Transcutaneous analyte sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9610031-B2
Application number	US-201113086160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2011
Priority date	Jul 13, 2004
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host including a sensor; a mounting unit for placement on the skin of a host; a sensor introducer coupled to the sensor and to the mounting unit, the sensor introducer configured to transcutaneously introduce a portion of the sensor through a skin of the host to a first position relative to the mounting unit, and a data processing unit configured to couple to the mounting unit, the data processing unit displacing the sensor to a second position relative to the mounting unit upon coupling to the mounting unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly, comprising:
a sensor;
a mounting unit for placement on a skin of a host;
a sensor introducer coupled to the sensor and to the mounting unit, the sensor introducer configured to transcutaneously introduce a portion of the sensor through the skin of the host to a first predetermined location relative to the mounting unit; and
a data processing unit configured to be coupled to the mounting unit by the host or a caretaker, the data processing unit pushing the sensor forward to a second predetermined location relative to the mounting unit upon coupling to the mounting unit.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the pushing causes a flexing of the sensor.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes an engagement portion configured to couple to a housing of the data processing unit, such that the portion of the sensor is pushed forward with the movement of the data processing unit when coupling to the mounting unit.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the data processing unit is configured to be in electrical contact with the sensor to receive one or more signals associated with an analyte of the host.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the data processing unit is coupled to the mounting unit when in electrical contact with the sensor.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the data processing unit transmits data associated with the one or more signals associated with the analyte.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the data processing unit wirelessly transmits the data to a remote location.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the transmitted data are output at the remote location.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a glucose sensor.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor introducer includes a deployment mechanism to transcutaneously introduce the portion of the sensor.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the deployment mechanism is actuated to transcutaneously introduce the portion of the sensor.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the deployment mechanism includes a manual deployment mechanism.

13. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the deployment mechanism includes a spring biased deployment mechanism.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor is positioned at the first predetermined location prior to being positioned at the second predetermined location.

15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor is maintained at the second predetermined location during the sensing time period.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the sensing time period includes one of approximately three days, approximately five days, or approximately seven days.

17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a working electrode formed with one or more of carbon, gold, metal alloy or a conductive polymer.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the portion of the sensor is transcutaneously introduced through the skin to the first predetermined location at a first angle relative to a surface of the skin, and further, wherein the transcutaneously introduced sensor is pushed forward to the second predetermined location at a second angle relative to the surface of the skin.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the first angle and the second angle are the same.

20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein one or more of the first angle and the second angle are approximately 90 degrees or less.

21. A method, comprising:
positioning a mounting unit on a skin layer of a host;
transcutaneously positioning a portion of an analyte sensor at a first predetermined location, the analyte sensor configured for fluid contact with interstitial fluid under a skin layer;
coupling a data processing unit to the mounting unit; and
displacing the portion of the analyte sensor from the first predetermined location to a second predetermined location relative to the mounting unit when the data processing unit is coupled to the mounting unit.

22. An apparatus, comprising:
a mounting unit for placement on a skin layer;
an analyte sensor;
an introducer coupled to the analyte sensor and configured to transcutaneously position the analyte sensor at a first predetermined location relative to the mounting unit in fluid contact with interstitial fluid under the skin layer; and
a data processing unit configured to couple the mounting unit, the data processing unit is configured to displace the analyte sensor to a second predetermined location relative to the mounting unit when the data processing unit is coupled to the mounting unit.

Assignees

• Brister Mark
• Neale Paul V
• Petisce James R
• Thrower James Patrick
• Saint Sean
• Nolting John
• Dexcom Inc

Inventors

• Brister Mark
• Neale Paul V
• Petisce James R
• Thrower James Patrick
• Saint Sean
• Nolting John

Classifications

• A61B5/14532 Primary

  for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement · CPC title

• A61M2005/1585

  Needle inserters · CPC title

• A61B5/0002

  Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07) · CPC title

• A61B5/6849

  in combination with a needle set · CPC title

• A61B5/1495

  Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes · CPC title