Variable speed sensor insertion devices and methods of use
AssigneeAbbott Diabetes Care Inc.
InventorGary Ashley Stafford
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Abstract
An automatic sensor inserter is disclosed for placing a transcutaneous sensor into the skin of a living body. According to aspects of the invention, characteristics of the insertion such as sensor insertion speed may be varied by a user. In some embodiments, insertion speed may be varied by changing an amount of drive spring compression. The amount of spring compression may be selected from a continuous range of settings and/or it may be selected from a finite number of discrete settings. Methods associated with the use of the automatic inserter are also covered.
Claims27
A sensor insertion device, comprising:
- a shuttle movable between a first position and a second position, the shuttle configured to retain a transcutaneous sensor while in the first position and release the sensor while in the second position;
- a drive mechanism coupled to the shuttle to drive the shuttle from the first position to the second position based on a first driving force, wherein the drive mechanism includes a first compression spring configured to apply the first driving force;
- a retraction mechanism coupled to the shuttle to drive the shuttle from the second position to a neutral position based on a second driving force, wherein the retraction mechanism includes a second compression spring configured to apply the second driving force, and wherein the neutral position is between the first position and the second position;
- and
- a control mechanism operatively coupled to the drive mechanism, wherein the control mechanism is manually adjustable by a user and configured to vary the first driving force of the first compression spring by varying a load on the first compression spring while the shuttle is stationary.
A method of inserting a sensor, including:
- cocking a sensor insertion device;
- manually selecting an insertion speed setting from among a plurality of insertion speed settings on the insertion device to vary a load on a first compression spring while maintaining a shuttle of the insertion device in a stationary position;
- placing the insertion device against a skin layer;
- firing a sensor into the skin layer using the manually selected insertion speed setting by releasing potential energy stored in the first compression spring;
- releasing the sensor from the shuttle of the insertion device;
- and
- retracting the shuttle of the insertion device to a location within the insertion device by releasing potential energy stored in a second compression spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.