The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially approved the first fully automated system for drawing blood from a vein, as stated in the agency's official press release.
This robotic device, named Aletta, is capable of independently completing the entire blood collection process. It performs a series of sequential actions: it gives instructions to the patient, secures the tourniquet, disinfects the skin with an antiseptic solution, locates the vein, draws the blood, applies a bandage, disposes of the used needle, and replaces the tubes.
To identify a suitable blood vessel, the system uses near-infrared spectroscopy methods combined with Doppler ultrasound imaging. It is important to note that if a suitable vein is not detected, the venipuncture procedure is not initiated.
In the current clinical trials, known as A.D.O.P.T., which involved over 600 participants, high efficiency rates have been achieved. The rate of successful blood collection on the first attempt was 95 percent, which corresponds to the level achieved when the procedure is performed by a specialist. Furthermore, the proportion of samples subjected to hemolysis was only 0.6 percent, and the patient satisfaction level reached 98 percent.