Devices are provided to automatically access blood from beneath or within skin. These devices include a plurality of injectors configured to drive needles into the skin and draw samples of blood into the device. These devices additionally include a plurality of sensors which can detect a target analyte in the blood samples received by the device. These devices further include a user interface, which may prompt the user to self-administer a dose of a substance, or accept a user input which could affect or otherwise influence the activation of the device (i.e., the firing of needles to draw blood samples into the device and detect an analyte). These devices can be wearable and configured to automatically access blood from skin, for example, to access blood from the skin at one or more points in time after the user has self-administered a dose of a substance.

The present invention generally relates, in certain aspects, to relatively small devices applied to the skin, modular systems, and methods of use thereof. In some aspects, the device is constructed and arranged to have more than one module. For instance, the device may have a module for delivering to and/or withdrawing fluid from the skin and/or beneath the skin of a subject and a module for transmitting a signal indicative of the fluid delivered to and/or withdrawn from the skin and/or beneath the skin of the subject, a module for analyzing a fluid withdrawn from the skin and/or beneath the skin of the subject, or the like. In some embodiments, the modules are connectable and/or detachable from each other, and in some cases, the connections and/or detachments may be performed while the device is in contact with the subject, e.g., while affixed to the subject. In some embodiments, the device may be repeatedly applicable to the skin of the subject to deliver to and/or withdraw fluid from the skin and/or beneath the skin of a subject, e.g., at the same location, or at different locations on the skin of the subject. In some aspects, the devices may be self-contained and/or have a relatively small size, and in some cases, the device may be sized such that it is wearable and/or able to be carried by a subject. For example, the device may have a mass and/or dimensions that allow the device to be carried or worn by a subject for various periods of time, e.g., at least about an hour, at least about a day, at least about a week, etc., or no more than about an hour, no more than about 10 min, etc.

Methods and devices are provided for sample collection and sample separation. In one embodiment, a device is provided for use with a formed component liquid sample, the device comprising at least one sample inlet for receiving said sample; at least a first outlet for outputting only a liquid portion of the formed component liquid sample; at least a second outlet for outputting the formed component liquid sample at least a first material mixed therein.

A suction applying device (10) for applying suction to a sampling unit (50) for sampling bodily fluid, wherein the suction applying device comprises a syringe body (12) with a hollow interior (14) and a piston (20) movable inside the hollow interior of the syringe body. The syringe body has a rear end (16) through which a piston rod (21) connected to the piston extends outside of the syringe body and by means of which the piston can be moved, and a front end (18) opposite the rear end. The suction applying device further comprises a connection arrangement (130) configured for connection of a sampling unit, wherein the connection arrangement is located at the front end of the syringe body. The suction applying device also comprises a first conduit (40) having a rear opening (41) connecting the first conduit to a rear portion (14b) of the hollow interior, in which rear portion a sub-pressure is created when the piston is moved forward inside the hollow interior, and a front opening (42) by means of which the first conduit is connectable to a sampling unit. The suction applying device also comprises a second conduit (46) that connects a front portion (14a) of the hollow interior with the exterior of the syringe body, and which front portion is located between the piston and the front end of the syringe body. Also disclosed is an apparatus for sampling bodily fluid, comprising a suction applying device and a sampling unit, as well as a method for detecting a component in a bodily fluid.

An apparatus includes a housing, a flow control mechanism, and an actuator. At least a portion of the flow control mechanism is movably disposed within the housing. The apparatus further includes an inlet port and an outlet port, and defines a fluid reservoir. The outlet port is fluidically coupled to a second fluid reservoir and is fluidically isolated from the first fluid reservoir. The actuator is configured to move the flow control mechanism between a first configuration, in which the inlet port is placed in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir such that the fluid reservoir receives a first flow of bodily-fluid, and a second configuration, in which the inlet port is placed in fluid communication with the outlet port.

A fluid control device includes an inlet configured to be placed directly or indirectly in fluid communication with a bodily fluid source and an outlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with a fluid collection device. The fluid control device has a first state in which a negative pressure differential produced from an external source such as the fluid collection device is applied to the fluid control device to draw an initial volume of bodily fluid from the bodily fluid source, through the inlet, and into a sequestration portion of the fluid control device. The fluid control device has a second state in which (1) the sequestration portion sequesters the initial volume, and (2) the negative pressure differential draws a subsequent volume of bodily fluid, being substantially free of contaminants, from the bodily fluid source, through the fluid control device, and into the fluid collection device.

The present application provides a semiconductor device and the method of making the same. The method includes recessing a fin extending from a substrate, forming a base epitaxial feature on the recessed fin, forming a bar-like epitaxial feature on the base epitaxial feature, and forming a conformal epitaxial feature on the bar-like epitaxial feature. The forming of the bar-like epitaxial feature includes in-situ doping the bar-like epitaxial feature with an n-type dopant at a first doping concentration. The forming of the conformal epitaxial feature includes in-situ doping the conformal epitaxial feature with a second doping concentration greater than the first doping concentration.

A fluid control device includes an inlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with a bodily fluid source and an outlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with a fluid collection device, which can produce a negative pressure differential between the outlet and the inlet. A sequestration portion is in fluid communication with the inlet and includes a first flow controller configured to transition from a first state to a second state to place the sequestration portion in fluid communication with the outlet when the negative pressure differential has a first magnitude. A sampling portion is in fluid communication with an outlet and includes a second flow controller configured to transition from a first state to a second state to place the sampling portion in fluid communication with the inlet when the negative pressure differential has a second magnitude greater than the first magnitude.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or receiving a substance or substances such as blood from subjects. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to devices and methods for receiving or extracting blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin, using devices containing a substance transfer component (for example, one or more needles or microneedles) and a reduced pressure or vacuum chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In some embodiments, the device may contain a “snap dome” or other deformable structure, which may be used, at least in part, to urge or move needles or other suitable substance transfer components into the skin of a subject. In some cases, for example, the device may contain a flexible concave member and a needle mechanically coupled to the flexible concave member such that the needle may be urged or moved into the skin using the flexible concave member. Other aspects of the present invention are directed at other devices for receiving blood (or other bodily fluids, e.g., interstitial fluid), kits involving such devices, methods of making such devices, methods of using such devices, and the like.

An instrument advancement device may include a housing comprising a distal end and a proximal end; an instrument disposed within the housing; an advancement element, wherein in response to movement of the advancement element with respect to the housing, the instrument is configured to advance distal to the distal end of the housing, and a blood sample collection tube inserted into the distal end of the housing, wherein the blood sample collection tube is configured to receive a small volume blood sample.