Wearable sensor patches, applicator systems for applying wearable sensor patches, and associated systems, devices, and methods

Abstract

Wearable sensor patches, applicator systems for applying wearable sensor patches, and associated systems, devices, and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an applicator system includes a first applicator portion, a second applicator portion, a spring, and a trigger mechanism. The first applicator portion releasably retains a wearable sensor patch configured to detect a parameter of an analyte in fluid of a user. When the applicator system is in a loaded mode, the spring and the first applicator portion are positioned within the second applicator portion such that the spring is positioned between the first applicator portion and the second applicator portion. The trigger mechanism is configured to initiate a transition of the applicator system from the loaded mode to a released mode such that the spring accelerates the first applicator portion distally away from the second applicator portion to apply the wearable sensor patch to the user.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An applicator system, comprising:
 a first applicator portion configured to releasably retain a wearable sensor patch, the wearable sensor patch having a filament used to detect at least one parameter of an analyte in fluid of a user;   a second applicator portion having an opening, wherein the first applicator portion is positioned within an interior of the second applicator portion at least when the applicator system is in a loaded mode such that the second applicator portion circumscribes the first applicator portion;   a spring positioned within the interior of the second applicator portion and between the first applicator portion and the second applicator portion; and   a mechanical, user-activated trigger mechanism configured to initiate a transition of the applicator system from the loaded mode to a released mode such that the spring accelerates the first applicator portion along a path distally away from the second applicator portion toward the opening to apply the wearable sensor patch to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein the first applicator portion is configured to fit within the interior of the second applicator portion such that the wearable sensor patch is at least partially positioned within the interior of the second applicator portion when the wearable sensor patch is releasably retained by the first applicator portion and the applicator system is in the loaded mode. 
     
     
         3 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , further comprising a structure that obscures the wearable sensor patch from the user's view when the applicator system is in the loaded mode. 
     
     
         4 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein the first applicator portion includes a coupling interface configured to:
 when the applicator system is in the loaded mode, interface with at least a portion of the wearable sensor patch to releasably retain the wearable sensor patch; and   when the applicator system is in the released mode, release the wearable sensor patch such that the first applicator portion can be disconnected from the wearable sensor patch.   
     
     
         5 . The applicator system of  claim 4 , wherein the portion of the wearable sensor patch is a feature of a housing of the wearable sensor patch. 
     
     
         6 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , further comprising a retainer configured to:
 when the applicator system is in the loaded mode, (a) retain the first applicator portion within the interior of the second applicator portion and (b) retain the spring in a first state of compression; and   when the transition of the applicator system from the loaded mode to the released mode is initiated by the trigger mechanism, release the first applicator portion and the spring such that the spring (i) transitions from the first state of compression to a second, lower state of compression and (ii) accelerates the first applicator portion along the path distally away from the second applicator portion toward the opening to apply the wearable sensor patch to the user.   
     
     
         7 . The applicator system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the retainer is a mechanical latching mechanism; and   the trigger mechanism is configured, upon actuation, to unlatch the retainer to initiate the transition of the applicator system from the loaded mode to the released mode.   
     
     
         8 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the spring is a first spring;   when the transition of the applicator system from the loaded mode to the released mode is initiated by the trigger mechanism, the first spring transitions from a first state of compression to a second, lower state of compression along a first axis;   the applicator system further comprises a second spring;   the second spring is configured to transition between a third state of compression and a fourth state of compression lower than the third state of compression; and   the second spring transitions between the third state of compression and the fourth state of compression along a second axis parallel to the first axis.   
     
     
         9 . The applicator system of  claim 8 , wherein, after the trigger mechanism initiates the transition of the applicator system from the loaded mode to the released mode, the second spring transitions from the third state of compression to the fourth state of compression. 
     
     
         10 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein the spring has a spring force in relation to storage of a maximum amount of potential energy such that, when the transition of the applicator system from the loaded mode to the released mode is initiated by the trigger mechanism, (a) the spring transitions from a first state of compression to a second, lower state of compression, (b) the spring accelerates the first applicator portion along the path distally away from the second applicator portion toward the opening, and (c) the first applicator portion reaches a speed between 3 m/s and 15 m/s. 
     
     
         11 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein the spring includes a coil having at least three loops. 
     
     
         12 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 when the transition of the applicator system from the loaded mode to the released mode is initiated by the trigger mechanism, the first spring transitions from a first state of compression to a second, lower state of compression; and   the spring is spaced apart from sidewalls on the second applicator portion such that, when the applicator transitions from the loaded mode to the released mode, the spring transitions from the first state of compression to the second state of compression without contacting the sidewalls of the second applicator portion.   
     
     
         13 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the spring includes a first end portion and a second end portion; and   the spring is coupled to the first applicator portion at the first end portion or the spring is coupled to the second applicator portion at the second end portion.   
     
     
         14 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the trigger mechanism is positioned in line with the spring and the first applicator portion such that the spring is positioned between the first applicator portion and at least the portion of the trigger mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the trigger mechanism is positioned out of line with the spring and the first applicator portion such that at least the portion of the trigger mechanism is positioned to a side of the spring and the first applicator portion. 
     
     
         16 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein, when the applicator system is in the loaded mode, the first applicator portion is positioned within the interior of the second applicator portion such that the second applicator portion surrounds the first applicator portion in a manner that controls motion of the first applicator portion within the second applicator portion while (a) the applicator system is transitioned from the loaded mode to the released mode and (b) the first applicator portion is accelerated along the path distally away from the second applicator portion toward the opening. 
     
     
         17 . A disposable, wearable sensor patch, comprising:
 a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion configured to mate with one another;   a filament at least partially positioned exterior the housing at a base surface of the first housing portion, wherein the filament is configured to extend into a user's tissue and is used to detect at least one parameter of an analyte in fluid of the user;   an electronics subsystem positioned and fluidly sealed within the housing; and   an integrated transmitting unit configured to wirelessly interface with a computing device that is remote from the wearable sensor patch by outputting signals based on the at least one parameter of the analyte,   wherein the housing includes an interface such that the disposable, wearable sensor patch can be releasably retained by and at least partially positioned within an applicator that is configured to accelerate the disposable, wearable sensor patch toward the user to extend the filament into the user's tissue.   
     
     
         18 . The disposable, wearable sensor patch of  claim 17 , further comprising an adhesive substrate configured to facilitate coupling the wearable sensor patch to the user's skin, wherein:
 the adhesive substrate is positioned at the base surface of the first housing portion; and   the adhesive substrate includes an opening through which the filament extends at least when the filament is extended into the user's tissue.   
     
     
         19 . The disposable, wearable sensor patch of  claim 18 , wherein the adhesive substrate has a footprint at least as great as a footprint of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The disposable, wearable sensor patch of  claim 17 , further comprising a battery positioned with the housing and configured to serve as a power source for the electronics subsystem. 
     
     
         21 . The disposable, wearable sensor patch of  claim 17 , wherein the filament is positioned at a location offset from a center of the base surface of the first housing portion. 
     
     
         22 . The disposable, wearable sensor patch of  claim 17 , wherein the filament is positioned at a center location of the base surface of the first housing portion. 
     
     
         23 . The disposable, wearable sensor patch of  claim 17 , further comprising a cap configured to surround the filament such that the filament is not exposed at least when the cap is installed. 
     
     
         24 . The disposable, wearable sensor patch of  claim 17 , wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion are configured to mate by snapping together. 
     
     
         25 . The disposable, wearable sensor patch of  claim 17 , wherein the disposable, wearable sensor patch is configured to detect the at least one parameter of the analyte in the fluid for a time period greater than a week after the filament is initially extended into the user's tissue. 
     
     
         26 . The disposable, wearable sensor patch of  claim 25 , wherein the disposable, wearable sensor patch is configured to execute a calibration routine to prevent signal degradation for the time period, and wherein the calibration routine does not include sticking a finger of the user. 
     
     
         27 . The disposable, wearable sensor patch of  claim 17 , wherein the filament includes:
 a columnar protrusion extending away from the base surface of the first housing portion, the columnar protrusion having a proximal portion near the base surface of the first housing portion and a distal portion at an end portion of the columnar protrusion opposite the proximal portion;   a conical tip region coupled to the distal portion of the columnar protrusion;   a conductive portion; and   an insulating layer positioned between the conductive portion of the filament and the proximal portion of the columnar protrusion.   
     
     
         28 . The disposable, wearable sensor patch of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the filament is a first filament; and   the disposable, wearable sensor patch further includes a second filament configured to release biomaterials into the user while the second filament is extended into the user's tissue.   
     
     
         29 . The disposable, wearable sensor patch of  claim 17 , wherein the filament is configured to extend into the user's tissue such that the filament can be used to detect at least one parameter of an analyte in interstitial fluid of the user. 
     
     
         30 . An applicator, comprising:
 a housing portion having an opening at a bottom surface of the housing portion;   a holder portion configured to releasably hold a wearable patch having a sensor usable to detect a parameter of an analyte in fluid of a user,
 wherein, when the applicator is in a loaded configuration, the holder portion is at least partially positioned within an interior of the housing portion such that the housing portion circumscribes at least a portion of the holder portion; 
   a spring positioned within the interior of the housing portion; and   a trigger mechanism configured to initiate a transition the of the applicator from (a) the loaded configuration in which the spring is in a first state of compression to (b) a released configuration such that the spring (i) transitions from the first state of compression to a second, lower state of compression and (ii) accelerates the portion of the holder portion in a direction away from the housing portion toward the opening while the spring transitions from the first state of compression to the second state of compression.