Abstract: A system and method for detecting substances such as glucose in tissue. The system comprises an assay device and an optical apparatus. The assay device comprises a reactive region that is responsive to at least one substance in fluid to be collected from the tissue when the fluid is in contact with the reactive region, and which reactive region is also responsive to a first type of optical energy suitable to heat up and transfer heat by conduction to the tissue to ablate the tissue and form at least one opening in the tissue from which fluid is collected. The optical apparatus has an activation head to which the assay device is attached, and a first optical energy source that outputs a first type of optical energy. An optical detecting device is included in the optical apparatus that measures a characteristic of the at least one substance from the response of the reactive region when the reactive region is in contact with the at least one substance.

Abstract: A device to facilitate ablation of tissue, such as for forming one or more openings in the tissue for transdermal monitoring and/or delivery applications. The device comprises: (a) a support layer having at least one aperture therein, and (b) at least one energy absorbent film layer disposed over the at least one aperture in the support layer for making substantial contact with tissue through the aperture. The at least one energy absorbent film layer is under a tension force and absorbs energy focused thereon to thermally ablate the tissue. After ablation, the layer breaks apart allowing access to the ablated tissue beneath it.