System for monitoring body chemistry

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 having a suction interface configured to releasably retain a wearable sensor patch via a temporary seal, 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 (a) 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, and (b) the temporary seal is broken via venting and the wearable sensor patch is released from the first applicator portion while accelerating the first applicator portion distally away from the second applicator portion and along the path.   
     
     
         2 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein the first applicator portion includes a compressible support material positioned behind the suction interface and configured to comply with the user's skin during coupling of the wearable sensor patch to the user's body. 
     
     
         3 . 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. 
     
     
         4 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein the second applicator portion includes a structure that obscures the wearable sensor patch from the user's view when the applicator system is in the loaded mode. 
     
     
         5 . 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   after the transition of the applicator system to the released mode is initiated, release the wearable sensor patch such that the first applicator portion can be disconnected from the wearable sensor patch.   
     
     
         6 . The applicator system of  claim 5 , wherein the portion of the wearable sensor patch is a feature of a housing of the wearable sensor patch. 
     
     
         7 . 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.   
     
     
         8 . The applicator system of  claim 7 , 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.   
     
     
         9 . 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 of a plane;   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 that is generally perpendicular to the plane.   
     
     
         10 . The applicator system of  claim 9 , 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. 
     
     
         11 . 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. 
     
     
         12 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein the spring includes a coil having at least three loops. 
     
     
         13 . 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.   
     
     
         14 . 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.   
     
     
         15 . 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. 
     
     
         16 . 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. 
     
     
         17 . 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. 
     
     
         18 . The applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first applicator portion further includes a shaft coupled to the suction interface;   the shaft at least partially defines a venting channel extending between (a) a first opening in the shaft proximate the suction interface and (b) a second opening in the shaft positioned distal the first opening relative to the suction interface; and   the venting that breaks the temporary seal transpires through the venting channel   
     
     
         19 . An applicator, comprising:
 a housing portion having an opening at a bottom surface of the housing portion;   a holder portion having an interface configured to releasably hold a wearable patch via suction, the 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 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 (1) 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 and (2) the suction is removed and the wearable patch is released from the holder portion during acceleration of the portion of the holder portion in the direction away from the housing portion toward the opening.   
     
     
         20 . The applicator of  claim 19 , wherein the housing portion includes a structure that obscures the wearable patch from the user's view when the applicator is in the loaded configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The applicator of  claim 19 , further comprising a retainer configured to:
 when the applicator is in the loaded configuration, (a) hold the holder portion within the interior of the housing portion and (b) hold the spring in the first state of compression; and   when the transition of the applicator from the loaded configuration to the released configuration is initiated by the trigger mechanism, release the holder portion and the spring such that the spring (i) transitions from the first state of compression to the second state of compression and (ii) accelerates the portion of the holder portion in a direction away from the housing portion toward the opening.   
     
     
         22 . The applicator of  claim 19 , 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 from the loaded configuration to the released configuration is initiated by the trigger mechanism, (a) the spring transitions from the first state to the second state, (b) the spring accelerates the holder portion in the direction away from the housing portion toward the opening, and (c) the holder portion reaches a speed between 3 m/s and 15 m/s. 
     
     
         23 . The applicator of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the trigger mechanism is positioned in line with the spring and the holder portion such that the spring is positioned between the holder portion and at least the portion of the trigger mechanism. 
     
     
         24 . The applicator of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the trigger mechanism is positioned out of line with the spring and the holder portion such that at least the portion of the trigger mechanism is positioned to a side of the spring and the holder portion. 
     
     
         25 . The applicator of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the holder portion further includes a venting feature coupled to the interface;   the venting feature includes a shaft at least partially defining a venting channel that extends between (a) a first opening in the shaft proximate the interface and (b) a second opening in the shaft distal the first opening relative to the interface; and   the suction is removed via venting through the venting channel.   
     
     
         26 . A system, comprising:
 a first applicator portion having a coupling interface configured to temporarily retain a wearable patch via negative pressure, the wearable patch having a sensor configured 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 positionable within an interior of the second applicator portion via the opening such that the second applicator portion generally surrounds the first applicator portion;   a spring positioned within the interior of the second application portion between the first applicator portion and the second applicator portion at least when the system is in a loaded state; and   a trigger mechanism actuatable to initiate a transition of the system from the loaded state to an unloaded state such that (a) the spring transitions between a first state of compression and a second, lower state of compression, (b) the spring accelerates the wearable patch toward the user, and (c) the negative pressure is removed and the wearable patch is released from the first applicator portion as the wearable patch is accelerated away from the second applicator portion and toward the user.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , 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 system from the loaded state to the unloaded state is initiated by the trigger mechanism, (a) the spring transitions from the first state to the second state, (b) the spring accelerates the wearable patch toward the user, and (c) the wearable patch reaches a speed between 3 m/s and 15 m/s. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the coupling interface includes a suction interface configured to form a temporary seal with a surface of the wearable patch to facilitate the coupling interface temporarily retaining the wearable patch via the negative pressure. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the coupling interface further includes a venting channel coupled to the suction interface; and   the venting channel includes a shaft at least partially defining a pathway extending between (a) a first opening in the shaft proximate the suction interface and (b) a second opening in the shaft positioned distal the first opening relative to the suction interface.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the second applicator portion or the trigger mechanism includes a sealing interface couplable to the second opening of the venting channel and configured to:
 seal the venting channel to facilitate the coupling interface temporarily retaining the wearable patch via the negative pressure; and   when or after the transition of the system from the loaded state to the unloaded state is initiated by the trigger mechanism, unseal the venting channel to facilitate removing the negative pressure and releasing the wearable patch.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the spring is positioned between the venting channel and an interior wall of the second applicator portion. 
     
     
         32 . The applicator system of  claim 26 , wherein the second opening in the shaft is positioned proximate at least a portion of the trigger mechanism when the applicator system is in the loaded mode, and wherein a distance between the second opening and the portion of the trigger mechanism increases after the transition of the applicator system from the loaded mode to the released mode is initiated and as the first applicator portion is accelerated distally away from the second applicator portion.