Blood-feeding systems and methods for hematophagous arthropods

A method of fabricating a blood-feeding system for hematophagous arthropods, the method comprising:

• utilizing a 3D printer to print a housing comprising a lower block having an opening in an upper surface thereof, an upper block configured to be disposed in the opening of the lower block, and a thermal block configured to be disposed on or in the upper block;
• utilizing the 3D printer to print a ring comprising serpentine pathways therewithin;
• disposing a battery-operated heater in the lower block of the housing through the opening of the lower block;
• providing a first syringe and disposing a first needle on the first syringe;
• coupling the first needle to a first end of a first tubing, and coupling a second end of the first tubing to the serpentine pathways of the ring;
• disposing a membrane over the ring;
• disposing at least one O-ring over the ring to make a seal between the ring and the membrane;
• disposing the ring with the membrane and the O-ring over the thermal block;
• disposing the thermal block and the ring, with the membrane and the O-ring, in an opening of the upper block;
• and
• disposing the upper block with the thermal block, the ring, the membrane, and the O-ring in the opening of the lower block such that the upper block completely closes off the opening in the upper surface of the lower block.

A blood-feeding system for hematophagous arthropods, the system comprising:

• a housing comprising a lower block having an opening in an upper surface thereof, an upper block disposed in the opening of the lower block, and a thermal block disposed on or in the upper block;
• a battery-operated electronic hand-warmer disposed in the lower block;
• a ring disposed on the thermal block;
• a first syringe connected to the ring via a first tubing, the first syringe configured to provide blood to the ring via the first tubing;
• a second syringe connected to the ring via a second tubing, the second syringe configured to remove air from the ring via the second tubing;
• a membrane disposed on the thermal block;
• at least one O-ring coupled with the ring and making a seal between the ring and the membrane;
• a first end clip disposed on a first corner of an outer surface of the lower block;
• and
• a second end clip disposed on a second corner of the outer surface of the lower block, the second corner being opposite from the first corner,
• the first end clip comprising a first C-shaped clip into which the first syringe is disposed,
• the second end clip comprising a second C-shaped clip into which the second syringe is disposed
• the ring comprising serpentine pathways through which the first tubing is threaded,
• the first syringe comprising a first blunt hypodermic needle, via which the first syringe is coupled to the first tubing,
• the second syringe comprising a second blunt hypodermic needle, via which the second syringe is coupled to the second tubing,
• the housing comprising a 3D-printed thermochromic material that changes color as its temperature changes,
• the upper block completely closing off the opening in the upper surface of the lower block,
• the thermal block comprising a cylindrically-shaped main portion and a collar portion protruding from a lower section of the main portion,
• the main portion of the thermal block being disposed through an opening of the upper block, and
• the ring being disposed circumferentially around the main portion of the thermal block.