Needle assembly for fluid sampler

Claim 1

A membrane and needle assembly for testing constituents of body fluid while avoiding contamination of testing from undesirable elements of said fluid, said assembly comprising: a membrane for receiving a body fluid to be tested, said membrane having a generally planar test area for infrared testing of constituents deposited in said area with a sample of said fluid, said membrane further including a transfer area disposed spaced from said test area and in fluid flow connecting with said test area for fluid to flow through said membrane from said transfer area to said test area; a needle for penetration into a skin layer of a patient and drawing fluid along said needle, said needle having a discharge end with fluid flowing out of said discharge end along a line of travel; said needle disposed relative to said transfer area with an opening of the needle at the discharge end being substantially parallel to and in close proximity to said transfer area with fluid flowing out of said needle along said line of travel generally perpendicular to said transfer area.