The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the Aletta, a standalone robotic device that can draw blood from an adult patient's arm in an outpatient setting.A trained phlebotomist still starts each session, supervises the device, and remains available throughout the procedure. One phlebotomist can oversee up to three devices at once.The system uses near-infrared light and Doppler ultrasound to find a suitable vein. It stops if it cannot find one, and safety sensors can pause the procedure if the patient moves or another concern appears.The FDA said clinical data showed successful blood draws comparable to or better than trained phlebotomists when the device proceeded with a needle stick. The authorization could help clinics facing shortages of trained blood-draw staff.