An apparatus of examining organism surface includes a pliable member including a contact layer, a plurality of channels, and a reaction layer in which the channels are disposed between the contact layer and the reaction layer; the channels have a size in the range of micrometers and are formed of biocompatibility materials; the contact layer includes a plurality of spherical projections for examination having a size in the range of micrometers and being formed of biocompatibility materials; and the reaction layer includes examining molecules and a reaction unit.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for monitoring and/or providing feedback for drugs or other pharmaceuticals taken by a subject. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to devices and methods for determining a species within the skin of a subject; and producing feedback to a subject based on the determination of the species. The feedback may be, for example, visual, audible, tactile, a change in temperature, etc. In some cases, information regarding the determination of the species may be transmitted to another entity, e.g., a health care provider, a computer, a relative, etc., which may then provide feedback to the subject in some fashion. In some cases, the feedback may be directly indicative of the species, e.g., whether the species is present, the concentration of the species, whether a by-product of a reaction involving the species is present, whether a compound affected by the species is present, etc. However, the feedback may also be indirect in some embodiments. For example, the subject may be presented with an external reward, e.g., based on the determination of the species within the skin. For instance, a reward such as cash, coupons, songs, discounts, personal items, etc., may be offered based on the level of compliance of the subject. Still other aspects of the invention are generally directed to kits involving such devices (with or without the drug to be monitored), methods of promoting such systems, or the like.

A system for determining the presence of cell-free non-coding RNA (cfNCR) biomarkers in interstitial fluid includes a microfluidic device for non-invasively and passively accessing interstitial fluid from a patient. The microfluidic device is formed of a substrate containing multiple vertical micro channels therethrough, wherein at a first end of each of the multiple vertical micro channels a microheater is formed for controllably ablating a portion of dry dead skin cells to access the interstitial fluid; and wherein at a second end of each of the multiple vertical micro channels is a horizontal micro channel for receiving accessed interstitial fluid from a vertical micro channel and guiding the accessed interstitial fluid to a common collection port.

Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. A system includes an extracellular-fluid collection device configured to be positioned at a location on a skin of a mammal. In an embodiment, the mammal includes a live human. The system includes an ultrasonic wave transmitter configured to emit ultrasonic shear waves directable at the location. The ultrasonic shear waves have a frequency or amplitude selected to increase a permeability of the skin of the mammal to an extracellular-fluid. In an embodiment, the system includes a sensor configured to determine a rate or amount of extracellular-fluid collected by the extracellular-fluid collection device. In an embodiment, the system includes a fluid collection controller configured to regulate a parameter of ultrasonic shear waves transmitted by the ultrasonic wave transmitter in response to a determined rate or amount of fluid collected by the extracellular-fluid collection device.

This invention relates primarily to a fluid collection device for laboratory analysis. Accordingly, the fluid collection device (100) includes a specimen collection tube assembly (200); characterised in that the specimen collection tube assembly (200) comprises: a) a barrel (210) defining a first chamber (211); b) an inner tube or plunger (220) defining a second chamber (221). It should be noted that the barrel (210) is provided with a luer tip (214) at one end, and another end (215) is in slidable sealing engagement with the inner tube (220) defining a closed system thereof. The inner tube (220) is provided with a luer tip (224) at one end, and the opposite end is equipped with a seal (222) separating the first and second chambers (211 and 221) in said closed system. It should be noted that a conduit (212) is selectively provided either at the luer tip (224) of the inner tube (220) extended towards the second chamber (221) or from the luer tip (214) of the barrel (210) extended towards the first chamber (211). The luer tip (214) of the barrel (210) and the luer tip (224) of the inner tube (220) are releasably provided with at least one luer knob (230a or 230b), such that the luer knob (230a or 230b) can be selectively loosened or tightened for negative pressure release in the closed system to allow fluid drop under the gravity.

A measuring apparatus includes: a measuring unit to measure a signal value corresponding to a concentration of a specified substance of a first sample; an acquiring unit to acquire a reference value pertaining to the specified substance of a second sample; a calculating unit to calculate a concentration value of the specified substance of the first sample, based on the signal value and the reference value; a timing determination unit to determine timing for calibrating the reference value when satisfying at least one of a first condition that an activity status of a user is a predetermined status and a second condition that a variation in the concentration value of the specified substance of the first sample is equal to or smaller than a threshold value; and an input request unit to request the user to input the reference value at the determined timing.

A pen format liquid collection device includes an elongate generally tubular housing (12, 112, 212, 312) able to be held by hand and having an opening at one end, and at least one liquid take-up element (30, 130, 230, 330) mounted in the housing so as to be positioned or positionable to project at the opening, the at least one liquid take-up element then further postionable by hand manipulation of the housing to contact a volume of liquid to thereby take-up a sample of the liquid to be analysed. At least one retention element (230a, 330a) is supported in the housing. The at least one liquid take-up element and the at least one retention element are arranged whereby they are relatively movable into contact, and the at least one retention element is adapted on contact to in turn take-up the sample and retain the sample or a component thereof for in situ analysis or later recovery while protected within the housing. The liquid take-up element is preferably a capillary.

Methods, structures, and systems are disclosed for biosensing and drug delivery techniques. In one aspect, a device for detecting an analyte and/or releasing a biochemical into a biological fluid can include an array of hollowed needles, in which each needle includes a protruded needle structure including an exterior wall forming a hollow interior and an opening at a terminal end of the protruded needle structure that exposes the hollow interior, and a probe inside the exterior wall to interact with one or more chemical or biological substances that come in contact with the probe via the opening to produce a probe sensing signal, and an array of wires that are coupled to probes of the array of hollowed needles, respectively, each wire being electrically conductive to transmit the probe sensing signal produced by a respective probe.

Disclosed is a device for non-invasively sampling interstitial fluid including one or more analytes from dermis to the skin surface by employing the magneto-hydrodynamic effect and/or reverse iontophoresis. According to a preferable embodiment the device includes a first frame including a first electrode and a second frame including a second electrode, power source and preferably also a first magnet. The first frame is connected to the second frame by a formable connector adapted to provide mechanical connection between the first frame and the second frame and electrical connection between the power source and the first electrode. The direction of the magnetic field and the direction of the electric current produced by the magnet and the power source is such that the Lorenz force drives the fluid from the dermis towards the skin surface.