Sensor Inserter Assembly

Abstract

An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte, such as blood glucose. An inserter having a retractable introducer is provided for subcutaneously implanting the sensor in a predictable and reliable fashion.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An insertion kit, comprising:
 a sensor and an introducer needle, wherein the sensor and the introducer needle are configured and arranged with a shape, such that the sensor is retained in the introducer needle by a friction fit such that motion of the sensor with respect to the introducer needle is minimized prior to sensor insertion; and   an applicator configured to cause the needle to be inserted through a skin of a host, wherein the applicator is further configured to position at least a portion of the sensor in contact with a biological fluid of the host.   
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 2  wherein the sensor is retained in a lumen of the introducer needle. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 3  wherein the sensor is retained within the lumen. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 2  wherein the sensor is retained within the introducer needle. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 2  wherein the sensor is retained in the introducer needle by the friction fit of a contact point between the sensor and the introducer needle. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 2  wherein the motion is longitudinal motion. 
     
     
         8 . The insertion kit of  claim 2 , wherein the applicator is further configured to substantially completely withdraw the introducer needle from the host after the sensor is transcutaneously positioned in fluid contact with the biological fluid of the host. 
     
     
         9 . The insertion kit of  claim 2 , wherein the applicator includes a spring biased mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The insertion kit of  claim 2 , wherein the shape is a bend. 
     
     
         11 . An insertion kit, comprising:
 a sensor and an introducer needle, wherein the sensor and the introducer needle are configured and arranged with a shape, such that the sensor is retained within a lumen of the introducer needle by a friction fit of multiple contact points separated by non-contact points between the sensor and the lumen of the introducer needle, such that longitudinal motion of the sensor with respect to the introducer needle is minimized prior to sensor insertion; and   an applicator configured to cause the needle to be inserted through a skin of a host, wherein the applicator is further configured to position at least a portion of the sensor in contact with a biological fluid of the host.   
     
     
         12 . An analyte sensor system, comprising:
 an analyte sensor and an applicator comprising an introducer needle, wherein the applicator is configured to position at least a portion of the sensor in contact with a biological fluid of a host by insertion of, and subsequent withdrawal of, the introducer needle through the skin of the host, wherein the analyte sensor is configured and arranged to be held by a friction fit of the surface of the sensor with the introducer needle in order to maintain the sensor longitudinally within the introducer needle prior to withdrawal of the introducer needle from the host and minimize motion of the sensor during withdrawal of the introducer needle from the host.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the analyte sensor is configured and arranged to be held by the friction fit of the surface of the sensor with an inner lumen of the introducer needle. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor has a slight bend when the sensor is held within the introducer needle. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising the steps of:
 longitudinally maintaining an analyte sensor in a first configuration of the sensor within an introducer needle during insertion of the introducer needle into a host, wherein the first configuration uses a frictional force caused by the shape of the sensor against a surface of the introducer needle to maintain the sensor within the introducer needle; and   withdrawing the introducer needle from the host, wherein the step of withdrawing comprises releasing the sensor from the first configuration to a second configuration of the sensor that is different from the first configuration after release of the sensor from the introducer needle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of withdrawing comprises positioning the sensor to be in fluid contact with a biological fluid of a host.