Patent ID: 8012103
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
1. An arrangement for producing a sample of body fluid from a wound opening created in a skin surface at a sampling site, and for calculating the presence and/or concentration of a target analyte, the arrangement comprising: a plurality of skin-penetration members each having a first end configured to pierce the surface of the skin, and each skin-penetration member further comprising an inner lumen in communication with each first end; a plurality of torsional spring actuators, each actuator operatively associated with a respective skin-penetration member; and at least one catalyst device configured to facilitate perfusion of body fluid at the sampling site; wherein each spring actuator has a neutral rest position, and wherein each spring actuator is constructed and positioned such that in use the first end of each skin-penetration member obstructs the wound opening when a respective spring actuator is in the neutral rest position, and wherein each skin-penetration member is urged along an arcuate path by a respective spring actuator; a plurality of signaling mechanisms, each signaling mechanism associated with a respective skin penetration member, each signaling mechanism constructed to generate a detectable signal indicative of the presence and/or concentration of the target analyte; at least one detector associated with the plurality of signaling mechanisms, the at least one detector constructed to detect the detectable signal generated by each signaling mechanism; and electronics configured to calculate the presence and/or concentration of the target analyte using a signal transmitted by the at least one detector; wherein the arrangement is configured to retract the skin-penetration member after the calculation of the presence and/or concentration of the target analyte by the electronics.