DELIVERING AND/OR RECEIVING FLUIDS
First Claim
1. A device for receiving fluid from a subject, comprising:
- a housing including a device actuator and an opening to receive fluid into the housing;
a vacuum chamber in the housing that is at a pressure less than ambient pressure;
a flow control element between the vacuum chamber and the opening;
a plurality of microneedles arranged to be inserted into a subject to cause fluid to be released from the subject;
a deployment actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in a deployment direction toward or through the opening; and
a retraction actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in a retraction direction away from the opening,wherein actuation of the device actuator actuates the deployment actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in the deployment direction, actuates the retraction actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in the retraction direction, and causes the flow control element to enable fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum chamber.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to receiving bodily fluid through a device opening. In one aspect, the device includes a flow activator arranged to cause fluid to be released from a subject. A deployment actuator may actuate the flow activator in a deployment direction, which may in turn cause fluid release from a subject. The flow activator may also be moved in a retraction direction by a retraction actuator. In one aspect, the device may include a vacuum source that may help facilitate fluid flow into the opening of the device and/or may help facilitate fluid flow from the opening to a storage chamber. In one aspect, a device actuator may enable fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum source and the flow activator may be actuated after the enablement of fluid communication.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A device for receiving fluid from a subject, comprising:
-
a housing including a device actuator and an opening to receive fluid into the housing; a vacuum chamber in the housing that is at a pressure less than ambient pressure; a flow control element between the vacuum chamber and the opening; a plurality of microneedles arranged to be inserted into a subject to cause fluid to be released from the subject; a deployment actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in a deployment direction toward or through the opening; and a retraction actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in a retraction direction away from the opening, wherein actuation of the device actuator actuates the deployment actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in the deployment direction, actuates the retraction actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in the retraction direction, and causes the flow control element to enable fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A device for receiving fluid from a subject, comprising:
-
a housing including a device actuator and an opening to receive fluid into the housing; a vacuum chamber in the housing that is at a pressure less than ambient pressure; a membrane positioned between the vacuum chamber and the opening that permits passage of air but prevents passage of liquids from entering the vacuum chamber; a plurality of microneedles arranged to be inserted into a subject to cause fluid to be released from the subject; a deployment actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in a deployment direction toward or through the opening; and a retraction actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in a retraction direction away from the opening, wherein actuation of the device actuator actuates the deployment actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in the deployment direction, actuates the retraction actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in the retraction direction, and enables fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum chamber. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A device for receiving fluid from a subject, comprising:
-
a housing including a device actuator and an opening to receive fluid into the housing; a vacuum chamber in the housing at a pressure less than ambient pressure; a plurality of microneedles arranged to be inserted into a subject to cause fluid to be released from the subject; a deployment actuator including a bistable element, where motion of the bistable element between bistable states causes the plurality of microneedles to move in a deployment direction toward or through the opening; and a retraction actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in a retraction direction away from the opening, wherein actuation of the device actuator actuates the deployment actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in the deployment direction, actuates the retraction actuator to move the plurality of microneedles in the retraction direction, and enables fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum chamber. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification