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

A blood collection device, comprising:

• a housing having a base extending along a plane and configured to be positioned against skin of a subject, wherein the housing at least partially defines a sealed volume, and wherein the base includes an opening extending therethrough to the sealed volume;
• a one-way valve fluidly coupled to the sealed volume, wherein the one-way valve is configured to permit fluid flow from the sealed volume to outside the housing and inhibit fluid from outside the housing to inside the sealed volume;
• a coupling portion;
• a blood collection reservoir configured to be releasably coupled to the housing via the coupling portion;
• a blood pathway extending from the opening toward the coupling portion, wherein the blood pathway slants upward away from the plane toward the coupling portion;
• a skin-piercing feature;
• an actuator operably coupled to the skin-piercing feature;
• and
• a biasing member operably coupled between the housing and the actuator;
• wherein
• the actuator is movable relative to the housing in a direction toward the base against a biasing force of the biasing member to (a) extend the skin-piercing feature through the opening in the base to puncture the skin of the subject and (b) decrease a size of the sealed volume thereby driving fluid through the one-way valve to outside the housing;
• the biasing member is configured to drive the actuator in a direction away from the base to increase the size of the sealed volume while the one-way valve inhibits fluid flow from outside the housing to inside the sealed volume thereby generating vacuum pressure in the sealed volume;
• and
• the blood is configured to flow, via gravity and/or the vacuum pressure, from the puncture, through the opening, along the blood pathway, and into the blood collection reservoir.

A blood collection device, comprising:

• a housing having a base extending along a plane and configured to be positioned against skin of a subject, wherein the housing at least partially defines a sealed volume, and wherein the base includes an opening extending therethrough to the sealed volume;
• a one-way valve fluidly coupled to the sealed volume, wherein the one-way valve is configured to permit fluid flow from the sealed volume to outside the housing and inhibit fluid from outside the housing to inside the sealed volume;
• a blood collection reservoir configured to be releasably coupled to the housing;
• a skin-piercing feature;
• an actuator operably coupled to the skin-piercing feature;
• and
• a biasing member operably coupled between the housing and the actuator;
• wherein
• the actuator is movable relative to the housing in a direction toward the base against a biasing force of the biasing member to (a) extend the skin-piercing feature through the opening in the base to puncture the skin of the subject and (b) decrease a size of the sealed volume thereby driving fluid through the one-way valve to outside the housing;
• the biasing member is configured to drive the actuator in a direction away from the base to increase the size of the sealed volume while the one-way valve inhibits fluid flow from outside the housing to inside the sealed volume thereby generating vacuum pressure in the sealed volume;
• and
• the blood is configured to flow, via gravity and/or the vacuum pressure, from the puncture, through the opening and into the blood collection reservoir.

A method of collecting blood from a subject with a blood collection device, the method comprising:

• positioning a base of a housing of the blood collection device against skin of the subject, wherein the housing at least partially defines a sealed volume, and wherein the base includes an opening extending therethrough to the sealed volume;
• moving an actuator of the blood collection device relative to the housing in a direction toward the base against a biasing force of a biasing member of the blood collection device to (a) extend a skin-piercing feature of the blood collection device through the opening in the base to puncture the skin of the subject and (b) decrease a size of the sealed volume thereby driving fluid through a one-way valve of the blood collection device to outside the housing;
• moving the actuator, via the biasing member, in a direction away from the base to increase the size of the sealed volume while the one-way valve inhibits fluid flow from outside the housing to inside the sealed volume thereby generating vacuum pressure in the sealed volume;
• and
• receiving a flow of the blood, via gravity and/or the vacuum pressure, from the puncture, through the opening, along a blood pathway of the blood collection device, and into a blood collection reservoir of the blood collection device that is releasably coupled to the housing.