Usually, the success rate of a blood draw depends on the skill level and experience of the phlebotomist manually drawing the specimen, especially if the patient is a so-called "hard stick." Now enter the world of robotics and "lab-on-a-chip" system.
Venipuncture robots entered the market several years ago with limited success. A first venipuncture robot prototype was developed in 2010 by Veebot Systems Inc. This robot uses medical imaging, computer vision, and machine learning to identify the best target insertion sites.
A new venipuncture robot has been developed by Rutgers University scientists. Capable of collecting blood and testing it all in one, the VeniBot promises to revolutionize the medical laboratory world by providing immediate analyses of blood samples at point-of-care locations, such as clinics, private doctor’s offices, and rural environments.
The real challenge for venipuncture robot technology is to convince the general public about the benefits and have them overcome trust issues about technology.
The goal of the researchers is to improve difficult blood-drawing situations and prevent traumatic phlebotomy outcomes such as multiple blood-draw attempts, bruising, and injuries to arm veins and nerves.
Images courtesy of Josh Leipheimer at Rutgers University.
