Low-pressure packaging for fluid devices

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or withdrawing fluid from subjects, e.g., through the skin, including packaging associated with such systems. Certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to devices for withdrawing a substance from the skin and/or from beneath the skin of a subject, and/or for delivering a substance to the skin and/or to a location beneath the skin of a subject. In some embodiments, the devices may comprise one or more skin insertion objects, such as needles or microneedles. In some cases, the device also may comprise one or more vacuum chambers, e.g., having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure. In some aspects, the device may be contained within an environment able to assist with maintenance of such pressures. For example, a package containing such an environment may also have a pressure less than atmospheric pressure, and/or the package may be molded to the device or otherwise have a shape that does not contain substantial gases that can “leak” into the device and alter the pressure of any vacuum chambers that may be contained therein. In some embodiments, the pressure of the environment may be the same as or less than that of vacuum chambers contained within the device. Other aspects of the invention are generally directed to methods of creating such devices, techniques for using such devices, kits involving such devices, and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . An article, comprising:
 a package containing an environment having a pressure that is less than about 710 mmHg absolute , the environment surrounding a device comprising one or more microneedles and a vacuum chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure.   
     
     
         37 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein at least a portion of the package is manually deformable. 
     
     
         38 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein at least a portion of the package is rigid. 
     
     
         39 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the device further comprises an activator for inserting the skin insertion objects into the skin of the subject. 
     
     
         40 . The article of  claim 39 , wherein the package comprises a rigid material surrounding at least the activator. 
     
     
         41 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the package is shaped substantially similarly to the device therein. 
     
     
         42 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the package comprises glass. 
     
     
         43 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the package comprises polyethylene. 
     
     
         44 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the package comprises polycarbonate. 
     
     
         45 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the package comprises a metal. 
     
     
         46 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the package comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         47 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the package comprises a laminate. 
     
     
         48 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the package comprises polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         49 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the pressure of the environment is less than about 660 mmHg absolute . 
     
     
         50 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the environment is substantially sterile. 
     
     
         51 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the vacuum chamber has an internal pressure less than about 710 mmHg absolute . 
     
     
         52 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the vacuum chamber has an internal pressure less than about 660 mmHg absolute . 
     
     
         53 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein the vacuum chamber has an internal pressure that is substantially equal to the pressure of the environment surrounding the device. 
     
     
         54 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein at least some of the microneedles are solid. 
     
     
         55 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein at least some of the microneedles are hollow.