Techniques and devices associated with blood sampling

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to devices and techniques associated with diagnostics, therapies, and other applications, including skin-associated applications, for example, devices for delivering and/or withdrawing fluid from subjects, e.g., through the skin. In some embodiments, the device includes a system for accessing an extractable medium from and/or through the skin of the subject at an access site, and a pressure regulator supported by a support structure, able to create a pressure differential across the skin at at least a portion of the access site. The device may also include, in some cases, a sensor supported by the support structure for determining at least one condition of the extractable medium from the subject, and optionally a signal generator supported by the support structure for generating a signal relating to the condition of the medium determined by the sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method, comprising:
 receiving fluid from a subject in a device applied to the skin of the subject, the device comprising a microneedle and a vacuum chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure before the device is applied to the skin of the subject, wherein the device is configured to produce a display based on the fluid received into the device; and   acquiring an image of the display using a cell phone.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising determining an analyte within the fluid received into the device, wherein the display is based on the analyte. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the display is a color display. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the color of the display is based on the analyte. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the analyte comprises glucose. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the display can be analyzed quantitatively. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , comprising acquiring the image of the display using a camera in the cell phone. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising transmitting the image of the display to an external entity. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the external entity sends a message regarding the analyte to the cell phone. 
     
     
         36 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the message comprises a prescription. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the message causes the device to dispense a pharmaceutical to the subject. 
     
     
         49 . A device, comprising:
 one or more microneedles;   a vacuum chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure before the device is applied to the skin of the subject, wherein the vacuum chamber is configured to withdraw fluid from the subject into the device after application of the one or more microneedles to the subject;   a sensor configured to sense the fluid withdrawn into the device;   a display configured to display a signal based on sensing of the withdrawn fluid by the sensor; and   a cell phone configured to image the display.   
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 49 , wherein the sensor is configured to sense an analyte within the fluid withdrawn from the subject. 
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 50 , wherein the display displays a signal based on the analyte. 
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 51 , wherein the signal is quantitatively related to the analyte. 
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 50 , wherein the analyte comprises glucose. 
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 49 , wherein the display is a color display. 
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 49 , wherein the cell phone is configured to acquire an image of the display via a camera. 
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 49 , wherein the cell phone is configured to transmit the image of the display to an external entity. 
     
     
         57 . The device of  claim 49 , wherein the device further comprises a storage chamber, separate from the vacuum chamber, for receiving the fluid from the subject. 
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 49 , wherein the fluid comprises blood.