1. A device for receiving fluid from a subject, the device comprising:
a fluid transporter including an opening and a flow activator, the flow activator being arranged to cause fluid to be released from the subject;
a deployment actuator constructed and arranged to move the flow activator in a deployment direction; and
a retraction actuator constructed and arranged to move the flow activator in a retraction direction.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployment actuator is attached to the retraction actuator.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the deployment actuator and retraction actuator are connected via an effector body.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployment actuator is reversibly moveable in deployment and retraction directions.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployment actuator has a concave portion facing the opening prior to movement in the deployment direction, and convex portion facing the opening after movement in the deployment direction.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployment actuator comprises a snap dome.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployment actuator comprises a plurality of lobes.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployment actuator, when actuated, moves in a deployment direction upon the application of a force to the deployment actuator of at least 0.1 Nor at least 0.3 N.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployment actuator comprises a polymer or a metal.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployment actuator has a maximum dimension of no more than 4 cm.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployment actuator, when actuated, moves in a deployment direction at an average speed of at least 1 cms, or at least 10 cms.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployment actuator, when actuated, moves from a pre-deployment position to a post-deployment position in a period of time of less than about 0.002 seconds.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployment actuator, when actuated, moves from a pre-deployment position to a post-deployment position at a peak acceleration of at least 100,000 meterssecond.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein no portion of the deployment actuator moves more than about 5 mm when the deployment actuator, when actuated, moves in a deployment direction.
15. The device of claim 1, wherein the flow activator comprises one or more needles or microneedles.
16-19. (canceled)
20. The device of claim 1, wherein the flow activator is fixed to the deployment actuator.
21. The device of claim 20, wherein the flow activator is fixed to the deployment actuator via a transducing structure or membrane.
22. The device of claim 1, further comprising a device actuator able to cause the deployment actuator to move in a deployment direction.
23. The device of claim 22, wherein the device actuator comprises a button or slider.
24. The device of claim 22, wherein when the device actuator comprises at least a first portion manipulatable by a user, and a second portion arranged to move the deployment actuator in a deployment direction.
25. The device of claim 22, wherein at least a portion of the device actuator is able to slide laterally over the deployment actuator to move the deployment actuator in a deployment direction.
26. The device of claim 22, wherein at least a portion of the device actuator is able to be forced downwardly into the deployment actuator to move the deployment actuator in a deployment direction.
27. The device of claim 1, further comprising a device actuator able to cause the retraction actuator to move in a retraction direction.
28. The device of claim 1, wherein the retraction actuator comprises a spring.
29. The device of claim 28, wherein the spring is in a relatively high-energy state before deployment and a relatively low-energy state after retraction.
30. The device of claim 1, wherein the retraction actuator comprises a coil spring or leaf spring.
31. The device of claim 1, wherein the retraction actuator comprises a multi-legged leaf spring.
32. The device of claim 1, wherein the retraction actuator comprises an elastic member.
33. The device of claim 1, wherein the retraction actuator moves the deployment actuator away from the opening in a retraction direction.
34. The device of claim 1, wherein no portion of the deployment actuator moves more than 10 mm when the retraction actuator moves in a retraction direction.
35. The device of claim 1, wherein the retraction actuator is locked in place after retraction.
36. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployment actuator is actuated by moving the retraction actuator in a retraction direction.
37. The device of claim 1, further comprising a housing including a base and a cover that enclose the deployment and retraction actuators, wherein a portion of the housing defines the opening.
38. The device of claim 37, wherein the housing defines a vacuum source arranged to cause flow of fluid from the opening into the housing.
39. The device of claim 38, further comprising a channel that creates a fluidic coupling between the vacuum source and the opening such that flow caused by the vacuum source is at least partially through the channel.
40. The device of claim 39, further comprising a storage chamber that has a fluidic coupling to the channel so that fluid in the channel enters the storage chamber.
41. The device of claim 38, further comprising a seal arranged to control flow between the vacuum source and the opening.
42. The device of claim 41, wherein a device actuator is arranged to act on the seal to enable flow between the vacuum source and the opening.
43. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes an indicator to indicate receipt of fluid.
44. A device for receiving fluid from a subject, the device comprising:
an opening arranged to receive a fluid; and
a flow activator that is at a first distance from the opening before deployment and a second distance from the opening after retraction, the first distance being different from the second distance.
45-57. (canceled)
58. A device for receiving fluid from a subject, the device comprising:
a fluid transporter including an opening and a flow activator, the flow activator being movable for deployment to cause fluid to be released from the subject and being movable for retraction away from the subject; and
an effector that includes only mechanical components and is free of electronic control that moves the flow activator for deployment and retraction, wherein deployment movement of the flow activator occurs substantially faster than retraction movement of the flow activator.
59. The device of claim 58 wherein the effector includes a deployment actuator and a retraction actuator, and wherein the deployment actuator is arranged to move the flow activator in the deployment direction and the retraction actuator is arranged to move the flow activator in the retraction direction.
60. The device of claim 59, wherein the deployment actuator includes a spring element arranged to move the flow activator in the deployment direction, and a retraction actuator includes a spring element arranged to move the flow activator in the retraction direction.
61. The device of claim 59, wherein the deployment actuator and the retraction actuator are attached together.
62. The device of claim 58, wherein the flow activator includes one or more needles.
63. The device of claim 58, further comprising a housing including a base and a cover that enclose the flow activator and the effector, wherein a portion of the housing defines the opening.
64. The device of claim 63, wherein the housing defines a vacuum source arranged to cause flow of fluid from the opening into the housing.
65. The device of claim 64, further comprising a channel that has a fluidic coupling between the vacuum source and the opening such that flow caused by the vacuum source is at least partially through the channel.
66. The device of claim 65, further comprising a storage chamber that has a fluidic coupling to the channel so that fluid in the channel enters the storage chamber.
67. The device of claim 64, further comprising a seal arranged to control flow between the vacuum source and the opening.
68. The device of claim 67, wherein a device actuator is arranged to enable flow between the vacuum source and the opening.
69. The device of claim 68, wherein the device actuator includes a piercing member, the piercing member being arranged to pierce the seal to enable flow between the vacuum source and the opening.
70. The device of claim 58, wherein the device includes an indicator to indicate receipt of fluid.
71. A device for receiving fluid from a subject, the device comprising:
a fluid transporter including an opening and a flow activator, the flow activator being arranged to cause fluid to be released from the subject;
a vacuum source providing a pressure less than ambient pressure; and
a channel creating a fluidic coupling between the opening and the vacuum source,
wherein the flow activator is actuated after enablement of fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum source along the channel.
72. The device of claim 71, wherein the flow activator is retracted after the enablement of fluid communication.
73. The device of claim 71, wherein the flow activator is deployed after the enablement of fluid communication.
74. The device of claim 71, wherein the vacuum source has a pressure, prior to introduction of a bodily fluid from the subject, that is less than about 300 mmHg below atmospheric pressure.
75. The device of claim 71, wherein the vacuum source has a volume of less than about 10 ml.
76-80. (canceled)
81. The device of claim 71, further comprising an adhesive positioned on a surface of the device that is applied to the skin of the subject.
82. The device of claim 71, further comprising a storage chamber that has a fluidic coupling to the channel so that fluid in the channel enters the storage chamber.
83-84. (canceled)
85. The device of claim 71, further comprising a device actuator, wherein actuation of a device actuator causes enablement of fluid communication and actuation of the flow activator to occur.
86. The device of claim 85, wherein fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum source along the channel is enabled by a piercing member mechanically coupled to the device actuator such that the piercing member is able to move when the device actuator is actuated.
87. The device of claim 85, wherein, after actuation of the device actuator, enablement of fluid communication and actuation of the flow activator is independent of any subsequent force applied to the device actuator.
88. The device of claim 87, further comprising a retraction actuator that moves the flow activator in a retraction direction.
89. The device of claim 88, wherein the retraction actuator comprises a torsion spring.
90. The device of claim 71, wherein the flow activator is actuated by a pressure differential.
91. (canceled)
92. A device for receiving fluid from a subject, the device comprising:
a vacuum source providing a pressure less than ambient pressure;
a fluid transporter including an opening and a flow activator arranged to cause fluid to be released from the subject, the flow activator being movable in a deployment direction and a retraction direction; and
a channel creating a fluidic coupling between the opening and the vacuum source, wherein fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum source through the channel is enabled before the flow activator is moved in the retraction direction.
93. The device of claim 92, wherein fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum source through the channel is enabled before the flow activator is moved in the deployment direction.
94. A device for receiving fluid from a subject, the device comprising:
a fluid transporter including an opening and a flow activator, the flow activator being arranged to cause fluid to be released from the subject;
a vacuum source providing a pressure less than ambient pressure;
a channel creating a fluidic coupling between the opening and the vacuum source; and
a device actuator that actuates the flow activator and enables fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum source along the channel.
95. A device for receiving fluid from a subject, the device comprising:
a fluid transporter including a flow activator, the flow activator being arranged to cause fluid to be released from the subject; and
an effector having an initial stored potential energy prior to any deployment movement of the flow activator, the effector being arranged to release the stored potential energy to retract the flow activator.
96. A device for receiving fluid from a subject, the device comprising:
a housing including a flow activator, the flow activator being arranged to cause fluid to be released from the subject and being moveable relative to the housing;
a deployment actuator arranged to move the flow activator in a deployment direction; and
a retraction actuator arranged to move the flow activator in a retraction direction,
wherein the flow activator, the deployment actuator, and the retraction actuator are substantially concentrically aligned.
97. The device of claim 96, furthering comprising a spacer element located between the deployment actuator and the retraction actuator, the spacer element being concentrically aligned with the deployment actuator.
98. The device of claim 96, wherein the deployment actuator is coupled to the flow activator.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system for use with a patient in a healthcare environment, the system comprising:
a medical device configured to monitor or treat a patient, the medical device being for use in a room in which the patient is located and comprising an alarm unit configured to issue an audible alarm;
a detection unit configured to detect whether a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located;
a remote alarm unit configured to issue an alarm to alert a healthcare staff member located outside the room in which the patient is located; and
a control unit that is connected to the medical device, the detection unit and the remote alarm unit, the control unit being configured to:
(i) control the alarm unit in the medical device to issue an audible alarm in the event that (a) the medical device detects an alarm condition for the patient or the medical device and (b) the detection unit detects that a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; and
(ii) control the remote alarm unit to issue an audible alarm to alert a healthcare staff member located outside the room in which the patient is located in the event that (a) the medical device detects an alarm condition for the patient or the medical device and (b) the detection unit detects that no healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; and
wherein the detection unit or a second detection unit is configured to detect the distance of the healthcare staff member from the room in which the patient is located and the control unit is further configured to set the volume of the audible alarm issued by the remote alarm unit based on the distance of a healthcare staff member from the room in which the patient is located.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to prevent the alarm unit in the medical device from issuing an audible alarm in the event that the control unit controls the remote alarm unit to issue the alarm to alert a healthcare staff member.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control the alarm unit in the medical device to issue an audible alarm at a first volume level in the event that the medical device detects an alarm condition for the patient or the medical device and the detection unit detects that a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; and wherein the control unit is further configured to control the alarm unit in the medical device to issue an audible alarm at a second volume level in the event that the control unit controls the remote alarm unit to issue the alarm to alert a healthcare staff member, wherein the second volume level is lower than the first volume level.
4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured such that, if following the issue of an alarm by the remote alarm unit the detection unit detects that a healthcare staff member is in or has entered the patient room, the control unit controls the remote alarm unit to cease the issue of the alarm and controls the alarm unit in the medical device to issue an audible alarm.
5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote alarm unit comprises an alarm unit configured to issue an audible alarm and a visual indicator that is configured to be activated when the alarm unit in the remote alarm unit is controlled to issue an audible alarm.
6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured to modulate the luminance of the visual indicator coherently with the volume of the audible alarm.
7-8. (canceled)
9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to reduce the volume of the audible alarm issued by the remote alarm unit as the distance of the healthcare staff member from the room in which the patient is located decreases.
10. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to increase the volume of the audible alarm issued by the remote alarm unit as the distance of the healthcare staff member from the room in which the patient is located increases.
11. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to set the volume of the audible alarm issued by the remote alarm unit to a first level when the healthcare staff member is a first distance from the room in which the patient is located and a second level when the healthcare staff member is a second distance from the room in which the patient is located, wherein the first level is greater than the second level and the first distance is greater than the second distance.
12. A method of operating a system for use with a patient in a healthcare environment, the method comprising:
determining whether a healthcare staff member is in the room in which a medical device that is monitoring or treating a patient is located;
detecting the distance of the healthcare staff member from the room in which the patient is located; and
in the event that an alarm condition for the patient or medical device is detected:
(i) issuing an audible alarm from an alarm unit in the medical device if it is determined that a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; and
(ii) issuing an audible alarm from a remote alarm unit to alert a healthcare staff member located outside the room in which the patient is located if it is determined that no healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located, and setting the volume of the audible alarm based on the distance of a healthcare staff member from the room in which the patient is located.
13. A computer program product, comprising computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code being configured such that, on execution by one or more suitable computers or processing units, the one or more suitable computers or processing units are caused to execute the steps in the method of claim 12.
14. A medical device for use in monitoring or treating a patient in a patient bed, the position andor configuration of the patient bed being adjustable to the needs of the patient, the medical device being for use in a room in which the patient bed is located, the medical device comprising:
a sensor configured to monitor the patient andor the operation of the medical device;
a directional speaker configured to emit an alarm signal in the event that the sensor detects an alarm condition for the patient or the medical device, the directional speaker being configured to emit the alarm signal with spatial directivity such that the alarm signal is emitted substantially away from a patient on the patient bed;
a control unit that is configured to determine the position andor configuration of the patient bed or changes in the position and or configuration of the patient bed and to adjust the spatial directivity of the directional speaker in response to the position andor configuration of the patient bed or changes in the position andor configuration of the patient bed so that the alarm signal is emitted substantially away from a patient on the patient bed.
15. A method of operating a medical device for use in monitoring or treating a patient in a patient bed, in which the position andor configuration of the patient bed is adjustable to the needs of the patient, the medical device being for use in a room in which the patient bed is located, the medical device comprising a directional speaker configured to emit an alarm signal with spatial directivity; the method comprising:
determining the position andor configuration of the patient bed or changes in the position andor configuration of the patient bed; and
in the event that an alarm condition for the patient or medical device is detected, adjusting or setting the spatial directivity of the directional speaker in response to the position andor configuration of the patient bed or changes in the position andor configuration of the patient bed so that the alarm signal is emitted substantially away from a patient on the patient bed.