Continuous Analyte Monitor With Split-Housing Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems face issues with high production costs, sensor failures due to sterilization, and cumbersome user assembly processes, leading to unsatisfactory user experience and increased contamination risk.
Innovation Solution
A continuous analyte monitoring device is designed with a split assembly that includes an outer housing and a bottom housing, each containing specific components, allowing separate sterilization and simplifying user assembly by using a sealing assembly to facilitate communication between the housings without additional user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an integrated monitoring assembly is assembled before leaving the factory, then users do not need to assemble it and can use it directly, but production costs are relatively high and sterilization process may cause sensor failure
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring assembly is divided into two separate housings: an outer housing containing the sensor and a bottom housing containing the signal transmitter. This segmentation allows each housing to be sterilized separately before assembly, preventing sensor failure during the sterilization process while still providing a simple assembly operation for users.
2Reliability
If a split monitoring assembly is used, then reliability is improved through separate sterilization, but users need to remove sealing films and assemble two housings together, making use steps cumbersome and increasing learning costs
Solution Approach 1:
The outer housing and bottom housing are pre-assembled with a sealing assembly that automatically seals the communication interface between the two housings. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need for users to manually remove sealing films or align multiple components, reducing operational complexity while maintaining the reliability benefits of separate sterilization.
3Ease of operation
If an integrated monitoring assembly is used, then ease of operation is improved, but production costs are relatively high
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the monitoring assembly into two separate housings that can be manufactured independently, the production cost is reduced compared to manufacturing a fully integrated assembly. The separate housings can be produced using more cost-effective processes and then easily assembled with the automated sealing mechanism.
4Ease of manufacture
If a split monitoring assembly requires manual assembly by users, then production costs are lowered, but contamination risk increases due to additional exposure to environment
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing assembly acts as an intermediary component that automatically seals the communication interface between the outer housing and bottom housing. This intermediary mechanism prevents environmental contamination during the assembly process while still allowing the benefits of low-cost separate manufacturing. The sealing assembly is integrated into the assembly process, eliminating user exposure to contamination risks.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces sensor failure risk, lowers operational complexity, enhances cleanliness, and improves user experience by allowing easy assembly and reducing contamination pathways.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing assembly being configured to move along a second direction to unseal the engagement opening and to allow the engagement opening to communicate with the implantation opening
Implementation Method 2
a sealing assembly configured to abut with the outer housing and/or the bottom housing and located between the first monitoring unit and the second monitoring unit to seal the engagement opening
Data Source
AI summary
A continuous analyte monitoring device includes an outer housing, a bottom housing, a monitoring assembly, and a sealing assembly. The outer housing has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end in a first direction. The second end has an engagement opening. The bottom housing is connected to the second end and has an implantation opening. The monitoring assembly includes a first monitoring unit inside the outer housing and a second monitoring unit at the bottom housing. The sealing assembly is configured to abut with the outer housing and/or the bottom housing and is located between the two electronic units to seal the engagement opening. The sealing assembly is configured to move along a second direction to unseal the engagement opening. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.