New Sampling Device Promises To Make Blood Tests Needle-Free 34
Zothecula writes: Though the pain they cause is minor and fleeting, a lot of people still find something pretty unsettling about needles. When it comes to conducting a routine blood test, US-based company Tasso Inc. believes that these unpleasant pricks can be removed from the equation completely. Its ping pong ball-sized HemoLink blood sampler can be operated by the patient at home, and needs only to be placed against the skin of the arm or abdomen for two minutes to do its job.
Old Idea (Score:4, Informative)
There are plenty of devices which draw blood or fluids via suction. One example is the GlucoWatch:
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevi... [fda.gov]
The problem with these devices is that they often cause skin lesions, bruising, and pain. I would rather stick with the needles.
Re:Old Idea (Score:4, Informative)
In the case of GlucoWatch, the page you linked indicates that it's used for up to 13 hours at a time, taking samples every 10 minutes. In contrast, this device can only do one sample at a time, after which you send it off to a lab for testing. They're targeting patients who may need to monitor cancer or infection on an infrequent basis with a turnaround of a few days, as opposed to people who need immediate blood measurements, such as diabetics monitoring their blood sugar levels.
I don't know enough to suggest that that addresses your concern, but at the very least it would seem to lessen the chances that the problems associated with long-term use would occur.
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Comment removed (Score:4, Funny)
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You know its always a little of collumn A and a little of collumn B with such things. I am certain some people think they are using them medicinally, and there are always going to be a few people out there claiming the treatment they offer is medicinal and "removes toxins" (I still find it odd there are people who don't realize the word "toxin" is a red flag in most contexts)
OTOH I know people who have played with this from more the BDSM side, they definitely exist but, don't tend to feel much need to prete
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Cupping is not at all a part of homeopathy. Their relationship only exists in that the people who swallow one of the two types of nonsense are more likely than the average person to buy into the other.
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Garbage for diabetics (Score:2)
Then this isn't for you, since once you get the sample it has to be "mailed off to a lab for analysis". You could be in a coma by the time you get the results back.
And you can stick pretty much anywhere that can bleed with the finger stick - they're just called finger sticks out of habit. Try it.
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And if you use other sites the results you get can be different, so really you need to pick one part of your body and stick with it, and make sure the clinician you work with knows and agree to it.
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Then this isn't for you, since once you get the sample it has to be "mailed off to a lab for analysis". You could be in a coma by the time you get the results back.
The mail back to the lab version doesn't need to be the only version. Once this is approved there will probably be one with a built in glucose sensor.
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Give me a technology that makes it less painful and i'll use it. If I can use it on an area of my body that doesn't usually get stuck (ass cheek? side of thigh? Anywhere where there is muscle behind the skin?) the pain level will be less.
Sounds like it'd be a pain in the ass.
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This device won't be a substitute for your glucose meter. It will, however, allow you to take a blood sample for an hA1c test. If you've ever tried one of the hA1c home tests, you would certainly be aware of the difficulty in producing enough blood for the test sample obtained by lancing (really, its more like spearing) your finger.
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You won't believe where they originally wanted you to put the 'ping-pong ball' sized object...
Unpleasant pricks? (Score:2)
So, it's a leech... (Score:2)
I find the idea of drawing blood that way a lot more unsettling than a pin prick, but I guess if you have a phobia about needles...
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A leech pierces the skin. This is further from a leech than a needle is.
Also, most leeches lead with a painkiller to mask their work.
Hikey device (Score:1)
More unemployment (Score:2)
Then what, go sell cars?
Great news (Score:2)
Tasso Inc. believes that these unpleasant pricks can be removed from the equation completely
Great. May I recommend the firing squad.
This could change clinics as we know them (Score:3, Interesting)
In many clincs there's staff who only draw blood - sure they may have to interact with a computer to see what amount of blood is required and how to store it [depening on the number and types of testing required] but the main role they have is to draw blood. They're phlebotomists and they've been trained to do it properly, to make sure the patient doesn't even feel discomfort, let alone any pain [if you feel more than a slight prick or get any bruising then you should consider getting treatment elsewhere].
But if there is a safe way for patients to do it at home, without the need of medical staff or buildings, then the need for phlebotomists will have largely gone. Imagine being given a box with a dozen of these devices and told to draw your blood and send it off once a month, it's going to be far cheaper than having it done at a clinic.