Integrated Meter for Analyzing Biological Samples

• US 20080167578A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lee, Irving, Berken, Lloyd M., Schoenberg, Stephen J., Bryer, Phillip, Girard, Jean-Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 7,922,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/583
• 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 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 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150183 Depth adjustment mechanism using end caps mounted at the distal end of the sampling device, i.e. the end-caps are adjustably positioned relative to the piercing device housing for example by rotating or screwing
• 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 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150564 Protectors removed by pulling or pushing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150702 fully automatically removed, i.e. the removing does not require any action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150786 Optical identification systems, e.g. bar codes, colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150793 Electrical or magnetic identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15087 short range, e.g. between console and disposable using implanted devices A61B5/150877
• 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 5/15146 Devices loaded with multiple lancets simultaneously, e.g. for serial firing without reloading, for example by use of stocking means. multiple simultaneous cutting or piercing A61B5/150977
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15174 Piercing elements stocked in the form of a stack or pile
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15176 Stocking means comprising cap, cover, sheath or protection for aseptic stocking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/005 : involving specific analytes or enzymes including groups of enzymes, e.g. oxydases; C12Q1/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/54 : involving glucose or galactose
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 : Test elements dispensed from a stack
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54386 : Analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/144444 : Glucose
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/200833 : Carbonyl, ether, aldehyde or ketone containing

Abstract

Analyte monitoring devices and methods therefore are provided. The devices integrate various functions of analyte monitoring, e.g., sample acquisition and testing.

Claims

1. An analyte monitoring apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a user interface coupled with the housing including one or more switches or a display or both;

one or more analyte testing striplets contained in the housing that include both a lancet and an analyte test sensor;

a lancing and testing port defined in the housing for permitting the striplet to contact a lancing site outside the housing;

a set of mechanical components for loading a striplet for a lancing and testing process, for advancing the striplet for lancing through said port at a lancing site proximate to the port, for re-orienting the striplet, and for advancing the striplet for testing at said lancing site also through said port; and

an analyzer for determining a analyte level of a body fluid applied to the test sensor from the lancing site.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cartridge coupled into a slot in the housing which contains several striplets.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one guide rail for relative positioning within the housing with respect to the set of mechanical components.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a seal which generally maintains the striplets within the cartridge free from exposure to ambient air, and is configured for releasing the seal temporarily to permit loading of a striplet for a lancing and testing process.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric seal.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the seal comprises a bellows.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one guide rail for relative positioning within the housing with respect to the set of mechanical components, said guide rail having a stopping point at which the cartridge remains stationary relative to the housing when said seal is temporarily broken for loading the striplet.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cartridge comprises a biasing member for providing the striplets at a loading end of the cartridge.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cartridge comprises a structural support for the striplets within the cartridge

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cartridge comprises a desiccating member for keeping the striplets substantially free of moisture.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one or both of the structural support and desiccating member are provided as inserts.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the inserts comprise a hard plastic insert for providing said structural support and a desiccating plastic insert for providing said desiccating.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of mechanical components comprises a striplet slot for holding the striplet during re-orientation which includes rotation of the striplet.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the striplet slot is coupled with a cam that oscillates between points corresponding to different orientations of the striplet for lancing and testing.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the said oscillation is about a point of unstable equilibrium.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lancet and analyte test sensor are each coupled to a lancet body.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the lancet and test sensor each protrude from the lancet body, and wherein the one or more striplets further comprise a lancet cap protecting the protruding lancet;

and wherein said set of mechanical components include a lancet cap compartment for removing the lancet cap.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the lancet cap compartment is for providing a space and a frictional force for holding the lancet cap during a lancing and testing process, and for providing the lancet cap to re-cover the lancet for safe ejection of a used striplet.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of mechanical components comprises:

(i) a first mechanical subset including a first set of gears, a pusher, a tub sealing with a striplet compartment, and a turret including a striplet slot within which the striplet is disposed during lancing and testing, for unsealing a striplet compartment for accessing the striplet, advancing the striplet to the turret, and ejecting the striplet after testing; and

(ii) a second mechanical subset including a second set of gears, a blade and mating lancet cap contour, the turret, and a carriage which contains the turret, for arming/disarming the lancet by removing/replacing the lancet cap from/to over the lancet, re-orienting the striplet between lancing and testing, and performing both lancing and testing through the lancing and testing port at the lancing site.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the disarming comprises replacing the lancet cap for safe ejection of a used testing striplet.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the carriage translates in a same direction for both the lancing and the testing.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein opposite ends of the striplet are sequentially provided through the same lancing and testing port for the lancing and the testing.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the re-orienting of the striplet comprises rotating the striplet.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the re-orienting of the striplet comprises flipping the striplet.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a transmission system for orienting said lancing/collecting assembly in a first position, whereby a lancet associated with said lancet-containing portion of said test strip can be used to form an opening in the skin of a patient, and in a second position, whereby a sensor associated with said sensor-containing portion of said test strip can be used to collect a sample of biological liquid from said patient.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analyte comprises blood glucose.

27. A analyte monitoring apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a user interface coupled with the housing including one or more switches or a display or both;

multiple analyte testing striplets that include both a lancet and a analyte test sensor;

a cartridge coupled within a cartridge compartment within the housing and containing the multiple striplets, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one guide rail for relative positioning within the housing;

a seal which generally maintains the striplets within the cartridge free from exposure to ambient air, and is configured for releasing the seal temporarily to permit loading of a striplet for a lancing and testing process.

one or more lancing and testing ports defined in the housing for permitting the striplet to contact a lancing site outside the housing;

a set of mechanical components for loading a striplet for a lancing and testing process, for advancing the striplet for lancing at a lancing site, and for advancing the striplet for testing at said lancing site, via said one or more lancing and testing ports; and

an analyzer for determining a analyte level of a body fluid applied to the test sensor from the lancing site.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric seal.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the seal comprises a bellows.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said guide rail has a stopping point at which the cartridge remains substantially stationary relative to said housing when said seal is temporarily broken for loading the striplet.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the cartridge comprises a biasing member for urging the striplets to be loaded at a loading end of the cartridge.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising one or more inserts within the cartridge for structural support of the striplets within the cartridge, and for desiccating an interior of the cartridge to keep the striplets substantially free of moisture.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the one or more inserts comprise a hard plastic insert for providing said structural support and a desiccating plastic insert for providing said desiccating.

34. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the set of mechanical components comprises:

(i) a first mechanical subset including a first set of gears, a pusher, a tub sealing with a striplet compartment, and a turret including a striplet slot within which the striplet is disposed during lancing and testing, for unsealing a striplet compartment for accessing the striplet, advancing the striplet to the turret, and ejecting the striplet after testing; and

(ii) a second mechanical subset including a second set of gears, a blade and mating lancet cap contour, the turret, and a carriage which contains the turret, for arming/disarming the lancet by removing/replacing the lancet cap from/to over the lancet, re-orienting the striplet between lancing and testing, and performing both lancing and testing through the lancing and testing port at the lancing site.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the disarming comprises replacing the lancet cap for safe ejection of a used testing striplet.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the carriage translates in a same direction for both the lancing and the testing.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein opposite ends of the striplet are sequentially provided through the same lancing and testing port for the lancing and the testing.

38. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the analyte comprises blood glucose.

39. A analyte monitoring apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a user interface coupled with the housing including one or more switches or a display or both;

multiple analyte testing striplets that include both a lancet and a analyte test sensor;

a cartridge which contains the multiple striplets for loading into the housing within a cartridge compartment,

one or more inserts within the cartridge for structural support of the striplets within the cartridge, and for desiccating an interior of the cartridge to keep the striplets substantially free of moisture.

one or more lancing and testing ports defined in the housing for permitting the striplet to contact a lancing site outside the housing;

a set of mechanical components for loading a striplet for a lancing and testing process, for advancing the striplet for lancing at a lancing site, and for advancing the striplet for testing at said lancing site, via said one or more lancing and testing ports; and

an analyzer for determining a analyte level of a body fluid applied to the test sensor from the lancing site.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the one or more inserts comprise a hard plastic insert for providing said structural support and a desiccating plastic insert for providing said desiccating.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one guide rail for relative positioning within the housing.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said guide rail has a stopping point at which the cartridge remains substantially stationary relative to said housing when said seal is temporarily broken for loading the striplet.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a seal which generally maintains the striplets within the cartridge free from exposure to ambient air, and is configured for releasing the seal temporarily to permit loading of a striplet for a lancing and testing process.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric seal.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the seal comprises a bellows.

46. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the cartridge comprises a biasing member for providing the striplets at a loading end of the cartridge.

47. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the set of mechanical components comprises:

(i) a first mechanical subset including a first set of gears, a pusher, a tub sealing with a striplet compartment, and a turret including a striplet slot within which the striplet is disposed during lancing and testing, for unsealing a striplet compartment for accessing the striplet, advancing the striplet to the turret, and ejecting the striplet after testing; and

(ii) a second mechanical subset including a second set of gears, a blade and mating lancet cap contour, the turret, and a carriage which contains the turret, for arming/disarming the lancet by removing/replacing the lancet cap from/to over the lancet, re-orienting the striplet between lancing and testing, and performing both lancing and testing through the lancing and testing port at the lancing site.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the disarming comprises replacing the lancet cap for safe ejection of a used testing striplet.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the carriage translates in a same direction for both the lancing and the testing.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein opposite ends of the striplet are sequentially provided through the same lancing and testing port for the lancing and the testing.

51. A analyte monitoring apparatus, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a user interface coupled with the housing including one or more switches or a display or both;

(c) one or more analyte testing striplets that include both a lancet and a analyte test sensor;

(d) one or more lancing and testing ports defined in the housing for permitting the striplet to contact a lancing site outside the housing;

(e) a set of mechanical components for loading a striplet for a lancing and testing process, for advancing the striplet for lancing at a lancing site, and for advancing the striplet for testing at said lancing site, via said one or more lancing and testing ports; and

(f) an analyzer for determining a analyte level of a body fluid applied to the test sensor from the lancing site, and

(g) wherein the set of mechanical components comprises;

(i) a first mechanical subset including a first set of gears, a pusher, a tub sealing with a striplet compartment, and a turret including a striplet slot within which the striplet is disposed during lancing and testing, for unsealing a striplet compartment for accessing the striplet, advancing the striplet to the turret, and ejecting the striplet after testing; and

(ii) a second mechanical subset including a second set of gears, a blade and mating lancet cap contour, the turret, and a carriage which contains the turret, for arming/disarming the lancet by removing/replacing the lancet cap from/to over the lancet, re-orienting the striplet between lancing and testing, and performing both lancing and testing through the lancing and testing port at the lancing site.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising a cartridge which contains the multiple striplets for loading into the housing within a cartridge compartment, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one guide rail for relative positioning within the housing.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising a seal which generally maintains the striplets within the cartridge free from exposure to ambient air, and is configured for releasing the seal temporarily to permit loading of a striplet for a lancing and testing process.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric seal.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the seal comprises a bellows.

56. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said guide rail has a stopping point at which the cartridge remains substantially stationary relative to said housing when said seal is temporarily broken for loading the striplet.

57. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the cartridge comprises a biasing member for providing the striplets at a loading end of the cartridge.

58. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising one or more inserts within the cartridge for structural support of the striplets within the cartridge, and for desiccating an interior of the cartridge to keep the striplets substantially free of moisture.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the one or more inserts comprise a hard plastic insert for providing said structural support and a desiccating plastic insert for providing said desiccating.

60. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the disarming comprises replacing the lancet cap for safe ejection of a used testing striplet.

61. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the carriage translates in a same direction for both the lancing and the testing.

62. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein opposite ends of the striplet are sequentially provided through the same lancing and testing port for the lancing and the testing.

63. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the analyte comprises blood glucose.

64. An assembly for storing and dispensing a plurality of test strips, each test strip comprising a lancet-containing portion and a sensor-containing portion, said assembly comprising

(a) a housing;

(b) a platform for containing a biasing element;

(c) a place for securing the biasing element;

(d) a test strip track for providing a guide path for an assembly for forming an opening in the skin of a patient and collecting a sample of biological liquid emerging from the skin of the patient;

(e) a biasing member for urging the test strips toward the test strip track; and

(f) an element for advancing a test strip from the assembly to the assembly for forming an opening in the skin of a patient and collecting a sample of biological liquid emerging from the skin of the patient.

65. The assembly of claim 64, wherein the test strips in assembly for storing and dispensing a plurality of test strips are advanced, one at a time, to the assembly for forming an opening in the skin of a patient and collecting a sample of biological liquid emerging from the skin of the patient by a pushing element.

66. The assembly of claim 64, further including a seal for ensuring a substantially moisture-tight, air-tight condition in the assembly for storing and dispensing a plurality of test strips.

67. The assembly of claim 64, further including a bellows for ensuring a substantially moisture-tight, air-tight condition in the assembly for storing and dispensing a plurality of test strips.

68. The assembly of claim 64, further including at least one door for ensuring a substantially moisture-tight, air-tight condition in the assembly for storing and dispensing a plurality of test strips.

69. An analyte monitoring apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a user interface coupled with the housing including one or more switches or a display or both;

one or more analyte test strips;

a testing port defined in the housing for permitting the strip to contact a testing site outside the housing;

an ejection port separate from the testing port for disposing of the strip after testing;

a set of mechanical components for loading a strip for a testing process, for advancing the strip for testing through said testing port at the testing site proximate to the port, for re-orienting the strip after testing, and for ejecting the strip through the ejection port; and

an analyzer for determining an analyte level of a body fluid applied to the test strip from the lancing site.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, further comprising a cartridge coupled into a slot in the housing which contains several strips.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, further comprising a seal which generally maintains the strips within the cartridge free from exposure to ambient air, and is configured for releasing the seal temporarily to permit loading of a strip for a testing process.

72. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the cartridge comprises a structural support for the strips within the cartridge

73. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the cartridge comprises a desiccating member for keeping the strips substantially free of moisture.

74. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the set of mechanical components comprises a strip turret for holding the strip at least during the re-orienting which includes rotation of the strip.

75. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the re-orienting of the strip comprises rotating the strip.

76. An analyte monitoring apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

one or more lancets;

a lancing port defined in the housing for permitting a lancet to contact a lancing site outside the housing;

a separate ejection port for disposing of the lancet after testing;

a set of mechanical components for loading a lancet for a lancing process, for advancing the lancet for lancing through said lancing port at the lancing site proximate to the port, for re-orienting the lancet after lancing, and for ejecting the lancet through the ejection port.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, further comprising:

a user interface coupled with the housing including one or more switches or a display or both;

one or more analyte test strips; and

an analyzer for determining an analyte level of a body fluid applied to the test strip from the lancing site.

78. The apparatus of claim 76, further comprising a cartridge coupled into a slot in the housing which contains several lancets.

79. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the cartridge comprises a structural support for the lancets within the cartridge

80. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the set of mechanical components comprises a lancet turret for holding the lancet at least during the re-orienting which includes rotation of the lancet.

81. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the re-orienting of the lancet comprises rotating the lancet.

82. A method of providing a sample of body fluid to a test strip for measuring an analyte level within the fluid, comprising:

(a) providing an integrated analyte testing striplet including a lancet and a test strip that are coupled at different ends of a lancet body of the striplet;

(b) loading the testing striplet within a turret of a striplet-containing analyte meter including arming the lancet;

(c) piercing a lancing site with the lancet at a predetermined location relative to the meter; and

(d) automatically reorienting the striplet within the analyte meter; and

(e) automatically advancing and contacting a sample receiving portion of the test strip at the lancing site, such that body fluid from the lancing site is automatically applied to the sample receiving portion of the test strip for measuring an analyte level.

83. The method of claim 82, further comprising disarming the lancet and disposing of the testing striplet.

84. The method of claim 82, wherein the lancing site remains approximately at said predetermined location relative to the meter when body fluid is applied to the sample receiving portion of the test strip, and wherein the reorienting comprises rotating the striplet.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the loading comprises mating a first recess defined within the lancet body with a latching mechanism of the analyte meter, such that the test striplet is specifically disposed at a lancing orientation.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the reorienting comprises mating a second notch defined within the lancet body with the same latching mechanism, such that the testing striplet is specifically disposed at a testing orientation.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein each of said pair of notches comprises a trapezoidal shape.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein the loading comprises mating a first notch defined within the lancet body with a spring-loaded ball and detent mechanism of the analyte meter, such that the test striplet is specifically disposed at a lancing orientation.

89. The method of claim 85, wherein the reorienting comprises mating a second notch defined within the lancet body with the same ball and detent mechanism, such that the testing striplet is specifically disposed at a testing orientation.

90. The method of claim 82, wherein the lancing site remains approximately at said predetermined location relative to the meter when body fluid is applied to the sample receiving portion of the test strip, and wherein the test strip and lancet are symmetrically disposed at opposite ends of the lancet body, and the reorienting comprises flipping the striplet.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein the loading comprises mating a first notch defined within the lancet body with a ball and detent mechanism of the analyte meter such that the test striplet is specifically disposed at a lancing orientation.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein the reorienting further comprises mating a second notch defined within the lancet body symmetrically opposite the first notch with the same ball and detent mechanism, such that the testing striplet is specifically disposed at a testing orientation.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein the loading comprises mating a first notch defined within the lancet body with a latching mechanism of the analyte meter, such that the test striplet is specifically disposed at a lancing orientation.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein the reorienting further comprises mating a second notch defined within the lancet body symmetrically opposite the first notch with the same latching mechanism, such that the testing striplet is specifically disposed at a testing orientation.

95. The method of claim 82, wherein the arming comprises uncoupling a lancet cap by uncoupling one or more elastomeric arms of the lancet cap from defined cutouts in the lancet body by application of sufficient separating force.

96. The method of claim 95, further comprising disarming the lancet, including snapping the one or more elastomeric arms of the lancet cap back into mating relationship with the defined cutouts of the lancet body by application of sufficient coupling force.

97. The method of claim 82, further comprising coupling at least one tooth that fits a corresponding slot, and rotationally stabilizing the test strip relative to the lancet body, for coupling the lancet body and test strip together.

98. The method of claim 82, further comprising coupling at least two teeth that fit corresponding slots for coupling the lancet body and test strip together.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein the lancet body comprises said teeth and the test strip comprises said corresponding slots.

100. An analyte monitoring apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing for receiving at least one analyte sensor, each analyte sensor comprising a skin piercing member;

(b) an electronic circuit for analyzing an analyte parameter from a sample applied to a sensor; and

(c) a mechanical assembly in the housing to position a sensor received within the housing to a lancing position and to re-position the lancing-positioned sensor to a testing position.

101. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the mechanical assembly comprises a gear and a cam.

102. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the mechanical assembly is configured to rotate the sensor between about 90 degrees and about 180 degrees from the lancing position to the testing position.

103. The apparatus of claim 102, wherein rotation of the analyte sensor is accomplished within the housing.

104. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the mechanical assembly is configured to place a cap over the skin piercing member after lancing.

105. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the mechanical assembly is configured to remove the same or a different cap prior to lancing.

106. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the mechanical assembly is configured to eject the analyte sensor after lancing, testing and capping.

107. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein an internal space is defined within the housing for receiving a magazine capable of containing multiple sensors.

108. The apparatus of claim 107, wherein the magazine capable of containing at least several sensors.

109. The apparatus of claim 107, wherein the magazine is capable of containing about 100 sensors.

110. The apparatus of claim 107, wherein the magazine has a width of about 3 mm.

111. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the housing comprises a display for communicating information to a user.

112. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the analyte comprises glucose.

113. A system for analyte monitoring, the system comprising:

(a) a meter for determining an analyte concentration from at least one analyte sensor contained therein, each analyte sensor comprising a skin piercing member;

(b) at least one analyte sensor contained in the meter, each analyte sensor comprising a skin piercing member; and

(c) a mechanical assembly in the meter to move a sensor into a first position for piercing a user'"'"'s skin and into a second position for contacting the sensor to bodily fluid at the pierced site.

114. The system of claim 113, wherein the mechanical assembly is capable of moving the sensor from the first to second position by reorienting the sensor about 180 degrees.

115. The system of claim 114, wherein the housing has a port defined therein through which the sensor pierces the user'"'"'s skin in the first position and also through which the sensor is contacted to the bodily fluid at the pierced site in the second position.