US20190120785A1 - Pre-connected analyte sensors - Google Patents

Abstract

Pre-connected analyte sensors are provided. A pre-connected analyte sensor includes a sensor carrier attached to an analyte sensor. The sensor carrier includes a substrate configured for mechanical coupling of the sensor to testing, calibration, or wearable equipment. The sensor carrier also includes conductive contacts for electrically coupling sensor electrodes to the testing, calibration, or wearable equipment.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• Any and all priority claims identified in the Application Data Sheet, or any correction thereto, are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/167,976, filed Oct. 23, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/576,560, filed on Oct. 24, 2017. Each of the aforementioned applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, and each is hereby expressly made a part of this specification.
TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present disclosure generally relates to sensors and, more particularly, to analyte sensors such as continuous analyte sensors.
BACKGROUND
• Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the pancreas cannot create sufficient insulin (Type I or insulin dependent) and/or in which insulin is not effective (Type 2 or non-insulin dependent). In the diabetic state, the victim suffers from high blood sugar, which can cause an array of physiological derangements associated with the deterioration of small blood vessels, for example, kidney failure, skin ulcers, or bleeding into the vitreous of the eye. A hypoglycemic reaction (low blood sugar) can be induced by an inadvertent overdose of insulin, or after a normal dose of insulin or glucose-lowering agent accompanied by extraordinary exercise or insufficient food intake.
• Conventionally, a person with diabetes carries a self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) monitor, which typically requires uncomfortable finger pricking methods. Due to the lack of comfort and convenience, a person with diabetes normally only measures his or her glucose levels two to four times per day. Unfortunately, such time intervals are spread so far apart that the person with diabetes likely finds out too late of a hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic condition, sometimes incurring dangerous side effects. Glucose levels may be alternatively monitored continuously by a sensor system including an on-skin sensor assembly. The sensor system may have a wireless transmitter which transmits measurement data to a receiver which can process and display information based on the measurements.
• This Background is provided to introduce a brief context for the Summary and Detailed Description that follow. This Background is not intended to be an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter nor be viewed as limiting the claimed subject matter to implementations that solve any or all of the disadvantages or problems presented above.
SUMMARY
• There are various steps in the manufacturing process of an analyte sensor such as a continuous analyte sensor for which temporary mechanical and electrical connections between the sensor and manufacturing equipment such as testing and/or calibration equipment are used. These connections are facilitated by accurate placement and alignment of the sensor to mechanical and electrical interfaces of the testing and/or calibration equipment. A device such as an “interconnect”, “interposer” or “sensor carrier” can be attached to an elongated body of the sensor, as described hereinafter, to assist with handling, and both temporary and permanent, electrical and mechanical connections. A sensor carrier (also referred to as a “sensor interposer”) may also include features for tracking, data storage, and sealing sensor electrodes, from each other and from the environment. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments as expressed by the claims that follow, their more prominent features now will be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description,” one will understand how the features of the present embodiments provide the advantages described herein.
• In accordance with a first aspect, a method of manufacturing a sensor is provided. The method includes providing an analyte sensor having an elongated body, a first electrode, a second electrode coaxially located within the first electrode, and at least two electrical contacts longitudinally aligned and spaced along a longitudinal axis of the sensor. The method includes attaching a sensor carrier to the analyte sensor, the sensor carrier including an intermediate body, a first conductive portion disposed on the intermediate body, the first conductive portion in electrical communication with the first electrode, a second conductive portion disposed on the intermediate body, the second conductive portion in electrical communication with the second electrode. The first and second conductive portions form a connection portion configured to establish electrical connection between the sensor and a separate device.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the first aspect, the method further includes coupling an outer layer to the intermediate body. The outer layer includes an identifier. The outer layer, the sensor, and the intermediate body can form a laminated configuration. The identifier can be a QR code sheet. The identifier can include any of an optical identifier, a radio-frequency identifier, or a memory-encoded identifier. The identifier can identify the analyte sensor, calibration data for the analyte sensor, or a history of the analyte sensor.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the first aspect, the method further includes coating the sensor with a membrane after attaching the sensor to the sensor carrier.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the first aspect, the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion are traces. The traces can extend from a distal position of the sensor carrier and terminate at a proximal end of the sensor carrier. The traces can form exposed contact surfaces in the connection portion. The first and second conductive portions can be embedded into the intermediate body.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the first aspect, the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion are solder welds. The solder welds can attach the sensor to the sensor carrier.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the first aspect, the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion are conductive tapes. The conductive tapes can attach the sensor to the sensor carrier.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the first aspect, the connection portion is configured to mechanically mate with the separate device.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the first aspect, the separate device is an electronics unit configured to measure analyte data.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the first aspect, the separate device is a component of a manufacturing station. The method can further include performing at least one of a potentiostat measurement, a dipping process, a curing process, a calibration process, or a sensitivity measurement while the electrical connection is established between the sensor and the manufacturing station. The method can further include de-establishing electrical connection between the sensor and the calibration station. The method can further include establishing electrical connection between the sensor and at least one testing station via the connection portion of the sensor carrier.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the first aspect, the intermediate body further includes a datum structure that controls a position and spatial orientation of the analyte sensor relative to a substrate of the intermediate body. The datum structure can include a flexible portion of the substrate that is folded over at least a portion of the analyte sensor.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the first aspect, the first conductive portion and/or the second conductive portion comprise at least one of a coil spring, a leaf spring, or a conductive elastomer.
• In accordance with a second aspect, an apparatus is provided that includes an analyte sensor having an elongated body, a first electrode in electrical communication with a first conductive contact, a second electrode in electrical communication with a second conductive contact. The sensor carrier can be attached to the analyte sensor. The sensor carrier can include an intermediate body, a first conductive portion disposed on the intermediate body, the first conductive portion in electrical communication with the first conductive contact, and a second conductive portion disposed on the intermediate body, the second conductive portion in electrical communication with the second conductive contact. The first and second conductive portions can form a connection portion configured to establish electrical communication between the first and second conductive contacts and a separate device.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the second aspect, the apparatus further includes an identifier coupled to the intermediate body. The identifier, the sensor, and the intermediate body can form a laminated configuration. The identifier can be a QR code sheet. The identifier can be any of an optical identifier, a radio-frequency identifier, or a memory-encoded identifier. The identifier can be configured to identify any of the analyte sensor, calibration data for the analyte sensor, and a history of the analyte sensor.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the second aspect, the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion are traces. The traces can form exposed contact surfaces in the connection portion. The first and second conductive portions can be at least partially embedded into the intermediate body.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the second aspect, the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion include at least one of a solder weld, a conductive tape, a coil spring, a leaf spring, or a conductive elastomer.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the second aspect, the connection portion is configured to mechanically mate with the separate device.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the second aspect, the separate device is an electronics unit configured to measure analyte data.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the second aspect, the separate device is a component of a manufacturing station. At least one of a potentiostat measurement, a dipping process, a curing process, a calibration process, or a sensitivity measurement can be configured to be performed while the electrical connection is established between the sensor and the manufacturing station. The manufacturing station can comprise a calibration station configured to de-establish electrical connection between the sensor and the calibration station and establish electrical connection between the sensor and at least one testing station via the connection portion of the sensor carrier.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the second aspect, the intermediate body further comprises a datum structure configured to control a position and spatial orientation of the analyte sensor relative to a substrate of the intermediate body.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the second aspect, the first electrode may be positioned coaxially within the second electrode, and the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact may be longitudinally aligned and spaced along a longitudinal axis of the sensor.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the second aspect, the first electrode and the second electrode may be affixed to a flexible planar substrate. In addition, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact may be affixed to the flexible planar substrate.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the second aspect, the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact are affixed to the intermediate body with conductive adhesive.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the second aspect, the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact are affixed to the intermediate body with anisotropic conductive film.
• In accordance with a third aspect, an array of pre-connected analyte sensors is provided. The array includes a substrate, a first plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the substrate, a second plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the substrate, and a plurality of analyte sensors disposed on the substrate. Each of the plurality of analyte sensors includes a first sensor electrical contact coupled to a corresponding one of the first plurality of electrical contacts on the substrate, and a second sensor electrical contact coupled to a corresponding one of the second plurality of electrical contacts on the substrate. The array may comprise one or more strips.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the third aspect, the first plurality of electrical contacts are aligned along the substrate. The first plurality of electrical contacts can be formed from an exposed contact surface.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the third aspect, the second plurality of electrical contacts are aligned along the substrate. The second plurality of electrical contacts can be formed from an exposed contact surface.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the third aspect, the first and second plurality of electrical contacts are configured to connect with a separate device. The separate device can be a component of a manufacturing station.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the third aspect, the substrate includes at least one singulation feature configured to facilitate singulation of the substrate into a plurality of sensor carriers, wherein each of the plurality of sensor carriers is attached to a corresponding one of the analyte sensors.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the third aspect, the strip further includes a plurality of identifiers disposed on the substrate.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the third aspect, the substrate includes an elongated dimension, wherein the plurality of analyte sensors extend beyond an edge of the substrate in a direction orthogonal to the elongated dimension. The strip can further include a feed-guide strip that runs along an opposing edge of the substrate in the elongated dimension. The substrate can further include a flexible substrate configured to be rolled onto a reel. The feed-guide strip can be removable from the substrate.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the third aspect, the substrate comprises a molded thermoplastic having a plurality of datum features that control a position and orientation of the plurality of analyte sensors, and wherein the a first plurality of electrical contacts and the second plurality of electrical contacts each comprise embedded conductive traces in the molded thermoplastic.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the third aspect, the strip further includes a first datum structure coupled to the strip, the first datum structure configured to position the plurality of analyte sensors. The first datum structure includes at least one singulation feature configured to facilitate singulation of the first datum structure into a plurality of second datum structures, wherein each of the plurality of second datum structures is coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of sensor carriers formed by the substrate.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the third aspect, the strip further includes a carrier having processing circuitry configured to perform at least potentiostat measurements for the plurality of analyte sensors. The strip can further include communications circuitry operable by the processing circuitry to send and receive data associated with each of the analyte sensors together with an identifier for that analyte sensor.
• In accordance with a fourth aspect, a method is provided. The method includes providing a pre-connected analyte sensor, the pre-connected analyte sensor comprising an intermediate body, an analyte sensor permanently attached to the intermediate body, and an identifier coupled to the intermediate body. The method includes communicatively coupling the analyte sensor to a processing circuitry of a manufacturing station by coupling the intermediate body to a corresponding feature of the manufacturing station. The method includes operating the processing circuitry of the manufacturing station to communicate with the pre-connected analyte sensor.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the fourth aspect, operating the processing circuitry includes obtaining a signal from the analyte sensor via the connection portion. Operating the processing circuitry can include operating an optical, infrared, or radio-frequency reader of the manufacturing station to obtain the identifier.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the fourth aspect, the method further includes storing, with the processing circuitry of the manufacturing station and in connection with the identifier, sensor data corresponding to the signal. The identifier can identify any of the analyte sensor, calibration data for the analyte sensor, and a history of the analyte sensor.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the fourth aspect, the signal includes a glucose sensitivity signal.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the fourth aspect, the method further includes removing the pre-connected analyte sensor from the manufacturing station and communicatively coupling the analyte sensor to processing circuitry of a wearable device by mechanically coupling an anchoring feature of the intermediate body to a corresponding feature of a wearable device. The method can further include obtaining in vivo measurement data from the analyte sensor with the processing circuitry of the wearable device.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the fourth aspect, the analyte sensor is permanently attached to the intermediate body with conductive adhesive.
• In a generally applicable embodiment (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the fourth aspect, the analyte sensor is permanently attached to the intermediate body with anisotropic conductive film.
• In accordance with a fifth aspect, a wearable device is provided. The wearable device comprises a housing and electronic circuitry configured to process analyte sensor signals. The electronic circuitry is enclosed within the housing. An analyte sensor has a distal portion positioned outside the housing. An intermediate body has an electrical connection to both a proximal portion of the analyte sensor and the electronics, wherein the electrical connection between the intermediate body and the proximal portion of the analyte sensor is external to the housing.
• In generally applicable embodiments (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the fifth aspect the intermediate body may be positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the housing. The device may include electrical contacts coupled to both the electronics and the intermediate body. The intermediate body may be electrically connected to the electrical contacts with conductive epoxy. The intermediate body is electrically connected to the electrical contacts with anisotropic conductive film. The intermediate body may be sealed. The electrical contacts may extend through the housing. The intermediate body may be positioned in a recess on the exterior surface of the housing. The electrical contacts may extend through the housing in the recess to electrically couple the intermediate body to the electronic circuitry enclosed within the housing. The intermediate body may be covered with a polymer in the recess.
• In generally applicable embodiments (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the fifth aspect the analyte sensor is formed as an elongated body with a distal portion configured for percutaneous implantation in a subject and a proximal portion configured for electrically connecting to the intermediate body. The distal portion of the analyte sensor may extend away from an opening through the housing. The electronic circuitry may comprise a potentiostat and/or a wireless transmitter.
• In accordance with a sixth aspect, a method of making a pre-connected analyte sensor is provided. The method comprises mechanically and electrically connecting a proximal portion of an elongated conductor to a conductive portion of an intermediate body, and after the connecting, coating a distal portion of the elongated conductor with a polymer membrane to form an analyte sensor having a working electrode region configured to support electrochemical reactions for analyte detection in the distal portion of the elongated conductor.
• In generally applicable embodiments (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the sixth aspect, the method additionally comprises testing the analyte sensor, wherein the testing comprises electrically coupling the intermediate body to a testing station. The method may additionally comprise calibrating the analyte sensor, wherein the calibrating comprises electrically coupling the intermediate body to a testing station. The coating may comprise dip coating.
• In generally applicable embodiments (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the sixth aspect, the intermediate body may be part of an array formed by a plurality of coupled intermediate bodies, wherein the method further comprises mechanically and electrically connecting a proximal portion of each of a plurality of elongated electrodes to a conductive portion of each intermediate body of the array. The coating may be performed in parallel on each distal portion of each of the plurality of elongated electrodes connected to the intermediate bodies of the array. The method may comprise singulating one or more of the intermediate bodies of the array after the coating.
• In generally applicable embodiments (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the sixth aspect, mechanically and electrically connecting comprises applying conductive paste to the elongated conductor and the conductive portion of the intermediate body. In some embodiments, mechanically and electrically connecting comprises compressing anisotropic conductive film between the proximal portion of the elongated conductor and the conductive portion of the intermediate body. The connecting may be performed at a location remote from the coating. In some embodiments, the coating, testing, and calibrating are all performed at a location remote from the connecting.
• In accordance with a seventh aspect, a method of making an on-skin wearable percutaneous analyte sensor comprises assembling electronic circuitry into an internal volume of a housing, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured for (1) detecting signals generated from an electrochemical reaction under the skin of a subject at a working electrode of an analyte sensor, and (2) wirelessly transmitting data derived from the detected signals outside of the housing for processing and/or display by a separate device. After assembling the electronic circuitry into the internal volume of the housing, attaching a proximal portion of the analyte sensor to an external electrical interface coupled to the electronic circuitry such that the electronic circuitry becomes connected to the analyte sensor to receive signals therefrom without opening the housing.
• In generally applicable embodiments (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the seventh aspect, the method comprises sealing the interface after attaching the proximal portion of the analyte sensor. The method may comprise testing the electronic circuitry for functionality prior to the attaching. The method may comprise testing the analyte sensor for functionality prior to the attaching. The assembling may be performed at a location remote from the attaching.
• In generally applicable embodiments (i.e. independently combinable with any of the aspects or embodiments identified herein) of the seventh aspect, the method may comprise coupling an intermediate body to the proximal portion of the analyte sensor, and the attaching may comprise attaching the intermediate body to the external electrical interface. The method may then comprise performing at least one manufacturing or testing procedure on the working electrode using the intermediate body prior to the attaching. The performing may comprise coating the working electrode of the analyte sensor. The coupling may be performed at a first location, the assembling may be performed at a second location, and the performing may be performed at a third location, wherein the first, second, and third locations are remote from one another. The attaching and/or the coupling may be performed with anisotropic conductive film The method may further comprise attaching an inserter to the housing for implanting the working electrode into a subject.
• It is understood that various configurations of the subject technology will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure, wherein various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the summary, drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The present embodiments now will be discussed in detail with an emphasis on highlighting the advantageous features. These embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not to scale, instead emphasizing the principles of the disclosure. These drawings include the following figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts:
• FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an analyte sensor system attached to a host and communicating with a plurality of example devices, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates electronics associated with the sensor system ofFIG. 1, according to some embodiments.
• FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a wearable device having an analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 3D illustrates one implementation of an elongated sensor connected to a potentiostat.
• FIG. 4A illustrates a schematic of a pre-connected analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 4B illustrates another schematic of a pre-connected analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 4C illustrates a layered view of a pre-connected analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 4D illustrates a schematic view of an array of pre-connected analyte sensors, according to some embodiments.
• FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate block diagrams of a system having a manufacturing system and a wearable device for an analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional schematic view of a wearable device with a pre-connected analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional schematic view of a wearable device with a pre-connected analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional schematic view of a wearable device with a pre-connected analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of an on-skin sensor assembly, according to some embodiments.
• FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate perspective views of sensor carriers that have springs, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion of a sensor carrier, according to some embodiments.
• FIGS. 13A-13B illustrate perspective views of a wearable sensor assembly, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 13C illustrates an exploded view of components of a wearable sensor assembly, according to some embodiments.
• FIGS. 14A-14B illustrate perspective views of another wearable sensor assembly, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 14C illustrates an exploded view of components of another wearable sensor assembly, according to some embodiments, including an external electrical interface embodiment.
• FIG. 14D illustrates a top plan view of the external electrical interface ofFIG. 14C with a pre-connected sensor assembly installed.
• FIG. 14E is a cross section along lines E-E inFIG. 14D.
• FIG. 15A illustrates another embodiment of a printed circuit board substrate for a sensor carrier.
• FIGS. 15B and 15C illustrate alternative embodiments for coupling a sensor and sensor carrier to an electrical interface of a wearable sensor assembly.
• FIG. 16 illustrates a top view of a sensor carrier attached to an analyte sensor with conductive adhesive, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 17 illustrates an end view of a sensor carrier attached to an analyte sensor with conductive adhesive, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 18 illustrates an end view of a sensor carrier attached to an analyte sensor with conductive adhesive in a recess of a sensor carrier substrate, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 19 illustrates an end view of a sensor carrier attached to an analyte sensor with conductive adhesive in a corner of a sensor carrier substrate, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 20 illustrates an end view of a sensor carrier attached to an analyte sensor with conductive adhesive in a rounded recess of a sensor carrier substrate, according to some embodiments.
• FIGS. 21A and 21B illustrate a perspective view and an end view respectively of an analyte sensor attached to a sensor carrier in guide structures.
• FIG. 22 illustrates a top view of a sensor carrier attached to an analyte sensor with conductive tape, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 23 illustrates a top view of a sensor carrier having a substrate attached to and wrapped around an analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 24 illustrates a top view of a sensor carrier attached to an analyte sensor with welded conductive plastic, according to some embodiments.
• FIGS. 25 and 26 illustrate manufacturing equipment for attaching a sensor carrier to an analyte sensor with conductive plastic, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 27 is a perspective-view schematic illustrating a proximal portion of an analyte sensor having flattened electrical connector portions, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 28 illustrates a side view of the analyte sensor ofFIG. 24 attached to a sensor carrier, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 29 illustrates a top view of a sensor carrier having a flexible substrate configured to wrap around an analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 30 illustrates a perspective view of a sensor carrier having substrate with a flexible portion configured to wrap around an analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIGS. 31A and 31B illustrate another embodiment of a sensor carrier attached to an analyte sensor.
• FIG. 32 illustrates a top view of a sensor carrier having a movable fastener for attaching an analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 33 illustrates a perspective view of the movable fastener ofFIG. 29, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 34 illustrates a perspective view of a sensor carrier implemented as a barrel fastener, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 35A illustrates a face-on view of a sensor carrier having a flexible substrate wrapped around an analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 35B illustrates a perspective view of a sensor carrier having a flexible substrate wrapped around multiple analyte sensors, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 36 illustrates an end view of a sensor carrier having a crimp connector, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 37 illustrates an end view of a sensor carrier attached to an analyte sensor by a crimp connector, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 38 illustrates a side view of a sensor carrier having crimp connectors, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 39 illustrates a perspective view of a sensor carrier, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 40 illustrates a perspective view of a sensor carrier formed from a molded interconnect device, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 41 illustrates a top view of a sensor carrier formed from a molded interconnect device, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 42 illustrates a side view of a sensor carrier attached to an analyte sensor by a conductive coupler, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 43 illustrates a side view of a sensor carrier having an elongated dimension for attachment to multiple analyte sensors, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 44 illustrates a top view of a sensor carrier having a flexible substrate for wrapping around an analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 45 illustrates a top view of another sensor carrier having a flexible substrate for wrapping around an analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 46 illustrates a top view of another sensor carrier having a flexible substrate for wrapping around an analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 47A illustrates a side view of a sensor carrier having a feed-guide strip on an elongated dimension for attachment to multiple analyte sensors, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 47B illustrates a perspective view of the sensor carrier ofFIG. 47A wrapped on a reel, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 48 illustrates a top view of the sensor carrier ofFIG. 47A with a sensor carrier singulated from the sensor carrier, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 49 illustrates a perspective view of a sensor carrier having spring-loaded receptacles for attachment of multiple analyte sensors, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 50 illustrates a perspective view of a sensor carrier having magnetic datum features for positioning and orientation of multiple analyte sensors, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 51A illustrates a top view of a sensor carrier having a rigid flex panel for attachment to multiple analyte sensors, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 51B illustrates a top view of a sensor carrier having a rigid flex panel for attachment to multiple analyte sensors having an edge card connector pad for electronic connection, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 52A illustrates a top view of a sensor carrier singulated from the sensor carrier ofFIG. 48 and attached to an analyte sensor to form a pre-connected sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 52B illustrates a sensor carrier having a rigid flex panel for attachment to multiple analyte sensors ofFIG. 48B without the V-score portion, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 53A illustrates the pre-connected sensor to be installed in a wearable device, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 53B illustrates the pre-connected sensor in a folded position to be installed in a wearable device, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 54 illustrates a sensor carrier implemented as a daughter board for connection to an analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 55 illustrates a sensor carrier implemented with a pinch clip, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 56 illustrates a sensor carrier having clips for connection to an analyte sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 57 is a flow chart of illustrative operations that may be performed for manufacturing and using a pre-connected sensor, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 58 illustrates a perspective view of a sensor-holding apparatus having a fluted flexible tube, according to some embodiments
• FIG. 59 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the apparatus ofFIG. 58, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 60 illustrates a device that includes a sensor mounted in the apparatus ofFIG. 55, according to some embodiments.
• FIG. 61 illustrates a diagram of a carrier for pre-connected sensors, according to some embodiments.
• Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Elements are not to scale unless otherwise noted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• The following description and examples illustrate some exemplary implementations, embodiments, and arrangements of the disclosed invention in detail. Those of skill in the art will recognize that there are numerous variations and modifications of this invention that are encompassed by its scope. Accordingly, the description of a certain example embodiment should not be deemed to limit the scope of the present invention.
Definitions
• In order to facilitate an understanding of the various embodiments described herein, a number of terms are defined below.
• The term “analyte” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and furthermore refers without limitation to a substance or chemical constituent in a biological fluid (for example, blood, interstitial fluid, cerebral spinal fluid, lymph fluid or urine) that can be analyzed. Analytes can include naturally occurring substances, artificial substances, metabolites, and/or reaction products. In some embodiments, the analyte for measurement by the sensor heads, devices, and methods is analyte. However, other analytes are contemplated as well, including but not limited to acarboxyprothrombin; acylcarnitine; adenine phosphoribosyl transferase; adenosine deaminase; albumin; alpha-fetoprotein; amino acid profiles (arginine (Krebs cycle), histidine/urocanic acid, homocysteine, phenylalanine/tyrosine, tryptophan); andrenostenedione; antipyrine; arabinitol enantiomers; arginase; benzoylecgonine (cocaine); biotinidase; biopterin; c-reactive protein; carnitine; carnosinase; CD4; ceruloplasmin; chenodeoxycholic acid; chloroquine; cholesterol; cholinesterase; conjugated 1-13 hydroxy-cholic acid; cortisol; creatine kinase; creatine kinase MM isoenzyme; cyclosporin A; D-penicillamine; de-ethylchloroquine; dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; DNA (acetylator polymorphism, alcohol dehydrogenase, alpha 1-antitrypsin, cystic fibrosis, Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy, analyte-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, hemoglobin A, hemoglobin S, hemoglobin C, hemoglobin D, hemoglobin E, hemoglobin F, D-Punjab, beta-thalassemia, hepatitis B virus, HCMV, HIV-1, HTLV-1, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, MCAD, RNA, PKU,Plasmodium vivax, sexual differentiation, 21-deoxycortisol); desbutylhalofantrine; dihydropteridine reductase; diptheria/tetanus antitoxin; erythrocyte arginase; erythrocyte protoporphyrin; esterase D; fatty acids/acylglycines; free β-human chorionic gonadotropin; free erythrocyte porphyrin; free thyroxine (FT4); free tri-iodothyronine (FT3); fumarylacetoacetase; galactose/gal-1-phosphate; galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase; gentamicin; analyte-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; glutathione; glutathione perioxidase; glycocholic acid; glycosylated hemoglobin; halofantrine; hemoglobin variants; hexosaminidase A; human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase I; 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone; hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase; immunoreactive trypsin; lactate; lead; lipoproteins ((a), B/A-1, β); lysozyme; mefloquine; netilmicin; phenobarbitone; phenytoin; phytanic/pristanic acid; progesterone; prolactin; prolidase; purine nucleoside phosphorylase; quinine; reverse tri-iodothyronine (rT3); selenium; serum pancreatic lipase; sissomicin; somatomedin C; specific antibodies (adenovirus, anti-nuclear antibody, anti-zeta antibody, arbovirus, Aujeszky's disease virus, dengue virus,Dracunculus medinensis, Echinococcus granulosus, Entamoeba histolytica, enterovirus,Giardia duodenalisa, Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis B virus, herpes virus, HIV-1, IgE (atopic disease), influenza virus,Leishmania donovani, leptospira, measles/mumps/rubella,Mycobacterium leprae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Myoglobin,Onchocerca volvulus, parainfluenza virus,Plasmodium falciparum, poliovirus,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respiratory syncytial virus,rickettsia(scrub typhus),Schistosoma mansoni, Toxoplasma gondii, Trepenoma pallidium, Trypanosoma cruzi/rangeli, vesicularstomatisvirus,Wuchereria bancrofti, yellow fever virus); specific antigens (hepatitis B virus, HIV-1); succinylacetone; sulfadoxine; theophylline; thyrotropin (TSH); thyroxine (T4); thyroxine-binding globulin; trace elements; transferrin; UDP-galactose-4-epimerase; urea; uroporphyrinogen I synthase; vitamin A; white blood cells; and zinc protoporphyrin. Salts, sugar, protein, fat, vitamins, and hormones naturally occurring in blood or interstitial fluids can also constitute analytes in certain embodiments. The analyte can be naturally present in the biological fluid, for example, a metabolic product, a hormone, an antigen, an antibody, and the like. Alternatively, the analyte can be introduced into the body, for example, a contrast agent for imaging, a radioisotope, a chemical agent, a fluorocarbon-based synthetic blood, or a drug or pharmaceutical composition, including but not limited to insulin; ethanol; cannabis (marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, hashish); inhalants (nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite, chlorohydrocarbons, hydrocarbons); cocaine (crack cocaine); stimulants (amphetamines, methamphetamines, Ritalin, Cylert, Preludin, Didrex, PreState, Voranil, Sandrex, Plegine); depressants (barbituates, methaqualone, tranquilizers such as Valium, Librium, Miltown, Serax, Equanil, Tranxene); hallucinogens (phencyclidine, lysergic acid, mescaline, peyote, psilocybin); narcotics (heroin, codeine, morphine, opium, meperidine, Percocet, Percodan, Tussionex, Fentanyl, Darvon, Talwin, Lomotil); designer drugs (analogs of fentanyl, meperidine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, and phencyclidine, for example, Ecstasy); anabolic steroids; and nicotine. The metabolic products of drugs and pharmaceutical compositions are also contemplated analytes. Analytes such as neurochemicals and other chemicals generated within the body can also be analyzed, such as, for example, ascorbic acid, uric acid, dopamine, noradrenaline, 3-methoxytyramine (3MT), 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), Homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5HT), and 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid (FHIAA).
• The terms “microprocessor” and “processor” as used herein are broad terms and are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and furthermore refer without limitation to a computer system, state machine, and the like that performs arithmetic and logic operations using logic circuitry that responds to and processes the basic instructions that drive a computer.
• The term “calibration” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and furthermore refers without limitation to the process of determining the relationship between the sensor data and the corresponding reference data, which can be used to convert sensor data into meaningful values substantially equivalent to the reference data, with or without utilizing reference data in real time. In some embodiments, namely, in analyte sensors, calibration can be updated or recalibrated (at the factory, in real time and/or retrospectively) over time as changes in the relationship between the sensor data and reference data occur, for example, due to changes in sensitivity, baseline, transport, metabolism, and the like.
• The terms “calibrated data” and “calibrated data stream” as used herein are broad terms and are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and furthermore refer without limitation to data that has been transformed from its raw state to another state using a function, for example a conversion function, including by use of a sensitivity, to provide a meaningful value to a user.
• The term “algorithm” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and furthermore refers without limitation to a computational process (for example, programs) involved in transforming information from one state to another, for example, by using computer processing.
• The term “sensor” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and furthermore refers without limitation to the component or region of a device by which an analyte can be quantified. A “lot” of sensors generally refers to a group of sensors that are manufactured on or around the same day and using the same processes and tools/materials. Additionally, sensors that measure temperature, pressure etc. may be referred to as a “sensor”.
• The terms “glucose sensor” and “member for determining the amount of glucose in a biological sample” as used herein are broad terms and are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and furthermore refer without limitation to any mechanism (e.g., enzymatic or non-enzymatic) by which glucose can be quantified. For example, some embodiments utilize a membrane that contains glucose oxidase that catalyzes the conversion of oxygen and glucose to hydrogen peroxide and gluconate, as illustrated by the following chemical reaction:
• 
  Glucose+O₂→Gluconate+H₂O₂
• Because for each glucose molecule metabolized, there is a proportional change in the co-reactant O₂and the product H₂O₂, one can use an electrode to monitor the current change in either the co-reactant or the product to determine glucose concentration.
• The terms “operably connected” and “operably linked” as used herein are broad terms and are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and furthermore refer without limitation to one or more components being linked to another component(s) in a manner that allows transmission of signals between the components. For example, one or more electrodes can be used to detect the amount of glucose in a sample and convert that information into a signal, e.g., an electrical or electromagnetic signal; the signal can then be transmitted to an electronic circuit. In this case, the electrode is “operably linked” to the electronic circuitry. These terms are broad enough to include wireless connectivity.
• The term “determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions. For example, “determining” may include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining” may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, “determining” may include resolving, selecting, choosing, calculating, deriving, establishing and/or the like. Determining may also include ascertaining that a parameter matches a predetermined criterion, including that a threshold has been met, passed, exceeded, and so on.
• The term “substantially” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and furthermore refers without limitation to being largely but not necessarily wholly that which is specified.
• The term “host” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and furthermore refers without limitation to mammals, particularly humans.
• The term “continuous analyte (or glucose) sensor” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and furthermore refers without limitation to a device that continuously or continually measures a concentration of an analyte, for example, at time intervals ranging from fractions of a second up to, for example, 1, 2, or 5 minutes, or longer. In one exemplary embodiment, the continuous analyte sensor is a glucose sensor such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,067, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• The term “sensing membrane” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and furthermore refers without limitation to a permeable or semi-permeable membrane that can be comprised of two or more domains and is typically constructed of materials of a few microns thickness or more, which are permeable to oxygen and may or may not be permeable to glucose. In one example, the sensing membrane comprises an immobilized glucose oxidase enzyme, which enables an electrochemical reaction to occur to measure a concentration of glucose.
• The term “sensor data,” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and furthermore refers without limitation to any data associated with a sensor, such as a continuous analyte sensor. Sensor data includes a raw data stream, or simply data stream, of analog or digital signals directly related to a measured analyte from an analyte sensor (or other signal received from another sensor), as well as calibrated and/or filtered raw data. In one example, the sensor data comprises digital data in “counts” converted by an A/D converter from an analog signal (e.g., voltage or amps) and includes one or more data points representative of a glucose concentration. Thus, the terms “sensor data point” and “data point” refer generally to a digital representation of sensor data at a particular time. The terms broadly encompass a plurality of time spaced data points from a sensor, such as from a substantially continuous glucose sensor, which comprises individual measurements taken at time intervals ranging from fractions of a second up to, e.g., 1, 2, or 5 minutes or longer. In another example, the sensor data includes an integrated digital value representative of one or more data points averaged over a time period. Sensor data may include calibrated data, smoothed data, filtered data, transformed data, and/or any other data associated with a sensor.
• The term “sensor electronics,” as used herein, is a broad term, and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refers without limitation to the components (for example, hardware and/or software) of a device configured to process data. As described in further detail hereinafter (see, e.g.,FIG. 2) “sensor electronics” may be arranged and configured to measure, convert, store, transmit, communicate, and/or retrieve sensor data associated with an analyte sensor.
• The terms “sensitivity” or “sensor sensitivity,” as used herein, are broad terms, and are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refer without limitation to an amount of signal produced by a certain concentration of a measured analyte, or a measured species (e.g., H₂O₂) associated with the measured analyte (e.g., glucose). For example, in one embodiment, a sensor has a sensitivity from about 1 to about 300 picoAmps of current for every 1 mg/dL of glucose analyte.
• The term “sample,” as used herein, is a broad term, and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and it is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refers without limitation to a sample of a host body, for example, body fluids, including, blood, serum, plasma, interstitial fluid, cerebral spinal fluid, lymph fluid, ocular fluid, saliva, oral fluid, urine, excretions, or exudates.
• The term “distal to,” as used herein, is a broad term, and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refers without limitation to the spatial relationship between various elements in comparison to a particular point of reference. In general, the term indicates an element is located relatively far from the reference point than another element.
• The term “proximal to,” as used herein, is a broad term, and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refers without limitation to the spatial relationship between various elements in comparison to a particular point of reference. In general, the term indicates an element is located relatively near to the reference point than another element.
• The terms “electrical connection” and “electrical contact,” as used herein, are broad terms, and are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refer without limitation to any connection between two electrical conductors known to those in the art. In one embodiment, electrodes are in electrical connection with (e.g., electrically connected to) the electronic circuitry of a device. In another embodiment, two materials, such as but not limited to two metals, can be in electrical contact with each other, such that an electrical current can pass from one of the two materials to the other material and/or an electrical potential can be applied.
• The term “elongated conductive body,” as used herein, is a broad term, and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refers without limitation to an elongated body formed at least in part of a conductive material and includes any number of coatings that may be formed thereon. By way of example, an “elongated conductive body” may mean a bare elongated conductive core (e.g., a metal wire), an elongated conductive core coated with one, two, three, four, five, or more layers of material, each of which may or may not be conductive, or an elongated non-conductive core with conductive coatings, traces, and/or electrodes thereon and coated with one, two, three, four, five, or more layers of material, each of which may or may not be conductive.
• The term “ex vivo portion,” as used herein, is a broad term, and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refers without limitation to a portion of a device (for example, a sensor) adapted to remain and/or exist outside of a living body of a host.
• The term “in vivo portion,” as used herein, is a broad term, and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refers without limitation to a portion of a device (for example, a sensor) adapted for insertion into and/or existence within a living body of a host.
• The term “potentiostat,” as used herein, is a broad term, and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refers without limitation to an electronic instrument that controls the electrical potential between the working and reference electrodes at one or more preset values.
• The term “processor module,” as used herein, is a broad term, and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refers without limitation to a computer system, state machine, processor, components thereof, and the like designed to perform arithmetic or logic operations using logic circuitry that responds to and processes the basic instructions that drive a computer.
• The term “sensor session,” as used herein, is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refers without limitation to a period of time a sensor is in use, such as but not limited to a period of time starting at the time the sensor is implanted (e.g., by the host) to removal of the sensor (e.g., removal of the sensor from the host's body and/or removal of (e.g., disconnection from) system electronics).
• The terms “substantial” and “substantially,” as used herein, are broad terms, and are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refer without limitation to a sufficient amount that provides a desired function.
• “Coaxial two conductor wire based sensor”: A round wire sensor consisting of a conductive center core, an insulating middle layer and a conductive outer layer with the conductive layers exposed at one end for electrical contact.
• “Pre-connected sensor”: A sensor that has a “sensor interconnect/interposer/sensor carrier” attached to it. Therefore this “Pre-connected sensor” consists of two parts that are joined: the sensor itself, and the interconnect/interposer/sensor carrier. The term “pre-connected sensor” unit refers to the unit that is formed by the permanent union of these two distinct parts.
• Other definitions will be provided within the description below, and in some cases from the context of the term's usage.
• As employed herein, the following abbreviations apply: Eq and Eqs (equivalents); mEq (milliequivalents); M (molar); mM (millimolar) μM (micromolar); N (Normal); mol (moles); mmol (millimoles); μmol (micromoles); nmol (nanomoles); g (grams); mg (milligrams); μg (micrograms); Kg (kilograms); L (liters); mL (milliliters); dL (deciliters); μL (microliters); cm (centimeters); mm (millimeters); μm (micrometers); nm (nanometers); h and hr (hours); min. (minutes); s and sec. (seconds); ° C. (degrees Centigrade) ° F. (degrees Fahrenheit), Pa (Pascals), kPa (kiloPascals), MPa (megaPascals), GPa (gigaPascals), Psi (pounds per square inch), kPsi (kilopounds per square inch).
Overview/General Description of System
• In vivo analyte sensing technology may rely on in vivo sensors. In vivo sensors may include an elongated conductive body having one or more electrodes such as a working electrode and a reference electrode.
• For example, a platinum metal-clad, tantalum wire is sometimes used as a core bare sensing element with one or more reference or counter electrodes for an analyte sensor. This sensing element is coated in membranes to yield the final sensor.
• Described herein are pre-connected sensors that include an analyte sensor attached to a sensor carrier (also referred to herein as a “sensor interposer”). The analyte sensor may include a working electrode and a reference electrode at a distal end of an elongated conductive body. The sensor carrier may include a substrate, one or more electrical contacts coupled to one or more electrical contacts of the sensor, and circuitry such as one or more additional or external electrical contacts for coupling the one or more electrical contacts that are coupled to the sensor contact(s) to external equipment such as a membrane dip coating station, a testing station, a calibration station, or sensor electronics of a wearable device. In some embodiments, the substrate can be referred to as an intermediate body.
• The following description and examples described the present embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, reference numbers label elements of the present embodiments. These reference numbers are reproduced below in connection with the discussion of the corresponding drawing features.
Sensor System
• FIG. 1 depicts anexample system100, in accordance with some example implementations. Thesystem100 includes ananalyte sensor system101 includingsensor electronics112 and ananalyte sensor138. Thesystem100 may include other devices and/or sensors, such asmedicament delivery pump102 andglucose meter104. Theanalyte sensor138 may be physically connected tosensor electronics112 and may be integral with (e.g., non-releasably attached to) or releasably attachable to the sensor electronics. For example,continuous analyte sensor138 may be connected tosensor electronics112 via a sensor carrier that mechanically and electrically interfaces theanalyte sensor138 with the sensor electronics. Thesensor electronics112,medicament delivery pump102, and/orglucose meter104 may couple with one or more devices, such asdisplay devices114,116,118, and/or120.
• In some example implementations, thesystem100 may include a cloud-basedanalyte processor490 configured to analyze analyte data (and/or other patient-related data) provided via network409 (e.g., via wired, wireless, or a combination thereof) fromsensor system101 and other devices, such asdisplay devices114,116,118, and/or120 and the like, associated with the host (also referred to as a patient) and generate reports providing high-level information, such as statistics, regarding the measured analyte over a certain time frame. A full discussion of using a cloud-based analyte processing system may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/788,375, entitled “Cloud-Based Processing of Analyte Data” and filed on Mar. 7, 2013, published as U.S. Patent Application Publication 2013/0325352, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In some implementations, one or more steps of the factory calibration algorithm can be performed in the cloud.
• In some example implementations, thesensor electronics112 may include electronic circuitry associated with measuring and processing data generated by theanalyte sensor138. This generated analyte sensor data may also include algorithms, which can be used to process and calibrate the analyte sensor data, although these algorithms may be provided in other ways as well. Thesensor electronics112 may include hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof, to provide measurement of levels of the analyte via an analyte sensor, such as a glucose sensor. An example implementation of thesensor electronics112 is described further below with respect toFIG. 2.
• In one implementation, the factory calibration algorithms described herein may be performed by the sensor electronics.
• Thesensor electronics112 may, as noted, couple (e.g., wirelessly and the like) with one or more devices, such asdisplay devices114,116,118, and/or120. Thedisplay devices114,116,118, and/or120 may be configured for presenting information (and/or alarming), such as sensor information transmitted by thesensor electronics112 for display at thedisplay devices114,116,118, and/or120.
• In one implementation, the factory calibration algorithms described herein may be performed at least in part by the display devices.
• In some example implementations, the relatively small, key fob-like display device114 may comprise a wrist watch, a belt, a necklace, a pendent, a piece of jewelry, an adhesive patch, a pager, a key fob, a plastic card (e.g., credit card), an identification (ID) card, and/or the like. Thissmall display device114 may include a relatively small display (e.g., smaller than the large display device116) and may be configured to display certain types of displayable sensor information, such as a numerical value, and an arrow, or a color code.
• In some example implementations, the relatively large, hand-helddisplay device116 may comprise a hand-held receiver device, a palm-top computer, and/or the like. This large display device may include a relatively larger display (e.g., larger than the small display device114) and may be configured to display information, such as a graphical representation of the sensor data including current and historic sensor data output bysensor system100.
• In some example implementations, theanalyte sensor138 may comprise a glucose sensor configured to measure glucose in the blood or interstitial fluid using one or more measurement techniques, such as enzymatic, chemical, physical, electrochemical, spectrophotometric, polarimetric, calorimetric, iontophoretic, radiometric, immunochemical, and the like. In implementations in which theanalyte sensor138 includes a glucose sensor, the glucose sensor may comprise any device capable of measuring the concentration of glucose and may use a variety of techniques to measure glucose including invasive, minimally invasive, and non-invasive sensing techniques (e.g., fluorescence monitoring), to provide data, such as a data stream, indicative of the concentration of glucose in a host. The data stream may be sensor data (raw and/or filtered), which may be converted into a calibrated data stream used to provide a value of glucose to a host, such as a user, a patient, or a caretaker (e.g., a parent, a relative, a guardian, a teacher, a doctor, a nurse, or any other individual that has an interest in the wellbeing of the host). Moreover, theanalyte sensor138 may be implanted as at least one of the following types of analyte sensors: an implantable glucose sensor, a transcutaneous glucose sensor, implanted in a host vessel or extracorporeally, a subcutaneous sensor, a refillable subcutaneous sensor, an intravascular sensor.
• Although the disclosure herein refers to some implementations that include ananalyte sensor138 comprising a glucose sensor, theanalyte sensor138 may comprise other types of analyte sensors as well. Moreover, although some implementations refer to the glucose sensor as an implantable glucose sensor, other types of devices capable of detecting a concentration of glucose and providing an output signal representative of glucose concentration may be used as well. Furthermore, although the description herein refers to glucose as the analyte being measured, processed, and the like, other analytes may be used as well including, for example, ketone bodies (e.g., acetone, acetoacetic acid and beta hydroxybutyric acid, lactate, etc.), glucagon, acetyl-CoA, triglycerides, fatty acids, intermediaries in the citric acid cycle, choline, insulin, cortisol, testosterone, and the like.
• In some manufacturing systems,sensors138 are manually sorted, placed and held in fixtures. These fixtures are manually moved from station to station during manufacturing for various process steps including interfacing electrical measurement equipment for testing and calibration operations. However, manual handling of sensors can be inefficient, can cause delays due to non-ideal mechanical and electrical connections, and can risk damage to the sensor and/or testing and calibration equipment and can induce sensor variability that can lead to inaccurate verification data being collected in manufacturing. In addition, the process ofpackaging sensor138 with thesensor electronics112 into a wearable device involves further manual manipulation of the sensor that can damage thesensor138.
• Various systems, devices, and methods described herein help to reduce or eliminate manual interaction with a sensor. For example, a pre-connected sensor may be provided that includes a sensor interconnect or sensor carrier electrically coupled to sensor electrodes and having mechanical and electrical features configured to accurately interface with wearable electronics, automation equipment and/or robustly connect to measurement equipment.
• Identification and other data associated with each sensor may be stored on the sensor carrier for logging and tracking of each sensor during manufacturing, testing, calibration, and in vivo operations. Following testing and calibration operations, the sensor carrier may be used to connect the sensor to sensor electronics of a wearable device, such as an on-skin sensor assembly, in an arrangement that is sealed and electrically robust.
• FIG. 2 depicts an example ofelectronics112 that may be used insensor electronics112 or may be implemented in a manufacturing station such as a testing station, a calibration station, a smart carrier, or other equipment used during manufacturing ofdevice101, in accordance with some example implementations. Thesensor electronics112 may include electronics components that are configured to process sensor information, such as sensor data, and generate transformed sensor data and displayable sensor information, e.g., via a processor module. For example, the processor module may transform sensor data into one or more of the following: filtered sensor data (e.g., one or more filtered analyte concentration values), raw sensor data, calibrated sensor data (e.g., one or more calibrated analyte concentration values), rate of change information, trend information, rate of acceleration/deceleration information, sensor diagnostic information, location information, alarm/alert information, calibration information such as may be determined by factory calibration algorithms as disclosed herein, smoothing and/or filtering algorithms of sensor data, and/or the like.
• In some embodiments, a processor module214 is configured to achieve a substantial portion, if not all, of the data processing, including data processing pertaining to factory calibration. Processor module214 may be integral tosensor electronics112 and/or may be located remotely, such as in one or more ofdevices114,116,118, and/or120 and/orcloud490. For example, in some embodiments, processor module214 may be located at least partially within a cloud-basedanalyte processor490 or elsewhere innetwork409.
• In some example implementations, the processor module214 may be configured to calibrate the sensor data, and thedata storage memory220 may store the calibrated sensor data points as transformed sensor data. Moreover, the processor module214 may be configured, in some example implementations, to wirelessly receive calibration information from a display device, such asdevices114,116,118, and/or120, to enable calibration of the sensor data fromsensor138. Furthermore, the processor module214 may be configured to perform additional algorithmic processing on the sensor data (e.g., calibrated and/or filtered data and/or other sensor information), and thedata storage memory220 may be configured to store the transformed sensor data and/or sensor diagnostic information associated with the algorithms. The processor module214 may further be configured to store and use calibration information determined from a factory calibration, as described below.
• In some example implementations, thesensor electronics112 may comprise an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)205 coupled to auser interface222. TheASIC205 may further include apotentiostat210, atelemetry module232 for transmitting data from thesensor electronics112 to one or more devices, such asdevices114,116,118, and/or120, and/or other components for signal processing and data storage (e.g., processor module214 and data storage memory220). AlthoughFIG. 2 depictsASIC205, other types of circuitry may be used as well, including field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), one or more microprocessors configured to provide some (if not all of) the processing performed by the sensor electronics12, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, or a combination thereof.
• In the example depicted inFIG. 2, through afirst input port211 for sensor data thepotentiostat210 is coupled to ananalyte sensor138, such as a glucose sensor to generate sensor data from the analyte. Thepotentiostat210 may be coupled to a workingelectrode211 andreference electrode212 that form a part of thesensor138. The potentiostat may provide a voltage to one of theelectrodes211,212 of theanalyte sensor138 to bias the sensor for measurement of a value (e.g., a current) indicative of the analyte concentration in a host (also referred to as the analog portion of the sensor). Thepotentiostat210 may have one or more connections to thesensor138 depending on the number of electrodes incorporated into the analyte sensor138 (such as a counter electrode as a third electrode).
• In some example implementations, thepotentiostat210 may include a resistor that translates a current value from thesensor138 into a voltage value, while in some example implementations, a current-to-frequency converter (not shown) may also be configured to integrate continuously a measured current value from thesensor138 using, for example, a charge-counting device. In some example implementations, an analog-to-digital converter (not shown) may digitize the analog signal from thesensor138 into so-called “counts” to allow processing by the processor module214. The resulting counts may be directly related to the current measured by thepotentiostat210, which may be directly related to an analyte level, such as a glucose level, in the host.
• Thetelemetry module232 may be operably connected to processor module214 and may provide the hardware, firmware, and/or software that enable wireless communication between thesensor electronics112 and one or more other devices, such as display devices, processors, network access devices, and the like. A variety of wireless radio technologies that can be implemented in thetelemetry module232 include Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low-Energy, ANT, ANT+, ZigBee, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, cellular radio access technologies, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), paging network communication, magnetic induction, satellite data communication, spread spectrum communication, frequency hopping communication, near field communications, and/or the like. In some example implementations, thetelemetry module232 comprises a Bluetooth chip, although Bluetooth technology may also be implemented in a combination of thetelemetry module232 and the processor module214.
• The processor module214 may control the processing performed by thesensor electronics112. For example, the processor module214 may be configured to process data (e.g., counts), from the sensor, filter the data, calibrate the data, perform fail-safe checking, and/or the like.
• Potentiostat210 may measure the analyte (e.g., glucose and/or the like) at discrete time intervals or continuously, for example, using a current-to-voltage or current-to-frequency converter.
• The processor module214 may further include a data generator (not shown) configured to generate data packages for transmission to devices, such as thedisplay devices114,116,118, and/or120. Furthermore, the processor module214 may generate data packets for transmission to these outside sources viatelemetry module232. In some example implementations, the data packages may include an identifier code for the sensor and/orsensor electronics112, raw data, filtered data, calibrated data, rate of change information, trend information, error detection or correction, and/or the like.
• The processor module214 may also include aprogram memory216 andother memory218. The processor module214 may be coupled to a communications interface, such as acommunication port238, and a source of power, such as abattery234. Moreover, thebattery234 may be further coupled to a battery charger and/orregulator236 to provide power tosensor electronics112 and/or charge thebattery234.
• Theprogram memory216 may be implemented as a semi-static memory for storing data, such as an identifier for a coupled sensor138 (e.g., a sensor identifier (ID)) and for storing code (also referred to as program code) to configure theASIC205 to perform one or more of the operations/functions described herein. For example, the program code may configure processor module214 to process data streams or counts, filter, perform the calibration methods described below, perform fail-safe checking, and the like.
• Thememory218 may also be used to store information. For example, the processor module214 includingmemory218 may be used as the system's cache memory, where temporary storage is provided for recent sensor data received from the sensor. In some example implementations, the memory may comprise memory storage components, such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), dynamic-RAM, static-RAM, non-static RAM, electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), rewritable ROMs, flash memory, and the like.
• Thedata storage memory220 may be coupled to the processor module214 and may be configured to store a variety of sensor information. In some example implementations, thedata storage memory220 stores one or more days of analyte sensor data. The stored sensor information may include one or more of the following: a time stamp, raw sensor data (one or more raw analyte concentration values), calibrated data, filtered data, transformed sensor data, and/or any other displayable sensor information, calibration information (e.g., reference BG values and/or prior calibration information such as from factory calibration), sensor diagnostic information, and the like.
• Theuser interface222 may include a variety of interfaces, such as one ormore buttons224, a liquid crystal display (LCD)226, avibrator228, an audio transducer (e.g., speaker)230, a backlight (not shown), and/or the like. The components that comprise theuser interface222 may provide controls to interact with the user (e.g., the host).
• Thebattery234 may be operatively connected to the processor module214 (and possibly other components of the sensor electronics12) and provide the necessary power for thesensor electronics112. In other implementations, the receiver can be transcutaneously powered via an inductive coupling, for example.
• A battery charger and/orregulator236 may be configured to receive energy from an internal and/or external charger. In some example implementations, the battery234 (or batteries) is configured to be charged via an inductive and/or wireless charging pad, although any other charging and/or power mechanism may be used as well.
• One ormore communication ports238, also referred to as external connector(s), may be provided to allow communication with other devices, for example a PC communication (com) port can be provided to enable communication with systems that are separate from, or integral with, thesensor electronics112. The communication port, for example, may comprise a serial (e.g., universal serial bus or “USB”) communication port, and allow for communicating with another computer system (e.g., PC, personal digital assistant or “PDA,” server, or the like). In some example implementations, factory information may be sent to the algorithm from the sensor or from a cloud data source.
• The one ormore communication ports238 may further include aninput port237 in which calibration data may be received, and anoutput port239 which may be employed to transmit calibrated data, or data to be calibrated, to a receiver or mobile device.FIG. 2 illustrates these aspects schematically. It will be understood that the ports may be separated physically, but in alternative implementations a single communication port may provide the functions of both the second input port and the output port.
• In some analyte sensor systems, an on-skin portion of the sensor electronics may be simplified to minimize complexity and/or size of on-skin electronics, for example, providing only raw, calibrated, and/or filtered data to a display device configured to run calibration and other algorithms required for displaying the sensor data. However, the sensor electronics112 (e.g., via processor module214) may be implemented to execute prospective algorithms used to generate transformed sensor data and/or displayable sensor information, including, for example, algorithms that: evaluate a clinical acceptability of reference and/or sensor data, evaluate calibration data for best calibration based on inclusion criteria, evaluate a quality of the calibration, compare estimated analyte values with time corresponding measured analyte values, analyze a variation of estimated analyte values, evaluate a stability of the sensor and/or sensor data, detect signal artifacts (noise), replace signal artifacts, determine a rate of change and/or trend of the sensor data, perform dynamic and intelligent analyte value estimation, perform diagnostics on the sensor and/or sensor data, set modes of operation, evaluate the data for aberrancies, and/or the like.
• FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate an exemplary implementation ofanalyte sensor system101 implemented as a wearable device such as an on-skin sensor assembly600. As shown inFIG. 3, on-skin sensor assembly comprises ahousing128. Anadhesive patch126 can couple thehousing128 to the skin of the host. The adhesive126 can be a pressure sensitive adhesive (e.g. acrylic, rubber based, or other suitable type) bonded to a carrier substrate (e.g., spun lace polyester, polyurethane film, or other suitable type) for skin attachment. Thehousing128 may include a through-hole180 that cooperates with a sensor inserter device (not shown) that is used for implanting thesensor138 under the skin of a subject.
• Thewearable sensor assembly600 can includesensor electronics112 operable to measure and/or analyze glucose indicators sensed byglucose sensor138.Sensor electronics112 withinsensor assembly600 can transmit information (e.g., measurements, analyte data, and glucose data) to a remotely located device (e.g.,114,116,118,120 shown inFIG. 1). As shown inFIG. 3C, in this implementation thesensor138 extends from its distal end up into the through-hole180 and is routed to anelectronics module135 inside theenclosure128. The workingelectrode211 andreference electrode212 are connected to circuitry in theelectronics module135 which includes the potentiostat.
• FIG. 3D illustrates one exemplary embodiment of ananalyte sensor138 which includes an elongated body portion. The elongated body portion may be long and thin, yet flexible and strong. For example, in some embodiments, the smallest dimension of the elongated conductive body is less than about 0.1 inches, 0.075 inches, 0.05 inches, 0.025 inches, 0.01 inches, 0.004 inches, or 0.002 inches. While the elongated conductive body is illustrated herein as having a circular cross-section, in other embodiments the cross-section of the elongated conductive body can be ovoid, rectangular, triangular, or polyhedral, star-shaped, C-shaped, T-shaped, X-shaped, Y-shaped, irregular, or the like.
• In the implementation ofFIG. 3D, theanalyte sensor138 comprises awire core139. At a distal, in vivo portion of thesensor138, thewire core139 forms anelectrode211a. At a proximal, ex vivo portion of thesensor138, thewire core139 forms acontact211b. Theelectrode211aand thecontact211bare in electrical communication over the length of thewire core139 as it extends along the elongated body portion of thesensor138. The wire core can be made from a single material such as platinum or tantalum, or may be formed as multiple layers, such as a conducting or non-conducting material with an outer coating of a different conducting material.
• Alayer104 surrounds a least a portion of thewire core139. Thelayer104 may be formed of an insulating material, such as polyimide, polyurethane, parylene, or any other known insulating materials. For example, in one embodiment thelayer104 is disposed on thewire core139 and configured such that theelectrode211ais exposed viawindow106.
• In some embodiments, thesensor138 further comprises alayer141 surrounding the insulatinglayer104 like a sleeve that comprises a conductive material. At a distal, in vivo portion of thesensor138, thesleeve layer141 forms anelectrode212a. At a proximal, ex vivo portion of thesensor138, thesleeve layer141 forms acontact212b. Theelectrode212aand thecontact212bare in electrical communication over the length of thesleeve layer141 as it extends along the elongated body portion of thesensor138. Thissleeve layer141 may be formed of a silver-containing material that is applied onto the insulatinglayer104. The silver-containing material may include any of a variety of materials and be in various forms, such as, Ag/AgCl-polymer pastes, paints, polymer-based conducting mixture, and/or inks that are commercially available, for example. Thislayer141 can be processed using a pasting/dipping/coating step, for example, using a die-metered dip coating process. In one exemplary embodiment, an Ag/AgCl polymer paste is applied to an elongated body by dip-coating the body (e.g., using a meniscus coating technique) and then drawing the body through a die to meter the coating to a precise thickness. In some embodiments, multiple coating steps are used to build up the coating to a predetermined thickness.
• Thesensor138 shown inFIG. 3D also includes amembrane108 covering at least a portion of the distal in vivo portion of thesensor138. This membrane is typically formed of multiple layers, which may include one or more of an interference domain, an enzyme domain, a diffusion resistance domain, and a bioprotective domain. This membrane is important to support the electrochemical processes that allow analyte detection and it is generally manufactured with great care by dip-coating, spraying, or other manufacturing steps. It is preferable for the distal in vivo portion of thesensor138 to be subject to as little handling as possible from the time themembrane108 is formed to the time the distal in vivo portion of thesensor138 is implanted into a subject. In some embodiments,electrode211aforms a working electrode of an electrochemical measuring system, andelectrode212aforms a reference electrode for that system. In use, both electrodes may be implanted into a host for analyte monitoring.
• Although the above description is applicable specifically to a coaxial wire type structure, the embodiments herein are also applicable to other physical configurations of electrodes. For example, the twoelectrodes211aand212acould be affixed to a distal in vivo portion of an elongated flexible strip of a planar substrate such as a thin, flat, polymer flex circuit. The twocontacts211band212bcould be affixed to the proximal ex vivo portion of this flexible planar substrate.Electrodes211a,212acould be electrically connected to theirrespective contacts211b,212ba circuit traces on the planar substrate. In this case, theelectrodes211aand212aand thecontacts211band212bmay be adjacent to one another on a flat surface rather than being coaxial as shown inFIG. 3D.
• Also shown inFIG. 3D is an illustration of thecontact211band thecontact212belectrically coupled to a simple current-to-voltage converter basedpotentiostat210. The potentiostat includes abattery320 that has an output coupled to an input of anoperational amplifier322. The output of theoperational amplifier322 is coupled to acontact324 that is electrically coupled to the workingelectrode contact211bthrough aresistor328. Theamplifier322 will bias thecontact324 to the battery voltage V_b, and will drive the current i_mrequired to maintain that bias. This current will flow from the workingelectrode211athrough the interstitial fluid surrounding thesensor138 and to thereference electrode212a. Thereference electrode contact212bis electrically coupled to anothercontact334 which is connected to the other side of thebattery320. For this circuit, the current i_mis equal to (V_b−V_m)/R, where V_mis the voltage measured at the output of theamplifier322. The magnitude of this current for a given bias on the workingelectrode211ais a measure of analyte concentration in the vicinity of thewindow106.
• Thecontacts324 and334 are typically conductive pads/traces on a circuit board. There is always some level of parasitic leakage current i_pover the surface of this board during the test. If possible, this leakage current should not form part of the measurement of current due to analyte. To reduce the effect this leakage current has on the measured current, an optional additional pad/trace336 may be provided between thebiased contact324 and thereturn contact334 that is connected directly to the battery output. This optional additional pad/trace may be referred to as a “guard trace.” Because they are held at the same potential, there will be essentially no leakage current from thebiased contact324 and theguard trace336. Furthermore, leakage current from theguard trace336 to thereturn contact334 does not pass through theamplifier output resistor328, and therefore is not included in the measurement. Additional aspects and implementations of a guard trace may be found in paragraphs [0128] and [0129] of U.S. Patent Publication 2017/0281092, which are incorporated herein by reference.
• During manufacturing, various coating, testing, calibration, and assembly operations are performed on thesensor138. However, it can be difficult to transport individual sensors and electrically interface the sensors with multiple testing and calibration equipment installations. These processes also subject the sensors to damage from handling. To help address these issues, thesensor138 may be provided as a part of a pre-connected sensor that includes a sensor carrier as described in greater detail below.
• FIG. 4A shows a schematic illustration of apre-connected sensor400. As shown inFIG. 4A,pre-connected sensor400 includessensor carrier402 permanently attached tosensor138. In the example ofFIG. 4A,sensor carrier402 includes an intermediate body such assubstrate404, and also includes one or more contacts such as firstinternal contact406, and secondinternal contact408. Firstinternal contact406 is electrically coupled to a first contact on a proximal end ofsensor138 and contactinternal contact408 is electrically coupled to a second contact on the proximal end ofsensor138. The distal end ofsensor138 is a free end configured for insertion into the skin of the host.Contacts406 and408 may, for example, correspond tocontacts324 and334 ofFIG. 3D in some implementations.
• As shown inFIG. 4A, firstinternal contact406 may be electrically coupled to a firstexternal contact410 and secondinternal contact408 may be electrically coupled to a secondexternal contact412. As described in further detail hereinafter,external contacts410 and412 may be configured to electrically interface withsensor electronics112 inwearable device600. Furthermore,external contacts410 and412 may be configured to electrically interface with processing circuitry of manufacturing equipment such one or more testing stations and/or one or more calibration stations. Although various examples are described herein in which twoexternal contacts410 and412 on the sensor carrier are coupled to two corresponding contacts onsensor138, this is merely illustrative. In other implementations,sensor carrier402 andsensor138 may each be provided with a single contact or may each be provided with more than two contacts, for example, any N number of external contacts (e.g., more than twoexternal contacts410 and412) of the sensor carrier and any M number of contacts (e.g., more than twocontacts406 and408) ofsensor138 that can be coupled. In some implementations,sensor carrier402 andsensor138 may have the same number of contacts (i.e., N=M). In some implementations,sensor carrier402 andsensor138 may have a different number of contacts (i.e., N≠M). For example, in some implementations,sensor carrier402 may have additional contacts for coupling to or between various components of a manufacturing station.
• As described in further detail hereinafter,substrate404 may be configured to couple withsensor electronics112 inwearable device600. In some embodiments,substrate404 may be sized and shaped to mechanically interface withhousing128 and electrically interface withsensor electronics112 insidehousing128. Further,substrate404 may be sized and shaped to mechanically interface with manufacturing equipment, assembly equipment, testing stations and/or one or more calibration stations. As described in further detail hereinafter,sensor carrier402 may be attached and/or electrically coupled tosensor138.Sensor138 may be permanently coupled to a component of sensor carrier402 (e.g. substrate404) by using, for example, adhesive (e.g. UV cure, moisture cure, multi part activated, heat cure, hot melt, etc.), including conductive adhesive (e.g. carbon filled, carbon nanotube filled, silver filled, conductive additive, etc.), conductive ink, spring contacts, clips, wrapped flexible circuitry, a conductive polymer (e.g. conductive elastomer, conductive plastic, carbon filled PLA, conductive graphene PLA), conductive foam, conductive fabric, a barrel connector, a molded interconnect device structure, sewing, wire wrapping, wire bonding, wire threading, spot welding, swaging, crimping, stapling, clipping, soldering or brazing, plastic welding, or overmolding. In some embodiments,sensor138 may be permanently coupled tosubstrate404 by rivets, magnets, anisotropic conductive films, metallic foils, or other suitable structures or materials for mechanically and electrically attachingsensor carrier402 tosensor138 before or during assembly, manufacturing, testing and/or calibration operations. In some embodiments,sensor carrier402 may be 3-D printed aroundsensor138 to formpre-connected sensor400. Additionally,sensor carrier402 may include datum features430 (sometimes referred to as datum structures) such as a recess, an opening, a surface or a protrusion for aligning, positioning, and orientingsensor138 relative tosensor carrier402.Sensor carrier402 may also include, or may itself form, one or more anchoring features for securing and aligning the analyte sensor during manufacturing (e.g., relative to a manufacturing station). Additionally,sensor carrier402 may include anidentifier450 configured to identify the sensor. In some embodiments,identifier450 is formed onsubstrate404.Identifier450 will be explained further below.
• FIG. 4B illustrates another schematic of apre-connected analyte sensor400. Thepre-connected analyte sensor400 shown inFIG. 4B may include similar components ofpre-connected analyte sensor400 shown inFIG. 4A.FIG. 4B is shown withoutoptional cover460 for clarity.FIG. 4C illustrated an exploded view ofpre-connected analyte sensor400 shown inFIG. 4B.
• In the example ofFIG. 4B,sensor carrier402 includes an intermediate body such as asubstrate404, and also includes one or more traces such as first trace414 and second trace416. First trace414 may include a firstinternal contact406 and a firstexternal contact410. Second trace416 may include a secondinternal contact408 and a secondexternal contact412. In some embodiments, firstinternal contact406 is electrically coupled to a first contact on a proximal end ofsensor138 and secondinternal contact408 is electrically coupled to a second contact on the proximal end ofsensor138. The distal end ofsensor138 is a free end configured for insertion into the skin of the host. The electrical coupling is described in connection with various embodiments herein, such as clips, conductive adhesive, conductive polymer, conductive ink, metallic foil, conductive foam, conductive fabric, wire wrapping, wire threading or any other suitable methods. In some embodiments, a non-conductive adhesive426 (e.g. epoxy, cyanoacrylate, acrylic, rubber, urethane, hot melt, etc.) can be used to attach thesensor138 tosubstrate404. Non-conductive adhesive426 may be configured to affix, seal, insulate, or provide a strain relief to thesensor138.Sensor138 may be attached tosubstrate404 by other methods, such as those described inFIG. 4A above.
• As shown inFIG. 4C, a pressure sensitive adhesive428 may be configured to isolate an exposed end of traces414 and416. For instance, pressure sensitive adhesive428 may laminatesensor138 betweensubstrate404 andcover460. In such instances,sensor138,substrate404, pressure sensitive adhesive428, and cover460 may form a laminated configuration. In the laminated configuration,sensor138 and its connection to one or more contacts (e.g. firstinternal contact406 and second internal contact408) are isolated from one or more exposed contacts (e.g. firstexternal contact410 and second external contact412). Furthermore, the laminated configuration may create a moisture sealed region surrounding thesensor138. The moisture seal may be created as embodied by a combination of a pressure sensitive adhesive428 and a non-conductive adhesive426. In other embodiments, the laminated structure can be created by one or a combination of the following materials and methods: A non-conductive adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive tape, an elastomer, heat bonding, hot plate welding, laser welding, ultrasonic welding, RF welding, or any suitable type of lamination method. Thecover460 may consist of a polymer sheet, structure, or film that at least partially covers thesubstrate404. Thecover460 may optionally contain anidentifier450, which can identify thesensor138. In some embodiments,identifier450 may incorporate various identification protocols or techniques such as, but not limited to, NFC, RFID, QR Code, Bar code, Wi-Fi, Trimmed resistor, Capacitive value, Impedance values, ROM, Memory, IC, Flash memory, etc.
• Guide fixture420, which is an optional component, is an exemplary embodiment of an interface with a work station, such as a testing station, a calibration station, an assembly station, a coating station, manufacturing stations, or as part of the wearable assembly. Theguide fixture420 includes datum features (or datum structures)430, such as a recess, an opening, a surface or a protrusion for aligning, positioning, and orientingsensor138 relative tosensor carrier402. Datum features430 may be used in manufacturing and for assembly into a wearable electronic component. In some embodiments, datum features430 are raised protrusions configured to align with corresponding datum features432 ofsubstrate404. Corresponding datum features432 ofsubstrate404 may feature cutouts, slots, holes, or recesses. The corresponding datum features432 in the sensor carrier may be placement features that can interface with datum features430 in a work station, such as a testing station, a calibration station, an assembly station, a coating station, or other manufacturing stations.Guide fixture420 may be configured to ensure proper placement of thesensor carrier402 to align the exposedexternal contacts410 and412 for connecting to a work station, such as a testing station, a calibration station, an assembly station, a coating station, or other manufacturing stations. In other embodiments, datum features430 may consist of female features to engage with male corresponding datum features432.
• FIG. 4D illustrates a schematic view of anarray480 ofpre-connected analyte sensors400 having a plurality ofpre-connected sensors400 withoptional identifiers450. In FIG.4D, an array formed as a one-dimensional strip ofpre-connected analyte sensors400 is shown, but a two-dimensional array could also be implanted. In some embodiments, thearray480 of pre-connected analyte sensors may be disposed in a cartridge. Each of the plurality ofpre-connected sensors400 can be singulated. In some embodiments, scoring4020 may be provided to facilitate singulation into individualpre-connected sensors400. In some embodiments, thearray480 can be used in facilitating manufacturing, testing and/or calibratingmultiple sensors138 individually in sequential or random manners. In some embodiments, thearray480 can be used in facilitating manufacturing, testing and/or calibratingmultiple sensors138 concurrently.
• FIGS. 5A-5E show block diagrams of various machines and assemblies thepre-connected analyte sensor400 may be associated with during its pre-implant lifetime. Such machines and assemblies may include manufacturing equipment such as one ormore manufacturing stations5091, one ormore testing stations5002 and/or onemore calibration stations5004, and an on-skinwearable assembly600. At least some of these are configured to receivesensor carrier402 and to communicatively couple the machines and assemblies tosensor138 viasensor carrier402.
• It is one aspect of some embodiments that thesensor138 is coupled to thesensor carrier402 before themembrane108 described above is applied. With thesensor138 attached to the sensor carrier, and potentially with multiple carrier mounted sensors attached together as shown inFIG. 4D, subsequent device production steps such as membrane coating, testing, calibration, and assembly into a wearable unit can be performed with easier mounting and dismounting from manufacturing and testing equipment, less sensor handling, less chance of damaging the membrane, producing a significant overall improvement in production efficiency.
• Another benefit of the pre-connected sensor construction is that it is easier to separate different kinds of manufacturing and testing among different facilities that are better equipped to handle them. For example, fabricating the electrodes may require various kinds of metal forming/extrusion machines, whereas membrane application, testing, and calibration requires a wet chemistry lab and sensitive electronic test equipment. Accordingly, the sensor electrodes may be formed and mounted on the carrier in one facility in one location, and then shipped to a different remote facility that is equipped for membrane application, testing, and calibration. Remote in this context means not in the same production facility in the same building. It can even be advantageous for different commercial entities to perform the different tasks that specialize in the appropriate manufacturing and testing technologies.
• Manufacturing station5091 may comprise a testing station as described herein, a calibration station as described herein, or another manufacturing station.Manufacturing station5091 may includeprocessing circuitry5092 and/ormechanical components5094 operable to perform testing operations, calibration operations, and/or other manufacturing operations such as sensor straightening operations, membrane application operations, curing operations, calibration-check operations, glucose sensitivity operations (e.g., sensitivity slope, baseline, and/or noise calibration operations), and/or visual inspection operations.
• Thepre-connected analyte sensor400 may be connected to one ormore testing stations5002 havingprocessing circuitry5012 configured to perform testing operations withsensor138 to verify the operational integrity ofsensor138. Testing operations may include verifying electrical properties of asensor138, verifying communication between a working electrode and contact408, verifying communication between a reference electrode or additional electrodes and contact406, and/or other electronic verification operations forsensor138.Processing circuitry5012 may be communicatively coupled withsensor138 for testing operations by insertingsubstrate404 into a receptacle5006 (e.g., a recess in a housing of testing station5002) untilcontact410 is coupled to contact5010 oftesting station5002 and contact412 is coupled to contact5008 oftesting station5002.
• System5000 may include one ormore calibration stations5004 havingprocessing circuitry5020 configured to perform calibration operations withsensor138 to obtain calibration data for in vivo operation ofsensor138. Calibration data obtained bycalibration equipment5004 may be provided to on-skin sensor assembly600 to be used during operation ofsensor138 in vivo.Processing circuitry5020 may be communicatively coupled withsensor138 for calibration operations by insertingsubstrate404 into a receptacle5014 (e.g., a recess in a housing of calibration station5004) untilcontact410 is coupled to contact5018 oftesting station5002 and contact412 is coupled to contact5016 oftesting station5002.
• In the examples ofFIGS. 5A-5E,testing station5002 andcalibration station5004 includereceptacles5006 and5014. However, this is merely illustrative andsensor carrier402 may be mounted totesting station5002 andcalibration station5004 and/ormanufacturing station5091 using other mounting features such as grasping, clipping, or clamping figures. For example,manufacturing station5091 includes graspingstructures5093 and5095, at least one of which is movable to grasp sensor carrier402 (or a carrier having multiple sensor carriers and sensors).Structure5093 may be a stationary feature having one or more electrical contacts such ascontact5008.Structure5095 may be a movable feature that moves (e.g., slides in a direction5097) to grasp andsecure sensor carrier402 in an electrically coupled position formanufacturing station5091. In other implementations, bothfeatures5093 and5095 are movable.
• Sensor carrier402 may also include an identifier450 (see, e.g.,FIGS. 4A-4D).Identifier450 may be formed on or embedded withinsubstrate404.Identifier450 may be implemented as a visual or optical identifier (e.g., a barcode or QR code pre-printed or printed on-the-fly onsubstrate404 or etched in to substrate404), a radio frequency (RF) identifier, or an electrical identifier (e.g., a laser-trimmed resistor, a capacitive identifier, an inductive identifier, or a micro storage circuit (e.g., an integrated circuit or other circuitry in which the identifier is encoded in memory of the identifier) programmable with an identifier and/or other data before, during, or after testing and calibration).Identifier450 may be used for tracking each sensor through the manufacturing process for that sensor (e.g., by storing a history of testing and/or calibration data for each sensor). In other words, theidentifier450 identifies any of the analyte sensor, calibration data for the analyte sensor, and a history of the analyte sensor. For example,identifier450 may be used for binning of testing and calibration performance data.Identifier450 may be a discrete raw value or may encode information in addition to an identification number.Identifier450 may be used for digitally storing data in non-volatile memory onsubstrate404 or as a reference number for storing data external tosensor carrier402.
• Testing station5002 may include a reader5011 (e.g., an optical sensor, an RF sensor, or an electrical interface such as an integrated circuit interface) that readsidentifier450 to obtain a unique identifier ofsensor138. Testing data obtained bytesting station5002 may be stored and/or transmitted along with the identifier ofsensor138.
• Calibration station5004 may include a reader5011 (e.g., an optical sensor, an RF sensor, or an electrical interface) that readsidentifier450 to obtain a unique identifier ofsensor138. Calibration data obtained bycalibration station5004 may be stored and/or transmitted along with the identifier ofsensor138. In some implementations, calibration data obtained bycalibration station5004 may be added toidentifier450 by calibration station5004 (e.g., by programming the calibration data into the identifier). In some implementations, calibration data obtained bycalibration station5004 may be transmitted to a remote system or device along withidentifier450 by calibration station.
• As shown inFIGS. 5A-5E and described in further detail hereinafter, on-skin sensor assembly600 may include one or more contacts such ascontact5022 configured to couple internal electronic circuitry tocontacts410 and412 ofsensor carrier402 and thus tosensor138.Sensor carrier402 may be sized and shaped to be secured within acavity5024 in or on thehousing128 such thatsensor138 is coupled to electronics in thehousing128 viasensor carrier402, andsensor138 may be positionally secured to extend from thehousing128 for insertion for in vivo operations.
• Although one calibration station and one testing station are shown inFIGS. 5A-5E, it should be appreciated that more than one testing station and/or more than one calibration station may be utilized in the manufacturing and testing phase of production. Althoughcalibration station5004 andtesting station5002 are shown as separate stations inFIGS. 5A-5E, it should be appreciated that, in some implementations calibration stations and testing stations may be combined into one or more calibration/testing stations (e.g., stations in which processing circuitry for performing testing and calibration operations is provided within a common housing and coupled to a single interface5006).
• Wearable assembly600 may also include a reader (e.g., an optical sensor, an RF sensor, or an electrical interface) positioned near thecontacts5022 that readsidentifier450 to obtain a unique identifier ofsensor138. Sensor electronics may obtain calibration data for in vivo operation ofsensor138 based on theread identifier450. The calibration data may be stored in, and obtained, fromidentifier450 itself, oridentifier450 may be used to obtain the calibration data for the installedsensor138 from a remote system such as a cloud-based system.
• FIGS. 6-8 are schematic illustrations of various implementations of securement of apre-connected sensor400 withinwearable assembly600. In the example ofFIG. 6,sensor carrier402 is in direct contact with abase wall605 andhousing128, andcontact5022 includes multiple contacts on thehousing128 for contacting bothcontacts410 and412 of sensor carrier402 (e.g., both located on a top surface of sensor carrier402). In the example ofFIG. 7, amechanical receiver700 is provided onbase wall605 for mechanically securingsensor carrier402. In the example ofFIG. 8,mechanical receiver800 is provided onbase wall605 for mechanically securingsensor carrier402 in cooperation withreceiver702. In the example ofFIG. 8,receiver702 includes anadditional contact704 for contactingcontact410 ofsensor carrier402 located on a rear surface of the sensor carrier.
• FIG. 9 shows a detailed example of a sensor module300 including apre-connected sensor400 and a sealingstructure192. As shown, sealingstructure192 may be disposed on asubstrate404, in whichsealing structure192 may be configured to prevent moisture ingress towardcontacts410 and412. Furthermore,contacts410 and412 may be implemented as leaf spring contact for coupling to sensor electronics. In some embodiments,pre-connected sensor400 includes at least one contact. In some embodiments,pre-connected sensor400 includes at least two contacts. In some embodiments,pre-connected sensor400 includes at least three contacts. In some embodiments,pre-connected sensor400 includes at least four contacts. An adhesive126 can couple thehousing128 to theskin130 of the host. The adhesive126 can be a pressure sensitive adhesive (e.g. acrylic, rubber based, or other suitable type) bonded to a carrier substrate (e.g., spun lace polyester, polyurethane film, or other suitable type) for skin attachment. As shown inFIG. 9,substrate404 may include at least onearm202 or other mechanical features for interfacing with corresponding mating features on base128 (e.g., mechanical interlocks such as snap fits, clips, and/or interference features) to mechanicallysecure substrate404 tohousing128. Coupling features such asarm902 and/or other features ofsubstrate404 may be sized and shaped for releasably mechanically attachingsubstrate404 to a connector associated with manufacturing equipment such as one or more ofconnectors5006,5014, and/or5093/5095 ofFIGS. 5A-5E for testing and/or calibration operations during manufacturing and prior to attachment to features900 ofhousing128.
• FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of thesensor module400 in an implementation in whichcontacts406 and408 are implemented using coil springs306. In the example ofFIG. 10,protrusions308 onsubstrate404 can alignsensor138 andsecure springs306 tosubstrate404. (Not all theprotrusions308 are labeled in order to increase the clarity ofFIG. 10.)Protrusions308 can protrude distally.
• At least three, at least four, and/or less than tenprotrusions308 can be configured to contact a perimeter of aspring306.Protrusions308 can be separated by gaps. The gaps enableprotrusions308 to flex outward asspring306 is inserted betweenprotrusions308. A downward force for coupling electronics unit500 tobase128 can pushspring306 againstsensor138 toelectrically couple spring306 to thesensor138.Sensor138 can run between at least two ofprotrusions308.Testing station5002 and/orcalibration station5004 may also have a mating connector structure that, whensubstrate404 is inserted intorecess5006 or5014, compressessprings306 to couplesprings306 electrically betweensensor138 andprocessing circuitry5012 or5020.
• Sensor138 may include adistal portion138aconfigured for subcutaneous sensing and aproximal portion138bmechanically coupled tosensor carrier402 having an electrical interconnect (e.g., springs306) mechanically coupled to thesubstrate404 and electrically coupled toproximal portion138b.Springs306 can be conical springs, helical springs, or any other type of spring mentioned herein or suitable for electrical connections.
• Substrate404 may have abase portion312 that includes at least twoproximal protrusions308 located around a perimeter ofspring306.Proximal protrusions308 are configured to help orientspring306. A segment ofglucose sensor138 is located between the proximal protrusions308 (distally to the spring306).
• Base portion312 may be configured to be mechanically coupled to thehousing128, tomanufacturing equipment5091,testing equipment5002, and/orcalibration equipment5004. For example,base portion312 includes anchoring features such asarms202. Anchoring features may includearms202 and/or may include features such as one or more notches, recesses, protrusions, or other features inbase312,arms202, and/orsubstrate404 that mechanically interface with corresponding features of, for example, a receptacle such as one ofreceptacles5006 of5014 ofFIGS. 5A-5E or a clamping connector formed by clamping connector features such asfeatures5093 and5095 ofFIGS. 5A-5E to secure and alignsensor138. In one suitable example, a slidable (or otherwise actuable or rotatable) feature such asfeature5095 ofFIGS. 5A-5E may be arranged to slide over, around, or otherwise engage with one or more ofarms202,base312, and/orsensor carrier402 altogether to securesensor carrier402 to the manufacturing equipment. For example, in other implementations ofsensor carrier402 in whicharms202 are not provided, a receptacle connector such as one ofreceptacles5006 of5014 ofFIGS. 5A-5E or a clamping connector formed by clamping connector features such asfeatures5093 and5095 ofFIGS. 5A-5E may include a clamshell component, a sliding component, or other movable component that bears against or coverssensor carrier402 to latchsensor carrier402 to the manufacturing, testing, and/or calibration equipment.
• Referring now toFIGS. 11 and 12, another implementation ofsensor module400 is shown that includes abase portion312d; aglucose sensor138 having adistal portion138aconfigured for subcutaneous sensing and aproximal portion138bmechanically coupled tobase portion312d; and an electrical interconnect (e.g.,leaf springs306d) mechanically coupled tosubstrate404 and electrically coupled to theproximal portion138b. Leaf springs306dcan be configured to bend in response to pressure from testing station contacts, calibration station contacts, and/or electronics unit500 coupling withbase128 whilepre-connected sensor400 is disposed between electronics unit500 coupling withbase128.
• As used herein, cantilever springs are a type of leaf spring. As used herein, a leaf spring can be made of a number of strips of curved metal that are held together one above the other. As used herein in many embodiments, leaf springs only include one strip (e.g., one layer) of curved metal (rather than multiple layers of curved metal). For example,leaf spring306dinFIG. 11 can be made of one layer of metal or multiple layers of metal. In some embodiments, leaf springs include one layer of flat metal secured at one end (such that the leaf spring is a cantilever spring).
• As shown inFIGS. 11 and 12,base portion312dincludes aproximal protrusion320dhaving achannel322din which at least a portion ofproximal portion138bis located. Thechannel322dpositions a first area ofproximal portion138bsuch that the area is electrically coupled toleaf spring306d.
• As shown in the cross-sectional, perspective view ofFIG. 12,leaf spring306darcs away from the first area and protrudes proximally to electrically couple withtesting station5002,calibration station5004, and/orwearable assembly600. At least a portion ofleaf spring306dforms a “W” shape. At least a portion ofleaf spring306dforms a “C” shape.Leaf spring306dbends around theproximal protrusion320d.Leaf spring306dprotrudes proximally to electrically coupletesting station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500.Seal192 is configured to impede fluid ingress toleaf spring306d.
• Leaf spring306dis oriented such thatcoupling sensor carrier402 totesting station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500 pressesleaf spring306dagainst a first electrical contact of thetesting station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500 and a second electrical contact of theglucose sensor138 to electrically couple theglucose sensor138 to thetesting station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500. The proximal height ofseal192 may be greater than a proximal height ofleaf spring306dsuch that thetesting station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500 contacts theseal192 prior to contacting theleaf spring306d.Springs306 and/orleaf springs306dmay cooperate with underlying features on substrate404 (e.g., features308) and/orchannel322d, as shown, to form datum features that secure and alignsensor138 with respect to sensor carrier402 (e.g., for manufacturing, calibration, testing, and/or in vivo operations).
• FIGS. 13A and 13B show perspective views of an embodiment of awearable assembly600 including apre-connected sensor400.Wearable assembly600 may include sensor electronics and an adhesive patch (not shown).Pre-connected sensor400 may include a sensor carrier such assensor carrier402 described inFIGS. 4A-4D. Thesensor carrier402 may be placed in or onhousing128.Housing128 may be composed of two housing components,top housing520 andbottom housing522.Top housing520 andbottom housing522 can be assembled together to formhousing128.Top housing520 andbottom housing522 can be sealed to prevent moisture ingress to an internal cavity ofhousing128. The sealed housing may include an encapsulating material (e.g. epoxy, silicone, urethane, or other suitable material). In other embodiments,housing128 is formed as a single component encapsulant (e.g. epoxy) configured to containsensor carrier402 and sensor electronics.FIG. 13A illustrates anaperture524 withintop housing520 configured to allow for an insertion component (e.g. hypodermic needle, C-needle, V-needle, open sided needle, etc.) to pass through thewearable assembly600 for insertion and/or retraction.Aperture524 may be aligned with a corresponding aperture inbottom housing522. In other embodiments,aperture524 may extend through an off-center location ofhousing128. In other embodiments,aperture524 may extend through an edge of thehousing128, forming a C-shaped channel. In some embodiments theaperture524 includes a sealing material such as a gel, adhesive, elastomer, or other suitable material located withinaperture524.
• FIG. 13B shows a perspective view of the bottom ofwearable assembly600. As illustrated,pre-connected sensor400 may be disposed within thehousing128.Pre-connected sensor400 may be installed within anaperture526 ofbottom housing522. As shown in the figure,sensor138 may extend out fromaperture526.Aperture526 may be sized and shaped to retainpre-connected sensor400. Furthermore,aperture526 may be sized and shaped to retainpre-connected sensor400 in whichsensor138 extends approximately parallel to the skin surface and forms a 90 degree bend for insertion into the skin. It should be understood that the bottom surface ofbottom housing522 can contain an attachment member (e.g. an adhesive patch) for adhering the wearable assembly to the skin surface of a user.
• FIG. 13C shows an exploded view of thewearable assembly600. Various electronic components such as thepotentiostat210 and other components illustrated inFIG. 2 may be mounted on or to anelectronics assembly substrate530, typically some form of printed circuit board. It is contemplated thatsensor carrier402 has an electrical coupling withelectronics assembly substrate530. Various methods may be used to establish electrical connection (e.g. pins, solder, conductive elastomer, conductive adhesive, etc.) between one or more contacts ofpre-connected sensor400, such asexternal contacts410 and412 andelectronics assembly substrate530.Sensor carrier402 may be configured to interface withelectronics assembly substrate530 through thebottom housing522. In other implementations, thesensor carrier402 may be configured to interface with theelectronics assembly substrate530 throughtop housing520. In some other implementations, thesensor carrier402 is configured to interface with theelectronics assembly substrate530 through the side ofwearable assembly600. Also shown in the figure, anoptional sealing member528 may be configured to insulate at least a portion ofsensor carrier402 from potential moisture ingress. In some instances, the sealingmember528 may be liquid dispensed (e.g., adhesive, gel) or a solid material (e.g., elastomer, polymer). The sealingmember528 may be an assembled component that is welded (e.g., laser or ultrasonic, hot plate), or otherwise permanently attached (e.g., anisotropic adhesive film, pressure sensitive adhesive, cyanoacrylate, epoxy, or other suitable adhesive) to create a sealed region. The sealingmember528 may be used to physically couple and/or provide a sealed region for thesensor carrier402 to thewearable assembly600.
• FIGS. 14A-14E illustrate another implementation of awearable assembly600. The implementation ofFIGS. 14A-14E share some similarities to the implementation shown inFIGS. 13A-13C. As illustrated inFIG. 14A, thewearable assembly600 includes a housing formed as atop housing520 and abottom housing522. The wearable assembly also includes a throughhole524 for use during interstitial insertion of thesensor138 into a subject. Referring especially toFIGS. 14B, C, and D, thebottom housing522 includes arecess726 with afloor704. Thefloor704 may include locatingpins784 and786 that extend upward from thefloor704 and twoapertures722 and724. The locating pins may be formed as an integral part of thefloor704, during for example molding of the housing, or they may be separate parts that are coupled to the floor with friction fit, adhesive, or any other means. In some embodiments, there is at least one locating pin. In some embodiments, there are at least two locating pins. In some embodiments, there are at least three locating pins. On the opposite side of thefloor704 is a printed circuit board530 (visible inFIG. 14E) with some or all of the sensor electronic circuitry (e.g. thepotentiostat210 or at least traces that connect to the potentiostat) mounted thereon. The printedcircuit board530 may also haveconductive pins712 and714 mounted thereon which extend throughapertures722 and724 in thefloor704, forming an external electrical interface that is accessible without opening the housing. Thepre-connected sensor400 drops into thisrecess726.Holes794 and796 drop over locatingpins784 and786 andconductive pins712 and714 extend throughholes706 and708 in thesensor carrier substrate404. Theseholes706 and708 extend through plated metal (e.g. copper)contacts406 and408 on thesubstrate404, similar to those shown in a different embodiment inFIGS. 4A to 4C. Generally, the number ofholes706,708 in thesubstrate404 correspond to the number of electrodes present in thesensor138, which may in turn correspond to the number ofpins712,714. For example, a three-electrode system with a working, reference, and counter electrode may have three holes in the substrate corresponding to three pins extending up throughfloor704. Thepins712 and714 may be electrically connected to thecontacts408 and406 in a variety of ways such as solder, swaging, or conductive glue, paste, adhesive, or film. After this connection is made, the electronic circuitry for detecting and/or processing analyte sensor signals that is placed inside the housing becomes connected to the analyte sensor to receive signals therefrom. The connection material bonding thesensor138 to thesensor carrier402 is designated762 and764 inFIGS. 14D and 14E. These connections may be established by any of the methods described above with reference toFIG. 4A.
• Once thesubstrate404 is placed over thepins712,714, the proximal portion of thesensor138 can be secured to thefloor704 with a pressuresensitive adhesive772 to retain the proximal portion of the sensor on or near the housing prior to extending downward at theinserter opening524. This allows for accurate sensor insertion position and controls the bias force into the insertion needle. A variety of methods and/or structural features may be used to perform this retention function such as a protrusion or shelf in thefloor704, an overmolded part, a snap-fit additional plastic piece installed over the sensor, or any sort of glue or adhesive placed before or after the pre-connected sensor is placed in therecess726. As is also shown inFIG. 13C, optional sealingmembers528aand528bmay be configured to seal and insulate at least a portion ofsensor carrier402 from potential moisture ingress. In some instances, the sealingmember528 may be liquid dispensed (e.g., adhesive, gel) or a solid material (e.g., elastomer, polymer). The sealingmember528 may be an assembled component that is welded (e.g., laser or ultrasonic, hot plate), or otherwise permanently attached (e.g., pressure sensitive adhesive, cyanoacrylate, epoxy, or other suitable adhesive) to create a sealed region. The sealingmember528 may be used to physically couple and/or provide a sealed region for thesensor carrier402 to thewearable assembly600. The two sealingmembers528aand528bare partially separated bywalls766 and768. These walls allow two different sealing methods to be used in the two different portions of therecess726 that are separated by the walls. For example,528bmay be a solid polymer that is press fit into the recess portion with opening524 on one side of the walls. The other portion of therecess726 may then be filled with a liquid UV cured epoxy which hardens to form sealingmember528a. The depth of the two recess portions on either side of the walls may be the same or different.
• FIG. 15A shows an alternative embodiment of asensor carrier402, also potentially taking the form of a printed circuit board. In this implementation, aguard trace407 such as described above with reference toitem336 inFIG. 3D is provided on thesubstrate404 of thesensor carrier402. As explained above, thisguard trace407 is positioned betweencontacts406 and408 and is connected to the bias voltage by the sensor electronics. Theguard trace407 can be coupled to the sensor electronics with or more conductive pins713 (not shown inFIGS. 14A to 14E) that extend through thefloor704 similar topins712 and714. InFIG. 15A, the pins are shown connected to castellated contacts on the side of thesubstrate404. An insulatinglayer780 such as solder mask may be positioned over theguard trace407 to eliminate the risk of the analyte sensor electrodes shorting to it.
• FIGS. 15B and 15C illustrated other implementations of connecting asensor carrier402 having ananalyte sensor138 mounted thereon to electronic circuitry internal to a wearable sensor. InFIG. 15B, thesensor138 is coupled to thesensor carrier402 withconductive adhesive762 and764 as shown above with reference toFIGS. 14C and 14D. On the other side of the sensor carrier substrate areconductive contact pads812 and814. Thecircuit board530 also hascontact pads826 and828 bonded thereto and which are accessible through thefloor704 of therecess726. Ananisotropic film820 is used to electrically and mechanically bond thesensor carrier contact812 tocircuit board contact826 and alsosensor carrier contact814 tocircuit board contact828. Theanisotropic film820 is compressed with heat between the contacts, which makes conductive particles in thefilm820 bridge the gap vertically between the contact pairs812/826 and814/828. The conductive particles in thefilm820 are spaced apart horizontally, so no shorting between the contact pairs occurs. This electrical and mechanical bonding technique has found widespread use in display applications for small electronics such as smart phones and lends itself to easy and consistent connections in production environments.
• InFIG. 15C, the proximal region ofsensor138 is coupled to thesensor carrier402contacts812 and814 withanisotropic film820. A different area of the sameanisotropic film820 may be used to connect thesensor carrier contacts812 and814 tocircuit board contacts826 and828 respectively. In this implementation, the area of thefilm820 that connects thesensor138 to thecontacts812 and814 may be horizontally adjacent to or otherwise separated from the area of thefilm820 that connects thecircuit board contacts826 and828 to thesensor carrier contacts812 and814.
• In the examples ofFIGS. 10-15,pre-connected sensor400 can be installed as a standalone interface betweensensor138 and the sensor electronics. However, it should be appreciated that, in some implementations described herein,pre-connected sensor400 may include a sensor carrier that couples to an additional interface between thesensor138 and the sensor electronics inside thewearable assembly600. For example,channel322dandleaf spring306dcan be formed on separate substrate that, following calibration and testing operations, mechanically attaches tobase portion312dwithinseal192 for installation intowearable assembly600.
• It is one benefit of the analyte sensor connection techniques described above that the fabrication of thepre-connected sensor400 may be separated from the fabrication of the electronics enclosed within the housing. As described above with reference to the pre-connected sensor structure and the subsequent coating, testing and calibrating processes, the housing with the internally contained electronics can be manufactured in a separate facility from the one that attaches thepre-connected sensor400 to the sensor electrical interface. This is made possible by providing an analyte sensor electronics interface that is accessible from outside the housing. The housing need not be opened to attach the sensor.
• In some advantageous methods, the electrodes for the pre-connected sensor are fabricated and mounted on the substrate in a first location and are shipped to a second location for coating testing and calibrating. The housing with internal electronics is manufactured in a third location. The housing with the electronics is shipped from the third location to the second location, where the completed analyte sensor is attached to the external electrical interface. The three locations can all be remote from each other. This minimizes handling of the sensitive membrane coated sensor, but still allows separate manufacturing of the other components of the complete device.
• FIG. 16 shows a top view of an implementation ofsensor carrier402 in whichsubstrate404 is a substantially planar substrate andsensor138 is attached tosubstrate404 with aconductive adhesive1500. As shown inFIG. 16, conductive adhesive1500 may be applied tocontacts1000 and1002 ofsensor138 to mechanically attachsensor138 tosubstrate404. Once applied the conductive adhesive1500 oncontacts1000 and1002, may itself formcontacts408 and406 for coupling totesting station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500.FIG. 17 shows an end view ofsensor carrier402 ofFIG. 16 in which conductive adhesive1500 can be seen covering a portion ofsensor138 at the proximal end. In other embodiments,sensor138 may be attached tosubstrate404 with a conductive adhesive1500, or via any other suitable methods via the use of, for example, clips, conductive polymer, metallic foil, conductive foam, conductive fabric, wire wrapping, wire threading or via any other suitable methods.
• FIGS. 18, 19, and 20 show examples ofsubstrate404 ofFIG. 16, with additional datum features for controlling the position and spatial orientation ofsensor138 onsubstrate404. In the example ofFIG. 18,substrate404 includes a v-shapedrecess1700.Sensor138 is disposed partially withinrecess1700 to orientsensor138 in a direction along the recess, and conductive adhesive1500 substantially coverssensor138 and fills in portions ofrecess1700 not filled bysensor138 to securesensor138 within the recess. In the example ofFIG. 19,substrate404 includes a firstplanar portion1800 and a secondplanar portion1802 extending at a non-parallel (e.g., perpendicular) angle with respect to the first planar portion, andsensor138 is attached at the interface of the first and second planar portions by conductive adhesive1500. In the example ofFIG. 20,substrate404 includes arounded recess1900 in whichsensor138 is attached by conductive adhesive1500 that substantially coverssensor138 and fills in portions ofrecess1700 not filled bysensor138 to securesensor138 within the recess.
• FIGS. 21A and 21B show anexample sensor carrier402 with at least one pair ofguide structures2106 and2108 formed on thesubstrate404, such as on one or bothcontacts406 and408. These guide structures can assist placement of thesensor body138 on the appropriate location when applying conductive adhesive to bond the two together. This can eliminate the need for external guide fixtures when assembling the sensor to the sensor carrier during manufacturing. Thestructures2106,2108 can be made of solder or other conductive adhesive. Although not shown inFIGS. 21A and 21B, an additional adhesive bonding material can be provided between the guide structures to fix the sensor to the guide structures during manufacturing.
• Conductive adhesive1500 may be, for example, a conductive liquid dispensed glue. The conductive liquid dispensed glue may be a one or two-part adhesive that cures (e.g., at room temperate or an elevated curing temperate). The conductive liquid dispensed glue may be a snap-cure adhesive. A two-part conductive liquid dispensed glue may include a base adhesive (e.g., epoxy, polyurethane, etc.) and a conductive filler (e.g., silver, carbon, nickel, etc.). Conductive adhesive1500 may include, for example, an adhesive resin with one or more embedded conductive materials such as silver, copper or graphite. Conductive adhesive1500 may be a heat curable conductive adhesive.
• FIG. 22 shows a top view of an implementation ofsensor carrier402 in whichsubstrate404 is a substantially planar substrate andsensor138 is attached tosubstrate404 with aconductive tape2000. As shown inFIG. 22,conductive tape2000 may be applied to one or more contacts (e.g. connection areas1000 and1002) ofsensor138 to mechanically attachsensor138 tosubstrate404. Once applied theconductive tape2000 oncontacts1000 and1002, may itself formcontacts408 and406 for coupling totesting station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500. Tape200 may be applied oversensor138 as shown inFIG. 22, or may be interposed betweensubstrate404 andsensor138. In implementations in which tape2000 is disposed betweensubstrate404 andsensor138,substrate404 may be a flexible substrate that can be rolled or folded aroundsensor138 as shown in the end view ofFIG. 23. The rolled substrate ofFIG. 23 includes extendingportions2100 that can form one or more contacts (e.g.406 or408).
• Conductive tape2000 may be configured for use as a multi-zoned tape with one or moreconductive tapes2000 and non-conductive tape sections. The combination of conductive and non-conductive regions can be used to electrically isolate connection regions. Using a multi-zoned tape may simplify the assembly of multiple connection regions in a single assembly step. The pitch of the conductive regions on the tape may be matched to the targeted connection area of thesensor wire138. In other embodiments the pitch of the conductive region of the tape is significantly less than the spacing of the targeted connection area of thesensor wire138. A shorter pitch may allow for more variability in tape placement while ensuring isolated connection between thesensor138 and thesubstrate404.Conductive tape2000 may be formed from a polymer substrate with a conductive adhesive (e.g. carbon-impregnated adhesive, metal-impregnated adhesive). As another example,conductive tape2000 may be a metallic substrate with conductive and non-conductive adhesive. Some examples of non-conductive substrates are polyimide, composite, polymers, etc. Some examples of conductive substrates are metals (e.g. Foils, plating, cladding, etc), conductive polymers, and conductive elastomers. Examples of non-conductive adhesive are epoxy, cyanoacrylate, acrylic, rubber, urethane, hot melt, etc. Examples of conductive adhesives are carbon filled adhesive, nano particle filled adhesive, metal filled adhesive (e.g. silver), conductive inks, etc.
• FIG. 24 shows a top view of an implementation ofsensor carrier402 in whichsubstrate404 is a substantially planar substrate andsensor138 is attached tosubstrate404 with a conducive plastic2200 welded or bonded to a non-conductive (e.g., plastic)substrate404. As shown inFIG. 24, conductive plastic2200 may be applied tocontacts1000 and1002 ofsensor138 to mechanically attachsensor138 tosubstrate404. Once applied the conductive plastic2200 oncontacts1000 and1002, may itself formcontacts408 and406 for coupling totesting station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500.
• FIGS. 25 and 26 show an exemplary ultrasonic welding system for welding conductive plastic2200 tosubstrate404. As shown inFIG. 25,substrate404 may be provided with a recess within which a protrusion on aconductive plastic member2200 can be received.Sensor138 may be disposed within a recess in the protrusion onconductive plastic member2200 andconductive plastic member2200 can be pressed indirection2302 and vibrated byultrasonic welding horn2300 to form amelt region2400 that, whenhorn2300 is removed, solidifies to securesensor138 betweensubstrate404 and conductive plastic2200 to form a conductive contact tosensor138.
• In some implementations, in order to provide asensor138 with additional surface area for clipping or soldering of contacts tosubstrate404, the proximal end ofsensor138 may be rolled or otherwise flattened as shown inFIG. 27. As shown inFIG. 27,contacts1000F and1002F may be flat contacts that converge into acylindrical wire sensor138. As shown in the side view ofsensor carrier402 inFIG. 28, flattenedcontacts1000F and1002F may be attached tosubstrate404 withconductive attachment members2600 and2602 such as clips, solder welds, an anisotropic conductive film, a conductive tape, a plastic member with embedded conductors, conductive springs, or elastomeric conductive members (as examples).
• In one example, connectors such ascontacts1000F and1002F (and/or other forms ofcontacts1000 and1002 described herein) may be laser soldered to corresponding contacts onsubstrate404. In implementations in whichsensor138 is laser soldered tosubstrate404, a trace surface ofsubstrate404 may be preheated by laser illumination at a soldering location. The surface heat emission may reflow a pre-deposited solder material on either side ofsensor139. A guide such as a borosilicate glass “angle” may be placed over the sensor and per-deposited solder to retain the solder, driving molten solder towards the sensor. A resulting “cradle” bond may then securely anchor the sensor to the trace onsubstrate404 which may help increase or maximize a trace-to-solder-sensor contact wire bonding area. Use of a guide such as a borosilicate glass angle may also protect printed circuit board assembly electronics that may be included on and/or in the substrate from solder debris during the hot portion of the soldering process.
• In another example, connectors such ascontacts1000F and1002F (and/or other forms ofcontacts1000 and1002 described herein) may be soldered to corresponding contacts onsubstrate404 without a laser. In these example, solder wire may be pre-fed onto a tip of a soldering iron to build up a blob of molten solder on the tip. The iron may then be moved down so the blob touches the sensor and conductive trace on the substrate. A coating on the sensor such as the Ag/AgCl coating described herein may be provided with a low thermal mass such that the sensor coating heats up quickly without freezing the solder. Once the coating is heated, the solder wets to the coating. The trace would also have minimal thermal mass so it will heat up quickly without freezing the solder. A solder mask may be provided around the trace that prevents the solder flowing off the edge of the trace.
• In some implementations,substrate404 may be formed, at least in part, by a flexible circuit (e.g., a polyimide substrate having conductive traces or other suitable flex circuit) that folds over and/or around at least a portion ofsensor138 to conductive traces of the flex circuit.FIG. 29 shows a top view of a flex circuit implementation ofsubstrate404 in whichsubstrate404 is a flexible circuit having a central, non-conductive,elongated portion2702 along whichsensor138 is oriented and having upper andlower extensions2700 and2704 that extend from central portion in a directed perpendicular to the elongated dimension ofcentral portion2702.Extensions2700 and2704 respectively includeconductive contacts2706 and2708 that formcontacts408 and406.Conductive contacts2706 and2708 may be coupled, via traces and/or conductive vias on or withinsubstrate404 to external contacts that formcontacts412 and410. In some instances,extensions2700 and2704 may allow for testing, calibration, sensor electronics or other equipment to connect to sensor carrier/sensor assembly in area that is not occupied by the sensor. This may allow for additional connection types and/or improve electrical coupling of connection.
• FIG. 30 shows an implementation ofsensor carrier402 in whichsubstrate404 includes a wedge-shapedbase portion2800 and a foldableflexible portion2802.Conductive contacts2804 may extend frombase portion2800 tofoldable portion2802 so that, whensensor138 is placed onbase portion2800 and optionallyfoldable portion2802 is be folded over sensor138 (e.g., in direction2820) to wrap over and aroundsensor138,contacts410 and412 electrically couple tosensor138.Base portion2800 may be rigid and may taper in a direction away fromsensor138.Base portion2800 may includeconductive contacts410 and412 at a narrow end.Base portion2800 may, for example, be removably inserted intorecesses5006 and5014 oftesting station5002 andcalibration station5004 for testing and calibration operations. In the examples ofFIGS. 27 and 28, the flexible substrate may be folded over the sensor and secured (e.g., to the sensor and/or to itself to secure the sensor by a welding soldering, a mechanical crimp, spring contacts, rivets, adhesive such as epoxies, or the like.
• FIGS. 31A and 31B illustrate another embodiment of asensor carrier402. In this embodiment, thesensor carrier402 comprises ablock404 made of non-conducting material such as a polymer or ceramic. Theblock404 includes a through-hole1420 extending therethrough along the y-axis through which the proximal ex vivo portion of theanalyte sensor138 extends. Slots orblind holes1410 and1412 intersect the through-hole1420 on an orthogonal z-axis to the through hole y-axis.Conductive contact material406 and408 is plated on the top surface and extends into theslots1410 and1412.Additional holes1430 and1432 extending along the x-axis intersect both the through-hole1420 and theslots1410 and1412. Eachhole1430 and1432 extends across its respective slot and partway into the block on the other side of each slot forming a blind hole ordepression1442,1444 on the other side.Plugs1451 and1453, which may be conductive or non-conductive are inserted into theholes1430 and1432 and push thecontacts212band211bof the wire analyte sensor into thedepressions1442,1444, causing thecontacts212band211bto come into electrical contact with thesensor carrier contacts406 and408.
• FIG. 32 shows a top view of a sensor carrier having asubstrate404, adatum feature2900, and amovable connector2902 for each ofcontacts406 and408.Sensor138 may be aligned against datum features2900 andmovable connectors2902 may be moved to secure each ofcontacts1000 and1002 between the corresponding datum feature and movable connector.Movable connectors2902 and/or datum features2900 conductively couple tocontacts1000 and1002.Movable connectors2902 and/or datum features2900 may be conductively coupled to other contacts (not shown) onsubstrate404 that formcontacts410 and412.FIG. 33 is a perspective view of one of datum features2900 and an associatemovable contact2902, movable in adirection2904 towarddatum feature2900 to securesensor138.Contacts1000 and1002 may be flattened to enhance contact withdatum feature2900 andcontact2902. Additionalconductive material2906 may be formed onsubstrate404 betweendatum feature2900 andcontact2902 to enhance electrical contact withsensor138 if desired. The additional conductive material may be an exposed surface of a portion of an embedded conductive layer (e.g., a copper or other conductive metal layer) withinsubstrate404 or may be solder or a conductive adhesive (as examples).
• FIG. 34 shows a perspective view of a pre-connected sensor formed from a sensor carrier implemented as a barrel connector that substantially surroundssensor138. In the example ofFIG. 34,substrate404 may be an insulating layer formed aroundsensor138 with conductive bands that extend from an internal contact withcontacts1000 and1002 to an external surface that formscontacts410 and412. As shown inFIG. 34,annular contacts410 and412 may be removable received by a press fit intoconductive brackets3102 and3104 of a device3100 (e.g.,testing station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500).Conductive brackets3102 and3104 may establish electrical communication betweensensor138 and device3100 (e.g.,testing station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500).
• FIG. 35A shows an implementation ofsensor carrier402 in which a flexible circuit is wrapped over an end ofsensor138 such that atop portion3200 and a bottom portion3202 of the flexible substrate are formed on opposing sides ofsensor138. As shown inFIG. 35B,top portion3200 and bottom portion3202 may be wrapped over the ends ofmultiple sensors138 such that a flex circuit strip3404 forms a common sensor carrier for multiple sensors.Flex circuit strip3204 may include pairs of internal contacts for coupling tocontacts1000 and1002 of eachsensor138 and pairs of external contacts, each pair of external contacts coupled to a corresponding pair of internal contacts and forming contacts for coupling totesting station5002 and/orcalibration station5004. In this way, multiple sensors can be transported and coupled to testing and calibration equipment as a group.Strip sensor carrier3204 may include identifiers for eachsensor138 so that testing and/or calibration data for each sensor can be logged and stored. Individual pre-connected sensors may be formed by singulatingstrip sensor carrier3204 into individual sensor carriers for each sensor that can be installed in an electronics unit, such as the wearable sensor units ofFIGS. 13 and 14.Strip3204 may include singulation features3220 (e.g., markings and/or scoring that facilitate singulation into individual pre-connected sensors.
• AlthoughFIGS. 35A and 35B show a flexible circuit strip that is wrapped around the ends ofsensor138, this is merely illustrative. It should be appreciated that a flex strip carrier for more one ormore sensors138 may be attached to the sensor(s) in other ways. For example, the ends or other portions ofsensors138 may extend into a substrate offlexible circuit strip3204 to couple to internal conductive contacts in the strip or the ends or other portions ofsensors138 may be attached to a surface of flexible circuit strip3204 (e.g., using an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) or other conductive adhesive, a laser solder or other solder, a clip or other attachment mechanisms and/or datum features that position and align the sensor).
• FIG. 36 shows an implementation of sensor carrier302 in which acrimp connector3301 extends through a portion ofsubstrate404. As shown inFIG. 36,crimp connector3301 may have abase portion3300 that extends from a first side of substrate404 (e.g., to form one ofcontacts410 and412).Crimp connector3301 also includesarms3302 extend from an opposing second side ofsubstrate404. As shown inFIG. 37,arms3302 can be pressed together or crimped to mechanically secure and conductively couple tosensor138, thereby forming, for example, contact406.FIG. 38 shows a side view of the sensor carrier ofFIGS. 36 and 37 and shows how two crimp connectors may be provided that extend throughsubstrate404 andform contacts406 and408 on a first side andcontacts410 and412 on a second side. Althoughcontacts410 and412 are formed on the second side ofsubstrate404 inFIG. 38, it should be appreciated thatcontacts410 and412 can be formed on the first side, or on a sidewall or edge of substrate404 (e.g., by including one or more bends or other conductive couplings within substrate404).
• FIG. 39 shows an implementation of pre-connected sensor in whichsensor carrier402 includes a distally orientedchannel358 that directssensor138 distally such thatsensor138 includes a bend that is at least 45 degrees and/or less than 135 degrees. Achannel cover362 secures theglucose sensor138 in the distally orientedchannel358. In the example ofFIG. 39, one or more contacts (e.g.408 and406) are implemented using conductiveelastomeric members1400. In other embodiments contacts may be any suitable type (e.g. coil springs306,leaf spring306d). Contacts (e.g. conductive elastomeric members1400) form a conductive coupling betweensensor138 and external equipment (e.g.,testing station5002,calibration station5004, and/or on-skin sensor assembly600). Contacts may cooperate with underlying features on substrate404 (e.g., protrusions308) and/orchannel322d, as shown, to form datum features that secure and alignsensor138 with respect to sensor carrier402 (e.g., for manufacturing, calibration, testing, and/or in vivo operations). In some implementations, thesensor138 maybe bent, glued, or bonded so as to be affixed withinsensor carrier402.
• FIG. 40 shows an implementation ofsensor carrier402 in whichsubstrate404 is a molded interconnect device. In the example ofFIG. 40,substrate404 is formed from molded thermoplastic or thermoset (e.g., acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a liquid crystal polymer, a polyimide/polyphthalamide plastic, or other thermoplastic or thermoset polymer materials) that includes conductive traces3702. Conductive traces3702 may be formed on a surface ofsubstrate404 and/or may pass into and/or through portions ofsubstrate404 to form suitable connections. Conductive traces may be formed on the molded substrate using a variety of techniques (e.g. selective plating via laser etching, combining platable and non platable substrate polymers, or other suitable methods). In other embodiments, a conductive material (e.g. conductive polymer, metal stamping, plated polymer, metallic structure) may be overmolded with a non-conductive material.
• To create suitable electrical connections as shown inFIG. 40,conductive traces3702 are electrically coupled between contacts (e.g. contact region1000 and1002 on sensor138) and external contacts (e.g. contacts410 and412). Although contacts (e.g.410 and412) are formed on the same surface ofsubstrate404 to whichsensor138 is attached in the example ofFIG. 37, this is merely illustrative. It should be appreciated that contacts (e.g. contacts410 and412) may be formed on an opposing surface or on an edge or sidewall ofsubstrate404 and coupled to contacts (e.g. contacts408 and406) by conductive materials (e.g. conductive layers, structures, adhesive, clips, solder, or interconnects) within or onsubstrate404. For example, contacts (e.g. contacts410 and412) may form a designated area to interface electrical coupling on a different surface or region ofsubstrate404 on whichsensor138 is attached. The designated area may form a channel, groove, recess, slot, or similar alignment feature for orienting the sensor.
• Moldedthermoplastic substrate404 may be an injection-molded substrate having features that facilitate various aspects of testing, calibration, and wearable device installation forsensor138. For example, moldedthermoplastic substrate404 may include datum features or other locating features or positioning features such as arecess3700 having a shape that is complementary to the shape of the proximal end ofsensor138. For example,recess3700 may include three or more stepped regions that correspond to the steps between the different layers of the coaxial analyte sensor such as shown inFIG. 3D. In other configurations, moldedthermoplastic substrate404 may include a flat-walled recess as in the example ofFIG. 18, a wall that forms a corner as in the example ofFIG. 19, or a rounded recess as in the example ofFIG. 20. In yet other configurations, moldedthermoplastic substrate404 may include raised features or protrusions on the surface that position and alignsensor138. For example, a raised channel having a shape corresponding to the shape ofsensor138 may be provided on the surface of moldedthermoplastic substrate404. As another example one more posts may extend from the surface of moldedthermoplastic substrate404. For example, one or more lines of protrusions can be formed on the surface of moldedthermoplastic substrate404 against which and/or between whichsensor138 can be positioned and aligned. In this way, various configurations can be provided for a moldedthermoplastic substrate404 including datum features that orientsensor138 in a preferred direction at a preferred position.
• Moldedthermoplastic substrate404 may also include other shaped features such as finger holds 3720 on opposing sides the substrate that facilitate grasping, holding, and transporting ofsensor138. Moldedthermoplastic substrate404 may also include other shaped features such as anchoring features corresponding to the shape of connectors formanufacturing equipment5091,testing equipment5004, andcalibration equipment5004 such as grasping connector features5093/5095 ofmanufacturing equipment5091 and/orrecess connectors5006 and5014 oftesting equipment5002 andcalibration equipment5004. Anchoring features formed on moldedthermoplastic substrate404 and/or by moldedthermoplastic substrate404 itself may include one or more protrusions such as posts, snap-fit features, arms such as arms202 (see, e.g.,FIGS. 11-14), recesses, notches, hooks, and/or tapered portions similar to the tapered portions shown inFIG. 28 (as examples). In some examples, a portion of moldedthermoplastic substrate404 or the entire moldedthermoplastic substrate404 may have a shape that corresponds to the shape of a mounting receptacle on or within one or more ofmanufacturing equipment5091,testing equipment5002,calibration equipment5004, carriers, and/or a wearable device.
• Althoughsubstrate404 is shown inFIG. 40 as being substantially rectilinear, a moldedthermoplastic substrate404 can be provided withfeatures3720 and/or an overall shape such as a handle shape for inserting, pulling, or otherwise manipulatingsensor138 during manufacturing and assembly operations. For example, moldedthermoplastic substrate404 may include a main portion configured to mechanically and electrically interface withmanufacturing equipment5091,testing equipment5002,calibration equipment5004, and/or a wearable device, and a gripping portion that extends from the main portion. The gripping portion may extend from themanufacturing equipment5091,testing equipment5002, orcalibration equipment5004 during manufacturing operations to facilitate removal ofsensor carrier402 andsensor138 from the equipment after or between the manufacturing operations. The gripping portion may be integrally formed with the main portion or may be a separate component that extends from the surface of, or from within, moldedthermoplastic substrate404. The gripping component may be a post, a stock, a shaft, or an arched handle shaped for gripping by a gripping tool or by hand (e.g., by a technician).
• As shown inFIG. 40,sensor138 may be placed inrecess3700 and secured tosubstrate404 using adhesive3704 (e.g., a conductive adhesive as described herein).Adhesive3704 may be applied tocouple contact1000 ofsensor138 to a firstconductive trace3702 onsubstrate404 to formcontact408 betweensensor138 andsensor carrier402.Adhesive3704 may be also applied tocouple contact1002 ofsensor138 to a secondconductive trace3702 onsubstrate404 to formcontact406 betweensensor138 andsensor carrier402. In this way, moldedthermoplastic substrate404 can provide a handle and/or a strain relief member for moving and/or otherwise handlingsensor138.
• FIG. 41 shows a top view ofsensor carrier402 ofFIG. 40. As shown inFIGS. 40 and 41, the firstconductive trace3702 may extend from a contact portion withcontact1000 withinrecess3700 to form one or more exposed portions on the surface ofsubstrate404 that formexternal contact412 for coupling totesting station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500. The secondconductive trace3702 may extend from a contact portion withcontact1002 withinrecess3700 to form one or more exposed portions on the surface ofsubstrate404 that formexternal contact410 for coupling totesting station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500.
• FIG. 42 shows a specific implementation ofsensor carrier402 as illustrated inFIGS. 40 and 41. In this implementation ofsensor carrier402,sensor138 is attached tosubstrate404 with aconductive coupler3900, such as, for example, clips, conductive adhesive, conductive polymer, metallic foil, conductive foam, conductive fabric, wire wrapping, wire threading or via any suitable methods. As shown inFIG. 43, asubstrate4000 may have an elongated dimension along which parallelconductive strips4001 and4002 are formed.Multiple sensor138 may be attached tosubstrate4000 and extend beyond an edge of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the elongated dimension of the substrate. Singulation features such as scoring4020 may be provided that facilitate singulation ofsubstrate4000 into individualsensor carrier substrates404 for each sensor and/or that electrically isolate portions ofconductive strips4001 and4002 for each sensor. Each sensor may be attached tosubstrate4000 using, forexample clips3900 or any other methods including, via the use of conductive adhesive, conductive polymer, metallic foil, conductive foam, conductive fabric, wire wrapping, wire threading or any other suitable methods. Anidentifier450 for each sensor may be provided on a corresponding portion ofsubstrate4000.
• Sensors138 may each have a pair of sensor electrical contacts (e.g.,contacts1000 and1002) coupled to a corresponding pair of electrical contacts formed fromstrips4001 and4002 on the substrate. Openings insubstrate4000 and/or vias that extend throughsubstrate4000 may provide exposed portions ofstrips4001 and4002 that form a plurality of pairs of electrical contacts for coupling eachsensor138 totesting station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500 (e.g., an electronics unit of a wearable device). Each of the plurality of pairs of electrical contacts is coupled to an associated pair of portions ofstrips4001 and4002 via the substrate.
• FIGS. 44-46 show various contact configurations on sensor carriers that can be singulated from a sensor carrier strip of the type shown inFIG. 43. In the example ofFIG. 44, a z-shaped contact configuration onsubstrate4000 has been singulated to form a pre-connected sensor on a smaller portion of the substrate, referred to assubstrate404. In this instance, the z-shaped contact configuration may allow for greater distance between connectors (e.g., larger pitch connection) on testing, manufacturing, or calibration equipment, though a z-shaped substrate is not necessary to generate the greater distance and other substrate shapes can be used. In the example ofFIG. 45, a square portion ofsubstrate4000 has been singulated to form a pre-connected sensor on thesubstrate404. In the example ofFIG. 46 a square portion ofsubstrate4000 has been singulated to form a pre-connected sensor and an opening4300 (e.g., an air gap) is provided in thesingulated substrate404 to improve electrical isolation between singulatedcontact strip portions4001 and4002.
• As shown inFIG. 47A, in some implementations, anelongate substrate4000 that forms a sensor carrier formultiple sensor138 can be provided with a feed-guide strip4402 that runs along an elongated edge of the elongate substrate. Feed-guide strip4402 may include locatingfeatures4404 that can be accessed and manipulated to move and register a strip of pre-connected sensors through one or more manufacturing stations.
• In the implementation ofFIG. 47A,sensors138 can be attached tosubstrate4000 in bulk and singulated onsubstrate404 after manufacturing or testing operations. As shown inFIG. 47B, a strip of pre-connected sensors as shown inFIG. 47A can be provided on areel4410 for bulk storage and/or transportation and optionally automatically pulled from the reel using feed-guide strip4402 to be moved through one or more testing stations and/or one or more calibration stations.FIG. 48 shows a pre-connected sensor having a sensor carrier that has been singulated fromsubstrate4000 and separated from asingulated portion4402 of feed-guide strip4402. Alternatively, feed-guide strip4402 can be separated as a strip prior to singulation of individual pre-connected sensors. In other embodiments, the feed guide is integrated into the final product configuration and not removed from the sensor carrier during or after singulation.
• FIG. 49 shows an implementation ofsensor carrier402 in which a plurality of sets ofcontacts406 and408 are formed fromreceptacles4600 having a slot for receiving a corresponding plurality ofsensors138. In some implementations, thereceptacles4600 may be an elongated member comprising a resilient or flexible material. Thereceptacles4600 may have slots that optionally pierce through an insulation layer or deform a portion of the outer layer so as to make contact with thesensors138.
• FIG. 50 shows an implementation of a sensor carrier formultiple sensors138 havingrecesses4700 that form datum features to hold each sensor in an accurate alignment and position. Complementary magnetic features may be provided onsensor138 andsubstrate404 to hold each sensor in an accurate alignment and position and thereby facilitate accurate sensor processing.
• FIG. 51A shows an implementation of anelongate substrate4800 formed using printed circuit board technology from either a rigid, flexible, or a combination rigid/flexible substrate, from whichmultiple sensor carriers402 can be singulated. Flexible portion of the substrate may be manufactured from a material such as polyimide, PEEK, polyester or any suitable type. Rigid portion of the substrate may be manufactured from a material such as FR4, FR5, FR6, insulated metal substrate (IMS), PTFE, or any suitable type. As shown inFIG. 51A, each sensor carrier may include asensor connection portion4804 and an interface orprocessing portion4802. In some implementations, each sensor carrier may include asensor connection portion4804 that extends from a rigid or flexible portion and an interface orprocessing portion4802 that extends from a rigid or flexible portion. In these implementations, one or more contacts, such ascontacts406 and408 can be formed on thesensor connection portion4804 of eachsensor carrier402.Sensor connection portions4804 ofsubstrate4800 may contain anchoring or datum features ofsensor carriers402.
• FIG. 51B shows another implementation of anelongate substrate4800 as shown inFIG. 51A with an optionalelectrical connection interface4850 for connecting to a work station, such as a testing station, a calibration station, an assembly station, a coating station, or other manufacturing stations. The optionalelectrical connection interface4850 may be coupled to one ormore sensor carriers402 through electrical traces configured on one or more layers of the circuit board. As shown inFIG. 51B, a plurality ofsensor carriers402 are assembled in a panel, and each of thesensor carrier402 may include asensor connection portion4804 that extends from a flexible or rigid portion and an interface orprocessing portion4802 that extends from a flexible or rigid portion. In these implementations, one or more contacts, such ascontacts406 and408 can be formed on thesensor connection portion4804 of eachsensor carrier402.Sensor connection portions4804 ofsubstrate4800 may contain anchoring or datum features ofsensor carriers402. In some implementations, theelongate substrate4800 shown inFIG. 51B may be configured to allow thesensor138 to extend beyond the edge of the substrate. This may be accomplished by removing a portion of theelongated substrate4860 for further processing. In some embodiments a perforation (e.g. V-score, mouse bites, or other suitable type) is included inelongated substrate4800 for enabling the removal of the bottom portion of thepanel4860 for dipping or calibration. In this implementation, theelongated substrate4800 can be configured for dipping or calibration, as described inFIG. 52B.
• Now referring toFIG. 52A, an implementation of asensor carrier402 is shown with one or more sensor contacts (e.g. contacts406 and408) onsensor connection portion4804 and one or more one or more interface contacts (e.g. contacts410 and412) on an interface orprocessing portion4802. One or more interface contacts (e.g.,410 and412) may be formed onsensor carrier402 for coupling totesting station5002,calibration station5004, and/or electronics unit500. In this configuration, testing and/or calibration operations can be performed bycoupling portion4802 to the testing and/or calibration equipment.
• FIG. 52B shows an example panel implementation of a plurality ofsensor carriers402 withelectrical connection interface4850 for interfacing with electronics of a work station, such as a testing station, a calibration station, an assembly station, a coating station, or other manufacturing stations. The illustration ofFIG. 52B shows theelongate substrate4800 ofFIG. 48B after thebottom panel portion4860 has been removed (from the illustration ofFIG. 51B) and withsensor138 attached via one or more sensor contacts (e.g. contacts406 and408). In some implementations, the sensors can be permanently connected (e.g. conductive adhesive, conductive polymer, conductive ink, solder, welding, brazing, or other suitable methods) to thesensor carriers402 and both components can be calibrated together or separately. In other implementations, the sensors can be releasably attached (e.g. via clips, metallic foil, conductive foam, conductive fabric, wire wrapping, wire threading or any other suitable methods).
• Following testing and/or calibration operations,flexible portion4802 may be folded around, folded over, wrapped around, wrapped over, or manipulated toenvelope portion4804 for installation into on-skin sensor assembly600. In the example ofFIG. 53A,portion4802 may form a standalone processing circuit for sensor138 (e.g., an implementation ofsensor electronics112. In other implementations,portion4802 may be coupled directly to signal processing circuit forassembly600, to a system in package (SIP) implementation of the sensor electronics or a main printed circuit board for the sensor electronics. In the example ofFIG. 53B, theflexible portion4804 is folded toenvelope portion4802 for installation into on-skin sensor assembly600 so as to havesensor138 positionally secured to extend (e.g. through opening4808) for insertion for in vivo operations.
• FIG. 54 shows an implementation in whichsensor carrier402 is manufactured using printed circuit board technology as a daughter board for a main printedcircuit board5100 for the sensor electronics. As shown inFIG. 54, one or more contacts such as contacts5104 (e.g., solder contacts) may be formed betweensensor carrier402 andmain PCB5100 to form sensor electronics unit forsensor138 in on-skin sensor assembly600. Conductive traces5102 may couplecontacts5104 tosensor138 via a conductive attachment mechanism5103 (e.g., solder, conductive adhesive, a conductive tape, or other conductive attachment as discussed herein).
• FIG. 55 shows an implementation ofsensor carrier402 in which apinch clip5200 is provided to close thearms5204 of acrimp connector5202 to securesensor138 tosubstrate404.Connector5204 may be formed form a conductive material that forms one ofcontacts410 and412. As shown inFIG. 55,pinch clip5200 includes claspingarms5208 with ramped surfaces that push the arms outward aspinch clip5200 is move towardsubstrate404 indirection5206 and snap back to securepinch clip5200 tosubstrate404. In other implementations,pinch clip5200 may be provided without claspingarms5208 so thatpinch clip5200 is removable afterarms5204 are pinched closed so thatpinch clip5200 does not form a part of the sensor carrier. As shown inFIG. 55, one ormore electrode breakouts5220 may be provided to form, for example, one or more ofcontacts410 and412 onsubstrate404. Althoughbreakout5220 is formed on a surface ofsubstrate404 that is opposed to the surface to whichsensor138 is attached in the example ofFIG. 55, this is merely illustrative. It should be appreciated that breakouts for contacts such ascontacts410 and412 may be formed on the opposing surface, on the same surface assensor138, or on an edge or sidewall ofsubstrate404 and coupled tocontacts408 and406 by conductive vias or other conductive layers, structures, or interconnects within or onsubstrate404. In some implementations, apinch clip5200 may be used to apply bias force againstsensor138 in combination withcrimp connector5202 or directly against substrate withoutcrimp connector5202.Pinch clip5202 may apply force radially, axially, or in a suitable direction to provide a biasing force onsensor138 and conductive pathway.
• FIG. 56 shows an implementation ofsensor carrier402 in whichcontacts406 and408 are formed from foldableconductive clips5300.Sensor138 may be inserted throughopenings5302 in eachclip5300 and mechanically secured tosubstrate404 and conductively coupled toclips5300 by a folding aportion5304 of each ofclips5300 over ontosensor138.
• Portions5304 ofclips5300 may also formcontacts410 and412 for coupling to external equipment such as a manufacturing station (e.g., a testing station, a calibration station, an assembly station, a coating station, or other manufacturing stations). However, this is merely illustrative. In other implementations, one or more electrode breakouts that are conductively coupled toclips5300 may be provided to form, for example, one or more ofcontacts410 and412 onsubstrate404. Such breakouts may be formed on a surface ofsubstrate404 that is opposed to the surface to whichsensor138 is attached, on the same surface assensor138, or on an edge or sidewall ofsubstrate404 and coupled toclips5300 by conductive vias or other conductive layers, structures, or interconnects within or onsubstrate404.
• Clips5300 also form datum features for positioning and aligningsensor138 relative tosubstrate404.Substrate404 may be sized and shaped (or may include structural features) that form anchoring features forsubstrate404 relative to manufacturing stations and/or a housing of a wearable device. In this way,sensor carrier402 may be used to easily position and alignsensor138 for both manufacturing and assembly operations (e.g., using the datum features to align the sensor relative tosubstrate404 and the anchoring features to align the substrate relative to the manufacturing or wearable equipment).
• The conductive components of thesensor carrier402 in the various embodiments described herein are electrically isolated from each other and the environment when installed in on-skin sensor assembly600. For example,contacts406,408,410, and412 may be electrically isolated from each other and the environment, using a non-conductive adhesive such as a one or two-part epoxy, using a polyurethane, using a low pressure overmolding such as a moldable polyamide or a moldable polyolefin, using an injection overmolded thermoplastic or thermoset, using a non-elastomer such as welded clamshell plastic, adhesively bonded clamshell, single or 2-sided cavity potted with sealant, e.g., epoxy, urethane, silicone, etc., or using a factory pre-compressed elastomer such as a constrained two-part cavity that holds an elastomer in a compressed state. The two-part cavity may hold the elastomer in the compressed state by a snap fit, a bonding such as an ultrasonic weld, a laser weld, a solvent bond, or a heat stake, or a mechanical fastener such as a screw, rivet, clip, or other fastener.
• Illustrative operations that may be performed for manufacturing and using a pre-connected analyte sensor are shown inFIG. 57.
• Atblock5400, an analyte sensor such asanalyte sensor138 may be provided. As described herein the analyte sensor may have an elongated body (e.g., an elongated conductive body with an elongated conductive core), and a working electrode on the elongated body (e.g., at a distal end of the elongated body). The analyte sensor may also include one or more electrical contacts at a proximal end or elsewhere along the elongated body and coupled, respectively, to the working electrode and/or the reference electrode.
• Atblock5402, a sensor carrier such as one of the implementations ofsensor carrier402 described herein may be attached, for example, to the proximal end of the elongated body. Attaching the sensor carrier includes coupling one or more contacts (e.g., on a substrate) of the sensor carrier to one or more corresponding electrical contacts on the elongated body.
• Atblock5403, a work station such as a manufacturing station is provided. As described herein, a manufacturing station can be configured to perform one or more dip coating processes to form themembrane108 described above on the working electrode.
• Atblock5404, the analyte sensor may be coupled to at least one testing station (e.g., testing station5002) by coupling the sensor carrier to circuitry of the at least one test station. Coupling the sensor carrier to the circuitry of the at least one test station may include mechanically coupling one or more anchoring features such as a substrate of the sensor carrier to a mating interface of the test station such that one or more external contacts on the substrate are coupled to one or more corresponding contacts at the test station. An identifier for the sensor on the sensor carrier may be read by the testing station. Test data obtained by the test station may be stored and/or transmitted, in association with the identifier, by the test station.
• Atblock5406, the analyte sensor may be coupled to at least one calibration station (e.g., calibration station5004) by coupling the sensor carrier to circuitry of the at least one calibration station. Coupling the sensor carrier to the circuitry of the at least one calibration station may include mechanically coupling the one or more anchoring features such as the substrate of the sensor carrier to a mating interface of the calibration station such that one or more external contacts on the substrate is coupled to one or more corresponding contacts at the calibration station. An identifier for the sensor on the sensor carrier may be read by the calibration station. Calibration data obtained by the calibration station may be stored and/or transmitted, in association with the identifier, by the calibration station. Calibration data may be stored on the sensor carrier or transmitted for later use by an on-skin sensor assembly600 during in vivo use ofsensor138.
• Sensor carrier402 may be coupled to one or more additional manufacturing stations as desired. The additional manufacturing stations may include potentiostat measurement stations, sensor straightening stations, membrane dipping stations, curing stations, analyte sensitivity measurement stations, and/or inspection stations.
• Atblock5408, the sensor carrier may be coupled to sensor electronics (e.g.,sensor electronics112 of electronics unit500) of a wearable device such as on-skin sensor assembly600. Coupling the sensor carrier to the sensor electronics may include coupling the one or more external contacts on the sensor carrier to corresponding contacts of the sensor electronics. In some embodiments, coupling the sensor carrier to the sensor electronics may include securing the sensor carrier between a base such asbase128 and electronics unit500 as described herein. A reader in the on-skin sensor assembly600 may obtain an identifier of the sensor from the sensor carrier. Calibration data for the sensor may be obtained based on the identifier.
• Atblock5410, in vivo signals from the working electrode (e.g., and a reference electrode) may be obtained and processed with the sensor electronics. The in vivo signals from the working electrode (e.g., and a reference electrode) may be received by the sensor electronics from the sensor through the circuitry of the sensor carrier.
• The methods disclosed herein comprise one or more steps or actions for achieving the described methods. The method steps and/or actions may be interchanged with one another without departing from the scope of the claims. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is specified, the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may be modified without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, the operations described above in connection withblocks5404 and5406 may be reversed and/or may be performed in parallel.
• In some scenarios, it may be desirable tocouple sensor138 to one or more contacts on a substrate in a preferred position and orientation.FIG. 58 shows anexemplary apparatus5531 in whichsensor138 is oriented tosubstrate5530 using an elastomeric tube. As shown inFIG. 58,apparatus5531 may include asubstrate5530 having one or more conductive contacts such ascontacts5532 and5534 (e.g., exposed copper pads on a printed circuit substrate), and anelastomeric tube5500.Elastomeric tube5500 may be formed from a non-conductive elastomer.
• As shown,elastomeric tube5500 may be formed with a “D”, “O”, oval, pyramidal, or hemispherical shaped cross-section having anelongated cutout5503 in the bottom portion of theelastomeric tube5500 within whichsensor138 is disposed. In this way, sidewalls of the elongated cutout ofelastomeric tube5500 can alignsensor138 relative tosubstrate5530.
• Bottom portions5502 on either side ofcutout5503 may be attached tosubstrate5530. Thebottom portions5502 may be attached to substrate using adhesive5504 such as a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Theelongated opening5501 andcutout5503 in theelastomeric tube5500 provides sufficient space that, in order to assemble the apparatus,tube5500 can be placed oversensor138 whilesensor138 is in place onsubstrate5530.
• FIG. 59 shows an exploded perspective view of the apparatus ofFIG. 55 in whichcontacts5532 and5534 can be seen onsubstrate5530.Sensor138 may be positioned over one or more contacts such ascontacts5532 and5534.
• Sensor138 may be loosely held withinopening5501 oftube5500 during initial placement of the tube over the sensor, and then be fixed to thesubstrate5530 by the tube when the tube is compressed (e.g., by an upper housing of a wearable device). In this way,sensor138 may be communicatively coupled and mechanically fixed to a substrate without soldering or other bonding operations.
• During manufacturing operations and/or during in-vivo use ofsensor138,sensor138 may be held in place onsubstrate404 by external compression oftube5500.FIG. 60 shows an example in whichsensor138 is held in place by compression oftube5500 by a housing structure. For example, housing5700 (e.g., a housing of a wearable device or a lid or clip for a manufacturing station) may include a protrudingmember5702 that, in an assembled configuration, compressestube5500 to securesensor138.
• As noted above in connection with, for example,FIGS. 35B, 43, 47A, 47B, 50, and 51, during manufacturing operations,multiple sensors138 may be carried by a common sensor carrier. However, in some scenarios, a common carrier such as an intelligent carrier may be provided for manufacturing operations for multiple pre-connected sensors.FIG. 61 shows an example of a carrier for multiple pre-connected sensors. As shown inFIG. 58, acarrier5800 may include ahousing5802 withinterfaces5804 for multiple pre-connected sensors.Housing5802 may be a substantially solid substrate or may be a housing that forms an interior cavity within which other components are mounted and/or connected.
• Eachinterface5804 may be configured to receive asensor carrier402 in any of the implementations described herein. For example, eachinterface5804 may include one or more features that interface with one or more corresponding anchoring features of a sensor carrier as described herein in accordance with various implementations.Carrier5800 may include circuitry5806 (e.g., one or more processors and/or memory) configured to communicate withsensors138 and/or external computing equipment.Circuitry5806 may include communications circuitry such as one or more antennas for transmitting and/or receiving data from external equipment.Housing5802 may include one or more structures5810 (e.g., clips, clasps, protrusions, recesses, notches, posts, or the like) for mechanically couplingcarrier5800 to manufacturing equipment. One or moreconductive contacts5808 may be provided onhousing5802 that communicatively couple manufacturing equipment tosensors138 through the carrier.
• As shown, eachinterface5804 may be associated with a particular identification number (represented, as an example, inFIG. 58 as I₁, I₂. . . I_N−1, and I_N).Circuitry5806 may electronically identify sensors mounted ininterfaces5804 ofcarrier5800 with the identification number associated with that interface. However, this is merely illustrative. In other implementations,sensors138 may be uniquely identified bycircuitry5806 using a reader in each ofinterfaces5804 that reads an identifier such asidentifier450 on the sensor carrier. Testing and/or calibration data may be gathered by processingcircuitry5806 and stored and/or transmitted along with an identifier for each sensor.
• During manufacturing, one or more pre-connected sensors may be loadedcarrier5800.Carrier5800 may secure the pre-connected sensors therein and perform potentiostat measurements for each sensor (e.g., using circuitry5806).Sensors138 may be secured tointerfaces5804 by individual mounting features orcarrier5800 may be provided with a locking mechanism such as aslidable bar5812.Slidable bar5812 may be slidable (e.g., by a handle5814) between an open position as shown, in which sensor carriers can be inserted into and removed frominterfaces5804, to a closed position in which bar5812 blocks removal of the sensor carriers from the interfaces.
• In some scenarios, an initial measurement test may be performed bycarrier5800 to test the potentiostat connection through the sensor interconnect electrodes and the sensor surfaces. Manufacturing operations that may be performed forsensors138 coupled tocarrier5800 may include physical manipulation of the sensor such as straightening of the sensors.Carrier5800 may facilitate more efficient manufacturing by allowing multiple sensors to be straightened in a single operation using automated straightening equipment.
• Carrier5800 may facilitate potentiostat and/or other measurements at various stages of manufacturing forsensors138. Potentiostat measurements may be performed before, during, and/or after straightening operations and information regarding sensor damage or any other mechanical stress that might be introduced by the straightening may be saved and/or transmitted along with associated sensor ID's.
• Manufacturing operations that may be performed forsensors138 coupled tocarrier5800 may also include a membrane process in which dipping operations are performed to form a membrane such as membrane508 for each sensor. Straightenedsensors138 mounted incarrier5800 may be concurrently dipped. Potentiostat measurements may be performed before, during, and/or after membrane operations and information associated with the electrochemistry of the sensors and dipping process may be gathered, processed, stored, and/or transmitted bycarrier5800.
• Manufacturing operations that may be performed forsensors138 coupled tocarrier5800 may also include a curing process. Performing curing for groups ofsensors138 mounted incarrier5800 may allow the curing process to take less space, which can reduce the footprint of the manufacturing area used by curing equipment. Potentiostat measurements may be performed before, during, and/or after curing operations and information associated with the electrochemistry of the sensors and curing process may be gathered, processed, stored, and/or transmitted bycarrier5800.
• Manufacturing operations that may be performed forsensors138 coupled tocarrier5800 may also include calibration operations. Becausecarrier5800 can perform connection testing early in the manufacturing process, improved analyte/electrochemical calibration can be performed bycarrier5800 itself and/or in cooperation with external manufacturing equipment. Calibration data may be gathered, processed, stored, and/or transmitted bycarrier5800.
• Gathering calibration and/or testing data withcarrier5800 can save time in connecting and disconnecting additional external equipment. Gathering calibration and/or testing data withcarrier5800, particularly when data is gathered and stored automatically in connection with sensor ID's, can also reduce calibration/testing errors because the data is gathered by the same equipment throughout various processes.
• Manufacturing operations that may be performed forsensors138 coupled tocarrier5800 may also include analyte concentration measurements. For example,carrier5800 may be moved by manufacturing equipment (e.g., a robotic arm) to expose thesensors138 mounted in the carrier through various analyte baths (e.g., glucose baths).Carrier5800 may gather electrical potential measurements during the various bath exposures. Information associated with the electrical potential measurements during the various bath exposures may be gathered, processed, stored, and/or transmitted bycarrier5800.
• Manufacturing operations that may be performed forsensors138 coupled tocarrier5800 may also include analyte sensitivity measurements. Sensitivity measurements that may be performed bycarrier5800 may include baseline measurements that indicate the signal from each sensor without analyte exposure, slope measurements that indicate the signal change for a given amount of an analyte, and/or noise measurements. These sensitivity measurements may be stored, and/or transmitted bycarrier5800.
• Manufacturing operations that may be performed forsensors138 coupled tocarrier5800 may also include visual inspection operations (e.g., by a technician). Providing a group of pre-connected sensors, mounted incarrier5800, that have already been through all of the testing/calibration/manufacturing operations described above may allow a more efficient and/or more automated visual inspection and rejection (e.g., because the exact physical location of each sensor withincarrier5800 is known).Sensors138 that have exhibited unusual electrochemistry or mechanical stress during manufacturing operations can be flagged by carrier5800 (e.g., using a display, a visual indicator, or transmission of flag information to an external device) for retesting or rejection.
• The connections between the elements shown in some figures illustrate exemplary communication paths. Additional communication paths, either direct or via an intermediary, may be included to further facilitate the exchange of information between the elements. The communication paths may be bi-directional communication paths allowing the elements to exchange information.
• Various operations of methods described above may be performed by any suitable means capable of performing the operations, such as various hardware and/or software component(s), circuits, and/or module(s). Generally, any operations illustrated in the figures may be performed by corresponding functional means capable of performing the operations.
• The various illustrative logical blocks, modules and circuits described in connection with the present disclosure (such as the blocks ofFIG. 2) may be implemented or performed with a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array signal (FPGA) or other programmable logic device (PLD), discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any commercially available processor, controller, microcontroller or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
• In one or more aspects, various functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise various types of RAM, ROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, WiFi, Bluetooth®, RFID, NFC, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray® disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Thus, in some aspects a computer readable medium may comprise non-transitory computer readable medium (e.g., tangible media). In addition, in some aspects a computer readable medium may comprise transitory computer readable medium (e.g., a signal). Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.
• Certain aspects may comprise a computer program product for performing the operations presented herein. For example, such a computer program product may comprise a computer readable medium having instructions stored (and/or encoded) thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors to perform the operations described herein. For certain aspects, the computer program product may include packaging material.
• Software or instructions may also be transmitted over a transmission medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of transmission medium.
• Further, it should be appreciated that modules and/or other appropriate means for performing the methods and techniques described herein can be downloaded and/or otherwise obtained by a user terminal and/or base station as applicable. For example, such a device can be coupled to a server to facilitate the transfer of means for performing the methods described herein. Alternatively, various methods described herein can be provided via storage means (e.g., RAM, ROM, a physical storage medium such as a compact disc (CD) or floppy disk, etc.), such that a user terminal and/or base station can obtain the various methods upon coupling or providing the storage means to the device. Moreover, any other suitable technique for providing the methods and techniques described herein to a device can be utilized.
• It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the precise configuration and components illustrated above. Various modifications, changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the methods and apparatus described above without departing from the scope of the claims.
• Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art, and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning unless expressly so defined herein. It should be noted that the use of particular terminology when describing certain features or aspects of the disclosure should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to be restricted to include any specific characteristics of the features or aspects of the disclosure with which that terminology is associated. Terms and phrases used in this application, and variations thereof, especially in the appended claims, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing, the term ‘including’ should be read to mean ‘including, without limitation,’ ‘including but not limited to,’ or the like; the term ‘comprising’ as used herein is synonymous with ‘including,’ ‘containing,’ or ‘characterized by,’ and is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps; the term ‘having’ should be interpreted as ‘having at least;’ the term ‘includes’ should be interpreted as ‘includes but is not limited to;’ the term ‘example’ is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; adjectives such as ‘known’, ‘normal’, ‘standard’, and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass known, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future; and use of terms like ‘preferably,’ ‘preferred’, ‘desired,’ or ‘desirable,’ and words of similar meaning should not be understood as implying that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the invention, but instead as merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the invention. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction ‘and’ should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as ‘and/or’ unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction ‘or’ should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should be read as ‘and/or’ unless expressly stated otherwise.
• Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that the upper and lower limit and each intervening value between the upper and lower limit of the range is encompassed within the embodiments.
• With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. The indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
• It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention, e.g., as including any combination of the listed items, including single members (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
• All numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term ‘about.’ Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth herein are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of any claims in any application claiming priority to the present application, each numerical parameter should be construed in light of the number of significant digits and ordinary rounding approaches.
• All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. To the extent publications and patents or patent applications incorporated by reference contradict the disclosure contained in the specification, the specification is intended to supersede and/or take precedence over any such contradictory material.
• Headings are included herein for reference and to aid in locating various sections. These headings are not intended to limit the scope of the concepts described with respect thereto. Such concepts may have applicability throughout the entire specification.
• Furthermore, although the foregoing has been described in some detail by way of illustrations and examples for purposes of clarity and understanding, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that certain changes and modifications may be practiced. Therefore, the description and examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments and examples described herein, but rather to also cover all modification and alternatives coming with the true scope and spirit of the invention.
• Various system and methods described may be fully implemented and/or controlled in any number of computing devices. Typically, instructions are laid out on computer readable media, generally non-transitory, and these instructions are sufficient to allow a processor in the computing device to implement the method of the invention. The computer readable medium may be a hard drive or solid state storage having instructions that, when run, are loaded into random access memory. Inputs to the application, e.g., from the plurality of users or from any one user, may be by any number of appropriate computer input devices. For example, users may employ a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, joystick, trackpad, other pointing device, or any other such computer input device to input data relevant to the calculations. Data may also be input by way of an inserted memory chip, hard drive, flash drives, flash memory, optical media, magnetic media, or any other type of file-storing medium. The outputs may be delivered to a user by way of a video graphics card or integrated graphics chipset coupled to a display that maybe seen by a user. Alternatively, a printer may be employed to output hard copies of the results. Given this teaching, any number of other tangible outputs will also be understood to be contemplated by the invention. For example, outputs may be stored on a memory chip, hard drive, flash drives, flash memory, optical media, magnetic media, or any other type of output. It should also be noted that the invention may be implemented on any number of different types of computing devices, e.g., personal computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, net book computers, handheld computers, personal digital assistants, mobile phones, smart phones, tablet computers, and also on devices specifically designed for these purpose. In one implementation, a user of a smart phone or wi-fi-connected device downloads a copy of the application to their device from a server using a wireless Internet connection. An appropriate authentication procedure and secure transaction process may provide for payment to be made to the seller. The application may download over the mobile connection, or over the WiFi or other wireless network connection. The application may then be run by the user. Such a networked system may provide a suitable computing environment for an implementation in which a plurality of users provide separate inputs to the system and method. In the below system where factory calibration schemes are contemplated, the plural inputs may allow plural users to input relevant data at the same time.

Claims (19)

What is claimed is:

1. An array of pre-connected analyte sensors, the array comprising:

a substrate;

a first plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the substrate;

a second plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the substrate; and

a plurality of analyte sensors disposed on the substrate, each of the plurality of analyte sensors comprising

a first sensor electrical contact coupled to a corresponding one of the first plurality of electrical contacts on the substrate, and

a second sensor electrical contact coupled to a corresponding one of the second plurality of electrical contacts on the substrate.

2. The array ofclaim 1, wherein the first plurality of electrical contacts are aligned along the substrate.

3. The array ofclaim 2, wherein the first plurality of electrical contacts are formed from an exposed contact surface.

4. The array ofclaim 1, wherein the second plurality of electrical contacts are aligned along the substrate.

5. The array ofclaim 4, wherein the second plurality of electrical contacts are formed from an exposed contact surface.

6. The array ofclaim 1, wherein the first and second plurality of electrical contacts are configured to connect with a separate device.

7. The array ofclaim 6, wherein the separate device is a component of a manufacturing station.

8. The array ofclaim 1, wherein the substrate comprises at least one singulation feature configured to facilitate singulation of the substrate into a plurality of sensor carriers, wherein each of the plurality of sensor carriers is attached to an individual one of the analyte sensors.

9. The array ofclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of identifiers disposed on the substrate.

10. The array ofclaim 1, wherein the substrate comprises an elongated dimension, wherein the plurality of analyte sensors extend beyond an edge of the substrate in a direction orthogonal to the elongated dimension.

11. The array ofclaim 10, further comprising a feed-guide strip that runs along an opposing edge of the substrate in the elongated dimension.

12. The array ofclaim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a flexible substrate configured to be rolled onto a reel.

13. The array ofclaim 11, wherein the feed-guide strip is removable from the substrate.

14. The array ofclaim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a molded thermoplastic having a plurality of datum features that control a position and orientation of the plurality of analyte sensors, and wherein the first plurality of electrical contacts and the second plurality of electrical contacts each comprise embedded conductive traces in the molded thermoplastic.

15. The array ofclaim 1, further comprising a first datum structure coupled to the array, the first datum structure configured to position at least one analyte sensor.

16. The array ofclaim 15, wherein the first datum structure includes at least one singulation feature configured to facilitate singulation of the first datum structure into a plurality of second datum structures, wherein each of the plurality of second datum structures is coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of sensor carriers formed by the substrate.

17. The array ofclaim 1, wherein the substrate includes processing circuitry configured to perform at least potentiostat measurements for the plurality of analyte sensors.

18. The array ofclaim 17, further comprising communications circuitry operable by the processing circuitry to send and receive data associated with each of the analyte sensors together with an identifier for that analyte sensor.

19. The array ofclaim 1, wherein the array comprises one or more strips.

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