Electrochemical sensor module

Abstract

Certain embodiments of a sensor cartridge element include a sensor module, an electrode arrangement installed on the sensor module, and a delivery arrangement securely coupled to the sensor module. The sensor module includes an analysis cell and a skin piercing member. The electrode arrangement generates an electrical signal when exposed to a fluid sample collected in the analysis cell. The delivery arrangement includes a drug reservoir, a piston chamber, and a valve arrangement providing selective fluid communication between the drug reservoir and the piston chamber. Metering electronics and an actuator can manage collection of fluid samples and/or dispensing of drug doses.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A monitoring device comprising:
 a plurality of cartridge elements disposed in a stack between a top-most of the cartridge elements and a bottom-most of the cartridge elements, each of the cartridge elements including a body, a skin piercing member, and a working electrode having sensing chemistry, the skin piercing member being movable relative to the body along a first axis between extended and retracted positions, the skin piercing member having a tip that is disposed internal of the body when the skin piercing member is in the retracted position, the tip of the skin piercing member being disposed external of the body when the skin piercing member is in the extended position, the cartridge element being configured to draw fluid through the skin piercing member to the working electrode, the cartridge elements in the stack being slidable relative to each other;   a device housing defining a first port and a second port, the first port facing in a different direction than the second port, the first port being sized to receive the stack of cartridge elements, the second port being sized to enable ejection of individual ones of the cartridge elements, the device housing positioning the stack so that the bottom-most of the cartridge elements aligns with the second port while remaining within the device housing;   metering electronics disposed within the interior of the device housing, the metering electronics configured to determine an analyte concentration level based on signals obtained with sensing chemistry at the working electrode of the bottom-most cartridge element; and   an actuation arrangement disposed within the interior of the housing, the actuation arrangement being configured to obtain a fluid sample by driving the skin piercing member of the bottom-most cartridge element to the extended position, the actuation arrangement also being configured to eject the bottom-most cartridge element from the device housing via the second port.   
     
     
         3 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , further comprising a first door coupled to the device housing, the first door selectively closing the first port. 
     
     
         4 . The monitoring device of  claim 3 , wherein the first door pivots relative to the device housing. 
     
     
         5 . The monitoring device of  claim 3 , wherein the device housing includes a second door that selectively closes the second port. 
     
     
         6 . The monitoring device of  claim 5 , wherein the second door pivots relative to the device housing. 
     
     
         7 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the device housing defines a test slot with which the tip of the skin piercing member of the bottom-most cartridge element aligns so that the tip of the skin piercing member extends through the test slot when in the extended position. 
     
     
         8 . The monitoring device of  claim 7 , wherein the test slot faces in a different direction from the second port. 
     
     
         9 . The monitoring device of  claim 7 , further comprising a second door mounted to the device housing to selectively close the second port without covering the test slot. 
     
     
         10 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein each of the cartridge elements is elongate along a length that extends parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         11 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom-most cartridge element is fully disposed within the interior of the device housing while the fluid sample is obtained. 
     
     
         12 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the second port is configured to enable the bottom-most cartridge element to be ejected along an axis that is transverse to the first axis. 
     
     
         13 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein each cartridge element also includes a drug reservoir in selective communication with the skin-piercing member. 
     
     
         14 . The monitoring device of  claim 13 , wherein the drug reservoir holds insulin. 
     
     
         15 . The monitoring device of  claim 13 , wherein each cartridge element includes a delivery mechanism that draws a drug dose from the drug reservoir towards the skin piercing member. 
     
     
         16 . The monitoring device of  claim 15 , wherein the actuation arrangement controls the delivery mechanism of the bottom-most cartridge element. 
     
     
         17 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , further comprising a user interface carried by the device housing, the user interface including a display screen and an input button. 
     
     
         18 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein each cartridge element includes a piston chamber and piston rod that cooperate to obtain the fluid sample through the skin piercing member. 
     
     
         19 . The monitoring device of  claim 18 , wherein the actuator arrangement manipulates the piston rod to draw the fluid sample into the piston chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the cartridge elements interlock together in the stack to allow sliding movement of each cartridge element along the respective first axis while inhibiting movement along an axis transverse to the first axis. 
     
     
         21 . The monitoring device of  claim 20 , wherein each cartridge element includes rails and slots to allow the cartridge elements to interlock together.