Analyte sensor devices, connections, and methods

• US 9,931,066 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2017
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Pace, Louis, Robinson, Peter G., Hoss, Udo, Curry, Samuel Mason, Carter, Phillip William, DiPalma, Vincent Michael, Mhatre, Amit, Olson, Jennifer, Donnay, Manuel Luis Miguel, Taub, Marc Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): JANG, CHRISTIAN YONGKYUN
• Application Number:
  US15/610,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20170265791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0406 specially shaped apparatus housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/063 Devices specially adapted for delivering implantable medical measuring apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/16 Details of sensor housings or probes; Details of structural supports for sensors A61B2560/0462 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/242 Packaging, i.e. for packaging the sensor or apparatus before use
• 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 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1411 by percutaneous method, e.g. by lancet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• 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 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150305 Packages specially adapted for piercing devices or blood sampling devices kits for diabetes A61M5/003; packaging in general B65D
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150335 by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150748 Having means for aiding positioning of the piercing device at a location where the body is to be pierced means for aiding positioning of devices for bringing media into the body A61M5/427, locating blood vessels A61B5/489
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150847 : Communication to or from blood sampling device transmitting measured data A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15087 : short range, e.g. between console and disposable using implanted devices A61B5/150877
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150877 : with implanted devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15105 : Purely manual piercing, i.e. the user pierces the skin without the assistance of any driving means or driving devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15144 : comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for retracting the piercing unit into the housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 : Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6849 : in combination with a needle set
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/3001 : for sharps
• 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

Devices associated with on-body analyte sensor units are disclosed. These devices include any of packaging and/or loading systems, applicators and elements of the on-body sensor units themselves. Also, various approaches to connecting electrochemical analyte sensors to and/or within associated on-body analyte sensor units are disclosed. The connector approaches variously involve the use of unique sensor and ancillary element arrangements to facilitate assembly of separate electronics assemblies and sensor elements that are kept apart until the end user brings them together.

Claims

1. A sensor assembly comprising:

a sensor having a tail portion, a contacts portion, and a bendable portion;

a seal including electrical contacts disposed to align with the contacts portion of the sensor and to allow electrical signals to pass through the seal;

a support including a distal surface and features for sealably coupling to an electronics assembly; and

a sharp including a channel for supporting the tail portion of the sensor and a hub for gripping the sharp during retraction,

wherein the seal is shaped to enclose the contacts portion of the sensor within the support.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal is formed from flexible material and includes a hinge allowing the seal to be folded around the contacts portion of the sensor, sealing both sides of the contacts portion.

3. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the bendable portion of the sensor facilitates having a major surface of the contacts portion of the sensor substantially parallel with a circuit board of an electronics assembly when the sensor assembly is mated to the electronics assembly while also concurrently facilitating having the tail portion of the sensor substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the contacts portion.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises silicone.

5. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises silicone and the electrical contacts comprise doped silicone.

6. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal is adapted to fold over the contacts portion of the sensor.

7. The sensor assembly of claim 6, wherein the seal comprises two discrete pieces.

8. The sensor assembly of claim 6, wherein the seal comprises two sections coupled together by a living hinge, the two sections adapted for placement on opposite sides of the contacts potion of the sensor.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 8, wherein the two sections are symmetrical.

10. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the support is a rigid or semi-rigid housing adapted to receive the seal.

11. The sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the support comprises at least one post and the seal comprises at least one an aperture for receiving the at least one post.

12. The sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the support is adapted to receive the sharp.

13. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises a raised lip.

14. The sensor assembly of claim 13, wherein the raised lip encircles the electrical contacts of the seal.

15. The sensor assembly of claim 13, wherein the raised lip is integrally formed in the seal.

16. The sensor assembly of claim 13, wherein the raised lip is embodied as a gasket or O-ring.

17. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly is shaped to fit within a socket of the electronics assembly.

18. The sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a clip or snap feature for mating with the electronics assembly.