Claims
- 1. A sensor inserter device comprising:
a housing; a shuttle movably connected to the housing, the shuttle movable in an insertion direction and an opposite retraction direction; a first spring means for urging the shuttle in the insertion direction; a second spring means for urging the shuttle in the retraction direction; an introducer sharp attached to the shuttle, the introducer sharp arranged for releasably receiving a sensor; and an actuator for releasing the shuttle and allowing the first spring means to urge the shuttle and introducer sharp in the insertion direction to an extended position in which at least a portion of the introducer sharp and the sensor protrude from the housing, whereby the second spring means is automatically actuated by the shuttle reaching the extended position and urges the shuttle and introducer sharp in the retraction direction from the extended position to a retracted position in which the introducer sharp is retracted within the housing.
- 2. The sensor inserter device of claim 1, wherein the first and second spring means are separate compression springs.
- 3. The sensor inserter device of claim 1, wherein the first and second spring means are formed from a single structure alternately acting in compression and tension.
- 4. The sensor inserter device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is slidably received within the introducer sharp.
- 5. The sensor inserter device of claim 4, wherein the sensor is releasably retained on the introducer sharp by a dimple located on the introducer sharp.
- 6. The sensor inserter device of claim 4, wherein the sensor is releasably retained on the introducer sharp by a dimple located on the sensor.
- 7. The sensor inserter device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is pulled from the introducer sharp by an adhesive member as the shuttle is urged from the extended position to the retracted position.
- 8. The sensor inserter device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a post for slidably receiving and retaining the shuttle.
- 9. The sensor inserter device of claim 1, wherein the post and the shuttle include inter-engaging features that prevent the shuttle from rotating significantly with respect to the post.
- 10. The sensor inserter device of claim 1, further comprising a adhesive mount releasably attached to the housing for attaching to a patients body near an insertion site where the sensor is inserted, the adhesive mount including a housing portion and an adhesive portion, the adhesive portion extending outwardly beyond the housing portion.
- 11. The sensor inserter device of claim 10, wherein the adhesive portion is generally planar and extends outwardly beyond the housing portion in all directions.
- 12. The sensor inserter device of claim 10, wherein the adhesive portion is flexible.
- 13. The sensor inserter device of claim 10, wherein the adhesive portion has a width generally at least double a width of the housing portion.
- 14. The sensor inserter device of claim 10, wherein the adhesive portion has at least a region comprised of double-sided adhesive tape.
- 15. The sensor inserter device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a safety to impede the actuator until the safety is deactivated.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This non-provisional application is related to and claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/424,099, entitled “Sensor Inserter Device and Methods of Use,” filed on Nov. 5, 2002, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60424099 |
Nov 2002 |
US |