SENSOR MODULE WITH ENHANCED CAPILLARY FLOW

• US 20140031654A1
• Filed: 01/05/2012
• Published: 01/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pepex Biomedical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pepex Biomedical, Inc.
• Inventors: Say, James L., Pohl, Stephen L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,034,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/345
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1411 by percutaneous method, e.g. by lancet
• 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 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150282 for piercing elements, e.g. blade, lancet, canula, needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150419 comprising means for capillary action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150572 Pierceable protectors, e.g. shields, caps, sleeves or films, e.g. for hygienic purposes
• 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 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15126 Means for controlling the lancing movement, e.g. 2D- or 3D-shaped elements, tooth-shaped elements or sliding guides
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1513 comprising linear sliding guides comprising tooth-shaped elements A61B5/15132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15146 Devices loaded with multiple lancets simultaneously, e.g. for serial firing without reloading, for example by use of stocking means. multiple simultaneous cutting or piercing A61B5/150977
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood

Abstract

A sensor module is disclosed herein. The sensor module includes a main housing defining an analysis zone within the housing. The sensor module also includes a skin piercing member mounted within the main housing. The skin piercing member is movable relative to the main housing between a retracted position and an extended position. The main housing of the sensor module defines a fluid sample flow passage that extends from a sampling end of the main housing to the analysis zone. The fluid sample flow passage includes a funnel structure through which the skin piecing member extends when in the extended position. The fluid sample flow passage also includes capillary flow enhancing slots that extend outwardly from opposite sides of the funnel structure.

Claims

1. A sensor module comprising:

a main housing defining an analysis zone within the housing, the main housing having a sampling end;

a skin piercing member mounted within the main housing, the skin piercing member being movable relative to the main housing between a retracted position and an extended position;

a fluid sample flow passage that extends from the sampling end of the main housing to the analysis zone, the fluid sample flow passage including a funnel structure through which the skin piercing member extends when in the extended position, the fluid sample flow passage also including capillary flow enhancing slots that extend outwardly from opposite sides of the funnel structure.

2. The sensor module of claim 1, further comprising first and second electrodes positioned at the analysis zone, at least one of the electrodes including analyte sensing chemistry.

3. The sensor module of claim 2, wherein the analysis zone is sealed to limit a degree to which the sensing chemistry is exposed to air.

4. The sensor module of claim 3, further comprising a sealing member affixed to the sampling end of the main housing which covers the fluid sample flow passage, wherein the skin piercing member pierces the sealing member when the skin piercing member is moved to the extended position.

5. The sensor module of claim 2, wherein the first and second electrodes are elongated and have wetted lengths, and wherein the fluid sample flow passage has a width that is at least 75 percent as long as each of the wetted lengths, wherein the sample fluid flow passage continuously maintains the width as the fluid sample flow passage extends from the sampling end of the main housing to the analysis zone, and wherein the width is measured in a direction transverse to a primary direction of flow through the fluid sample flow passage.

6. The sensor module of claim 5, wherein the first and second electrodes comprise conductive fibers.

7. A sensor module comprising:

a main housing defining an analysis zone within the housing;

a skin piercing member mounted within the main housing, the skin piercing member being movable relative to the main housing between a retracted position and an extended position;

first and second electrodes positioned at the analysis zone, at least one of the electrodes including analyte sensing chemistry, the analysis zone being sealed to limit a degree to which the sensing chemistry is exposed to air.

8. The sensor module of claim 7, further comprising a fluid sample flow passage that extends from an exterior of the main housing to the analysis zone.

9. The sensor module of claim 8, where the skin piercing member passes through the fluid sample flow passage when in the extended position.

10. The sensor module of claim 9, further comprising a sealing member affixed to the exterior of the main housing which covers the fluid sample flow passage.

11. The sensor module of claim 10, wherein the skin piercing member pierces the sealing member when the skin piercing member is moved to the extended position.

12. A sensor module comprising:

a main housing defining an analysis zone within the housing, the main housing having a sampling end;

a skin piercing member mounted within the main housing, the skin piercing member being movable relative to the main housing between a retracted position and an extended position, the skin piecing member moving along a first axis as the skin piercing member moves between the retracted and extended positions;

a fluid sample flow passage that extends from the sampling end of the main housing to the analysis zone, wherein the skin piercing member passes through the fluid sample flow passage when in the extended position; and

elongated electrodes positioned at the analysis zone, the elongated electrodes being aligned along second axes;

the second axes being offset from the first axis and the second axes being transverse with respect to a plane that includes the first axis.

13. The sensor module of claim 12, wherein the electrodes include conductive fibers.

14. A sensor module comprising:

a main housing defining an analysis zone within the housing;

a skin piercing member mounted within the main housing, the skin piercing member being movable relative to the main housing between a retracted position and an extended position, the skin piecing member moving along a first axis as the skin piercing member moves between the retracted and extended positions;

a fluid sample flow passage that extends from the sampling end of the main housing to the analysis zone, wherein the skin piercing member passes through the fluid sample flow passage when in the extended position; and

the skin piercing member including a base end anchored to a slide member that is mounted within an elongated slot defined by the main housing, wherein the slide member is mounted to slide along a length of the slot within the main housing.