Analyte sensor
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.
1. A system for measuring an analyte concentration in a host, the system comprising:
a transcutaneous analyte sensor having an in vivo portion and an ex vivo portion, wherein the transcutaneous analyte sensor is operably connectable to sensor electronics configured for detecting a signal from the transcutaneous analyte sensor, wherein the signal is indicative of an analyte concentration in the host;
an electrical contact configured to operably connect the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor to the sensor electronics;
a contact holder configured for placement over a skin of the host;
an elastomeric sealing member in contact with the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor and at least partially surrounding the electrical contact, wherein the elastomeric sealing member is configured to substantially seal at least a portion of the electrical contact from moisture; and
means for maintaining the elastomeric sealing member substantially in place on the contact holder during sensor insertion;
wherein a durometer hardness of the electrical contact is higher than a durometer hardness of the elastomeric sealing member.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact is formed from a material having a durometer hardness of from about 5 Shore A to about 80 Shore A.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member is formed from a material having a durometer hardness of from about 5 Shore A to about 80 Shore A.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member is formed from a material having a durometer hardness of from about 20 Shore A to about 50 shore A.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the contact holder is connected to a mounting unit.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member is held at least in part on the contact holder by mating male-female mechanical structures on the contact holder and on the elastomeric sealing member.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises a raised ridge to improve a seal around the electrical contact.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member is held on the contact holder at least in part by protrusions on the contact holder that are configured to mate with recesses on the elastomeric sealing member.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member is held on the contact holder at least in part by a chemical to maintain the elastomeric sealing member substantially stationary without substantial translation or deformation during sensor insertion.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor is sandwiched between the upper portion and the lower portion.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the lower portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor is positioned between the inner face of the upper portion and the inner face of the lower portion.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the lower portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the upper portion comprises one or more holes therethrough, wherein each of the one or more holes extends from a respective opening in the outer face of the upper portion and a respective opening in the inner face of the upper portion, wherein the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor is positioned between the inner face of the upper portion and the inner face of the lower portion.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the upper portion is connected to the lower portion.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the upper portion is connected to the lower portion.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the upper portion is connected to the lower portion.
16. An assembly for analyte monitoring in a host, the assembly comprising:
a transcutaneous analyte sensor having an in vivo portion and an ex vivo portion, wherein the transcutaneous analyte sensor is operably connectable to sensor electronics configured for detecting a signal from the transcutaneous analyte sensor, wherein the signal is indicative of an analyte concentration in the host;
an electrical contact configured to operably connect the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor to the sensor electronics;
a contact holder configured for placement over a skin of the host;
an elastomeric sealing member at least partially located over the contact holder, wherein the elastomeric sealing member is in contact with the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor, wherein the elastomeric sealing member at least partially surrounds the electrical contact, wherein the elastomeric sealing member is configured to substantially seal at least a portion of the electrical contact from moisture, wherein the elastomeric sealing member is held on the contact holder by mating male-female mechanical structures on the contact holder and on the elastomeric sealing member.
17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein a durometer of the electrical contact is higher than a durometer hardness of the elastomeric sealing member.
18. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the electrical contact is formed from a material having a durometer hardness of from about 5 Shore A to about 80 Shore A.
19. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member is formed from a material having a durometer hardness of from about 5 Shore A to about 80 Shore A.
20. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member is formed from a material having a durometer hardness of from about 20 Shore A to about 50 shore A.
21. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the contact holder is connected to a mounting unit.
22. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor is sandwiched between the upper portion and the lower portion.
23. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the lower portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor is positioned between the inner face of the upper portion and the inner face of the lower portion.
24. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the lower portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the upper portion comprises one or more holes therethrough, wherein each of the one or more holes extends from a respective opening in the outer face of the upper portion and a respective opening in the inner face of the upper portion, wherein the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor is positioned between the inner face of the upper portion and the inner face of the lower portion.
25. The assembly of claim 22 , wherein the upper portion is connected to the lower portion.
26. The assembly of claim 23 , wherein the upper portion is connected to the lower portion.
27. The assembly of claim 24 , wherein the upper portion is connected to the lower portion.
28. An assembly for analyte monitoring in a host, the assembly comprising:
a transcutaneous analyte sensor having an in vivo portion and an ex vivo portion, wherein the transcutaneous analyte sensor is operably connectable to sensor electronics configured for detecting a signal from the transcutaneous analyte sensor, wherein the signal is indicative of an analyte concentration in the host;
an electrical contact configured to operably connect the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor to the sensor electronics;
a contact holder configured for placement over a skin of the host; and
an elastomeric sealing member at least partially located over the contact holder, wherein the elastomeric sealing member is in contact with the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor, wherein the elastomeric sealing member at least partially surrounds the electrical contact, wherein the elastomeric sealing member is configured to substantially seal at least a portion of the electrical contact from moisture, wherein the elastomeric sealing member is held on the contact holder by mating mechanical structures on the contact holder and on the elastomeric sealing member, wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises a raised ridge to improve a seal around the electrical contact.
29. The assembly of claim 28 , wherein a durometer of the electrical contact is higher than a durometer hardness of the elastomeric sealing member.
30. The assembly of claim 28 , wherein the electrical contact is formed from a material having a durometer hardness of from about 5 Shore A to about 80 Shore A.
31. The assembly of claim 30 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member is formed from a material having a durometer hardness of from about 5 Shore A to about 80 Shore A.
32. The assembly of claim 30 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member is formed from a material having a durometer hardness of from about 20 Shore A to about 50 shore A.
33. The assembly of claim 28 , wherein the contact holder is connected to a mounting unit.
34. The assembly of claim 28 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor is sandwiched between the upper portion and the lower portion.
35. The assembly of claim 28 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the lower portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor is positioned between the inner face of the upper portion and the inner face of the lower portion.
36. The assembly of claim 28 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the lower portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the upper portion comprises one or more holes therethrough, wherein each of the one or more holes extends from a respective opening in the outer face of the upper portion and a respective opening in the inner face of the upper portion, wherein the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor is positioned between the inner face of the upper portion and the inner face of the lower portion.
37. The assembly of claim 34 , wherein the upper portion is connected to the lower portion.
38. The assembly of claim 35 , wherein the upper portion is connected to the lower portion.
39. The assembly of claim 36 , wherein the upper portion is connected to the lower portion.
40. An assembly for analyte monitoring in a host, the assembly comprising:
a transcutaneous analyte sensor having an in vivo portion and an ex vivo portion, wherein the transcutaneous analyte sensor is operably connectable to sensor electronics configured for detecting a signal from the transcutaneous analyte sensor, wherein the signal is indicative of an analyte concentration in the host;
an electrical contact configured to operably connect the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor to the sensor electronics;
a contact holder configured for placement over the skin of the host;
an elastomeric sealing member at least partially located over the contact holder, wherein the elastomeric sealing member is in contact with the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor, wherein the elastomeric sealing member at least partially surrounds the electrical contact, wherein the elastomeric sealing member is configured to substantially seal at least a portion of the electrical contact from moisture, wherein the elastomeric sealing member is held on the contact holder by protrusions on the contact holder that are configured to mate with recesses on the elastomeric sealing member.
41. The assembly of claim 40 , wherein a durometer of the electrical contact is higher than a durometer hardness of the elastomeric sealing member.
42. The assembly of claim 40 , wherein the electrical contact is formed from a material having a durometer hardness of from about 5 Shore A to about 80 Shore A.
43. The assembly of claim 42 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member is formed from a material having a durometer hardness of from about 5 Shore A to about 80 Shore A.
44. The assembly of claim 42 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member is formed from a material having a durometer hardness of from about 20 Shore A to about 50 shore A.
45. The assembly of claim 40 , wherein the contact holder is connected to a mounting unit.
46. The assembly of claim 40 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor is sandwiched between the upper portion and the lower portion.
47. The assembly of claim 40 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the lower portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor is positioned between the inner face of the upper portion and the inner face of the lower portion.
48. The assembly of claim 40 , wherein the elastomeric sealing member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the lower portion comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the upper portion comprises one or more holes therethrough, wherein each of the one or more holes extends from a respective opening in the outer face of the upper portion and a respective opening in the inner face of the upper portion, wherein the ex vivo portion of the transcutaneous analyte sensor is positioned between the inner face of the upper portion and the inner face of the lower portion.
49. The assembly of claim 46 , wherein the upper portion is connected to the lower portion.
50. The assembly of claim 47 , wherein the upper portion is connected to the lower portion.
51. The assembly of claim 48 , wherein the upper portion is connected to the lower portion.
52. An assembly for analyte monitoring in a host, the assembly comprising:
a transcutaneous analyte sensor having an in vivo portion and an ex vivo portion, wherein the transcutaneous analyte sensor is operably connectable to sensor electronics configured for detecting a signal from the transcutaneous analyte sensor, wherein the signal is indicative of an analyte concentration in the host;
an electrical contact configured to operably connect the ex vivo portion of the sensor to the sensor electronics;
a contact holder configured for placement over a skin of the host;
an elastomeric sealing member in contact with the ex vivo portion of the sensor and at least partially surrounding the electrical contact, wherein the elastomeric sealing member is configured to seal the electrical contact from moisture, wherein the elastomeric sealing member is held on the contact holder by a chemical implemented to maintain the elastomeric sealing member substantially to be stationary without substantial translation or deformation during sensor insertion.