Blood sampling device
A blood sampling device useful for collecting a blood sample from a separate vascular access device is described herein. The blood sampling device includes a body shaped and sized for partial insertion into a separate vascular access device. The body includes a reservoir defined within the body, which has an internal volume sufficient to contain enough blood for use in a diagnostic blood test. The body also includes a gas permeable vent disposed on the body, in which the gas permeable vent is in gaseous communication with the reservoir. When connected to a separate vascular access device the blood sampling device collects a blood sample as blood flows into the reservoir from the separate vascular access device and as gases pass out the reservoir via the gas permeable vent.
1. A blood sampling device, comprising:
a body having an exterior wall forming a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal opening, the distal end being configured for coupling with a separate vascular access device via a male coupler;
a reservoir, defined by the exterior wall of the body, the distal opening comprising an opening of the reservoir, an inner surface of the exterior wall defining a volume of the reservoir, the reservoir for collecting blood that flows from the vascular access device and into the reservoir via the distal opening;
a gas permeable membrane disposed within the exterior wall of the body, the membrane allowing gas to exit the reservoir through the membrane while blocking blood from exiting the reservoir thereby allowing the blood sampling device to be used as a vent plug for the vascular access device; and
a flow restrictor spanning the male coupler, wherein the flow restrictor comprises a solid barrier disposed within the male coupler, wherein the solid barrier comprises a hole, wherein the hole is sized to retain blood within the reservoir via surface tension.
2. The blood sampling device of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a radial divider portion extending at least between the proximal end and the distal end so as to divide the reservoir into at least two chambers, wherein the chambers are separated by the flow restrictor such that the flow restrictor limits fluid communication between each chamber.
3. The blood sampling device of claim 2 , wherein the flow restrictor comprises a solid barrier having a plurality of holes that includes the hole, wherein each of the plurality of holes directs fluid to one of the chambers.
4. The blood sampling device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the exterior wall of the body is compressible to reduce the volume of the reservoir thereby forcing blood contained within the reservoir out through the flow restrictor and the distal opening.
5. The blood sampling device of claim 1 , wherein the hole has a diameter within the range of 0.1 to 0.5 mm.
6. The blood sampling device of claim 1 , wherein the hole has a diameter within the range of 0.2 to 0.3 mm.
7. The blood sampling device of claim 1 , wherein the solid barrier comprises a plurality of holes that includes the hole, wherein each of the plurality of holes is sized to retain blood within the reservoir via surface tension.
8. The blood sampling device of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of holes has a diameter within the range of 0.1 to 0.5 mm.
9. The blood sampling device of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of holes has a diameter within the range of 0.2 to 0.3 mm.
10. A blood sampling device, comprising:
a body having an exterior wall forming a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal opening, the distal end being configured for coupling with a separate vascular access device via a male coupler;
a reservoir, defined by the exterior wall of the body, the distal opening comprising an opening of the reservoir, an inner surface of the exterior wall defining a volume of the reservoir, the reservoir for collecting blood that flows from the vascular access device and into the reservoir via the distal opening;
a gas permeable membrane disposed within the exterior wall of the body, the membrane allowing gas to exit the reservoir through the membrane while blocking blood from exiting the reservoir thereby allowing the blood sampling device to be used as a vent plug for the vascular access device; and
a flow restrictor spanning the male coupler, wherein the flow restrictor comprises a solid barrier and a channel molded or cut into the male coupler, wherein the channel enables blood to flow around the solid barrier and enter the reservoir.
11. The blood sampling device of claim 10 , wherein the channel has a length and width within the range of 0.1 to 0.5 mm.
12. The blood sampling device of claim 10 , wherein the flow restrictor comprises a plurality of channels molded or cut into the male coupler, wherein each of the channels enables blood to flow around the solid barrier and enter the reservoir.