Devices and methods for facilitating fluid transport

• US 20070078358A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuity Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rosedale Medical Inc. (Intuity Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Escutia, Raul, Emery, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,801,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/573
• 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 5/150213 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150343 Collection vessels for collecting blood samples from the skin surface, e.g. test tubes, cuvettes sampling from within body cavities A61B5/150015, A61B5/150045
• 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 5/150519 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the single-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/151 Devices specially adapted for taking samples of capillary blood, e.g. by lancets , needles or blades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15153 Multiple piercing elements stocked in a single compartment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15163 Characterized by propelling the piercing element in an axial direction relative to the disc

Abstract

Arrangements are provided including a base having a bore disposed therein extending from a first surface of the base through a second surface of the base, a fluid transport tube having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a lumen having an inner diameter, at least the second end of the tube being received within the bore of the base, and at least one fluid transport enhancing groove having at least a first section disposed in the second surface of the base and in fluid communication with the bore.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising:

a base having a bore disposed therein extending from a first surface of the base through a second surface of the base; and

a fluid transport tube having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a lumen having an inner diameter, at least the second end of the tube being received within the bore of the base;

at least one fluid transport-enhancing groove comprising at least a first section disposed in the second surface of the base and in fluid communication with the bore.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising an analyte quantification member in fluid communication with at least one of:

(i) the bore and

(ii) the at least one fluid transport enhancing groove.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the fluid transport tube comprises a needle and the first end of the needle is constructed for piercing the skin.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the needle is formed from a metal, and the base is formed, at least in part, from a metal, a polymer, a glass, or a ceramic.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lumen comprises a fluid transport enhancing feature, the feature comprising at least one of a coating and a surface texture.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the bore comprises a first section extending from the first surface of the base and defining a counterbore receiving at least the second end of the fluid transport tube.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the bore comprises a second section extending from the second end of the fluid transport tube to the second surface of the base.

8. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein the at least one fluid transport enhancing groove further comprises a second section disposed in the second section of the bore.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the second section of the at least one groove is substantially linear and extends longitudinally along the second section of the bore.

10. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the second section of the at least one groove is formed substantially as a spiral in the second section of the bore.

11. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the second section of the at least one groove has a width that decreases in a direction toward the second surface.

12. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second sections of the groove has a geometrical cross-sectional configuration comprising a flat-bottomed groove, a curved-bottom groove, or a pointed-bottom groove.

13. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second sections of the groove comprises a cross-sectional area that decreases in the direction extending away from the second end of the fluid transport tube.

14. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second sections of the groove comprises a cross-sectional area that increases in the direction extending away from the second end of the fluid transport tube.

15. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fluid transport enhancing grooves disposed in the second surface of the base.

16. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein at least two of the plurality of grooves intersect the bore at the second surface of the base.

17. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the plurality of grooves further comprises at least one groove disposed in the second surface of the base that intersects another of the plurality of grooves, but does not intersect the bore.

18. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one groove tangentially intersects the bore at the second surface of the base.

19. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one groove is configured as a spiral surrounding the bore.

20. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a groove surrounding the bore and in fluid communication with the at least one fluid transport enhancing groove.

21. The arrangement of claim 20, further comprising an absorbent material in the groove surrounding the bore.

22. The arrangement of claim 20, further comprising at least one vent groove in fluid communication with the groove surrounding the bore.

23. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second sections of the groove comprises a fluid transport-enhancing feature, the feature comprising at least one of a coating and a surface texture.

24. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein the second section of the bore comprises an additional fluid transport enhancing feature, the feature comprising at least one of a coating and a surface texture.

25. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the quantification member is in direct fluid communication with at least one of the bore and the at least one fluid transport enhancing groove.

26. The arrangement of claim 23, wherein the quantification member comprises an assay pad containing a chemical reagent chosen to react with a predetermined analyte.

27. The arrangement of claim 23, further comprising a cover overlying the quantification member.

28. The arrangement of claim 23, wherein the cover is constructed to permit optical communication with the quantification member.

29. The arrangement of claim 27, wherein the cover is in the form of a cap.

30. The arrangement of claim 27, further comprising a spacer interposed between the quantification member and the cover.

31. The arrangement of claim 2, further comprising a counter bore in the second surface of the base receiving the quantification member therein.

32. The arrangement of claim 31, wherein the counter bore has at least one of a flat bottom and a curved bottom.

33. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the fluid transport tube is received with the base such that an end surface of the tube is substantially coplanar with the second surface.

34. The arrangement of claim 33, wherein the at least one fluid transport enhancing groove is also disposed in the end surface.

35. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising at least one fluid transport enhancing groove in the fluid transport tube.

36. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a generally cylindrical hub.

37. The arrangement of claim 36, further comprising an actuation member attached to the hub.

38. An integrated analyte detector device comprising the arrangement of claim 1.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein the device is configured to be wearable or handheld.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the device is constructed to perform at least one blood glucose concentration measurement.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein the device is constructed to perform multiple blood glucose concentration measurements.

42. The device of claim 40, wherein the device comprises a disposable cartridge.

43. An arrangement comprising:

a base having a bore disposed therein extending from a first surface of the base through a second surface of the base;

a needle having a first end adapted to pierce the skin, a second end opposite the first end, and a lumen having an inner diameter, at least the second end of the needle being received within the bore of the base;

at least one fluid transport enhancing groove comprising at least a first section disposed in the second surface of the base and in fluid communication with the bore; and

an analyte quantification member in fluid communication with at least one of the bore and the at least one fluid transport enhancing groove.

44. An integrated analyte detector device comprising the arrangement of claim 43.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein the device is configured to be wearable or handheld.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein the device is constructed to perform at least one blood glucose concentration measurement.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein the device is constructed to perform multiple blood glucose concentration measurements.

48. The device of claim 46, wherein the device comprises a disposable cartridge.