FDA Authorizes Autonomous Blood-Drawing Robot for Outpatient Use

The FDA cleared the Aletta device, the first robotic system that can independently draw blood without a hands-on operator, using infrared light and Doppler ultrasound to locate veins. One trained phlebotomist can supervise up to three devices simultaneously, potentially easing staffing shortages. In a multicenter study, the device achieved a 94.5% first-stick success rate when a suitable vein was identified, with only mild adverse events reported.