Transcutaneous analyte sensor

1. A sensor system for measuring an analyte concentration in a host, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to continuously measure an analyte concentration in a host;

a sensor electronics module configured to electrically couple to the sensor, wherein the sensor electronics module comprises sensor electronics configured to provide a signal associated with the analyte concentration in the host, a radio frequency identification device, an internal power supply configured to supply power to the electronics module, and a switch operatively connected to the power supply, the switch configured to switch between a first state and a second state, wherein the internal power supply is configured to be in a first power mode when the switch is in the first state and in a second power mode when the switch is in the second state, the first power mode supplying less power to the sensor electronics module than the second power mode, and wherein the internal power supply provides power to the sensor electronics sufficient to provide a bias voltage for the sensor so to generate the signal associated with the analyte concentration; and

a receiver device having a power supply configured to inductively power the radio frequency identification device when the receiver is placed in proximity to the sensor electronics module, a processor configured to generate estimated analyte concentration values, and a display configured to display the estimated analyte data values,

wherein the radio frequency identification device is configured to transmit the information representative of the measured analyte concentration and a calibration code responsive to the receiver device interrogating the sensor electronics module, wherein the external power source provides the power to the radio frequency identification device so transmission of the information from the radio identification device to the receiver results in little or no impact on the internal power supply, and

wherein generating the estimated analyte concentration values is based on the information representative of the measured analyte concentration and the calibration code.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the internal power source comprises a battery and wherein the switch is a reed switch connected to an output terminal of the battery.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a separate unit configured to engage the sensor electronics module, the separate unit having a magnet attached thereto configured to maintain one of the first state or the second state of the switch when the separate unit is engaged with the sensor electronics module.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting unit configured to receive the sensor, wherein the mounting unit is adapted for placement adjacent to the host's skin, wherein the sensor electronics module includes a housing configured to be releasably attached to the mounting unit.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the switch is configured to be in the second state when the electronics unit is attached to the housing.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the switch is configured to be in the first state when the electronics unit is detached from the housing.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor electronics module comprises a processor configured to control electronics of the sensor electronics module, and wherein the processor is configured to be in a sleep mode when in the first power mode.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the electronics comprise a potentiostat, an A/D converter, a digital processor and a transmitter, and wherein the electronics are turned off in the first power mode.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the calibration code is received by the sensor electronics module from the sensor upon the sensor electronics module being electrically coupled to the sensor.

10. A method for measuring an analyte concentration in a host, the method comprising:

switching a sensor electronics module from a first power mode to a second power mode which is different from the first power mode by switching a switch from a first state to a second state;

operatively connecting the sensor electronics module to a sensor configured to measure an analyte concentration in a host, wherein operatively connecting comprises releasably attaching the sensor electronics module to a mounting unit configured to receive the sensor, wherein the mounting unit is adapted for placement adjacent to the host's skin;

measuring an analyte concentration of the host by applying a bias voltage to the sensor, the bias voltage provided by an internal power supply of the sensor electronics module;

powering a radio frequency identification device of the sensor electronics module while an inductive charging power source external is placed in proximity to the sensor electronics module;

transmitting, using the powered radio frequency identification device, information representative of the measured analyte concentration on-demand responsive to a receiver device comprising the external power source interrogating the sensor electronics module, the transmission of the information resulting in little or no impact on the internal power supply, wherein the information further includes a calibration code; and

processing, using the receiver device, the information representative of the analyte concentration and the calibration code to generate estimated analyte values; and

displaying the estimated analyte values on a display of the receiver device.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the sensor electronics module is turned off when in the first power mode and wherein the sensor electronics module is turned on when in the second power mode.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein a processor of the sensor electronics module is in a sleep mode while in the first power mode and in a normal operation mode while in the second power mode.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

removably holding the sensor electronics module against a non-integral unit, the non-integral unit having a magnet that is operatively connected to the switch; and

maintaining the sensor electronics module in one of the first power mode or the second power mode while the sensor electronics module is held against the non-integral unit.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein switching further comprises removing the sensor electronics module from the non-integral unit, wherein removing comprises operatively disconnecting the magnetic from the switch, and wherein operatively disconnecting the switch causes the switch to switch to the second state.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the non-integral unit comprises a mounting unit configured to receive the sensor, the mounting unit adapted for placement adjacent to the host's skin, wherein operatively connecting the sensor electronics module to the sensor comprises removably holding a housing of the sensor electronics module to the mounting unit.