Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or withdrawing a substance or substances such as blood or interstitial fluid, from subjects, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to devices and methods for withdrawing or extracting blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin, using devices containing a fluid transporter (for example, one or more microneedles), and a storage chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In some cases, the device may be self-contained, and in certain instances, the device can be applied to the skin, and activated to withdraw blood from the subject. The device, or a portion thereof, may then be processed to determine the blood and/or an analyte within the blood, alone or with an external apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for generating encrypted media content items as well as decrypting encrypted media content items. A content type is embedded in an initialization vector corresponding to an encrypted sample. Upon decryption of encrypted content, the content type is identified and an action taken based upon the detected content type.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or withdrawing a substance or substances such as blood or interstitial fluid, from subjects, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to devices and methods for withdrawing or extracting blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin, using devices containing a fluid transporter (for example, one or more microneedles), and a storage chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In some cases, the device may be self-contained, and in certain instances, the device can be applied to the skin, and activated to withdraw blood from the subject. The device, in some cases, may be interfaced with external equipment to determine an analyte contained within a fluid contained within or collected by the device.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to receiving bodily fluid through a device opening. In one aspect, the device includes a flow activator arranged to cause fluid to be released from a subject. A deployment actuator may actuate the flow activator in a deployment direction, which may in turn cause fluid release from a subject. The flow activator may also be moved in a retraction direction by a retraction actuator. In one aspect, the device may include a vacuum source that may help facilitate fluid flow into the opening of the device and/or may help facilitate fluid flow from the opening to a storage chamber. In one aspect, a device actuator may enable fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum source and the flow activator may be actuated after the enablement of fluid communication.

Abstract: Peelable seals including porous inserts are described. An example peelable seal includes a porous insert positioned between a first sheet and a second sheet. The porous insert includes a plurality of interwoven strands and a plurality of pores adjacent the interwoven strands through which a bond is formed between the first sheet and the second sheet when heat is applied to at least one of the first sheet, the second sheet or the porous insert.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to receiving bodily fluid through a device opening. In one aspect, the device includes a flow activator arranged to cause fluid to be released from a subject. The flow activator may be actuated in a deployment direction by a deployment actuator, which may in turn cause fluid release from a subject. The flow activator may also be moved in a retraction direction by a retraction actuator. In one aspect, the device may include a vacuum source that may help facilitate fluid flow into the opening of the device and/or may help facilitate fluid flow from the opening to a storage chamber. In one aspect, an effector may enable fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum source and may do so in response to actuation of the flow activator.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices and techniques associated with diagnostics, therapies, and other applications, including skin-associated applications, for example, devices for delivering and/or withdrawing fluid from subjects, e.g., through the skin. In some embodiments, the device includes a system for accessing an extractable medium from and/or through the skin of the subject at an access site, and a pressure regulator supported by a support structure, able to create a pressure differential across the skin at at least a portion of the access site. The device may also include, in some cases, a sensor supported by the support structure for determining at least one condition of the extractable medium from the subject, and optionally a signal generator supported by the support structure for generating a signal relating to the condition of the medium determined by the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to receiving bodily fluid through a device opening. In one aspect, the device includes a flow activator arranged to cause fluid to be released from a subject. A deployment actuator may actuate the flow activator in a deployment direction, which may in turn cause fluid release from a subject. The flow activator may also be moved in a retraction direction by a retraction actuator. In one aspect, the device may include a vacuum source that may help facilitate fluid flow into the opening of the device and/or may help facilitate fluid flow from the opening to a storage chamber. In one aspect, a device actuator may enable fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum source and the flow activator may be actuated after the enablement of fluid communication.

Abstract: When a user receives digital content from a host over a network, such as streaming media, the user typically desires to receive a certain quality of the digital content with few or no interruptions. Techniques may be used to store and monitor a quality of digital content, a quality of the transmission of the digital content that is transmitted to a client device of a user, and/or the quality of rendering of the digital content by the client device. The techniques may provide restitution to the user when the quality of the digital content, transmission, and/or rendering thereof fails to comply with predetermined threshold values.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for generating encrypted media content items as well as decrypting encrypted media content items. A content type is embedded in an initialization vector corresponding to an encrypted sample. Upon decryption of encrypted content, the content type is identified and an action taken based upon the detected content type.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for generating encrypted media content items as well as decrypting encrypted media content items. A content type is embedded in an initialization vector corresponding to an encrypted sample. Upon decryption of encrypted content, the content type is identified and an action taken based upon the detected content type.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for receiving blood (or other bodily fluids) from a subject, e.g., from or beneath the skin of a subject. In some cases, the blood (or other bodily fluids) may be deposited on a membrane or other substrate. For example, blood may be absorbed in a substrate, and dried in some cases to produce a dried blood spot. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to devices and methods for receiving blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin, using devices including a substance transfer component (which may contain, for example, one or more microneedles), and directing the blood on a substrate, e.g., for absorbing blood. The substrate, in some embodiments, may comprise filter paper or cotton-based paper. After absorption of some blood onto the substrate, the substrate may be removed from the device and shipped or analyzed. In some cases, the device itself may be shipped or analyzed.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices and techniques associated with diagnostics, therapies, and other applications, including skin-associated applications, for example, devices for delivering and/or withdrawing fluid from subjects, e.g., through the skin. In some embodiments, the device includes a system for accessing an extractable medium from and/or through the skin of the subject at an access site, and a pressure regulator supported by a support structure, able to create a pressure differential across the skin at at least a portion of the access site. The device may also include, in some cases, a sensor supported by the support structure for determining at least one condition of the extractable medium from the subject, and optionally a signal generator supported by the support structure for generating a signal relating to the condition of the medium determined by the sensor.

Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to providing access to media content for travelers during a trip, where the trip may include lodging, transit, and/or activities. A service provider may obtain information about a user and a trip. The service provider may determine information about the user, such as account information that may identify media content that is typically accessible by the user. An amount of available space on a device may be determined that can be used to store prefetched content for the trip. Recommended content may be selected to fill the amount of space on the device. The recommended content may be based on information about the user, information about the trip, and/or other information. The recommended content may be downloaded onto the device prior to the trip so that the user has access to the content from the device during the trip.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or receiving a substance or substances such as blood, from subjects, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin. In one aspect, the present invention is generally 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 fluid transporter (for example, one or more microneedles), and a storage chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In some cases, the device may be self-contained, and in certain instances, the device can be applied to the skin, and activated to receive blood from the subject. The device, or a portion thereof, may then be processed to determine the blood and/or an analyte within the blood, alone or with an external apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or receiving a substance or substances such as blood, from subjects, e.g., from the skin and/or from other tissues of the body. In some cases, the device may contain a substance transfer component such as needles or microneedles, which can be inserted into the skin or another organ to deliver and/or receiving fluid or other substances from the subject. In some embodiments, the device may include an activator constructed and arranged to insert one or more substance transfer components into the skin or other organ. In certain cases, the device may also include a storage chamber for receiving a fluid received from the subject.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for assignment and switching of content sources for a streaming content session are described. Embodiments may include the generation and use of content source rankings for improving playback quality of content streams. In embodiments, a merchant system may collect and aggregate multiple quality metrics for different content streams that various content sources provide to various clients. The merchant system may utilize the quality metrics to generate rankings of content sources for clients. The merchant system may provide such rankings to clients to improve the content stream playback experience on the client. For instance, at content acquisition time, a client may request a content stream from a content resource ranked highest on a content source ranking provided by the merchant. If the content stream degrades, the client may source subsequent portions of the content stream from another highly ranked content source of the ranking.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering to and/or receiving fluids or other materials, such as blood or interstitial fluid, from subjects, e.g., from the skin. Beading disruptors and/or capillaries may be used for facilitating the transport of fluids from a subject into a device. Beading disruptors may disrupt the “pooling” of bodily fluids such as blood on the surface of the skin and help influence flow in a desired way. A capillary may conduct flow of fluid in the device, e.g., to an inlet of a channel or other flow path that leads to a storage chamber. A vacuum (reduced pressure relative to ambient) may be used to receive fluid into the device, e.g., by using relatively low pressure to draw fluid into the inlet of a channel leading to a storage chamber. The vacuum source may be part of the device and have a volume that is larger than a recess of the fluid transporter that receives fluid from a surface.

Abstract: A blood component sampling system and method are disclosed. The system is pre-connected and includes a collected blood component container and a reservoir having substantially fixed volume and at least one volumetric indicator indicating a selected volume and a sample container docking station configured to cooperate with a sample collection container. The system and method provide ease of sampling with reduced risk of contamination.

Abstract: Embodiments may include the generation and use of content source rankings for improving playback quality of content streams. In embodiments, a merchant system may collect and aggregate multiple quality metrics for different content streams that various content sources provide to various clients. The merchant system may utilize the quality metrics to generate rankings of content sources for clients. In some cases, a client itself may generate a ranking of content sources for use in the selection of content sources. The merchant system may provide such rankings to clients to improve the content stream playback experience on the client. For instance, at content acquisition time, a client may request a content stream from a content resource ranked highest on a content source ranking provided by the merchant. If the content stream degrades, the client may source subsequent portions of the content stream from another highly ranked content source of the ranking.