Integrated Introducer and Transmitter Assembly and Methods of Use
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
an analyte sensor disposed in the housing; and
an insertion unit disposed in the housing, the insertion unit operatively coupled to the sensor and configured to place at least a portion of the sensor under a skin layer, wherein the insertion unit is configured to remain disposed in the housing after sensor placement;
wherein the insertion unit includes a compressible introducer mechanism coupled to an introducer, and configured to displace at least a portion of the sensor and the introducer through the skin layer to an insertion position under the skin layer;
wherein the compressible introducer mechanism moves from a non-compressed state to a compressed state in response to a manual force applied to the compressible introducer mechanism, wherein when the compressible introducer mechanism moves from the non-compressed state to the compressed state, the at least the portion of the sensor and the introducer are inserted through the skin layer to the insertion position;
wherein removal of the manual force from the compressible introducer mechanism causes the compressible introducer mechanism to move from the compressed state to the non-compressed state and automatically withdraw the at least the portion of the introducer from under the skin layer while retaining the at least the portion of the sensor at the insertion position; and
furtherwherein the compressible introducer mechanism is contained within the housing when the compressible introducer mechanism is in the non-compressed state and the compressed state.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for inserting at least a portion of a sensor into a patient is provided.
2 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a housing; an analyte sensor disposed in the housing; and an insertion unit disposed in the housing, the insertion unit operatively coupled to the sensor and configured to place at least a portion of the sensor under a skin layer, wherein the insertion unit is configured to remain disposed in the housing after sensor placement; wherein the insertion unit includes a compressible introducer mechanism coupled to an introducer, and configured to displace at least a portion of the sensor and the introducer through the skin layer to an insertion position under the skin layer; wherein the compressible introducer mechanism moves from a non-compressed state to a compressed state in response to a manual force applied to the compressible introducer mechanism, wherein when the compressible introducer mechanism moves from the non-compressed state to the compressed state, the at least the portion of the sensor and the introducer are inserted through the skin layer to the insertion position; wherein removal of the manual force from the compressible introducer mechanism causes the compressible introducer mechanism to move from the compressed state to the non-compressed state and automatically withdraw the at least the portion of the introducer from under the skin layer while retaining the at least the portion of the sensor at the insertion position; and
furtherwherein the compressible introducer mechanism is contained within the housing when the compressible introducer mechanism is in the non-compressed state and the compressed state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus, comprising:
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a housing; a sensor coupled to the housing, the sensor configured to be in fluid contact with a biological fluid under a skin layer; sensor electronics coupled to the housing and in electrical communication with the sensor; and a sensor introducer coupled to the sensor and the housing, and configured to place at least a portion of the sensor under the skin layer, the sensor introducer including a compressible introducer mechanism to displace at least a portion of the sensor and the sensor introducer through the skin layer to an insertion position under the skin layer; wherein the compressible introducer mechanism moves from a non-compressed state to a compressed state in response to a manual force applied to the introducer mechanism, wherein when the compressible introducer mechanism moves from the non-compressed state to the compressed state, the at least the portion of the sensor and the sensor introducer are inserted through the skin layer to the insertion position; wherein removal of the manual force from the compressible introducer mechanism causes the compressible introducer mechanism to move from the compressed state to the non-compressed state and automatically withdraw the at least the portion of the sensor introducer from the insertion position under the skin layer while retaining the at least the portion of the sensor at the insertion position under the skin layer; and
furtherwherein the compressible introducer mechanism is contained within the housing when the compressible introducer mechanism is in the non-compressed state and the compressed state. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus, comprising:
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a housing; an analyte sensor disposed in the housing; a sensor introducer disposed in the housing and detachably coupled to the analyte sensor; and a compressible introducer mechanism disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to the sensor and the sensor introducer, the compressible introducer mechanism configured to place at least a portion of the sensor and the sensor introducer under a skin layer to an insertion position; wherein the compressible introducer mechanism moves from a non-compressed state to a compressed state in response to a manual force applied to the compressible introducer mechanism, wherein when the compressible introducer mechanism moves from the non-compressed state to the compressed state, the at least the portion of the sensor and the sensor introducer are inserted through the skin layer to the insertion position; wherein removal of the manual force from the compressible introducer mechanism causes the compressible introducer mechanism to move from the compressed state to the non-compressed state and automatically withdraw the at least the portion of the introducer from under the skin layer while retaining the at least the portion of the sensor at the insertion position; and
furtherwherein the compressible introducer mechanism is contained within the housing when the compressible introducer mechanism is in the non-compressed state and the compressed state. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification