# US 10,863,944 B2 · Transcutaneous analyte sensors, applicators therefor, and associated methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,863,944 B2 - Document ID: US10863944B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/016,354 - Filed: 2018-06-22 - Published: 2018-12-27 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-23 - Assignees: DexCom, Inc. - Applicants: DexCom, Inc. - Inventors: John Michael Gray; Jennifer Blackwell; Paul V. Neale; Justen Deering England; Andrew Joncich; Cameron Brock; Peter C. Simpson; Thomas Metzmaker; Neel Narayan Shah; Mark Douglas Kempkey; Patrick John Castagna; Warren Terry; Jason Halac; Christian Michael Andre George; Daniel E. Apacible; John Charles Barry; Maria Noel Brown Wells; Kenneth Pirondini; Andrew Michael Reinhardt; Jason C. Wong; Remy E. Gagnon; David DeRenzy; Randall Scott Koplin; Alan Baldwin; Young Woo Lee; David A. Keller; Louise Emma van den Heuvel; Carol Wood Sutherland - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863944B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/6849: {in combination with a needle set} - A61B 5/0004: {characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted} - A61B 5/14503: {invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors (A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence)} - A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement} - A61B 5/14546: {for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes} - A61B 5/6833: {Adhesive patches} - A61B 5/6848: {Needles} - A61B 5/1473: invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter - A61B 2560/063: Devices specially adapted for delivering implantable medical measuring apparatus - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present embodiments relate generally to applicators of on-skin sensor assemblies for measuring an analyte in a host, as well as their method of use and manufacture. In some aspects, an applicator for applying an on-skin sensor assembly to a skin of a host is provided. The applicator includes an applicator housing, a needle carrier assembly comprising an insertion element configured to insert a sensor of the on-skin sensor assembly into the skin of the host, a holder releasably coupled to the needle carrier assembly and configured to guide the on-skin sensor assembly while coupled to the needle carrier assembly, and a drive assembly configured to drive the insertion element from a proximal starting position to a distal insertion position, and from the distal insertion position to a proximal retraction position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An applicator for applying an on-skin sensor assembly to a skin of a host, the applicator comprising: an on-skin sensor assembly including a housing; a first body releasably coupled to an insertion element; a second body releasably coupled to the first body by a frictional engagement; a spring configured to provide a first force to the second body, the first force driving the first body, the second body, and the on-skin sensor assembly in a distal direction; and wherein the frictional engagement is configured to be decoupled by a counter force applied to the on-skin sensor assembly in an opposite direction of the first force. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, further comprising at least one retention element configured to frictionally couple the second body to the first body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The applicator of claim 2, wherein the at least one retention element is formed integral with the second body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The applicator of claim 3, wherein the at least one retention element is frictionally engaged against a wall of the first body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The applicator of claim 4, wherein the counter force decouples the frictional engagement by displacing the at least one retention element from the wall of the first body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The applicator of claim 5, wherein the wall is a backstop. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The applicator of claim 5, wherein the wall is configured to prevent the at least one retention element from deflecting. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The applicator of claim 2, wherein the frictional engagement is decoupled by the counter force exceeding a force threshold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The applicator of claim 8, wherein the force threshold is determined by the frictional force between the at least one retention element and the first body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The applicator of claim 9, wherein the threshold is at least 0.5 lbf. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The applicator of claim 9, wherein the threshold is at least 1 lbf. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the first body is configured to retract in a proximal direction upon decoupling of the frictional engagement. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The applicator of claim 12, further comprising a second spring, the second spring configured to drive the first body in a proximal direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The applicator of claim 13, wherein the second spring is retained from release by at least one retention element of the second body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the decoupling of the frictional engagement is configured to be independent of a distance between the on-skin sensor assembly and a distal end of the applicator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The applicator of claim 15, wherein the first body is configured to retract independent of the distance between the on-skin sensor assembly and the distal end of the applicator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the counter force applied to the on-skin sensor assembly is configured to be provided by the skin of the host opposing the first force. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The applicator of claim 17, wherein an interior of the applicator is configured to allow the skin of the host to reside within the interior. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the insertion element is configured to be inserted into the skin a predetermined depth. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the frictional engagement is configured to decouple at a range of distances between the on-skin sensor assembly and a distal end of the applicator.