| abstract |
Apparatuses and methods are disclosed herein for extracting bodily fluids. The apparatus consists of a housing, a releasable lancet stored in the housing, an inlet flow channel formed in the housing, a mechanically powered vacuum generator, and a storage area formed in the housing. The releasable lancet is released to pierce the skin of the subject to allow fluid to be extracted from the subject. The vacuum generator generates a partial vacuum within the inlet flow channel. After the lancet has pierced the skin of the subject, the partial vacuum draws fluid from the subject and into the inlet flow channel. The storage area is in fluid connection with the inlet flow channel, and receives the fluid drawn from the subject from the inlet flow channel. |