection cartridge.
12 . A cartridge for collecting a bodily fluid, comprising:
a housing having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first portion, wherein the housing defines a lumen extending at least partially between the first and second end portions, and wherein the first end portion is configured to receive a flow of the bodily fluid;
a substrate positioned within the lumen, wherein the substrate is formed from a porous material and has a fixed saturation volume, and wherein the substrate is configured to receive the flow of the bodily fluid and to sequentially fill with the bodily fluid in a direction extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion of the housing; and
an overflow reservoir positioned in the lumen proximate the second end portion of the housing, wherein the overflow reservoir is configured to absorb the flow of the bodily fluid after the substrate has sequentially filled to the fixed saturation volume.
13 . The cartridge of claim 12 wherein the overflow reservoir is an absorbent pad having a fixed saturation volume that is greater than the fixed saturation volume of the substrate.
14 . The cartridge of claim 12 wherein the porous material is a fibrous matrix.
15 . The cartridge of claim 12 wherein the porous material is paper and wherein the substrate has a rectangular shape.
16 . The cartridge of claim 12 wherein the substrate is at least partially suspended within the lumen, and wherein the substrate is configured to wick the blood in the direction extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion of the housing.
17 . The cartridge of claim 12 wherein the housing has a rectangular shape.
18 . The cartridge of claim 12 wherein the first end portion of the cartridge includes a connector configured to be coupled to a bodily fluid collection device to create a hermetic seal with the bodily fluid collection device and to receive the flow of the bodily fluid from the bodily fluid collection device.
19 . A cartridge for collecting a bodily fluid, comprising:
a housing having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first portion, wherein the housing defines a lumen extending at least partially between the first and second end portions, and wherein the first end portion is configured to receive a flow of the bodily fluid;
multiple porous substrates positioned within the lumen, wherein the porous substrates are positioned to sequentially fill with the bodily fluid in a direction extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion of the housing, and wherein the substrates collectively have a fixed saturation volume; and
an overflow reservoir positioned proximate the second end portion of the housing, wherein the overflow reservoir is configured to absorb any of the bodily fluid exceeding the fixed saturation volume of the substrates.
20 . The cartridge of claim 19 wherein the overflow reservoir has a fixed saturation volume that is greater than the fixed saturation volume of the substrates.