DELIVERING AND/OR RECEIVING MATERIAL WITH RESPECT TO A SUBJECT SURFACE
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 - 8 . (canceled)
9 . A material delivery/receiving device, including:
a device actuator;
a plurality of needles configured to deploy in response to actuation of the device actuator to form a plurality of openings in a subject's skin;
a material source configured to provide a drug or other material to the subject through the plurality of openings in the subject's skin formed by the plurality of needles; and
an adhesive configured to adhere the device to the subject's skin.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the drug or other material of the material source is configured to move through the plurality of openings by diffusion.
11 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the adhesive is configured to adhere the device to the subject's skin for hours.
12 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the adhesive is configured to adhere the device to the subject's skin for days.
13 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the adhesive is configured to adhere the device to the subject's skin for months.
14 . The device of claim 9 , further comprising mechanical elements configured to mechanically hold the device to the subject's skin.
15 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the material source comprises a drug eluting hydrogel arranged to release a drug for delivery to the plurality of openings in the subject's skin.
16 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the material source comprises a reservoir including the drug or other material, and the device further comprises a positive pressure source configured to force the drug or other material from the reservoir to the subject's skin.
17 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising a device cover, wherein the positive pressure source comprises positive pressure stored in space under the device cover.
18 . A method comprising:
providing a material delivery/receiving device including a device actuator, a plurality of needles, and a material source;
affixing the device to a subject's skin; and
actuating the device actuator, causing the plurality of needles to deploy to form a plurality of openings in the subject's skin,
wherein a drug or other material from the material source enters the subject's skin through the plurality of openings.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the device is affixed to the subject's skin for hours.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the device is affixed to the subject's skin for days.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the device is affixed to the subject's skin for months.
22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the device is affixed to the subject's skin via an adhesive.
23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the device is affixed to the subject's skin via mechanical elements.
24 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the drug or other material from the material source enters the subject's skin through the plurality of openings by diffusion.
25 . The method of claim 18 , wherein actuating the device actuator exposes the material source to a positive pressure, which drives the drug or other material into the plurality of openings.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein actuating the device actuator causes a membrane to be pierced, which exposes the material source to the positive pressure.
27 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising receiving blood or other material from the plurality of openings in the subject's skin into the device.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the blood or other material from the plurality of openings in the subject's skin is received into the device prior to the drug or other material from the material source entering the subject's skin.