Fluid diversion mechanism for bodily-fluid sampling

A method for procuring bodily-fluid samples from a patient using a parenteral sampling device, the device including a housing, a flow control mechanism movably coupled to the housing, an actuator movably coupled to the housing, and an integrated pre-sample reservoir collectively defined by the actuator and the housing, the method comprising:

• inserting a needle into the patient while the flow control mechanism is in a first configuration, the first configuration operable to prevent bodily-fluid from flowing from the patient to the integrated pre-sample reservoir;
• moving the flow control mechanism from the first configuration to a second configuration, the second configuration operable to allow bodily-fluid to flow through a first flow path at least partially defined by the housing and the flow control mechanism to the integrated pre-sample reservoir;
• moving the actuator from a first position to a second position to create a negative pressure in the pre-sample reservoir;
• moving the flow control mechanism from the second configuration to a third configuration after a predetermined volume of bodily-fluid has been received in the pre-sample reservoir, the third configuration operable to allow bodily-fluid to flow through a second flow path defined at least in part by the flow control mechanism and extending through the housing;
• and
• inserting a portion of a sample reservoir into the housing to place the sample reservoir in fluid communication with the second flow path after the flow control mechanism is in the third configuration.

A method for procuring bodily-fluid samples from a patient using a parenteral sampling device, the device including a housing, an actuator movably coupled to the housing, a pre-sample reservoir collectively defined by the actuator and the housing, a flow control mechanism movably coupled to a diverter, the diverter coupled to the housing and having a first port in fluid communication with the pre-sample reservoir and a second port configured to be placed in fluid communication with a sample reservoir, the method comprising:

• establishing fluid communication between the patient and the device when the flow control mechanism is in a first position;
• exerting a first amount of force on a portion of the actuator to move the flow control mechanism from the first position to a second position to define a first flow path, the first flow path defined at least in part by the first port of the diverter and a portion of the housing;
• transferring a first amount of bodily-fluid, via the first flow path and the first port, from the patient to the pre-sample reservoir;
• exerting a second amount of force on a portion of the actuator to move the flow control mechanism from the second position to a third position to define a second flow path, the second flow path defined at least in part by the second port of the diverter and extending through the housing;
• and
• inserting a portion of the sample reservoir into the housing to place the sample reservoir in fluid communication with the second flow path after the flow control mechanism is in the third position.