Patent Publication Number: US-9895092-B2

Title: Vented blood sampling device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/171,208, filed Jun. 28, 2011, titled VENTED BLOOD SAMPLING DEVICE, which is claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/364,455 filed Jul. 15, 2010, entitled BLOOD CONTROL VALVE WITH VENTED BLOOD SAMPLING DEVICE IN A CLOSED IV CATHETER SYSTEM OR ANY FEMALE LUER CONNECTOR. PATIENT FLUID LINE ACCESS VALVE ANTIMICROBIAL CAP/CLEANER, and which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to the processes of venting air and blood sampling with vascular access devices. Blood sampling is a common health care procedure involving the withdrawal of at least a sample of blood from a patient. Blood samples are commonly taken from hospitalized, homecare, and emergency room patients either by finger stick, heel stick, or venipuncture. Once collected, blood samples are analyzed via one or more blood test levels. 
     Blood tests determine the physiological and biochemical states of the patient, such as disease, mineral content, drug effectiveness, and organ function. Blood tests may be performed in a laboratory, a distance away from the location of the patient, or performed at the point of care, near the location of the patient. One example of point of care blood testing is the routine testing of a patient&#39;s blood glucose levels, which involves the extraction of blood via a finger stick and the mechanical collection of blood into a diagnostic cartridge. Thereafter the diagnostic cartridge analyzes the blood sample and provides the clinician a reading of the patient&#39;s blood glucose level. Other devices are available which analyze blood gas electrolyte levels, lithium levels, and ionized calcium levels. Furthermore, some point-of-care devices identify markers for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (DVT/PE). 
     Despite the rapid advancement in point of care testing and diagnostics, blood sampling techniques have remained relatively unchanged. Blood samples are frequently drawn using hypodermic needles, or vacuum tubes coupled to a proximal end of a needle or a catheter assembly. In some instances, clinicians collect blood from a catheter assembly using a needle and syringe that is inserted into the catheter to withdraw blood from a patient through the inserted catheter. These procedures utilize needles and vacuum tubes as intermediate devices from which the collected blood sample is typically withdrawn prior to testing. These processes are thus device intensive, utilizing multiple devices in the process of obtaining, preparing, and testing blood samples. Furthermore, each required device adds time and cost to the testing process. Accordingly, there is a need for more efficient blood sampling and testing devices and methods. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention has been developed in response to problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully resolved by currently available vascular access systems and methods. Thus, these systems and methods are developed to provide a blood sampling device that can vent air from an extravascular system and simultaneously collecting a sample of blood. In some embodiments, a blood sampling device replaces prior devices and procedures that took more time, used more parts, and cost more than the present blood sampling device. 
     In one aspect of the invention, an extravascular system comprises: a body having and inner lumen extending therethrough; a septum disposed within the inner lumen; a septum activator disposed within the inner lumen proximal the septum, the septum activator having an inner passage extending therethrough; and a blood sampling device having a tube that is longer than a length of the septum activator and having a width less than or equal to a width of the inner passage of the septum activator, an interior of the tube being in fluid communication with a reservoir within the blood sampling device, a vent in fluid communication with the reservoir, the vent passing air but not blood therethrough. 
     Implementation may include one or more of the following features. The tube of the blood sampling device may selectively extend through the inner passage of the septum activator and through a slit in the septum, the blood sampling device may be selectively coupled to the body. The septum may divide and substantially seal a distal chamber of the inner lumen from a proximal chamber of the inner lumen, and the septum may have one or more slits therein, the septum activator being movable from a un-activated position in the proximal chamber to an activated position that extends through the slit of the septum into the distal chamber. The blood sampling device may have a portion of an outer geometry approximately equal to that of the inner lumen of the body such that the blood sampling device can be press fit within the inner lumen of the body. The blood sampling device may have a Luer connector that selectively interlocks with a Luer connector disposed on the body. The body may be either a catheter assembly or a Luer access port. The septum and the body may form a fluid tight connection that circumscribes the septum. The reservoir may have a volume equal to or greater than about 0.1 mL. The tube may have a length greater than or equal to about 5 mm and a width of less than or equal to about 3 mm. At least a portion of the blood sampling device defining the reservoir may be compressible and may decrease the internal volume of the reservoir when compressed. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a blood sampling device comprises: a body defining a reservoir therein; a tube extending from the body a distance greater than the length of a septum activator of a blood control valve, the tube having a width less than the inner width of passage within a blood control valve, the interior of the tube being in fluid communication with the reservoir; and a vent coupled to the body and forming a barrier surface of the reservoir, the vent passing air but not blood therethrough. 
     Implementation may include one or more of the following features. The reservoir may have a volume equal to or greater than about 0.1 mL. The vent may be air permeable and hydrophobic. At least a portion of the body defining the reservoir may be compressible and may decrease the internal volume of the reservoir when compressed. The tube may have a length greater than or equal to 5 mm. 
     In another aspect of the invention, an extravascular system comprises: a body having and inner lumen; a septum disposed within the inner lumen; a septum activator disposed within the inner lumen proximal the septum, the septum activator having an inner passage extending therethrough; and a blood sampling device disposed at least partially within the inner lumen of the body, the blood sampling device having a tube that extends through the inner passage of the septum activator and through an opening in the septum, the blood sampling device having a reservoir therein in fluid communication with the tube and a vent in fluid communication with the reservoir, the vent passing air but not blood therethrough. 
     Implementation may include one or more of the following features. The septum may divide and substantially seal a distal chamber of the inner lumen from and a proximal chamber of the inner lumen, the septum may have one or more slits therein, the septum activator may be movable from a un-activated position in the proximal chamber to an activated position that extends through the slit of the septum into the distal chamber. A removable seal may be disposed across the vent preventing air from passing through the vent. The blood sampling device may be removably coupled to the body. The septum and the body may form a fluid tight connection that circumscribes the septum. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention may be incorporated into certain embodiments of the invention and will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. The present invention does not require that all the advantageous features and all the advantages described herein be incorporated into every embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other features and advantages of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. These drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to limit the scope of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an extravascular system comprising a catheter assembly, intravenous tubing with a clamp, a port, and a vented blood sampling device, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view of a port having a blood control valve and a blood sampling device that is separated from the port, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of a blood sampling device that has been inserted into the port, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of a port that is accessed by a separate device when the blood sampling device is removed from the port, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a blood sampling device being compressed and blood dripping onto a blood test strip, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a blood sampling device, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another blood sampling device, according to some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     Reference will now be made to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates an extravascular system  20  with which a blood sampling device  42  may be used. It will be understood that the blood sampling device  42  is not limited to use within these illustrated extravascular system, but may be used with other extravascular systems, ranging from a simple needle, to more complex extravascular devices. The blood sampling device  42  can, in some configurations, reduce the number of components required to draw a diagnostic blood sample from a patient. This is because the blood sampling device  42  combines the ability to perform the processes of venting the extravascular system  20  and collecting blood into a single device. Additionally, in some instance, the blood sampling device  42  and the port  40  can remove the need for the clamp  38 , as described below. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an extravascular system  20 , such as the BD NEXIVA™ Closed Intravenous (IV) Catheter System, by Becton, Dickinson and Company, which can be accessed by a blood sampling device  42 . The illustrated embodiment of the system  20  includes multiple vascular access devices such as a needle hub  26  coupled to an introducer needle  32  that extends through a catheter assembly  24 . The catheter assembly  24  includes a catheter adapter  28  that is coupled to an over-the-needle, peripheral, IV catheter  30  extending therefrom. The introducer needle  32  is left within the catheter assembly  24  until the catheter  30  is inserted into and correctly positioning within the vasculature of a patient, when it is withdrawn. In some embodiments, one or more needle tip shields  22  are incorporated into the needle hub  26  to shield the tip of the introducer needle  32  after it is removed from the catheter assembly  24 . 
     In some configurations, an integrated extension tubing  36  is coupled to and provides fluid communication with the catheter assembly  24 . The extension tubing  36  can also be coupled to a port  40  that provides access to the vascular system of the patient via the extension tubing  36  and the catheter assembly  24 . The port  40  can have various configurations, such as a single port Luer adapter, a Y Luer adapter, and other known ports. In some instances, a clamp  38  is used to selectively close the extension tubing  36  to prevent flow therethrough. As shown, a blood sampling device  42  can be inserted into the port  40 . 
     While  FIG. 1  depicts the blood sampling device  42  coupled to a port  40  on an extension tubing  36 , the blood sampling device  42  can be coupled to any port  40  in fluid connection to the vasculature of a patient. Such alternative ports could be located on the catheter assembly  24  directly, or more specifically on the catheter adapter  28 . In other extravascular system  20 , ports  40  can be coupled to an introducer needle  32 , catheter  30 , or other components of the extravascular system  20 . 
     In some embodiments, the blood sampling device  42  vents air from the catheter assembly  24  and the extension tubing  36  prior to collect a blood sample therefrom. When the catheter assembly  24  establishes fluid communication with the vasculature of a patient, the internal blood pressure of the vascular system can force blood into the catheter assembly  24  and up into the extension tubing  36 . In some instances, it is desirable to permit this blood to fill the catheter assembly  24  and the extension tubing  36  in order to vent air from the extravascular system  20  before fluids are infused through this system into the patient. This process can reduce the likelihood that air is infused into the patient&#39;s vasculature. 
     Accordingly, in some embodiments, the blood sampling device  42  includes a vent  44  that is air permeable, through which air from within the extravascular system  20  passes. In some embodiments, the vent  44  is configured to pass air but not blood. In such embodiments, blood entering the extravascular system  20  forces air out the vent  44  as it enters the extravascular system  20  and fills it to the vent  44  of the blood sampling device  42 . At this point, in some instances, the clamp  38  can close the extension tubing  36  while the blood sampling device  42  is removed and a separate vascular access device, such as an IV line coupled to a fluid reservoir, is coupled to the port  40  to begin an IV therapy process. In other instances, as described below, a clam  38  is not necessary to prevent blood flow out the port  40 . 
     As described above, the blood sampling device  42  includes a vent  44  that can permit air, but not blood to pass therethrough. The vent  44  can include various materials and components that provide these properties. For example, in some embodiments, the vent  44  includes glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a microfiber material, and/or other synthetic material made of high-density polyethylene fibers, such as TYVEK® material from DuPont. The vent  44  may be hydrophobic or hydrophilic. Other such materials and components can also be used as a layer of the vent or as the entire vent to enable the vent  44  to be hydrophobic and/or air permeable, according to some configurations. 
     In additional to venting air from the extravascular system  20 , the blood sampling device  42  can collect a sample of blood therein that can be used for blood testing or other procedures. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the blood sampling device  42  includes a reservoir (shown in  FIG. 2  as  94 ) therein that can collect blood during the venting process and retain blood after the blood sampling device  42  is removed from the port  40 . In some configurations, the reservoir  94  has an internal volume of between about 0.1 mL to about 10 mL. In other configurations, the reservoir  94  has an internal volume of between about 1 mL to about 5 mL. In still other configurations, the reservoir  94  has an internal volume of that is greater than 10 mL. Because different blood tests required different quantities of blood, in some embodiments, the reservoir  94  is sized to retain a quantity of blood needed for a specific blood test or for a specific number of blood tests. In some embodiments, a set of blood sampling devices  42  is provided to a clinician having multiple blood sampling devices  42  of different sizes. 
     Reference will now be made to  FIG. 2 , which depicts a cross section of a port  40  and a blood sampling device  42 , according to some embodiments. As shown, the port  40  comprises a body  70  having lumen  66  extending therethrough. The lumen  66  includes a proximal lumen opening  76  on the proximal end  78  of the body  70  into which a blood sampling device  42  can be inserted. The proximal end  78  of the body  70  can also include one or more Luer threads  72  that can permit a male Luer connector, such as a the male Luer connector  134  of  FIG. 7 , to connect to the proximal end  78  of the body  70 . On the distal end  80  of the body  70  the extension tubing  36  can be connected and aligned in fluid communication with the lumen  66 . 
     As shown, in some configurations, the port  40  includes a blood control valve, which is a type of valve that includes a septum  50  and a septum activator  52 . The septum activator  52  selectively pierces through the septum  50  to activate, or open, the septum  50 . The septum activator  52  is moved distally through the septum  50  when a separate device  110  is inserted through the proximal lumen opening  76  and forces the septum activator  52  distally, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The process of piercing the septum  50  with the septum activator  52  is partially illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Once the septum  50  is pierced, fluid can be infused through the septum  50 . Non-limiting examples of ports  40  having a blood control valve therein are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/042,103 filed Mar. 7, 2011, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A FLUSHABLE CATHETER ASSEMBLY, (herein the “Flushable Catheter Assembly reference”) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some configurations, the port  40  can have any of the various configurations of blood control valves described in the Flushable Catheter Assembly reference. The Flushable Catheter Assembly reference and the patents to which it claims priority (which are also herein incorporated by reference in their entirety, and referred to as the “Parent Reference”) depend also describes the use of a blood control valve in a catheter assembly  24 . While the use of a blood sampling device  42  is generally described herein as being used with a port  40  having a blood control valve within an inner lumen  66  of the body  70  of the port  40 , it will be understood that the blood sampling device  42  can, in some configurations, additionally or alternatively be used with a catheter assembly  24  having a blood control valve within the inner lumen of the body of the catheter assembly  24 . Accordingly, in some configurations, the various embodiments of a blood sampling device  42  as described herein can be used with any of the various configurations of blood control valves in a catheter assembly described in the Flushable Catheter Assembly reference and the Parent References. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in some configurations, the blood control valve of the port  40  includes a septum  50  disposed within a groove  74  in the inner lumen  66  of the body  70 . In some instances, one or more ventilation channels are disposed between the septum  50  and the body  70  to provide a channel for air to be vented around the septum  50 , as described in the Flushable Catheter Assembly reference. The one or more channel can be used to vent air from an extravascular system  20 . In other instances, there are no ventilation channels between the septum  50  and the body  70 , but an air tight connection is formed at this interface  54 . The lack of ventilation channels can prevent air or blood from flowing around the septum  50 . In such instances, air can be vented from the extravascular system  20  through the vent  44  of the blood sampling device  42 . 
     In some configurations, the septum  50  can also serve to divide the inner lumen  66  into a distal chamber  82  and a proximal chamber  84  and provide a seal between these two chambers. A septum activator  52  can be disposed in the proximal chamber  84 . In some embodiments, the septum activator  52  has an inner passage  64  extending therethrough. The septum activator  52  can have one or more flow diversion channels  58  formed through it that permit fluid flow between the areas outside the septum activator  52  into the inner passage  64  to provide flushability within the inner lumen  66  and within the septum activator  52 . 
       FIG. 2  further depicts a blood sampling device  42  that can be inserted into the port  40  to vent air from the extravascular system  20  while bypassing function of the septum activator  52 . In some configurations, a tube  90  of the blood sampling device  42  extends out from its body  92  a long enough distance to pass entirely through and bypass the septum activator  52  when the blood sampling device  42  is connected to the port  40 . Thus, in some instances, the length  100  of the tube  90  is greater than the length  60  of the septum activator  52 . Additionally, in some instances, a width  104  of the tube  90  is less than an inner width  62  of the inner passage  64  of the septum activator  52 . Thus, the dimensions of this tube  90  can permit it to be inserted through the inner passage  64  of the septum activator  52  and pierce through the septum  50  without lodging within and advancing the septum activator  52  forward. Accordingly, in some configurations, the outer geometry of the tube  90  approximate or is smaller than the inner geometry of the inner passage  64  when the tube  90  is fully inserted through the inner passage  64 . Thus, for example, if the inner passage  64  tapers from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter, the outer geometry of the tube  90  can likewise taper from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter or otherwise be smaller than the geometry of the inner passage  64 . Accordingly, the outer geometry of the tube  90  can be shaped and sized into various configurations, to fit within the inner passage  64  of the septum activator  52  when the tube  90  is fully inserted through the inner passage  64 . 
     Reference will now be made to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in some embodiments, the blood sampling device  42  can be press fit into the proximal lumen opening  76  of the inner lumen  66  of the port  40 . This connection can prevent air and blood from leaking out the port  40 . This connection is formed between a distal portion  102  of the body  92  of the blood sampling device  42  and the proximal portion of the inner lumen  66  of the port  40 . In some configurations, the outer geometry of the distal portion  102  approximates the inner geometry of the proximal portion of the inner lumen  66 . In some configurations, these geometries are substantially circular and the outer diameter  98  of the distal portion  102  is approximately equal to the inner diameter  68  of the proximal portion of the inner lumen  66 . In these and other configurations, the blood sampling device  42  can be press fit into the proximal lumen opening  76  of the port  40 . In other configurations, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the blood sampling device  42  connects to the port  40  via a threaded Luer connection rather than a press fit connection. Likewise, other types of connections can be incorporated between the blood sampling device  42  and the port  40 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the blood sampling device  42  has a body  92  that defines a reservoir  94  therein that can be used for collecting and retaining a sample of blood. When the blood sampling device  42  is fully inserted into the port  40 , the distal tip of the tube  90  extends through the one or more slits  56  in the septum  50 . By thus breaching the septum  50 , an air path is created through the interior  96  of the tube  90 , through the reservoir  94 , and out the vent  44 . Vent  44  can be in fluid communication with the reservoir  94  so that air can flow into the reservoir  94  and out the vent  44 . This air path can permit air to be vented from the extravascular system  20 . In some configurations, the septum  50  can contact the outer surface of the tube  90  and prevent or substantially prevent air and blood from flowing between the tube  90  and the septum  50 . 
     As described above, as air is vented from the extravascular system  20 , blood flows into the system and fills or substantially fills the reservoir  94 . After a clinician recognizes that the extravascular system  20  is vented and the reservoir  94  has collected a sample of blood, the clinician can remove the blood sampling device  42 . As the tube  90  of the blood sampling device  42  is withdrawn proximally through the septum  50 , the one or more slits  56  of the septum  50  close sealing the proximal chamber  84  from the distal chamber  82  and the blood contained therein. As mentioned above, in some instances, a clamp  38  is not necessary since the blood control valve can automatically seals the port  40  before and after the blood sampling device  42  is inserted into the port  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , after the blood sampling device  42  is removed from the port  40  a separate device  110  can be coupled to the port  40  to infuse a fluid through the port  40  into the extravascular system  20 . In some instances, the separate device  110  is vascular access device, such as an intravenous fluid line. In some configurations, the separate device  110  includes a male Luer connector  134  that connects to the female Luer threads  72  of the port  40 . As shown, as the separate device  110  is inserted into the port  40 , a probe member  114  of the separate device  110  contacts the septum activator  52 , forcing it forward through the septum  50 , opening the septum  50 . With the septum  50  opened, fluid can be infused through the port  40  into the extravascular system  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , after the blood sampling device  42  is removed from the port  40 , the collected blood  126  can be used for analysis and testing. Accordingly, in some configurations, the blood sampling device  42  is configured to eject at least a portion of the blood  126  from the reservoir  94 . For example, in some embodiments, the blood sampling device  42  has a body  92  with a compressible portion  120 . A compressible portion  120  can include any means to reduce the size of the reservoir volume in order to eject a sample of fluid within the reservoir  94 . For example, the compressible portion  120  can comprise the entire body  92  being flexible or semi-flexible. Or the compressible portion  120  may be limited to a limited portion of the body  92 , which flexes. In a non-limiting example, a compressible portion  120  is disposed between two or more rigid portions, such that the compressible portion  120  compress when the more rigid portions are pressed inwardly  128 . In some embodiments, to facilitate compression and gripping, the body  92  includes ridges or other gripping member  122 . 
     In some embodiments, the blood sampling device  42  is configured to eject blood  126  when compressed and retain blood  62  when it is not compressed. As such, as the blood sampling device  42  is withdrawn from the port  40  it retains blood therein (unless it is compressed), which prevents blood exposure to the clinician removing the blood sampling device  42 . Thus, in some configurations, the inner dimensions of the tube  90  and/or the dimension so the tube opening  124  is shaped and sized to retain blood  126 . Blood retention within the tube  90  is governed, at least in part, by the inner perimeter of the tube  90 , the surface tension of blood, and the force on the blood  126  to flow out of the distal tube opening  124 . Accordingly, the inner perimeter of the tube  90  can be designed so that blood  126  is retained within the reservoir  94  when the force of the blood  126  to flow out of the distal tube opening  124  is within a certain range, but permit at least some blood to flow out when the pressure on the blood  126  exceeds this range. 
     For example, in some instances, the inner dimensions of the tube  90  are substantially circular and the inner perimeter is less than or equal to approximately 2.0 mm with a diameter  60  of less than or equal to approximately 0.6 mm. In these instances, the tube  90  permits the retention of blood against approximately the force of gravity. When the force on the blood  126  is greater than the force of gravity some blood  126  can flow out of the distal tube opening  124 . In other instances, a circular distal tube opening  124  with a diameter of about 0.3 mm can retain blood  126  therein against forces stronger than gravity, such as bumping, jarring, and movement of the filled blood sampling device  42 . When the distal tube opening  124  has a very small inner perimeter, the force required to expel blood  126  can be very large. 
     Thus, in some embodiments, the inner perimeter of the tube  90  has a inner perimeter greater than or equal to about 0.3 mm, which when the inner perimeter of the tube  90  is a circular opening, corresponds to a diameter of about 0.1 mm. Thus, in some configurations, the inner perimeter of the tube  90  has an inner perimeter between about 0.3 mm to about 2.0 mm. In some configurations, the inner perimeter of the tube  90  is approximately circular and has a diameter between about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm. In other embodiments, the inner perimeter of the tube  90  is non-circular. 
     To eject blood  126  from the blood sampling device  42 , the compressible portion  120  or compressible portions  120  can be compressed. This compression decrease the volume increases the internal pressure of the reservoir  94 . As the internal pressure increases it becomes larger than the forces preventing the blood  126  from flowing out of the tube  90 , thus causing blood  126  to flood out of the tube  90 . The amount of blood  126  that is ejected from the distal tube opening  124  can depend on the amount of force applied to the compressible portion  120 . The blood  126  can be ejected onto a blood test strip  130 , into a diagnostic cartridge, or onto another type of blood testing/analysis device. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  will now be discussed. These figures depict specific embodiments of a blood sampling device  42 .  FIG. 6  depicts a blood sampling device  42 , similar to that of  FIGS. 2 and 3  that can be press fit into the proximal lumen opening  76  of a port  40 . As shown, the body  92  includes one or more compressible portions  120  and a grip indent  130 . The grip indent  130  provides a visual and tactile indication of where a finger can be placed to effectively grip and compress the compressible portion  120 . In some instances, another grip indent  130  is disposed on the opposite side of the body  92 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts a blood sampling device  42  that can be interlocked with the Luer threads  72  of a port  40 . In some configurations, as shown, the body  92  includes an alternative distal body portion  132  that comprises a threaded male Luer connector  134 . This threaded male Luer connector  134  can interconnect with the female Luer connector  72  of the port  40  to interlock the blood sampling device  42  thereto. This interconnection can provide additional strength and stability over other types of connections. 
     From the foregoing, it will be seen that these systems and methods are developed to provide a blood sampling device  42  that can vent air from an extravascular system  20  and simultaneously collecting a sample of blood  126 . In some embodiments, a blood sampling device  42  replaces prior devices and procedures that took more time, used more parts, and cost more than the present blood sampling device. The blood sampling device  42  can be inserted into a port  40 , left there while it automatically vents air from the extravascular system  20 , then withdrawn with a sample of blood  126  automatically collected within its internal reservoir  94 . 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.