VARIABLE SPEED SENSOR INSERTION DEVICES AND METHODS OF USE

• US 20080114280A1
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stafford, Gary Ashley
• Granted Patent: US 9,788,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/19
• 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 5/1468 using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means A61B5/1486 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors

Abstract

An automatic sensor inserter is disclosed for placing a transcutaneous sensor into the skin of a living body. According to aspects of the invention, characteristics of the insertion such as sensor insertion speed may be varied by a user. In some embodiments, insertion speed may be varied by changing an amount of drive spring compression. The amount of spring compression may be selected from a continuous range of settings and/or it may be selected from a finite number of discrete settings. Methods associated with the use of the automatic inserter are also covered.

Claims

1. A sensor insertion device comprising:

a shuttle movable between a first position and a second position, the shuttle configured to retain a transcutaneous sensor while in the first position and release the sensor while in the second position;

a means for providing a force to drive the shuttle from the first position to the second position; and

a means for varying the driving force while the shuttle is stationary.

2. The insertion device of claim 1, wherein the means for varying the driving force may be operated by a user of the insertion device.

3. The insertion device of claim 1, wherein the driving force may be varied over a continuous range of settings.

4. The insertion device of claim 1, wherein the driving force may be alternately set to one of a plurality of discrete settings.

5. The insertion device of claim 1, wherein the means for varying the driving force includes a knob configured to be twisted by a user of the insertion device.

6. The insertion device of claim 1, wherein the means for varying the driving force includes a thumbwheel configured to be turned by a user of the insertion device.

7. The insertion device of claim 1, wherein the means for varying the driving force includes a component configured to be set to one of a plurality of discrete, alternate orientations by a user of the insertion device.

8. The insertion device of claim 7, wherein the component includes the shuttle.

9. The insertion device of claim 1, wherein the means for varying the driving force includes a magnet.

10. The insertion device of claim 1, wherein the means for varying the driving force includes a threaded rod.

11. The insertion device of claim 1, wherein the means for providing a force includes a compression spring.

12. An improved sensor insertion device of the type which drives a sensor into a living body, the improvement comprising a mechanism configured to allow a sensor insertion velocity of the insertion device to be set to one of a plurality of settings.

13. The insertion device of claim 12, wherein the mechanism is configured to allow a user of the insertion device to set the sensor insertion velocity.

14. The insertion device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of settings includes a continuous range of settings.

15. The insertion device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of settings includes discrete settings.

16. The insertion device of claim 12, wherein the mechanism allows the amount of compression of a drive spring to be changed.

17. A method of inserting a sensor, the method including the steps of:

cocking an automatic sensor insertion device;

selecting an insertion speed setting from among a plurality of insertion speed settings on the insertion device;

placing the insertion device against the skin of a living body; and

firing a sensor into the skin using the selected insertion speed.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the selecting step is performed before the cocking step.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of settings includes a continuous range of settings.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of settings includes a finite number of discrete settings.