Sampling devices and methods involving relatively little pain

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or receiving a substance or substances such as blood, from subjects, e.g., to the skin and/or from the skin. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to devices and methods for receiving blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin, using devices including a substance transfer component (which may contain, for example, one or more microneedles), and a storage chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In certain embodiments, substances may be received from and/or delivered to the subject with relatively little pain. The pain may be assessed, for example, using pain scales such as the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale. In some cases, the device may be self-contained, and in certain instances, the device can be applied to the skin, and activated to receive blood from the subject. The device, or a portion thereof, may then be processed to determine the blood and/or an analyte within the blood, alone or with an external apparatus. For example, blood may be received from the device, and/or the device may contain sensors or agents able to determine the blood and/or an analyte suspected of being contained in the blood. 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 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A device for receiving a substance from the skin of a subject, and/or for delivering a substance to the skin of a subject, the device comprising:
 a microneedle for insertion into the skin of a subject, the microneedle having a pre-deployed position and a deployed position; and   a deployment actuator that is moveable from a first position to a second position, wherein movement of the deployment actuator from the first position to the second position moves the microneedle from the pre-deployed position to the deployed position in a period of time of less than 0.002 seconds and at a velocity of at least 6 meters/second measured at a point at which the microneedle first contacts the skin during deployment.   
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30 , further comprising a plurality of microneedles. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the microneedle is at least partially coated with a substance arranged to be delivered to the subject when the microneedle is inserted into the skin. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the substance arranged to be delivered to the subject is selected from the group consisting of a peptide, a protein, a carbohydrate, a nucleoprotein, a mucoprotein, a lipoprotein, a glycoprotein, a nucleic acid, a nucleotide, nucleoside, a lipid, and a biologically active organic molecule. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the substance is an analgesic. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the analgesic comprises one or more of lidocaine, bupivacaine, and tetracaine. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the microneedle is hollow. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the deployment actuator has a concave or convex shape. 
     
     
         40 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A device for receiving a substance from the skin of a subject, and/or for delivering a substance to the skin of a subject, the device comprising:
 a microneedle for insertion into the skin of a subject, the microneedle having a pre-deployed position and a deployed position; and   a deployment actuator that is moveable from a first position to a second position, wherein movement of the deployment actuator from the first position to the second position moves the microneedle from the pre-deployed position to the deployed position at an average acceleration of at least 60,000 meters/second 2 .   
     
     
         61 . The device of  claim 60 , wherein the microneedle is constructed and arranged to deliver, to the skin of the subject, a substance selected from the group consisting of a peptide, a protein, a carbohydrate, a nucleoprotein, a mucoprotein, a lipoprotein, a glycoprotein, a nucleic acid, a nucleotide, nucleoside, a lipid, and a biologically active organic molecule. 
     
     
         62 . The device of  claim 60 , further comprising a plurality of microneedles. 
     
     
         63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . The device of  claim 60 , wherein the microneedle is at least partially coated with a substance arranged to be delivered to the subject when the microneedle is inserted into the skin. 
     
     
         66 . The device of  claim 65 , wherein the substance arranged to be delivered to the subject is selected from the group consisting of a peptide, a protein, a carbohydrate, a nucleoprotein, a mucoprotein, a lipoprotein, a glycoprotein, a nucleic acid, a nucleotide, nucleoside, a lipid, and a biologically active organic molecule. 
     
     
         67 . The device of  claim 65 , wherein the substance is an analgesic. 
     
     
         68 . The device of  claim 67 , wherein the analgesic comprises one or more of lidocaine, bupivacaine, and tetracaine. 
     
     
         69 . The device of  claim 60 , wherein the microneedle is hollow. 
     
     
         70 . The device of  claim 60 , wherein the deployment actuator has a concave or convex shape. 
     
     
         71 - 115 . (canceled)