Introducer Assembly and Methods of Use

• US 20090105569A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Stafford, Gary Ashley
• Application Number:
  US11/380,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20090105569A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/365
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1451 for interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4978 Assisting assembly or disassembly

Abstract

Method and apparatus for inserting at least a portion of a sensor into a patient is provided.

Claims

3-1. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiving structure includes a retention element configured to substantially mate with the insertion device.

10. A method of positioning a sensor, comprising:

aligning a sensor relative to an insertion site;

coupling the sensor to a receiving structure; and

deploying the sensor.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the aligning step includes positioning the sensor substantially at a predetermined angle relative to the surface of the insertion site.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the predetermined angle includes one or substantially less than 90 degrees.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of coupling includes mating a portion of the sensor with a portion of the receiving structure.

14. The method of claim 10 further including maintaining at least a portion of the sensor in fluid contact with an analyte of a patient.

15. The method of claim 10 further including:

detecting one or more analyte related signals associated with an analyte level of the patient; and

transmitting the detected one or more analyte related signals.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the detected one or more analyte related signals are wirelessly transmitted at a predetermined transmission rate.

17. The method of claim 10 further including:

coupling an introducer to the sensor; and

retracting the introducer after deploying the sensor.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the introducer is substantially decoupled from the sensor.

19. An insertion kit, comprising:

an insertion unit including an introducer coupled to a sensor; and

a base unit substantially configured to be aligned with a portion of the introducer, the base unit configured to couple to the insertion unit during sensor insertion, wherein the insertion unit is substantially entirely detached from the base unit when the sensor is placed at a predetermined position under a skin layer of a patient.