Analyte sensor transmitter unit configuration for a data monitoring and management system

• US 9,364,149 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2011
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mazza, John C., Naegeli, Andrew H., Stafford, Gary Ashley
• Primary Examiner(s): JANG, CHRISTIAN YONGKYUN
• Application Number:
  US13/252,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20120022346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/309, 600/345, 600/347, 600/365, 324/126, 439/345
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

Method and system for providing analyte sensor alignment and retention mechanism for improved connectivity with a transmitter unit for electrical connection, and further including transmitter unit contact pins with metal components to improve electrical conductivity with the analyte sensor in an analyte monitoring and management system is provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an analyte sensor mountable on a body of a user for in-body analyte level detection, the analyte sensor having a plurality of conductive pads;

a sensor electronics mount mountable on a body of the user, the sensor electronics mount including a retaining segment, the retaining segment having one or more clips operably coupled to the analyte sensor, wherein the one or more clips include a protrusion disposed on the retaining segment; and

a sensor electronics housing, the housing including a plurality of electrical contacts;

wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts of the sensor electronics housing is configured to substantially contact a respective one of the plurality of conductive pads of the analyte sensor by the retaining segment when the sensor electronics housing is mated with the sensor electronics mount, and each of the plurality of electrical contacts includes a portion which is physically contacted with the respective one of the plurality of conductive pads of the analyte sensor;

wherein the one or more clips spring bias the analyte sensor toward the plurality of electrical contacts, and

wherein the sensor electronics mount includes an opening to detachably couple to the sensor electronics housing when the analyte sensor is connected to the sensor electronics mount.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the electrical contacts is elongated.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts are configured to self-align with the respective one of the plurality of conductive pads of the analyte sensor when the sensor electronics housing is coupled to the analyte sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analyte sensor includes a planar surface, and the plurality of conductive pads are provided on the planar surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts is configured to substantially contact the respective one of the plurality of conductive pads on the planar surface of the analyte sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts includes a conductive polymer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts are silicon doped with carbon.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts are substantially cylindrically shaped.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts includes a metal component disposed therein, wherein at least a first end of each of the plurality of electrical contacts is configured to substantially contact the respective one of the plurality of conductive pads of the analyte sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the metal component includes one of gold or beryllium copper.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor electronics mount is configured for positioning on a skin surface such that the sensor electronics mount is positioned between the skin surface and the sensor electronics housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining segment is configured to hinge.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more clips is configured to lock the analyst sensor relative to the sensor electronics mount when the sensor electronics housing connected to the sensor electronics mount.