Fully integrated wearable or handheld monitor

Abstract

An arrangement comprises a housing containing one or more components configured for at least one of body fluid sampling and analysis. The arrangement includes a housing containing one or more components configured for at least one of body fluid sampling and analysis, and a body attachment element. The housing and the body attachment element are connected by a quick-release mechanism configured to facilitate removal of the housing from the body attachment element.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An integrated body fluid sampling and analysis device, the device comprising:
 a housing, the housing containing a plurality of body fluid sampling and analysis sites, each of the sites comprising a skin-penetration member;   a body attachment element; and   a quick release mechanism connecting the housing and the body attachment element.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the body attachment element comprises a band configured to be secured to the wrist of a wearer. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a disposable portion and a reusable portion. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein each of the sampling and analysis sites further comprises an actuator configured to drive the skin-penetration member into the skin of a user. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator is configured to accelerate the skin-penetration member along a curved or rotational path. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the actuator comprises a torsional spring. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein each of the sampling and analysis sites further comprise a trigger configured to release the actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the skin-penetration member comprises a hollow needle. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the analyte quantification member comprises an assay pad, the assay pad comprising a chemical reagent for producing a detectable signal upon reaction with a target analyte. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the signal is optically detectable, and the arrangement further comprises a detector configured to detect the signal. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the analysis sites are arranged about a circle in a circumferential manner. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the analysis sites are oriented in the radial direction. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the sampling and analysis sites are oriented in a linear manner. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator comprises a coil spring, the arrangement further comprising a relatively rotatable camming or ramping surface configured to interact with the coil spring such that energy stored therein is released at a predetermined release point. 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator comprises a cantilevered spring arm, the arrangement further comprising a release member and a rotatable surface formed with a break therein, the arrangement configured such that as the release member comes into registry with the break, the energy stored in the spring arm is released. 
     
     
         16 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the skin-piercing member is attached to a first mounting arm, the arrangement further comprising at least one second mounting arm located above the first mounting arm, and a weight attached to the end of the second mounting arm, whereby the weight can be driven into the skin-piercing member attached to the first mounting arm. 
     
     
         17 . The arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator comprises a cantilever beam and a rotatable cam comprising a ramp surface comprising a break therein and configured to interact with the cantilever beam to release energy stored therein upon coming into registry with the break. 
     
     
         18 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the skin-penetration member comprises a bevel turned 90° away from the surface of the skin of a user. 
     
     
         19 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the skin-penetration member comprises a bevel facing toward the surface of the skin of a user. 
     
     
         20 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the skin penetration member comprising a bevel facing away from the surface of the skin of a user. 
     
     
         21 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a display and one or more buttons. 
     
     
         22 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a footprint, the footprint comprising one or more openings in registry with one or more sampling and analysis sites. 
     
     
         23 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the quick-release mechanism comprises a generally C-shaped portion, and a generally cylindrically-shaped portion received within the generally C-shaped portion with a snap-fit type connection. 
     
     
         24 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the quick-release mechanism comprises a generally hollow portion disposed on the body attachment element received within a complementary generally hollow portion disposed on the housing, and a clip inserted into the generally hollow portion disposed on the housing, the clip comprising a locking feature disposed at an end of the clip. 
     
     
         25 . The arrangement of  claim 24 , wherein the locking feature comprises a collapsible detent. 
     
     
         26 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the quick-release mechanism comprises a generally hollow portion disposed on the body attachment element received within a complimentary generally hollow portion disposed on the housing, the generally hollow portion disposed on the body attachment element comprising a threaded end and a pin received therein, the pin comprises a threaded end mating with the threaded end of the end of the hollow portion. 
     
     
         27 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the quick-release mechanism comprises a pocket formed in the body attachment element receiving the housing therein in a releasable manner in the form of one or more of: a friction fit, snaps, detents or releasable fasteners. 
     
     
         28 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a case configured to receive the housing therein. 
     
     
         29 . The arrangement of  claim 28 , wherein the case comprises a display. 
     
     
         30 . The arrangement of  claim 22 , further comprising a moveable shield configured to close off the one or more openings. 
     
     
         31 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the disposable portion comprises a disposable cartridge. 
     
     
         32 . An arrangement comprising:
 a housing containing one or more components configured for at least one of body fluid sampling or analysis; and   a body attachment element;   wherein the housing and the body attachment element are connected by a quick-release mechanism configured to facilitate removal of the housing from the body attachment element.   
     
     
         33 . A method of performing at least one of body fluid sampling or analysis, the method comprising:
 providing a housing with one or more components configured for at least one of body fluid sampling or analysis, the components comprising at least one skin-piercing member;   providing a body attachment element;   connecting the housing to the body attachment element in a releasable manner;   removing the housing from the body attachment element;   applying the housing to a surface of the skin; and   piercing the skin with the at least one skin-penetration members.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of applying the housing to the surface of the skin comprises applying the housing to a tip region of a finger of the user.