Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for monitoring and/or providing feedback for drugs or other pharmaceuticals taken by a subject. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to devices and methods for determining a species within the skin of a subject; and producing feedback to a subject based on the determination of the species. The feedback may be, for example, visual, audible, tactile, a change in temperature, etc. In some cases, information regarding the determination of the species may be transmitted to another entity, e.g., a health care provider, a computer, a relative, etc., which may then provide feedback to the subject in some fashion. In some cases, the feedback may be directly indicative of the species, e.g., whether the species is present, the concentration of the species, whether a by-product of a reaction involving the species is present, whether a compound affected by the species is present, etc. However, the feedback may also be indirect in some embodiments. For example, the subject may be presented with an external reward, e.g., based on the determination of the species within the skin. For instance, a reward such as cash, coupons, songs, discounts, personal items, etc., may be offered based on the level of compliance of the subject. Still other aspects of the invention are generally directed to kits involving such devices (with or without the drug to be monitored), methods of promoting such systems, or the like.
Abstract:
The present invention is generally directed to systems and methods for sampling fluids from subjects. The fluid may be any suitable bodily fluid, e.g., blood or interstitial fluid. In some cases, the subject is a patient. The subject may have a device that can be applied to the skin of the subject (e.g., by the subject, or another person), and the device is able to obtain a sample of fluid. The fluid may be stored within a reservoir in the device, and the fluid may be obtained from the subject at any convenient time, e.g., at home, away from a healthcare setting, etc. In some embodiments, the device, or a portion thereof, may be returned to a clinical and/or laboratory setting to analyze the fluid stored within the device.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for determining oxygen in a sample, or in a subject. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to an article exhibiting a determinable feature responsive to oxygen, such as oxygen-sensitive particles. The particles may exhibit a determinable change with a change in oxygen concentration, and such particles can accordingly be used to determine oxygen. For example, in one set of embodiments, the particles may be at least partially coated with a protein, such as hemoglobin, that is able to interact with oxygen. In some cases, the protein may aggregate under certain conditions (e.g., under relatively low oxygen concentrations), and such protein aggregation may be used, for example, to cause the particles to become aggregated, which can be determined in some way. In some cases, such aggregation may be irreversible; i.e., the degree of aggregation corresponds to the most extreme oxygen concentrations that the proteins were exposed to. Such articles may be used, for example, to determine oxygen within a sample, or within a subject, such as a human subject. For instance, the article may be formed as a skin patch, or administered to the skin of a subject, e.g., on the surface of the skin, within the dermis or epidermis, etc., to determine oxygen within the subject.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates, in certain aspects, to relatively small devices applied to the skin, modular systems, and methods of use thereof. In some aspects, the device is constructed and arranged to have more than one module. For instance, the device may have a module for delivering to and/or withdrawing fluid from the skin and/or beneath the skin of a subject and a module for transmitting a signal indicative of the fluid delivered to and/or withdrawn from the skin and/or beneath the skin of the subject, a module for analyzing a fluid withdrawn from the skin and/or beneath the skin of the subject, or the like. In some embodiments, the modules are connectable and/or detachable from each other, and in some cases, the connections and/or detachments may be performed while the device is in contact with the subject, e.g., while affixed to the subject. In some embodiments, the device may be repeatedly applicable to the skin of the subject to deliver to and/or withdraw fluid from the skin and/or beneath the skin of a subject, e.g., at the same location, or at different locations on the skin of the subject. In some aspects, the devices may be self-contained and/or have a relatively small size, and in some cases, the device may be sized such that it is wearable and/or able to be carried by a subject. For example, the device may have a mass and/or dimensions that allow the device to be carried or worn by a subject for various periods of time, e.g., at least about an hour, at least about a day, at least about a week, etc., or no more than about an hour, no more than about 10 min, etc.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates, in certain aspects, to systems and methods for treating, sanitizing, and/or shielding blood on the surface of the skin or devices applied to the skin. In one set of embodiments, while blood is withdrawn from the skin of the subject, the blood is covered and/or shielded such that the blood is not seen by the subject. In another set of embodiments, any blood present on the skin may be altered or treated such that it no longer appears as blood, e.g., by exposing the blood to a chemical such as a peroxide that alters the color of the blood. In yet another set of embodiments, blood present on the skin is withdrawn or taken up by the device such that visible residual blood is not present in an amount visible to the unaided eye once the device is removed. In some cases, the same device may be used to sanitize the skin and deliver to and/or withdraw fluid from the skin and/or beneath the skin. The sanitization may be performed before, during, or after delivering to and/or withdrawing fluid from the skin and/or beneath the skin. Sanitization may be performed, for example, using a sanitizer such as hydrogen peroxide, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, or the like.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates, in certain aspects, to systems and methods for application to the skin, and control of actuation, delivery, and/or perception thereof. For example, certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to devices for delivering to and/or withdrawing fluid or from subjects, e.g., to or from the skin and/or beneath the skin. In one aspect, the delivery and/or withdrawal of fluid is at least partially obscured. For example, the obscuration may be by time, and/or by sensory obscuration (e.g., by providing tactile, olfactory, auditory, and/or visual sensations). Certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to devices able to automatically deliver to and/or withdraw fluid from the skin and/or beneath the skin after activation, e.g., where the fluid is delivered and/or withdrawn without the need for any additional intervention. The devices may be activated by any suitable technique. In other aspects, a device may be contained in a package, and when removed from the package, the device may be constructed and arranged to be able to deliver and/or withdraw fluid when the device is applied to the skin, and in some cases, automatically and/or without any further intervention by the subject or another person.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to a device for withdrawing blood from the skin and/or from beneath the skin of a subject, the device comprising: a fluid transporter, a vacuum chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure before blood is withdrawn into the device and a storage chamber for receiving blood withdrawn from the subject through the fluid transporter when a negative pressure is applied to the skin of the subject. The device may further comprise one or more microneedles.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to the use of tracers, for example, to track a substance that has been administered to a subject. A tracer may be separate from the substance to be administered, or in some cases, the tracer and the substance are chemically bonded to each other. When administered to a subject (e.g., ingested), the tracer and the substance to be administered may be absorbed and/or metabolized by the subject, and the pharmacokinetic activity of the tracer within the subject may be related to the pharmacokinetic activity of the substance. Thus, by following the pharmacokinetic activity of the tracer, the pharmacokinetic activity of the substance may be determined. The tracer itself may be determined within a subject using any suitable method, depending on the tracer. As an example, the tracer may be determined by administering an indicator able to interact with the tracer. For instance, the indicator may be applied to the skin of the subject, and the indicator may give a different visual appearance based on the concentration of the tracer, or otherwise exhibit a determinable change in a property of the indicator. Other aspects of the invention are generally directed to methods of making or using tracers, methods of promoting the making or use of such tracers, kits involving such tracers, and the like.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to a device for withdrawing blood from the skin and/or from beneath the skin of a subject, the device comprising: a fluid transporter, a vacuum chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure before blood is withdrawn into the device and a storage chamber for receiving blood withdrawn from the subject through the fluid transporter when a negative presure is applied to the skin of the subject. The device may further comprises one or more microwelles.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or withdrawing a substance or substances such as blood or interstitial fluid, from subjects, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to devices and methods for withdrawing or extracting blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin, using devices containing a fluid transporter (for example, one or more microneedles), and a storage chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In some cases, the device may be self-contained, and in certain instances, the device can be applied to the skin, and activated to withdraw blood from the subject. The device, or a portion thereof, may then be processed to determine the blood and/or an analyte within the blood, alone or with an external apparatus. For example, blood may be withdrawn from the device, and/or the device may contain sensors or agents able to determine the blood and/or an analyte suspected of being contained in the blood. Other aspects of the present invention are directed at other devices for withdrawing blood (or other bodily fluids, e.g., interstitial fluid), kits involving such devices, methods of making such devices, methods of using such devices, and the like.