Transcutaneous analyte sensor

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly, comprising:
 a sensor;   a mounting unit for placement on the skin of a patient;   a sensor introducer coupled to the sensor and to the mounting unit, the sensor introducer configured to transcutaneously introduce a portion of the sensor through a skin of the patient to a first position relative to the mounting unit;   a data processing unit configured to couple to the mounting unit, the data processing unit displacing the sensor to a second position relative to the mounting unit upon coupling to the mounting unit.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first position is closer to the mounting unit of the patient than the second position. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the sensor includes an engagement portion configured to couple to a housing of the data processing unit, such that the portion of the sensor is displaced with the movement of the data processing unit when coupling to the mounting unit. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the data processing unit is configured to be in electrical contact with the sensor to receive one or more signals associated with an analyte of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4  wherein the data processing unit is coupled to the mounting unit when in electrical contact with the sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 4  wherein the data processing unit transmits data associated with the one or more signals associated with the analyte. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the data processing unit wirelessly transmits the data to a remote location. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the transmitted data are output at the remote location. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the sensor includes a glucose sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the sensor introducer includes a deployment mechanism to transcutaneously introduce the portion of the sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the deployment mechanism is actuated to transcutaneously introduce the portion of the sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the deployment mechanism includes a manual deployment mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the deployment mechanism includes a spring biased deployment mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is positioned at the first position prior to being positioned at the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is maintained at the second position during the sensing time period. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein the sensing time period includes one of approximately three days, approximately five days, or approximately seven days. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the sensor includes a working electrode formed with one or more of carbon, gold, metal alloy or a conductive polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the portion of the sensor is transcutaneously introduced through the skin to the first position at a first angle relative to a surface of the skin, and further, wherein the transcutaneously introduced sensor is displaced to the second position at a second angle relative to the surface of the skin. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein the first angle and the second angle are the same. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein one or more of the first angle and the second angle are approximately 90 degrees or less.