Easy-to-use multi-use body fluid specimen collection and analyte sensing assembly
First Claim
1. A multiple use analyte sensing assembly, comprising:
- (a) a long, thin electrical conductor;
(b) a plurality of sensing sites spaced along said electrical conductor, each said sensing site including a membrane system adapted to create a current in conjunction with said electrical conductor when each said sensing site is placed into contact with body fluid containing an analyte;
(c) a housing, having a housing aperture;
(d) an uptake spool and a payout spool, located within said housing, said electrical conductor being wrapped about said payout spool and threaded to said uptake spool prior to said sensing assembly being used;
(e) a sensor positioning actuator for turning said uptake spool so that each said sensing site is moved, in sequence, to said housing aperture and to said uptake spool; and
(f) a skin broaching assembly, having;
(i) a multiple lancet holding mechanism;
(ii) a multiplicity of lancets held by said multiple lancet holding mechanism;
(iii) a lancet positioning actuator adapted to move, in sequence, each lancet to a position coincident to said housing aperture; and
(iv) a lancet use actuator adapted to move a lancet that is positioned coincident to said housing aperture, at least partially through said housing aperture and then back again.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple use analyte sensing assembly that includes a long, thin conductor. A plurality of sensing sites are spaced along the conductor and each sensing site includes a membrane system adapted to create a current when placed into contact with body fluid containing the analyte. The assembly also includes a housing, having an aperture, an uptake spool and a payout spool, the conductor being wrapped about the payout spool before the sensing assembly is used. A sensor positioning actuator turns the uptake spool to move each sensing site, in sequence, to the housing aperture and then to the uptake spool. The assembly also includes a skin broaching assembly, having a multiplicity of lancets and a lancet positioning actuator adapted to move each lancet to the aperture. In addition, a lancet use actuator is adapted to move each lancet at least partially through the aperture and then back again.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A multiple use analyte sensing assembly, comprising:
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(a) a long, thin electrical conductor; (b) a plurality of sensing sites spaced along said electrical conductor, each said sensing site including a membrane system adapted to create a current in conjunction with said electrical conductor when each said sensing site is placed into contact with body fluid containing an analyte; (c) a housing, having a housing aperture; (d) an uptake spool and a payout spool, located within said housing, said electrical conductor being wrapped about said payout spool and threaded to said uptake spool prior to said sensing assembly being used; (e) a sensor positioning actuator for turning said uptake spool so that each said sensing site is moved, in sequence, to said housing aperture and to said uptake spool; and (f) a skin broaching assembly, having; (i) a multiple lancet holding mechanism; (ii) a multiplicity of lancets held by said multiple lancet holding mechanism; (iii) a lancet positioning actuator adapted to move, in sequence, each lancet to a position coincident to said housing aperture; and (iv) a lancet use actuator adapted to move a lancet that is positioned coincident to said housing aperture, at least partially through said housing aperture and then back again. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 27)
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6. A method of taking a sequence of blood analyte measurements, comprising:
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(a) providing an analyte sensing assembly, including; (i) a lengthwise electrical conductor; and (ii) a first measurement site and a second measurement site located along said lengthwise electrical conductor, each said measurement site including a membrane assembly adapted to create an electrical current flowing out of said lengthwise electrical conductor in the presence of an analyte when a voltage is placed on said lengthwise electrical conductor relative to ground; (b) forming a first analyte measurement by placing a voltage on said lengthwise electrical conductor, exposing said first measurement site to body fluid, and measuring electrical current in said lengthwise electrical conductor; and (c) subsequent to forming said first analyte measurement, forming a second analyte measurement by placing a voltage on said lengthwise electrical conductor, exposing said second measurement site to body fluid and measuring electrical current in said lengthwise electrical conductor. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28)
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17. An analyte sensing assembly, including:
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(a) a lengthwise electrical conductor having an outer surface; and (b) a first measurement site and a second measurement site located along the outer surface of said lengthwise electrical conductor, each said measurement site including a membrane assembly adapted to create, in the presence of an analyte, an electrical current flowing out of said lengthwise electrical conductor when a voltage has been placed on said lengthwise electrical conductor relative to ground. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification