Physiological sample collection devices and methods of using the same

• US 20020168290A1
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Devin V. Mcallister, Ernest Kiser, Koon-Wah Leong, Lorin Olson, Maria Teodorczyk, Vadim V. Yuzhakov
• Original Assignee: Devin V. Mcallister, Ernest Kiser, Koon-Wah Leong, Lorin Olson, Maria Teodorczyk, Vadim V. Yuzhakov
• Inventors: Teodorczyk, Maria, Leong, Koon-Wah, Yuzhakov, Vadim V., McAllister, Devin V., Olson, Lorin, Kiser, Ernest
• Application Number:
  US10/143,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20020168290A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/56
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14514 using means for aiding extraction of interstitial fluid, e.g. microneedles or suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150213 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150282 for piercing elements, e.g. blade, lancet, canula, needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150419 comprising means for capillary action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1519 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for propelling the piercing unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are provided for piercing the skin, accessing and collecting physiological sample therein, and measuring a characteristic, e.g., an analyte concentration, of the sampled physiological sample. The subject devices are in the form of a test strip which include a biosensor and at least one skin-piercing element which is a planar extension of a portion of the biosensor. At least one fluid pathway resides within a portion of the biosensor and within the skin-piercing element. The skin-piercing element has a space-defining configuration therein which acts as a sample fluid pooling area upon penetration into the skin. Systems are provided which include one or more test strip devices and a meter for making analyte concentration measurements. Methods for using the devices and systems are also provided.

Claims

1. A skin-piercing element for piercing the skin and accessing body fluid therein, said skin-piercing element comprising:

an opening within said skin-piercing element wherein said opening occupies a substantial portion of a width, diameter or length dimension of said skin-piercing element; and

a fluid pathway in fluid communication with said opening, wherein a pooling area is created within the skin by said opening upon insertion of said skin-piercing element into the skin.

2. The skin-piercing element of claim 1 wherein said opening has a volume in the range from about 50 to 500 nL.

3. The skin-piercing element of claim 1 wherein said occupies from about 50% to 95% of the volume occupied by said skin-piercing element.

4. The skin-piercing element of claim 1 wherein said skin-piercing element comprises a plastic material.

5. The skin-piercing element of claim 1 wherein said fluid pathway is dimensioned to apply a capillary force on fluid present within said pooling area.

6. The skin-piercing element of claim 1 further comprising a recess within a surface of said skin-piercing element, wherein said recess is in fluid communication with said opening.

7. The skin-piercing element of claim 6 wherein said recess has a concave configuration.

8. A test strip device comprising:

a biosensor for determining a characteristic of a physiological fluid;

at least one microneedle integral with and extending from said biosensor;

said microneedle comprising an opening which occupies a substantial portion of a width, diameter or length dimension of said microneedle; and

a fluid pathway extending from said biosensor to said microneedle wherein said fluid pathway is in fluid communication with said opening and said biosensor.

9. The test strip device according to claim 8, wherein said biosensor has an electrochemical configuration.

10. The test strip device according to claim 9, wherein said biosensor comprises at least two electrodes and wherein said at least one microneedle is a planar extension of one of said at least two electrodes.

11. The test strip device according to claim 10 wherein said electrode from which said microneedle extends comprises a conductive material formed on a substrate material, and said microneedle is formed from said substrate material.

12. The test strip device according to claim 11 wherein said microneedle is further formed from said conductive material.

13. The test strip device according to claim 10 wherein said microneedle and said associated electrode are formed from a unitary structure.

14. The test strip device according to claim 8 wherein said microneedle comprises a metal material.

15. The test strip device according to claim 8 wherein said microneedle comprises an inert material.

16. The test strip device according to claim 10, wherein said biosensor further comprises a spacer layer between said at least two electrodes.

17. The test strip device according to claim 10 wherein said test strip further comprises a reaction zone between said electrodes and a redox reagent system contained at least within said reaction zone.

18. The test strip device according to claim 17 wherein said redox reagent system is further contained within at least a portion of said fluid pathway.

19. The test strip device according to claim 17 wherein a proximal portion of said fluid pathway resides within said reaction zone.

20. The test strip device according to claim 8, wherein said biosensor has a colorimetric configuration.

21. The test strip device according to claim 20 wherein said biosensor comprises a substrate having a matrix area defined therein and a membrane covering said matrix area.

22. The test strip device according to claim 21, wherein said matrix area contains an optical signal producing system.

23. The test strip device according to claim 21 wherein said membrane is porous.

24. The test strip device according to claim 21 wherein said membrane comprises a nonporous transparent film

25. The test strip device according to claim 8 comprising a plurality of microneedles.

26. The test strip device according to claim 8 further comprising a plurality of sub-channels extending from and in fluid communication with said fluid pathway.

27. A system for determining the concentration of at least one analyte in a physiological sample, said system comprising:

at least one test strip device according to claim 8, and

a meter for automatically determining the concentration of analyte in the physiological sample, wherein said meter is configured for receiving said test strip device.

28. The system according to claim 27, further comprising a test strip cartridge for containing a plurality of said test strip devices, said cartridge configured for releasable engagement with said meter.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said cartridge comprises a compartment for holding test strips devices which have been used.

30. The system according to claim 27, wherein said meter is handheld.

31. The system of according to claim 27, wherein said meter comprises a housing, an aperture at a distal end of said housing and a test strip-receiving mechanism within said housing for operatively receiving said at least one test strip device.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein said meter further comprises means for spring-loading said test strip device in a retracted position within said distal end of said housing and means for releasing said at least one test strip from said spring-load wherein said at least one test strip is rapidly extended from said aperture.

33. The system according to claim 31, wherein said distal end of said housing is made of transparent or semi-transparent material.

34. The system according to claim 31, wherein said meter further comprises a pressure sensor for detecting and measuring pressure against said aperture.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein said meter further comprises a pressure sensor indicator for indicating the pressure measured by said pressure sensor.

36. The system according to claim 27 wherein said meter further comprises a data display.

37. The system according to claim 27 wherein said meter further comprises a source of negative pressure for applying a vacuum through said fluid pathway for facilitating the transfer of physiological sample exposed to said pathway to within said test strip.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein said step of inserting comprises inserting said at least one skin-piercing element no deeper than the subcutaneous layer of the skin.

40. The method according to claim 38, wherein said step of inserting comprises inserting said at least one skin-piercing element into the skin for about 1 to 60 seconds.

41. The method according to claim 38, wherein said step of collecting comprises exerting a capillary force on said pooled physiological fluid.

42. The method according to claim 38, wherein said at least one skin-piercing element is integral with a biosensor for determining the concentration of at least one analyte in said physiological fluid.

43. The method according to claim 42, further comprising the steps of:

transferring said collected physiological fluid through said at least one fluid pathway to said biosensor; and

determining the concentration of said at least one analyte.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein said step of determining the analyte concentration further comprises employing a meter.

45. The method according to claim 43, wherein said step of determining the analyte concentration is performed by electrochemical means.

46. The method according to claim 43, wherein said step of determining the analyte concentration is performed by colorimetric means.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein said step of determining is performed by fluorescent measuring means.

48. The method according to claim 38, wherein said physiological fluid is blood and said analyte is glucose.

49. The method according to claim 38 wherein said pooling area has a volume which is about 50% to 99% of the volume occupied by said skin piercing element.

50. The method according to claim 49 wherein said pooling area has a volume which is about 50% to 75% of the volume occupied by said skin piercing element.

54. A method for determining the concentration of at least one analyte within a physiological fluid sample, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing the system of claim 27 wherein said test strip device is operatively received within a distal end of said meter;

(b) spring-loading said test strip device within said meter;

(c) operatively contacting said distal end of said meter with a targeted skin surface;

(d) releasing said spring-loaded test strip device, wherein said targeted skin surface is pierced by said microneedle;

(f) creating a pooling area within the skin adjacent said microneedle whereby said physiological fluid pools within said pooling area; and

(g) collecting said pooled physiological fluid from within the skin by means of said fluid pathway.

55. The method according to claim 54 further comprising the step of applying optimal pressure against said target skin surface with said distal end of said meter.

56. The method according to claim 55 wherein said step of applying optimal pressure comprises the steps of:

sensing the pressure applied;

indicating the amount of said sensed pressure; and

adjusting said applied pressure if necessary according to said indicated amount of pressure.

57. The method according to claim 54 wherein said step of collecting said pooled physiological fluid comprises exerting a capillary force on said pooled physiological fluid by means of said fluid pathway.

58. The method according to claim 54 wherein said step of collecting further comprises applying pressure about the microneedle piercing site.

59. The method according to claim 54 wherein said step of collecting further comprises applying a negative pressure to said pooled physiological fluid.

60. The method according to claim 54 wherein said test strip device is visualized during one or more steps of said method.

61. The method according to claim 60 wherein said one or more steps include steps (a), (b), (c) or (d).

62. The method according to claim 54 wherein said step of providing comprises the step of inserting said test strip into said distal end of said meter.

63. The method according to claim 54 wherein said step of inserting comprises inserting said test strip through said aperture.

64. The method according to claim 54 wherein said step of providing comprises removing a distal portion of said meter and inserting said test strip into said receiving means within said distal end of said meter.

65. A kit for determining at least one target analyte concentration of a physiological sample, said kit comprising a system according to claim 27.

66. The kit according to claim 65, wherein said meter is disposable.

67. A kit according to claim 65 further comprising instructions for using said system.

68. A kit for determining at least one target analyte concentration of a physiological sample, said kit comprising a plurality of test strips according to claim 8.

38. A method for collecting physiological fluid sample from skin, said method comprising:

providing at least one skin-piercing element comprising;

(i) an opening which occupies a substantial portion of a width, diameter or length dimension of said skin-piercing element and

(ii) a fluid pathway in fluid communication with said opening;

inserting said at least one skin-piercing element into the skin, wherein a pooling area is created within the skin by said opening and said physiological fluid pools within the pooling area; and

collecting by means of said fluid pathway said pooled physiological fluid from within the skin.

51. A method for collecting a sample of physiological fluid, said method comprising the steps of:

penetrating the skin to access said physiological fluid;

creating a pooling area within said skin, wherein said pooling has a volume within the range from about 10 to 1,000 nL;

allowing said access physiological fluid to pool within said pooling area; and

exerting a capillary force on said pooled physiological fluid.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising the step of extracting said pooled physiological sample to biosensor outside the skin.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein said pooling area has a volume within the range from about 50 to 250 nL.