Devices, systems and methods for actuation and retraction in fluid collection

A method of collecting bodily fluid from a subject, the method comprising:

• releasably coupling a collection reservoir to a collection device having a lower surface, wherein the collection reservoir is elongate and extends along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the collection reservoir has a first end along the longitudinal axis, a second closed end along the longitudinal axis opposite the first end, and an opening at the first end;
• positioning the lower surface of the collection device against skin of the subject such that the opening of the collection reservoir is positioned above the second closed end of the collection reservoir relative to a gravitational field;
• actuating an actuator of the collection device to activate a vacuum source positioned within the collection device and different than the collection reservoir to thereby apply negative pressure against the skin of the subject through an opening in the lower surface of the collection device;
• deploying a skin-piercing feature of the collection device into the skin of the subject to form an incision in the skin of the subject;
• collecting bodily fluid in the collection reservoir, wherein the bodily fluid flows from the incision into the opening of the collection reservoir via a force from the negative pressure and/or a force from the gravitational field;
• after deploying the skin-piercing feature, preventing the skin-piercing feature from being again deployed into the skin of the subject;
• and
• after collecting bodily fluid in the collection reservoir, detaching the collection reservoir from the collection device and the skin-piercing feature.

A method of collecting bodily fluid from a subject via a collection device, the method comprising:

• providing the collection device comprising a housing including a lower surface having an opening, an actuator coupled to the housing, a skin-piercing feature positioned at least partially within the housing, and a collection reservoir removably coupled to the housing, wherein—
• the collection reservoir is elongate and extends along a longitudinal axis, and
• the collection reservoir has a first end, a closed second end opposite the first end, and an opening at the first end;
• positioning the lower surface of the housing against skin of the subject such that (a) the opening of the collection reservoir is positioned above the closed second end of the collection reservoir relative to a gravitational field and (b) the skin-piercing feature is positioned above the opening relative to the gravitational field;
• actuating the actuator of the collection device to activate a vacuum source positioned entirely within the housing and different than the collection reservoir to thereby apply negative pressure against the skin of the subject through the opening in the lower surface of the housing;
• deploying the skin-piercing feature of the collection device into the skin of the subject to form an incision in the skin of the subject;
• collecting bodily fluid in the collection reservoir, wherein the bodily fluid flows from the incision into the opening of the collection reservoir via a force from the negative pressure and/or a force from the gravitational field;
• after deploying the skin-piercing feature, preventing the skin-piercing feature from being again deployed into the skin of the subject;
• and
• removing the collection reservoir from the housing after collecting an amount of the bodily fluid.