Microneedle enclosure and applicator device for microneedle array based continuous analyte monitoring device
Inventors
Mansfield, III, George Albert • Morelock, David Michael • BRISTER, Mark Christopher • Balcom, Nathan Thomas • DOAN, Joshua David • WARNER, Joshua Andrew
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11986614-B2
Publication Date
2024-05-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
An applicator for an analyte monitoring device may include an actuatable housing having a body defining a cavity therein and having a distal opening and a side opening. A cuff and a shuttle are received within the cavity and are separately translatable relative to the housing body. A base may removable engage the housing body at the distal opening. The housing body, the cuff, the shuttle, and/or the base may be engaged with one another with one or more releasable coupling features. The base may be removed from an engagement with the housing body, causing the cuff and the shuttle to be aligned and positioned in a configuration in which the analyte monitoring device, held by the shuttle, is ready for insertion into the skin.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an applicator and method for deploying an analyte monitoring device toward a skin surface. The applicator comprises a housing, a skin-contacting cuff, and a shuttle that retains the device within a housing cavity. Advancing the housing relative to the cuff disengages retention features that prevent independent shuttle movement. This disengagement releases and advances the shuttle with the device toward the skin surface, thereby releasing the device from the shuttle.
The applicator incorporates downward extending fingers of the housing that engage a corresponding shelf of the shuttle to prevent independent shuttle movement until housing advancement disengages them. The device configuration further includes staged cuff movement, a removable base carrying a sealed microneedle enclosure, and microneedle arrays with individually addressable electrochemical electrodes for shallow dermal sensing.
Claims Coverage
The two independent claims cover methods of applying an analyte monitoring device to a skin surface using an applicator, reciting two inventive features.
Release of the shuttle through disengagement of retention features
The method applies a distal surface of the cuff to the skin surface and advances the housing relative to the cuff. This movement disengages one or more retention features that prevent movement of the shuttle independently of the housing, releasing and advancing the shuttle with the analyte monitoring device toward the skin surface and releasing the device from the shuttle.
Disengagement of downward extending housing fingers from a shuttle shelf
The method applies a distal surface of the cuff to the skin surface and advances the housing relative to the cuff. One or more downward extending fingers of the housing disengage from a corresponding shelf of the shuttle, wherein engagement prevents independent shuttle movement, thereby releasing and advancing the shuttle with the analyte monitoring device toward the skin surface and releasing the device from the shuttle.
Both independent claims cover deployment by advancing an applicator housing relative to a skin-contacting cuff to release and advance a device-retaining shuttle, with one claim reciting retention features generally and the other specifically reciting downward extending housing fingers that disengage from a corresponding shuttle shelf.
Stated Advantages
The description asserts reduced insertion pain.
The description asserts reduced analyte-detection latency.
Documented Applications
Applying an analyte monitoring device to a skin surface using an applicator, including a microneedle-based continuous analyte monitor.
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