Delivering and/or receiving material with respect to a subject surface

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to receiving bodily fluid through a device opening. In one aspect, the device includes a flow activator arranged to cause fluid to be released from a subject. The flow activator may be actuated in a deployment direction by a deployment actuator, which may in turn cause fluid release from a subject. The flow activator may also be moved in a retraction direction by a retraction actuator. In one aspect, the device may include a vacuum source that may help facilitate fluid flow into the opening of the device and/or may help facilitate fluid flow from the opening to a storage chamber. In one aspect, an effector may enable fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum source and may do so in response to actuation of the flow activator.

1 . A material delivery/receiving device, including:
 a flow activator arranged to cause delivery of a material to a subject and/or to cause release of blood or other material from the subject; and   a material source arranged to provide a drug or other material to the subject.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow activator includes one or more needles arranged to penetrate skin or other surface of a user, and the material source includes a layer that is penetrated by the one or more needles for delivery of material in the layer to the subject. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the layer includes a drug eluting hydrogel arranged to release a drug for delivery to skin openings formed by the one or more needles. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow activator includes one or more needles arranged to penetrate skin or other surface of a user, and wherein the material source includes a coating on the one or more needles. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow activator includes one or more needles arranged to penetrate skin or other surface of a user, and wherein the material source includes a dissolvable material in or on the one or more needles. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow activator includes one or more needles arranged to penetrate skin or other surface of a user, and wherein the material source includes a reservoir including the material and a positive pressure source arranged to force the material from the reservoir to the one or more needles. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more needles are hollow and the material is forced through the hollow needle(s) and into a subject surface penetrated by the needle(s).