Systems and interfaces for blood sampling

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or receiving a substance or substances such as blood from subjects. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to devices and methods for receiving or extracting blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin, using devices containing a substance transfer component (for example, one or more needles or microneedles) and a reduced pressure or vacuum chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In some embodiments, the device may contain a “snap dome” or other deformable structure, which may be used, at least in part, to urge or move needles or other suitable substance transfer components into the skin of a subject. In some cases, for example, the device may contain a flexible concave member and a needle mechanically coupled to the flexible concave member such that the needle may be urged or moved into the skin using the flexible concave member. Other aspects of the present invention are directed at other devices for receiving 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 192 . (canceled) 
     
     
         193 . A device for receiving blood or other fluids from a subject, the device comprising:
 a reversibly deformable structure moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration;   a needle mechanically coupled to the reversibly deformable structure; and   a substantially cylindrical vacuum tube having a pressure less than atmospheric pressure before the device is applied to the skin of the subject,   wherein movement of the reversibly deformable structure from the first configuration to the second configuration creates a fluid communication pathway between the vacuum tube and the skin of the subject.   
     
     
         194 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the substantially cylindrical vacuum tube has a pressure, before the device is applied to the skin of the subject, of less than about 100 mmHg below atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         195 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the substantially cylindrical vacuum tube is a Vacutainer™ tube. 
     
     
         196 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the substantially cylindrical vacuum tube is a Vacuette™ tube. 
     
     
         197 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the substantially cylindrical vacuum tube is held onto the device via a piercing member. 
     
     
         198 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the substantially cylindrical vacuum tube further comprises a pierceable surface. 
     
     
         199 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the reversibly deformable structure from cannot move from the first configuration to the second configuration in the absence of the substantially cylindrical vacuum tube. 
     
     
         200 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein placement of the substantially cylindrical vacuum tube within the device moves the reversibly deformable structure from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         201 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the substantially cylindrical vacuum tube is substantially parallel to the skin when the device is applied to the skin of the subject to receive blood or other fluids. 
     
     
         202 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the substantially cylindrical vacuum tube is substantially perpendicular to the skin when the device is applied to the skin of the subject to receive blood or other fluids. 
     
     
         203 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the needle is a microneedle. 
     
     
         204 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the needle is immobilized directly on the reversibly deformable structure. 
     
     
         205 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the device further comprises a collection chamber positioned on the fluid communication pathway. 
     
     
         206 . The device of  claim 193 , further comprising a retraction mechanism able to move the needle after the reversibly deformable structure reaches the second configuration. 
     
     
         207 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the first configuration of the reversibly deformable structure is a concave configuration, and the second configuration is a convex configuration. 
     
     
         208 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the reversibly deformable structure is able to spontaneously return from the second configuration to the first configuration. 
     
     
         209 . The device of  claim 193 , further comprising an actuator able to move the reversibly deformable structure from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         210 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the reversibly deformable structure is able to move the needle at a speed that reaches at least about 6 m/s. 
     
     
         211 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the reversibly deformable structure is able to move the needle at an acceleration that reaches at least 100,000 m/s 2 . 
     
     
         212 . The device of  claim 193 , wherein the reversibly deformable structure is able to move the needle from a first position to a second position in a time of less than about 0.002 s.