A conversation sets VAMS in motion.
Drs. James Rudge and Neil Spooner discuss the limitations of Dried Blood Spot (DBS) cards. This gets James thinking about a dried matrix microsampling tool that will reliably collect fixed-volume samples.
Volumetric absorptive microsampling is born.
Dr. Stuart Kushon and the R&D team at Phenomenex translate James’s idea & prototype for VAMS into a new medical device. Five pharmaceutical companies validate the device, which consistently collects a precise volume of bio-fluid.
Neoteryx LLC is founded in the US.
Neoteryx is formed as a device company with the goal of commercializing tools based on volumetric absorptive microsampling technology. The company offers Mitra® devices with VAMS® in several formats, including the Mitra 96-Autorack for automated, high-throughput processing of multiple samples.
Neoteryx launches VAMS technology.
Mitra® devices based on the original, patented VAMS® technology are registered, trademarked and launched under the Neoteryx banner. Research, healthcare and lab professionals start using Mitra devices with VAMS for a range of applications.
Top organizations adopt Mitra with VAMS.
The NIH, Charles River, and other top science & medicine centers apply Mitra® devices with VAMS® microsampling in pharmaceutical drug discovery & development, clinical research & trials, academic research studies, therapeutic drug monitoring, and public health programs. Hundreds of published studies discuss how VAMS microsampling can be automated for easy workflows and deliver high-quality samples with a 96.8% accuracy rate.
A pandemic spurs wider use of microsampling.
The Coronavirus Pandemic boosts adoption of remote microsampling devices and kits for COVID-19 studies by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other research centers that allow people to self-sample at home. Virtual clinical trials and remote patient monitoring improve the patient experience. Thousands of Mitra kits are deployed globally, including new Pediatric Collection Kits tailored for researchers seeking a gentler, safer sampling solution for children.
Neoteryx is acquired by Trajan.
Trajan Scientific and Medical acquires Neoteryx to expand its product portfolio and leverage microsampling to reach more people. The combined offerings now include Mitra® and hemaPEN® for biological fluid collection, as well as the Harpera™ Microbiopsy™ Punch for skin specimen collection. This acquisition aligns with Trajan’s vision to advance personal health through innovative scientific tools and solutions.
Harpera™ commercial readiness & market validation
After more than a decade of development, licensing, outreach, and early market engagement, the Harpera™ Microbiopsy Punch continued building momentum as a skin microsampling solution. Device seeding, key opinion leader input, and positive feedback from cosmetics industry stakeholders helped validate its potential and prepare the technology for broader commercial adoption.
/Harpera%20inside%20components%20in%20lab-1.jpeg?width=600&height=600&name=Harpera%20inside%20components%20in%20lab-1.jpeg)
US registration & global awareness
Harpera™ entered a new phase of visibility and scale, supported its Class1 Device listing in the US, expanded global marketing, distributor and reseller outreach, and collaborations with molecular kit manufacturers. With more than 25,000 units distributed, Harpera™ is now positioned to support accessible skin microsampling across research, cosmetic, and commercial applications.
/Harpera%202024_IM_4189_15cm_300dpi_RGB-1.jpeg?width=600&height=435&name=Harpera%202024_IM_4189_15cm_300dpi_RGB-1.jpeg)
Workflow automation through the broader Trajan family
Microsampling workflows within the Trajan family now extend beyond sample collection. The CHRONECT™ automated workstation for PFAS in Mitra® blood microsamples advances this process by automating essential sample preparation, enabling high-throughput PFAS analysis, and allowing laboratories to transition from dried microsample collection to scalable, consistent LC-MS-ready workflows.
A Better Way to Sample Skin: Inside the Harpera™ Microbiopsy Approach
Trajan and IQVIA Highlight How Blood Microsampling Can Support More Patient-Centric Clinical Trials
