June 8, 2017
Categories: Uncategorized
An international patent covering the design and workings of a blood collection device has just been published with the title ‘LIQUID SAMPLE COLLECTION APPARATUS’. This intellectual property will be used to secure further investment in the development of a device to support remote monitoring of healthcare users and decentralised clinical trials.
Abstract
This invention relates to a liquid sample collection apparatus and in particular to a liquid sample collection apparatus for the collection of blood samples.
In patient populations with chronic conditions living some distance from hospitals, collection of a series of blood samples to monitor disease activity in a timely fashion is difficult. The ability to monitor markers of inflammation and gauge a patient’s response to treatments for example in arthritis patients, is not just important in early stage disease but also in patients with established disease. Patients with chronic arthritis tend to lose self-confidence in managing their condition and a substantial proportion can suffer recurrent disease flare- ups. These flare-ups are costly in terms of appointments with GP’s and specialist clinics and result in significant work disability.
Being able to reliably define and report a disease ‘flare’ in arthritis is currently problematic as there are no objective measures available to the patient while at home. The clear definition of a flare would help justify an increase in immunosuppressant dose or a course of steroids. Currently patients make a visit to their local GP or hospital clinic, at 6 week intervals at best. In reality this means that opportunities to sample during an active ‘flare’ are often missed and an informed intervention is not possible. Home monitoring is constrained by the costs of making phlebotomists available to make frequent home visits to patients.
Also for markers which are unstable at ambient temperatures, blood samples need to be refrigerated and rapidly transported to the analysis laboratory. Therefore there exists the need to provide the ability for the patient to collect their own blood samples in their own home and send these at ambient temperature to a laboratory would enable ‘remote’ monitoring of chronic disease.
The abstract of the patent is below and full publication can be accessed at the link.