Reusable Infusion Site and Method of Using the Same

Abstract

A reusable analyte sensor site for use with a replaceable analyte sensor for determining a level of an analyte includes a site housing and a resealable insertion site coupled to one end of the site housing. Preferably, the site housing is formed to have an interior cavity, and includes an outer membrane made of a material selected to promote vascularization and having a first pore size, and an inner membrane made of a material selected to be free of tissue ingress. Also, the site housing permits the analyte to pass through the site housing to the interior cavity to permit measurement by the replaceable analyte sensor. The resealable insertion site is provided for inserting the replaceable analyte sensor into the interior cavity of the site housing.

1 - 38 . (canceled)  
     
     
         39 . A reusable infusion site for use with a replaceable catheter for infusing a fluid into a body of a patient, the site comprising: 
 a site housing formed to have an interior cavity and comprising: 
 an outer membrane being made of a material selected to promote vascularization and having a first pore size; and  
 an inner membrane being made of a material selected to be free of tissue ingress and having a second pore size,  
 wherein the second pore size of the inner membrane is larger than the first pore size of the outer membrane, and wherein the site housing permits the fluid to pass out through the site housing from the interior cavity to deliver the fluid into the body of the patient; and  
   a resealable insertion site coupled to one end of the site housing for inserting the replaceable catheter into the interior cavity of the site housing.    
     
     
         40 - 41 . (canceled)  
     
     
         42 . A system for infusing a fluid into a body of a patient, the system comprising: 
 a replaceable catheter for delivering the fluid into the body of the patient; and    a reusable infusion site comprising: 
 a site housing formed to have an interior cavity and comprising: 
 an outer membrane being made of a material selected to promote vascularization and having a first pore size; and  
 an inner membrane being made of a material selected to be free of tissue ingress and having a second pore size,  
 wherein the second pore size of the inner membrane is larger than the first pore size of the outer membrane, and wherein the site housing permits the fluid to pass out through the site housing from the interior cavity to deliver the fluid into the body of the patient; and  
 
 a resealable insertion site coupled to one end of the site housing for inserting the replaceable catheter into the interior cavity of the site housing.  
   
     
     
         43 - 44 . (canceled)  
     
     
         45 . A site according to  claim 39 , wherein the outer membrane and the inner membrane are made of the same material.  
     
     
         46 . A site according to  claim 39 , wherein the outer membrane and the inner membrane are made of different materials.  
     
     
         47 . A site according to  claim 39 , wherein the outer membrane is made of a material selected from a group of materials consisting essentially of polytetra fluoroethylene, porous polyurethane, porous silicone, and silicone foam.  
     
     
         48 . A site according to  claim 39 , wherein the inner membrane is made of a material selected from a group of materials consisting essentially of polytetra fluoroethylene, porous polyurethane, porous silicone, and silicone foam.  
     
     
         49 . A site according to  claim 39 , wherein the site housing further comprises at least one intermediate membrane disposed between the outer membrane and the inner membrane and having a third pore size.  
     
     
         50 . A site according to  claim 49 , wherein the third pore size is between the first pore size of the outer membrane and the second pore size of the inner membrane.  
     
     
         51 . A site according to  claim 39 , wherein the resealable insertion site includes: 
 a tube coupled to one end of the site housing; and    a sealing member having a resealable opening, wherein the tube is coupled between the site housing and the sealing member;    wherein the replaceable catheter is inserted through the resealable opening, and the resealable opening is sealed upon placement of the replaceable catheter within the interior cavity of the site housing.    
     
     
         52 . A site according to  claim 51 , wherein the sealing member is a suture disc for attaching the tube to body tissue of the patient.  
     
     
         53 . A site according to  claim 51 , wherein the sealing member is a sewing cuff for attaching the tube to body tissue of the patient.  
     
     
         54 . A site according to  claim 51 , wherein the resealable opening is sealed using a compression seal.  
     
     
         55 . A site according to  claim 51 , wherein the resealable opening is sealed using a mechanical seal.  
     
     
         56 . A site according to  claim 39 , wherein the site housing is for implantation into inter-peritoneal tissue of the patient, and the resealable insertion site is for implantation into subcutaneous tissue of the patient.  
     
     
         57 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the outer membrane and the inner membrane are made of the same material.  
     
     
         58 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the outer membrane and the inner membrane are made of different materials.  
     
     
         59 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the outer membrane is made of a material selected from a group of materials consisting essentially of polytetra fluoroethylene, porous polyurethane, porous silicone, and silicone foam.  
     
     
         60 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the inner membrane is made of a material selected from a group of materials consisting essentially of polytetra fluoroethylene, porous polyurethane, porous silicone, and silicone foam.  
     
     
         61 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the site housing further comprises at least one intermediate membrane disposed between the outer membrane and the inner membrane and having a third pore size.  
     
     
         62 . A system according to  claim 61 , wherein the third pore size is between the first pore size of the outer membrane and the second pore size of the inner membrane.  
     
     
         63 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the resealable insertion site includes: 
 a tube coupled to one end of the site housing; and    a sealing member having a resealable opening, wherein the tube is coupled between the site housing and the sealing member;    wherein the replaceable catheter is inserted through the resealable opening, and the resealable opening is sealed upon placement of the replaceable catheter within the interior cavity of the site housing.    
     
     
         64 . A system according to  claim 63 , wherein the sealing member is a suture disc for attaching the tube to body tissue of the patient.  
     
     
         65 . A system according to  claim 63 , wherein the sealing member is a sewing cuff for attaching the tube to body tissue of the patient.  
     
     
         66 . A system according to  claim 63 , wherein the resealable opening is sealed using a compression seal.  
     
     
         67 . A system according to  claim 63 , wherein the resealable opening is sealed using a mechanical seal.  
     
     
         68 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the site housing is for implantation into inter-peritoneal tissue of the patient, and the resealable insertion site is for implantation into subcutaneous tissue of the patient.