Compact on-body physiological monitoring devices and methods thereof

Abstract

Methods and devices to monitor an analyte in body fluid are provided. Embodiments include continuous or discrete acquisition of analyte related data from a transcutaneously positioned analyte sensor automatically or on demand upon request from a user.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An assembly for applying an on-body patch device to a skin surface of a user, the assembly comprising:
 (1) an insertion device, comprising:
 a housing; 
 an introducer; and 
 a bias spring; 
   (2) the on-body patch device, comprising:
 an in vivo analyte sensor; and 
 sensor electronics comprising a first electrical contact biased towards a second electrical contact, 
 wherein the introducer separates the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact when the introducer and the on-body patch device are in a pre-deployment position, 
 wherein, in response to a force applied on the housing, the introducer and the on-body patch device are configured to be driven in a direction substantially perpendicular to the skin surface from the pre-deployment position to an insertion position, 
 wherein the bias spring is configured to retract the introducer from the insertion position to a retracted position, and 
 wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are configured to contact each other when the introducer is retracted, and to establish an electrical connection and activate the on-body patch device. 
   
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the introducer comprises a non-conducting needle. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the introducer comprises an insulative between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact when the introducer and the on-body patch device are in the pre-deployment position 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein separation of the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact by the introducer comprises a break in a circuitry of the sensor electronics. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor electronics further comprises a battery, and wherein the break in the circuitry of the sensor electronics comprises a break between the battery and a remaining circuitry of the sensor electronics. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein contact between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, when the introducer is retracted, comprises a completion in the break in the circuitry of the sensor electronics. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are spring-loaded towards each other. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the introducer comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the introducer comprises a glass material. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the bias spring is configured to retract the introducer from the insertion position to the retracted position in a direction opposite to the direction in which the introducer and the on-body patch device are driven from the pre-deployment position to the insertion position. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the on-body patch device is configured to be disposed entirely within the insertion device when the introducer and the on-body patch device are in the pre-deployment position; 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the introducer is entirely retained with the housing of the insertion device when the introducer is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the insertion device is configured to be removed from the skin surface, while the on-body patch device is retained on the skin surface, after the bias spring retracts the introducer to the retracted position. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the insertion device further comprises an end cap configured to be rotatably coupled to the housing of the insertion device. 
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the on-body patch device further comprises an adhesive layer disposed on a bottom surface of the on-body patch device, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to secure the on-body patch device to the skin surface of the user. 
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the in vivo analyte sensor comprises:
 a proximal portion configured to be positioned above the skin surface and in electrical communication with the sensor electronics; and   a distal portion configured to be transcutaneously positioned under the skin surface in fluid contact with interstitial fluid, and to detect an analyte level in the interstitial fluid.   
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the introducer is configured to position the distal portion of the in vivo analyte sensor under the skin surface in fluid contact with the interstitial fluid when the introducer and the on-body patch device are driven to the insertion position.