Needle for transcutaneous analyte sensor delivery

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a needle including a wall structure, a cutting edge and a blunt contour. The needle advantageously can be used to deliver a sensor (such as a glucose or other analyte sensor) through an outer skin layer and into a sensor depth in a less invasive way than prior art needles. The size of the cutting edge is balanced against a portion of the distal wall structure that has blunt contours. Thus, the needle is capable of cutting the more durable outer skin layer (first phase) and then progressively stretching open the cut for further advancement into the subcutaneous layer (second phase). When the needle is sufficiently advanced, it is retracted leaving the sensor in a desired position. Early testing has shown a reduction of “dip and recover” from glucose sensors delivered using the needle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A needle for delivering a sensor through an outer skin layer and into a sensor depth, the needle comprising:
 a wall structure having a central axis, at least one cross dimension and defining at least one inner dimension sized to contain the sensor for delivery;   at least one cutting edge on the wall structure configured to pierce the outer skin layer; and   at least one blunt contour on the wall structure, the blunt contour configured to bluntly dissect tissue as the wall structure advances into the sensor depth;   wherein the blunt contour, viewed along the central axis of the wall structure, occupies more than 50% of the cross dimension of the wall structure; and   wherein the wall structure is configured for removal from the outer skin layer to leave the sensor at the sensor depth.   
     
     
         2 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the blunt contour is more than 60% of the cross dimension of the wall structure. 
     
     
         3 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure further defines a beveled edge. 
     
     
         4 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge is formed on less than 50% of the beveled edge. 
     
     
         5 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge, when viewed along the central axis of the wall structure, is spaced closer to the central axis than an adjacent outer edge of the blunt contour. 
     
     
         6 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the central axis passes through the blunt contour. 
     
     
         7 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the blunt contour is at least 2/3 of an area centered on the central axis and circumscribing an outer edge of the blunt contour. 
     
     
         8 . The needle of  claim 7 , wherein the area is a circular area and has a diameter matching a diameter of the wall structure. 
     
     
         9 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge is formed on less than 40% of the beveled edge. 
     
     
         10 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the blunt contour is sufficiently large in proportion to the cutting edge to reduce wound volume by at least 15%. 
     
     
         11 . The needle of  claim 3 , wherein the beveled edge is angled at least 7 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The needle of  claim 11 , wherein the beveled edge is angled at least 10 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure further includes a bend positioned proximal to the cutting edge. 
     
     
         14 . The needle of  claim 13 , wherein the bend is subjacent a bevel. 
     
     
         15 . The needle of  claim 14 , wherein the bend is at least 13 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure defines a longitudinal slit connected in communication with the inner dimension. 
     
     
         17 . The needle of  claim 16 , wherein the wall structure defines an elongate opening and the inner dimension is a diameter of the opening and wherein the longitudinal slit is in communication with the elongate opening. 
     
     
         18 . The needle of  claim 17 , wherein the elongate opening and longitudinal slit extend entirely through a distal edge of the wall structure to form a cross sectional C-shape.