NEEDLE ASSEMBLY AND SAMPLE ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR COLLECTION AND OPTICAL INTERROGATION OF A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE

摘要

Needle assemblies and analysis systems for collection and optical interrogation of a biological sample is provide. The needle assembly includes a needle hub and a needle tip. A shaft portion extends between the needle hub and the needle tip. The shaft portion includes a cavity extending from the needle hub to the needle tip. The cavity includes a sample-receiving region opened at the needle tip. In some embodiments, the shaft portion includes a cladding structure surrounding the cavity and configured for longitudinal light guidance. In other embodiments, the shaft portion includes an optical window in line-of-sight alignment with the sample-receiving region. The needle assembly may advantageously be used to collect, within the sample receiving region, a biological sample from a biological medium and perform an optical interrogation of this sample directly in the needle assembly.