INTRODUCER ASSEMBLY AND METHODS OF USE

• US 20150190075A1
• Filed: 03/19/2015
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• 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 10,028,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

1. A method of assembling componentry of an analyte monitoring system, the system comprising an insertion device that comprises a sleeve portion and a body portion movable with respect to the sleeve portion, wherein movement of the body portion causes movement of a first portion of a sensor assembly, the method comprising:

aligning the sleeve portion of the insertion device with a receiving structure;

inserting the sleeve portion of the insertion device into the receiving structure; and

advancing the body portion of the insertion device with respect to the sleeve portion such that a through hole in the first portion of the sensor assembly passes over a projecting retainer element of a second portion of the sensor assembly, the projecting retainer element being in a set position with respect to the receiving structure,

wherein, after advancement, the first portion of the sensor assembly and the second portion of the sensor assembly are coupled together.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the projecting retainer element is a pin.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the projecting retainer element has a groove or an indentation substantially around an outer surface thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the advancement comprises advancing the body portion with respect to the sleeve portion such that the through hole in the first portion of the sensor assembly passes over the groove or the indentation of the projecting retainer element.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the sensor assembly are secured to each other once the through hole in the first portion of the sensor assembly passes over the groove or indentation of the projecting retainer element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the sensor assembly comprises a base section and the receiving structure.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving structure comprises an inner wall and an outer wall and wherein inserting the sleeve portion into the receiving structure comprises inserting the sleeve portion between the inner wall and the outer wall.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sleeve portion is cylindrical and the receiving structure comprises a channel, and wherein inserting the sleeve portion into the receiving structure comprises inserting a leading edge of the sleeve portion into the channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the projecting retainer element is at a center of the receiving structure.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving structure extends around the projecting retainer element.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving structure fixedly retains the sleeve portion after insertion of the sleeve portion into the receiving structure.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein an edge extends radially outwardly from the receiving structure.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising removing the sleeve portion from the receiving structure after advancement of the body portion with respect to the sleeve portion.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the body portion is a plunger body portion that is coupled with a sharp introducer, and wherein the advancement of the body portion with respect to the sleeve portion inserts the sharp introducer into a patient'"'"'s skin.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing a sharp introducer from the sensor assembly.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising automatically removing the sharp introducer from the sensor assembly with a spring.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring an analyte level of a patient with the sensor assembly in an assembled state and adhesively attached to skin of the patient.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the sensor assembly comprises adhesive.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein a handle is coupled with the body portion, and wherein advancing the body portion with respect to the sleeve portion comprises advancing only the body portion within the sleeve portion such that the handle is not advanced within the sleeve portion.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises an interior space, and wherein the body portion of the insertion device is advanced with respect to the sleeve portion such that the through hole in the first portion of the sensor assembly passes over the projecting retainer element and such that the projecting retainer element advances into the interior space of the body portion.