Systems and Methods for Obtaining Analytes From a Body

• US 20130184543A1
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,462,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/309
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14 Devices for taking samples of blood hypodermic syringes A61M5/00; Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration within the blood, pH-value of blood measuring of blood pressure A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15 Devices for taking samples of blood hypodermic syringes A61M5/178
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150061 Means for enhancing collection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150221 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150229 Pumps for assisting the blood sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150251 Collection chamber divided into at least two compartments, e.g. for division of samples injection syringes having more than one chamber A61M5/19; syringes for injection of two or more media A61M5/2448, A61M5/284; sample preparation for further analysis A61B5/150755
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150351 Caps, stoppers or lids for sealing or closing a blood collection vessel or container, e.g. a test-tube or syringe barrel caps for bottles or containers in general B65D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• 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 5/150748 Having means for aiding positioning of the piercing device at a location where the body is to be pierced means for aiding positioning of devices for bringing media into the body A61M5/427, locating blood vessels A61B5/489
• 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 5/150793 Electrical or magnetic identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150877 with implanted 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 5/153 Devices specially adapted for taking samples of venous or arterial blood, e.g. with syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/155 Devices specially adapted for continuous or multiple sampling, e.g. at predetermined intervals devices loaded with multiple lancets simultaneously A61B5/15146
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 : Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 : the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 : lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6842 : by marking the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 : Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 : for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/00 : Magnetotherapy

Abstract

A method may include collecting at least one analyte from within a body, ejecting the collected at least one analyte from the body through at least one dermal layer of the body, and receiving the ejected at least one analyte outside the body. A system may include a means for collecting at least one analyte from within a body, a means for ejecting the collected at least one analyte from the body through at least one dermal layer of the body, and a means for receiving the ejected at least one analyte outside the body.

Claims

1. A discharging device, comprising:

a sampling device; and

a subdermal ejector device, operably coupled to said sampling device, said subdermal ejector device including a microjet having a nozzle,

wherein said sampling device is configured to collect at least one analyte from within a body and said subdermal ejector device is configured to eject said at least one analyte, collected by said sampling device, through at least one dermal layer of said body.

2. The discharging device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transport mechanism, operably coupling said sampling device and said subdermal ejector device,

wherein said sampling device is disposed distal to said subdermal ejector device.

3. The discharging device of claim 2, wherein said transport mechanism is configured to transport said at least one analyte from said sampling device to said subdermal ejector device.

4. The discharging device of claim 1, wherein said sampling device is further configured to analyze said at least one analyte.

5. The discharging device of claim 1, wherein said sampling device is further configured to sort said at least one analyte.

6. The discharging device of claim 1, wherein said sampling device is further configured to concentrate said at least one analyte.

7. The discharging device of claim 1, wherein said sampling device is further configured to dilute said at least one analyte.

8. The discharging device of claim 1, wherein said at least one analyte includes at least a portion of at least one of cells, proteins, bacteria, blood, a blood component, molecules, viruses, viral particles, pathogens, parasites, malarial parasites, oglionucleotides, lymph, a lymph component, or cerebral spinal fluid.

9. The discharging device of claim 8, wherein said blood component includes at least one of plasma or serum.

10. The discharging device of claim 1, further comprising:

a power receiver mechanism; and

an energy storage mechanism, operably coupled to said power receiver mechanism and at least one of said sampling device or said subdermal ejector device,

wherein said power receiver mechanism is configured to receive power from a power source that is located outside said body, inside said body, or located both outside said body and inside said body and charge said energy storage mechanism.

11. The discharging device of claim 1, further comprising:

a power receiver mechanism, operably coupled to at least one of said sampling device or said subdermal ejector device;

wherein said power receiver mechanism is configured to receive power from a power source that is located outside said body, inside said body, or located both outside said body and inside said body and power at least one of said sampling device or said subdermal ejector device.

12. The discharging device of claim 1, further comprising:

a fiducial, coupled to at least one of said sampling device or said subdermal ejector device.

13. The discharging device of claim 12, wherein said fiducial includes at least one of a fluorescent marker, a marker having an enhanced radio signature, a radio frequency identification tag, a radio opaque marker, a retroreflector, a magnetic signature, a conductivity signature, or an ultrasonic marker.

14. The discharging device of claim 1, wherein said subdermal ejector device is configured to eject said at least one analyte, collected by said sampling device, through at least one dermal layer of said body utilizing said microjet.

15. The discharging device of claim 1, wherein said microjet is a liquid microjet and said subdermal ejector device is configured to eject said at least one analyte, collected by said sampling device, through at least one dermal layer of said body utilizing said liquid microjet.

16. The discharging device of claim 1, wherein said subdermal ejector device is configured to eject said at least one analyte, collected by said sampling device, through at least one dermal layer of said body under high pressure.

17. The discharging device of claim 1, wherein said subdermal ejector device includes a spring-loaded pressure generating mechanism for generating pressure.

18. The discharging device of claim 1, wherein said subdermal ejector device includes a piezoelectric pressure generating mechanism for generating pressure.

19. The discharging device of claim 1, wherein said subdermal ejector device includes a signal receiver, operably coupled to at least one of said sampling device or said subdermal ejector device.

20. The discharging device of claim 19, wherein said signal receiver is configured to receive an ejection signal and said subdermal ejector device is configured to eject said at least one analyte, collected by said sampling device, through at least one dermal layer of said body in response to said signal receiver receiving said ejection signal.

21. The discharging device of claim 20, wherein said ejection signal includes at least one of an electrical current, an electrical field, a magnetic flux, an optical signal, a radio frequency identification, an ultrasound, a vibration, an electromagnetic signal, a force, or a pressure.

22. The discharging device of claim 19, wherein said signal receiver is configured to receive a stop signal and said subdermal ejector device is configured to stop ejecting said at least one analyte, collected by said sampling device, through at least one dermal layer of said body in response to said signal receiver receiving said stop signal.

23. The discharging device of claim 22, wherein said stop signal includes at least one of an electrical current, an electrical field, a magnetic flux, an optical signal, a radio frequency identification, an ultrasound, a vibration, an electromagnetic signal, a force, or a pressure.

24. The discharging device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter, operably coupled to at least one of said sampling device and said subdermal ejector device.

25. The discharging device of claim 24, wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit a collected signal when said sampling device has collected said at least one analyte.

26. The discharging device of claim 25, wherein said collected signal includes at least one of an electrical current, an electrical field, a magnetic flux, an optical signal, a radio frequency identification, an ultrasound, a vibration, an electromagnetic signal, a force, or a pressure.

27. The discharging device of claim 25, wherein said collected signal includes at least one of a type of said at least one analyte that has been collected, a type of said at least one analyte available to be ejected, an amount of said at least one analyte that has been collected, or an amount of said at least one analyte available to be ejected.

28. The discharging device of claim 24, wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit a finished signal when said subdermal ejector device has finished ejecting said at least one analyte, collected by said sampling device, through at least one dermal layer of said body.

29. The discharging device of claim 28, wherein said finished signal includes at least one of an electrical current, an electrical field, a magnetic flux, an optical signal, a radio frequency identification, an ultrasound, a vibration, an electromagnetic signal, a force, or a pressure.

30. The discharging device of claim 24, wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit a location signal to enable location of said subdermal ejector device.

31. The discharging device of claim 30, wherein said location signal includes at least one of an electrical current, an electrical field, a magnetic flux, an optical signal, a radio frequency identification, an ultrasound, a vibration, an electromagnetic signal, a force, or a pressure.

32. The discharging device of claim 1, further comprising:

an energy field subjecting mechanism, operably coupled to said subdermal ejector device, configured to subject said at least one dermal layer of said body to an energy field.

33. The discharging device of claim 32, wherein said energy field includes at least one of an electrical energy field or an ultrasonic energy field.

34. The discharging device of claim 1, further comprising:

a useful life determining mechanism, operably coupled to at least one of said sampling device and said subdermal ejector device;

wherein said useful life determining mechanism is configured to determine when said at least one analyte, collected by said sampling device, has reached its useful life and said subdermal ejector device is configured to eject said at least one analyte, collected by said sampling device, through at least one dermal layer of said body when said useful life determining mechanism determines that said at least one analyte, collected by said sampling device, has reached its useful life.

35. The discharging device of claim 1, further comprising:

a locating device, operatively coupled to said subdermal ejector device, configured to locate a fiducial on a receiving device.

36. The discharging device of claim 35, wherein said fiducial includes at least one of a fluorescent marker, a marker having an enhanced radio signature, a radio frequency identification tag, a radio opaque marker, a retroreflector, a magnetic signature, a conductivity signature, or an ultrasonic marker.

37. The discharging device of claim 1, wherein said subdermal ejector device is configured to verify that a receiving device is in proximity with said ejector device prior to ejecting said at least one analyte, collected by said sampling device, through at least one dermal layer of said body.

38. The discharging device of claim 1, wherein said subdermal ejector device includes a needle originating from a subdermal location within said body, and said subdermal ejector device is configured to eject said at least one analyte, collected by said sampling device, through at least one dermal layer of said body utilizing said needle.

39. The discharging device of claim 38, wherein said needle is configured to be controllably deployed and retracted, wherein said needle is located subdermally when retracted, and wherein at least a portion of said needle penetrates through at least one dermal layer when deployed.

40. The discharging device of claim 18, wherein said piezoelectric pressure generating mechanism includes a piezoelectric transducer.

41. The discharging device of claim 40, wherein said piezoelectric pressure transducer is configured to pulse at a frequency of about 1 hertz to about 10 hertz.