Continuous Analyte Meter With Recessed Transmitter for Sensor Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing continuous analyte meters face issues with water ingress due to through-holes in the transmitter, leading to potential electrical failures, inefficient part arrangement, and increased patient discomfort during sensor insertion.

Innovation Solution

A continuous analyte meter design with a recess on the transmitter surface for sensor exposure, eliminating through-holes and allowing a needle guide without frictional resistance, which enhances waterproofing, improves part arrangement, and reduces patient discomfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If through-holes are formed in the transmitter housing to allow needle insertion and sensor exposure, then the needle can pass through the transmitter, but water and body fluids can permeate into the transmitter causing electrical failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle insertion and removalVSAvoidwaterproofing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the needle passage function from the transmitter housing by providing a separate recess in the skin contact portion. This allows the needle to be guided through the recess without creating through-holes in the transmitter housing, thereby maintaining waterproofing while enabling needle insertion and sensor exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the transmitter structure into a skin contact portion with a recess and a separate housing. The recess is specifically designed to accommodate the needle and sensor, while the housing remains sealed. This segmentation allows the needle function to be isolated from the main transmitter body, preventing water ingress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If through-holes are formed in the transmitter housing, then the needle can pass through, but multiple sealing members are required at various junctions increasing device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle passageVSAvoidsealing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the need for multiple sealing members by extracting the needle passage function from the housing structure. The recess in the skin contact portion serves as the needle guide, eliminating the need for sealing members at through-hole junctions, inner cover junctions, and sensor exposure points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the needle guide function with the skin contact portion structure. The recess is integrated into the housing design, combining the structural support and needle guidance functions in a single feature, thereby simplifying the overall sealing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the transmitter is attached to the skin for a long time, then continuous glucose measurement is possible, but electronic parts may fail due to water and body fluid permeation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous measurement periodVSAvoidelectronic part durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the needle and sensor exposure function from the transmitter housing by providing a dedicated recess in the skin contact portion. This allows the transmitter to maintain a sealed, waterproof structure during extended wear, preventing water and body fluid ingress while enabling continuous glucose measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the transmitter into a sealed housing and a skin contact portion with a recess. This segmentation allows the housing to remain waterproof for long-term wear, while the recess accommodates the needle and sensor for continuous measurement without compromising the seal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If a recess is provided on the transmitter surface for sensor exposure, then the transmitter can be waterproofed, but the needle may experience frictional resistance when moved

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovewaterproofingVSAvoidneedle movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing a recess specifically in the skin contact portion where the needle needs to be guided, while the rest of the housing remains sealed. The recess is designed with appropriate dimensions and surface characteristics to minimize frictional resistance during needle movement while maintaining waterproofing elsewhere.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250325205A1Continuous analyte meter having transmitter

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 UXN

AI summary

Proposed is a continuous analyte meter, including an electrochemical sensor invasively inserted into the skin, a transmitter including a main substrate to which a battery is connected and a housing in which the main substrate is accommodated, the housing being attached to the skin and the main substrate controlling a signal measured by the electrochemical sensor, and a needle guiding the electrochemical sensor to be invasively inserted into the skin.