Method and apparatus for providing analyte sensor and data processing device

Abstract

Method and apparatus for integrated sensor and data processing assembly is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus including an integrated sensor and data processing unit, comprising:
 a flexible base layer;   a data processing unit coupled to the base layer;   an analyte sensor coupled to the base layer and in electrical communication with the data processing unit; and   a sensor introducer assembly disposed on the base layer, a portion of the sensor introducer assembly operatively coupled to a portion of the analyte sensor;
 wherein the base layer is configured for placement on a skin of a patient, and further, wherein the sensor introducer assembly is substantially retained on the base layer until the base layer is removed from the skin of the patient. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the flexible base layer includes one or more of a polymer film, a woven layer, a knit layer, or a laminated layer. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including an adhesive layer disposed on a bottom surface of the flexible base layer. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the adhesive layer is configured to substantially and securely retain the flexible base layer adhered to the skin of the patient for a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the predetermined time period includes one or more of a useful life of the analyte sensor or a useful life of the data processing unit. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the portion of the analyte sensor is configured to be transcutaneously positioned by the sensor introducer assembly when the base layer is placed on the skin of the patient. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the portion of the analyte sensor is in fluid contact with analyte of the patient. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the data processing unit is configured to receive one or more signals associated with a corresponding one or more analyte levels of the patient from the analyte sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the data processing unit further includes a data transmission unit configured to wirelessly transmit one or more data associated with the received one or more signals. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the analyte sensor is a glucose sensor. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus including an integrated sensor and data processing unit, comprising:
 a base layer;   a data processing unit disposed in the base layer;   a sensor in electrical communication with the data processing unit, the sensor coupled to the base layer; and   a sensor introducer assembly permanently mounted on the base layer, a portion of the sensor introducer assembly configured to transcutaneous position a portion of the sensor in fluid contact with a biological fluid of a patient.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the base layer includes a one or more of a flexible polymer film, a woven layer, a knit layer, or a laminated layer. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further including an adhesive layer disposed on a bottom surface of the base layer. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the adhesive layer is configured to removably retain the base layer adhered to the skin of the patient for a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the predetermined time period includes one or more of a useful life of the sensor or a useful life of the data processing unit. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the portion of the sensor is in fluid contact with the biological fluid of the patient when the base layer is placed on the skin of the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the data processing unit is configured to receive one or more signals from the sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the data processing unit further includes a data transmission unit configured to wirelessly transmit one or more data associated with the received one or more signals. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the sensor is a glucose sensor. 
     
     
         20 . An insertion kit, comprising:
 a flexible base layer;   a data processing unit coupled to the base layer;   an analyte sensor coupled to the base layer and in electrical communication with the data processing unit; and   a sensor introducer assembly disposed on the base layer, a portion of the sensor introducer assembly operatively coupled to a portion of the analyte sensor;
 wherein the base layer is configured for placement on a skin of a patient, and 
   further, wherein the sensor introducer assembly is substantially retained on the base layer until the base layer is removed from the skin of the patient.