SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING, SANITIZING, AND/OR SHIELDING THE SKIN OR DEVICES APPLIED TO THE SKIN

• US 20110105951A1
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seventh Sense Biosystems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seventh Sense Biosystems, Inc.
• Inventors: Davis, Shawn, Levinson, Douglas A., Haghgooie, Ramin, Chickering, Donald E. III, Bernstein, Howard
• Application Number:
  US12/915,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20110105951A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/573
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14514 using means for aiding extraction of interstitial fluid, e.g. microneedles or suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150099 by negative pressure, other than vacuum extraction into a syringe by pulling on the piston rod or into pre-evacuated tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150213 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150221 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150229 Pumps for assisting the blood sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150297 for piercing devices, i.e. devices ready to be used for lancing or piercing for piercing elements A61B5/150282, for driving devices A61B5/15029
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150305 Packages specially adapted for piercing devices or blood sampling devices kits for diabetes A61M5/003; packaging in general B65D
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150755 Blood sample preparation for further analysis, e.g. by separating blood components or by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150969 Low-profile devices which resemble patches or plasters, e.g. also allowing collection of blood samples for testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150977 Arrays of piercing elements for simultaneous piercing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150984 Microneedles or microblades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15105 Purely manual piercing, i.e. the user pierces the skin without the assistance of any driving means or driving devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15125 : comprising a vacuum or compressed fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15144 : comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for retracting the piercing unit into the housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15186 : Devices loaded with a single lancet, i.e. a single lancet with or without a casing is loaded into a reusable drive device and then discarded after use; drive devices reloadable for multiple use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 : Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/685 : Microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 : Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/003 : having a lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0046 : Solid microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0061 : Methods for using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 : by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 : by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 : by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/588 : by olfactory feedback, i.e. smell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/00 : Devices for applying media, e.g. remedies, on the human body devices for handling toiletry or cosmetic substances A45D; absorbent pads, e.g. swabs, A61F13/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 : by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/425 : Protruding skin to facilitate piercing, e.g. vacuum cylinders, vein immobilising means

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.

Claims

1. A device for extracting a fluid from the skin and/or from beneath the skin of a subject, the device comprising:

a support structure for application to the skin of the subject;

a fluid transporter associated with the support structure; and

a chemical for altering, from the skin of the subject, residual blood and/or an appearance of residual blood such that when the support structure is removed from the skin of the subject, visible residual blood is not present in an amount that is visible to the unaided eye,

wherein the support structure includes at least a cover between the subject'"'"'s line of vision and any blood extracted by the device,

whereby application, use, and removal of the device from the skin of the subject produces no blood visible by the unaided eye.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the support structure further comprises an adhesive for adhesion of the support structure to the skin of the subject.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the support structure further comprises a recess containing the fluid transporter.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the support structure further comprises a microfluidic channel in fluidic communication with the fluid transporter.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises blood.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises interstitial fluid.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a storage chamber in fluidic communication with the fluid transporter.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is able to determine an analyte contained within the fluid withdrawn from the skin and/or from beneath the skin of the subject.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is able to display a result of the determination of the analyte.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the analyte is glucose.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid transporter comprises a needle.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the needle is a microneedle.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid transporter comprises a solid microneedle.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid transporter comprises a hollow microneedle.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the support structure is able to apply a pressure less than atmospheric pressure to the skin of the subject.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a self-contained vacuum chamber having a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid transporter is able to be activated by the subject.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid transporter is activated upon applying the device to the skin of the subject.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein the chemical comprises a penetration enhancer.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein the chemical comprises a peroxide.

30. The device of claim 1, wherein the chemical comprises an oxidizer.

31. The device of claim 1, wherein the chemical comprises H₂O₂.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein the chemical comprises a dye.

3. (canceled)

10-11. -11. (canceled)

18-20. -20. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

26-27. -27. (canceled)

33-63. -63. (canceled)

64. A device for extracting a fluid from the skin and/or from beneath the skin of a subject, the device comprising:

a support structure for application to the skin of the subject;

a fluid transporter associated with the support structure; and

a mechanical apparatus for altering, from the skin of the subject, residual blood and/or an appearance of residual blood such that when the support structure is removed from the skin of the subject, visible residual blood is not present in an amount that is visible to the unaided eye,

wherein the support structure includes at least a cover between the subject'"'"'s line of vision and any blood extracted by the device,

whereby application, use, and removal of the device from the skin of the subject produces no blood visible by the unaided eye.

65-67. -67. (canceled)

68. A device for delivering to and/or withdrawing a fluid from the skin and/or beneath the skin of a subject, the device comprising:

transport means for delivery to and/or withdrawal of a fluid from the skin and/or beneath the skin of the subject; and

a mechanical apparatus for altering the appearance of blood on the subject after removal of the device from the skin of the subject.

69-110. -110. (canceled)

111. A device for delivering to and/or withdrawing a fluid from the skin and/or beneath the skin of a subject, the device comprising:

a support structure for application to the skin of the subject;

a fluid transporter associated with the support structure; and

a sanitizer for sanitizing at least a portion of the skin of the subject.

112-129. -129. (canceled)