A minimally-invasive atopic dermatitis test method comprises the steps of: applying, to the skin of a subject, a microneedle patch including a plurality of microneedles made of a biodegradable hyaluronic acid polymer and having a solid core structure and a bottom layer which is a base on which the plurality of microneedles are formed; maintaining the microneedle patch attached to the skin of the subject for a predetermined time; separating the microneedle patch from the skin of the subject after a predetermined time has passed to input the microneedle patch to a quantitative test; reading the amount of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 adsorbed onto the surface of the microneedles of the microneedle patch in the quantitative test step; and evaluating atopic dermatitis activity on the basis of the reading of the amount of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13.

Disclosed embodiments relate to a collection device for bodily fluids comprising a tubular material with a first end and second end. A portion of the first end is configured to be secured to a user and the tubular material may be folded over itself to form a first sheath and a second sheath. In some applications, the fluid collection devices described may be secured to a user using interlocking loops.

A universal single-handed device for self-collection of a biological sample is described herein. The single-handed device may comprise a sheath comprising a distal end for insertion into a portion of a user's body, a shaft at least partially within the sheath, having a collection head for collecting the biological sample positioned at the distal end thereof, and an actuator coupled to the shaft to transition the distal end between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The collection head is covered by the distal end in the closed configuration and is exposed when the distal end is in the open configuration.

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.

An apparatus includes a housing, a fluid reservoir, a flow control mechanism, and an actuator. The housing defines an inner volume and has an inlet port that can be fluidically coupled to a patient and an outlet port. The fluid reservoir is disposed in the inner volume to receive and isolate a first volume of a bodily-fluid. The flow control mechanism is rotatable in the housing from a first configuration, in which a first lumen places the inlet port is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and a second configuration, in which a second lumen places the inlet port in fluid communication with the outlet port. The actuator is configured to create a negative pressure in the fluid reservoir and is configured to rotate the flow control mechanism from the first configuration to the second configuration after the first volume of bodily-fluid is received in the fluid reservoir.

An apparatus includes a housing, a fluid reservoir, a flow control mechanism, and an actuator. The housing defines an inner volume and has an inlet port that can be fluidically coupled to a patient and an outlet port. The fluid reservoir is disposed in the inner volume to receive and isolate a first volume of a bodily-fluid. The flow control mechanism is rotatable in the housing from a first configuration, in which a first lumen places the inlet port is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and a second configuration, in which a second lumen places the inlet port in fluid communication with the outlet port. The actuator is configured to create a negative pressure in the fluid reservoir and is configured to rotate the flow control mechanism from the first configuration to the second configuration after the first volume of bodily-fluid is received in the fluid reservoir.

Disclosed embodiments relate to a collection device for bodily fluids comprising a tubular material with a first end and second end. A portion of the first end is configured to be secured to a user and the tubular material may be folded over itself to form a first sheath and a second sheath. In some applications, the fluid collection devices described may be secured to a user using interlocking loops.

An apparatus includes a housing, a fluid reservoir, a flow control mechanism, and an actuator. The housing defines an inner volume and has an inlet port that can be fluidically coupled to a patient and an outlet port. The fluid reservoir is disposed in the inner volume to receive and isolate a first volume of a bodily-fluid. The flow control mechanism is rotatable in the housing from a first configuration, in which a first lumen places the inlet port is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and a second configuration, in which a second lumen places the inlet port in fluid communication with the outlet port. The actuator is configured to create a negative pressure in the fluid reservoir and is configured to rotate the flow control mechanism from the first configuration to the second configuration after the first volume of bodily-fluid is received in the fluid reservoir.

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.

Embodiments of the inventive concept include an interstitial fluid capture device configured to capture an interstitial fluid sample from the mouth of a user, an electrolyte measurement kit including said device, and a method for measuring electrolyte levels using said device. An exemplary device includes a main body portion configured for placement in the mouth of a user, the main body portion including a reservoir containing a hypertonic solution and having an opening that is sealed by a semipermeable membrane that permits a sample of interstitial fluid from the mouth of the user to be drawn through the membrane and into the solution reservoir. Various analyses may be performed on the captured interstitial fluid sample after removal of the device, including but not limited to, the assessment of one or more electrolyte levels through the use of various test strips or other techniques.