# US 5,823,973 A · Needle assembly for fluid sampler

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- Number: US 5,823,973 A
- Document ID: US5823973A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/708,923
- Filed: 1996-09-06
- Granted: 1998-10-20
- Earliest claimed: 1996-09-06
- Assignees: Integ, Inc.
- Inventors: Joel R. Racchini; Larry A. Walter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5823973A

## CPC

- A61B 5/1455: using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
- A61B 5/14514: {using means for aiding extraction of interstitial fluid, e.g. microneedles or suction}
- A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement}
- A61B 5/150022: {for capillary blood or interstitial fluid}
- A61B 5/150068: {by tissue compression, e.g. with specially designed surface of device contacting the skin area to be pierced}
- A61B 5/150114: {by tissue compression, e.g. with specially designed surface of device contacting the skin area to be pierced}
- A61B 5/150358: {Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent}
- A61B 5/150389: {Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin}
- A61B 5/150503: {Single-ended needles (hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396)}
- A61B 5/15109: {Fully automatically triggered, i.e. the triggering does not require a deliberate action by the user, e.g. by contact with the patient's skin}
- A61B 5/15113: {Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button}
- A61B 5/15117: {comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap}
- A61B 5/1519: {comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for propelling the piercing unit}
- A61B 5/15194: {fully automatically retracted, i.e. the retraction does not require a deliberate action by the user, e.g. by terminating the contact with the patient's skin}
- A61B 5/157: {Devices} characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
- A61B 10/0045: {Devices for taking samples of body liquids}
- A61B 2010/008: {Interstitial fluid}
- A61B 2562/0295: Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A needle and a membrane to receive fluid from the needle. The needle deposits fluid in a transfer area of the membrane which is spaced from a test area of the membrane. At the transfer area, the needle is positioned with an axis of the needle orthogonal to the transfer area.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A membrane and needle assembly for testing constituents of body fluid while avoiding contamination of testing from undesirable elements of said fluid, said assembly comprising:
a membrane for receiving a body fluid to be tested, said membrane having a generally planar test area for infrared testing of constituents deposited in said area with a sample of said fluid, said membrane further including a transfer area disposed spaced from said test area and in fluid flow connecting with said test area for fluid to flow through said membrane from said transfer area to said test area;
a needle for penetration into a skin layer of a patient and drawing fluid along said needle, said needle having a discharge end with fluid flowing out of said discharge end along a line of travel;
said needle disposed relative to said transfer area with an opening of the needle at the discharge end being substantially parallel to and in close proximity to said transfer area with fluid flowing out of said needle along said line of travel generally perpendicular to said transfer area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said transfer area is substantially orthogonal to said test area.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said membrane includes a filter area disposed between said transfer area and said test area, a filtering substance contained within said filter area for removing said undesirable elements from said fluid as said fluid passes from said transfer area and through said filter area to said test area.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said undesirable elements includes blood cells and said filtering substance includes means for preventing proteins passing through said filter area.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said means is a deposited amount of a binding agent within said filter area for adherence of proteins to said agent.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

An assembly according to claim 5 wherein said proteins are portions of blood cells.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said undesirable elements are cell fragments.