Transcutaneous analyte sensors, applicators therefor, and associated methods

• US 10,863,944 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2018
• Issued: 12/15/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DexCom Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DexCom Incorporated
• Inventors: Gray, John Michael, Blackwell, Jennifer, Neale, Paul V., England, Justen Deering, Joncich, Andrew, Brock, Cameron, Simpson, Peter C., Metzmaker, Thomas, Shah, Neel Narayan, Kempkey, Mark Douglas, Castagna, Patrick John, Terry, Warren, Halac, Jason, George, Christian Michael Andre, Apacible, Daniel E., Barry, John Charles, Wells, Maria Noel Brown, Pirondini, Kenneth, Reinhardt, Andrew Michael, Wong, Jason C., Gagnon, Remy E., DeRenzy, David, Koplin, Randall Scott, Baldwin, Alan, Lee, Young Woo, Keller, David A., van den Heuvel, Louise Emma, Sutherland, Carol Wood
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W
• Application Number:
  US16/016,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20180368771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/063 Devices specially adapted for delivering implantable medical measuring apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• 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 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• 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: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6849 in combination with a needle set

Abstract

The present embodiments relate generally to applicators of on-skin sensor assemblies for measuring an analyte in a host, as well as their method of use and manufacture. In some aspects, an applicator for applying an on-skin sensor assembly to a skin of a host is provided. The applicator includes an applicator housing, a needle carrier assembly comprising an insertion element configured to insert a sensor of the on-skin sensor assembly into the skin of the host, a holder releasably coupled to the needle carrier assembly and configured to guide the on-skin sensor assembly while coupled to the needle carrier assembly, and a drive assembly configured to drive the insertion element from a proximal starting position to a distal insertion position, and from the distal insertion position to a proximal retraction position.

Claims

1. An applicator for applying an on-skin sensor assembly to a skin of a host, the applicator comprising:

an on-skin sensor assembly including a housing;

a first body releasably coupled to an insertion element;

a second body releasably coupled to the first body by a frictional engagement;

a spring configured to provide a first force to the second body, the first force driving the first body, the second body, and the on-skin sensor assembly in a distal direction; and

wherein the frictional engagement is configured to be decoupled by a counter force applied to the on-skin sensor assembly in an opposite direction of the first force.

2. The applicator of claim 1, further comprising at least one retention element configured to frictionally couple the second body to the first body.

3. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the at least one retention element is formed integral with the second body.

4. The applicator of claim 3, wherein the at least one retention element is frictionally engaged against a wall of the first body.

5. The applicator of claim 4, wherein the counter force decouples the frictional engagement by displacing the at least one retention element from the wall of the first body.

6. The applicator of claim 5, wherein the wall is a backstop.

7. The applicator of claim 5, wherein the wall is configured to prevent the at least one retention element from deflecting.

8. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the frictional engagement is decoupled by the counter force exceeding a force threshold.

9. The applicator of claim 8, wherein the force threshold is determined by the frictional force between the at least one retention element and the first body.

10. The applicator of claim 9, wherein the threshold is at least 0.5 lbf.

11. The applicator of claim 9, wherein the threshold is at least 1 lbf.

12. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the first body is configured to retract in a proximal direction upon decoupling of the frictional engagement.

13. The applicator of claim 12, further comprising a second spring, the second spring configured to drive the first body in a proximal direction.

14. The applicator of claim 13, wherein the second spring is retained from release by at least one retention element of the second body.

15. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the decoupling of the frictional engagement is configured to be independent of a distance between the on-skin sensor assembly and a distal end of the applicator.

16. The applicator of claim 15, wherein the first body is configured to retract independent of the distance between the on-skin sensor assembly and the distal end of the applicator.

17. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the counter force applied to the on-skin sensor assembly is configured to be provided by the skin of the host opposing the first force.

18. The applicator of claim 17, wherein an interior of the applicator is configured to allow the skin of the host to reside within the interior.

19. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the insertion element is configured to be inserted into the skin a predetermined depth.

20. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the frictional engagement is configured to decouple at a range of distances between the on-skin sensor assembly and a distal end of the applicator.