Monitoring a physiological parameter associated with tissue of a host to confirm delivery of medication

Abstract

A physiological parameter associated with tissue of a host may be monitored in the tissue to confirm subcutaneous delivery of medication to the host. More particularly, such may involve delivering medication subcutaneously to the host with a medical device which includes a sensor used to measure the physiological parameter, particularly within a predetermined time period after delivery of the medication. Such may also or otherwise involve forming a depot in the tissue with the medication, and using the sensor to measure the physiological parameter while the sensor is at least partially within the depot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid delivery device, comprising:
 a fluid passage mechanism operable to receive a fluid from a reservoir; and   
       a transcutaneous access tool operable to receive the fluid from the fluid passage mechanism, the transcutaneous access tool comprising: 
       a needle within a first lumen of a cannula; and 
       a sensor within a second lumen of the cannula, wherein the cannula includes an opening through a sidewall of the cannula for access to the sensor. 
     
     
         2 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a monitor test strip disposed within the second lumen, wherein the sensor is coupled to the monitor test strip. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second opening through the sidewall of the cannula, the second opening providing access to a second sensor within the second lumen. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 3 , wherein the opening and the second opening are positioned axially adjacent one another. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 3 , the cannula comprising a proximal end opposite a distal tip, wherein the opening is positioned closer to the distal tip than the second opening. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a transcutaneous access tool insertion mechanism for deploying the transcutaneous access tool. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid drive mechanism for driving the fluid out of the reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a glucose sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the first lumen has a circular profile, and wherein the second lumen has a rectangular profile. 
     
     
         10 . A transcutaneous access tool, comprising:
 a needle within a first lumen of a cannula, the needle operable to deliver a fluid from a reservoir to a destination; and   a sensor within a second lumen of the cannula, wherein the cannula includes an opening through a sidewall for access to the sensor.   
     
     
         11 . The transcutaneous access tool of  claim 10 , further comprising a monitor test strip disposed within the second lumen, wherein the sensor is coupled to the monitor test strip. 
     
     
         12 . The transcutaneous access tool of  claim 10 , further comprising a second opening through the sidewall of the cannula, the second opening providing access to a second sensor within the second lumen. 
     
     
         13 . The transcutaneous access tool of  claim 12 , wherein the opening and the second opening are positioned axially adjacent one another. 
     
     
         14 . The transcutaneous access tool of  claim 12 , the cannula comprising a proximal end opposite a distal tip, wherein the opening is positioned closer to the distal tip than the second opening. 
     
     
         15 . The transcutaneous access tool of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor is a glucose sensor. 
     
     
         16 . A fluid delivery device, comprising:
 a fluid passage mechanism operable to receive a fluid from a reservoir; and   
       a transcutaneous access tool operable to receive the fluid from the fluid passage mechanism, the transcutaneous access tool comprising: 
       a needle within a first lumen of a cannula, the needle operable to deliver the fluid to a destination; and 
       a first sensor and a second sensor within a second lumen of the cannula, wherein the cannula includes a first opening through a sidewall of the cannula for access to the first sensor and a second opening through the sidewall of cannula for access to the second sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 16 , further comprising a monitor test strip disposed within the second lumen, wherein the first and second sensors are coupled to the monitor test strip. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 17 , the monitor test strip comprising a planar surface exposed through the first and second openings, wherein the first and second sensors are positioned on the planar surface. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 16 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are positioned axially adjacent one another, and wherein the first opening is positioned closer to a distal tip of the cannula than the second opening. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 16 , further comprising a transcutaneous access tool insertion mechanism for deploying the transcutaneous access tool.