Flexible CGM Sensor Assembly with Compliant Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) with rigid housings experience issues such as peeling of adhesives and partial removal of sensors from subcutaneous tissue due to transferred forces, leading to unstable sensor readings and discomfort for users.
Innovation Solution
A flexible physiological characteristic sensor assembly with a flexible top and lower housing, an electrical subsystem including a flexible printed circuit board, and conductive adhesive patches to securely attach the sensor, reducing force transfer and conforming to the user's anatomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid housing is used for the CGM, then structural strength and durability are improved, but force transfer to the sensor occurs causing adhesive peeling and sensor removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible housing materials that can deform to absorb moment forces and prevent force transfer to the sensor-adhesive interface. The flexible housing maintains structural integrity while accommodating body movements without causing adhesive peeling or sensor removal, thereby preserving both strength and sensor reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If a rigid housing is used for the CGM, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to inability to conform to anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible housing materials that can be molded into conformable shapes and will naturally adapt to body contours during wear. This maintains manufacturing simplicity through standard molding processes while achieving superior user comfort through anatomical conformity.
3Strength
If moment forces are transferred through the device, then structural integrity is maintained, but adhesive peeling and sensor partial removal occur
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible housing acts as a compliant structure that deforms under moment loads, absorbing forces before they reach the adhesive interface. This preserves structural integrity while preventing adhesive peeling and sensor removal by decoupling the force transmission path from the bonding interface.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If the CGM housing is rigid, then device durability is improved, but wear duration is reduced due to adhesive failure
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible housing extends wear duration by preventing adhesive failure through compliant force absorption. The housing maintains durability through appropriate material selection and structural design while the flexibility prevents the cumulative damage that would otherwise lead to adhesive failure and premature sensor removal.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor introducer for a physiological characteristic sensor assembly includes a sensor introducer body that includes an outer housing that defines an opening to receive the physiological characteristic sensor assembly and an inner housing surrounded by the outer housing. The sensor introducer includes a cradle movable relative to the inner housing from a first position to a second position to deploy the physiological characteristic sensor assembly. The cradle has a cradle flange to receive the physiological characteristic sensor assembly and a cradle body that receives a needle assembly. The cradle body includes at least one locking projection that engages the inner housing to inhibit the movement of the cradle relative to the inner housing in the first position and the at least one locking projection is movable relative to the inner housing to enable the cradle to move from the first position to the second position.