Patent Description:
The pancreas in a normal person can automatically monitor the amount of glucose in the blood and automatically secrete the required dosage of insulin/glucagon. However, for diabetic patients, the function of the pancreas is abnormal, and the pancreas cannot normally secrete required dosage of insulin. Therefore, diabetes is a metabolic disease caused by abnormal pancreatic function, which is also a lifelong disease. At present, medical technology cannot cure diabetes, and it can only control the occurrence and development of diabetes and its complications by stabilizing blood glucose.

Patients with diabetes need to check their blood glucose before injecting insulin into the body. At present, most of the detection methods can continuously detect blood glucose, and send the blood glucose data to the remote device in real time for the user to view. This detection method is called Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) method. The method requires the sensing device to be attached to the surface of the patients' skin, and the probe carried by the device is inserted into the subcutaneous tissue fluid for testing.

However, the current detection device is not compact, resulting in thicker overall and larger volume, affecting the user's dressing, stretching, exercise and other daily activities, which can seriously worsen user experience. Also, detection can be easily interrupted with such a sensing device because a bulky device can get bumped or caught easily, which may lead to data loss and pose a potential safety hazard to the user.

Accordingly, there is a need in the state of the art for a detection device that has compact internal structure and small volume.

<CIT> relates generally to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host. The system comprises a sensor adapted for transcutaneous placement through a skin of a host and a mounting unit adapted for placement adjacent to the skin of the host. The mounting unit comprises an electronics unit configured to process sensor data. The sensor is configured to extend from the mounting unit into the host.

<CIT> discloses an analyte sensing system, comprising: a sensor probe for collecting the analyte content in human body and transmitting the collected analyte content information; a transmitter connected to the sensor probe for receiving the analyte content information transmitted by the sensor probe implanted subcutaneously and converting same into a radio signal to output; and a receiver for receiving the radio signal comprising the analyte content information transmitted by the transmitter and converting same into analyte content data to display to the user.

<CIT> discloses an apparatus for insertion of a medical device in the skin of a subject.

A sensor is provided comprising a body having a proximal section, a distal section longitudinally aligned with the proximal section, and an intermediate section. The intermediate section is laterally displaced from at least the distal member and a gap is defined between the laterally displaced intermediate section and a portion of the distal section.

The present invention relates to a highly integrated analyte detection system. The sensor has a shape of a polyline or an arc, which reduces the height of the sensor structure, making the overall structure of the detection system more compact, further, as a result, reducing the volume and enhancing the user experience.

The invention discloses a highly integrated analyte detection system, including: a bottom case; a sensor structure, the sensor structure and the bottom case are fastened with each other, the sensor structure includes a sensor and a sensor base, the sensor includes a signal output end and a detection end, the output end has a shape of a polyline or an arc toward a top surface of the sensor base, and at least two first electrical connection areas insulated from each other are provided on a surface of the signal output end; and a transmitter, the transmitter and the bottom case are fastened with each other, and the transmitter is provided with the second electrical connection areas which are insulated from each other and correspond to the at least two first electrical connection areas, each second electrical connection area is electrically connected to a corresponding first electrical connection area.

According to the present invention, a mounting hole is provided on a bottom board of the bottom case, a first fastener part is provided at an edge of the mounting hole, and a second fastener part is provided at an edge of the sensor base, contour shapes of the edge of the sensor base and that of the mounting hole match each other, the first fastener part and the second fastener part are fastened with each other, the edge of the mounting hole and the edge of the sensor base are interlocked, and the sensor base is installed in the mounting hole.

The detection system of the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the second electrical connection areas are metal contacts.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the signal output end is a planar structure and is laid on a top of the sensor base.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it further includes a sealing member, the sealing member is arranged around a position where the signal output end is electrically connected with the electrical connection area.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it further includes a first elastic conductive member disposed between the at least two first electrical connection areas and the second electrical connection areas.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the first elastic conductive member includes conductive areas and insulation areas, and one insulation area is spaced between every two adjacent conductive areas, the conductive areas and the insulation areas expand across the first elastic conductive member in a vertical direction, respectively.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the conductive areas and the insulation areas are separated from each other, the at least two first electrical connection areas are electrically connected with corresponding second electrical connection areas through the conductive areas, and one insulation area is disposed between every two adjacent first electrical connection areas or two adjacent second electrical connection areas.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the transmitter is provided with at least two third electrical connection areas, and a second elastic conductive member is disposed between the third electrical connection areas and the sensor base, after electrical connecting with the second elastic conductive member, the different third electrical connection areas are connected.

Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the present invention has the following advantages:
In the highly integrated analyte detection system disclosed in the present invention, the signal output end has a shape of a polyline or an arc toward the top surface of the sensor base, which can reduce the height of the sensor structure, so that no extra space is required in the transmitter to accommodate the structure protruding from the bottom board of the bottom case, making the overall structure of the detection system more compact, thinner and smaller and greatly enhancing the user experience.

Furthermore, the second electrical connection areas are metal contacts. Metal contacts can reduce the electrical connection area and the volume of the analyte detection system.

Furthermore, the signal output end is a planar structure and is laid on the top of the sensor base. Because the thickness of the sensor is extremely thin (at micron level), the height of the sensor structure does not increase when the signal output end is laid on the top of the sensor base, which no extra space is required to accommodates the signal output end protruding from bottom base, ultimately reducing the thickness of the transmitter and the volume of the detection system.

Furthermore, a mounting hole is provided on the bottom board of the bottom case, the first fastener part is provided at the edge of the mounting hole, and the second fastener part is provided at the edge of the sensor base. Setting the fastener part at the edge can finally reduce the height of the fastening position, making the internal structure more compact. In addition, the contour shape of the edge of the sensor base matches that of the mounting hole, the first fastener part and the second fastener part are fastened with each other, and the edge of the mounting hole and the edge of the sensor base are interlocked with each other. The interlocked edge of the mounting hole and the sensor base makes the sensor structure entirely embedded in the mounting hole, which further reduces the height of the top of the sensor structure and is conducive to reduce the volume of the detection system.

Furthermore, the highly integrated analyte detection system further includes the first elastic conductive member disposed between the first electrical connection areas and the second electrical connection areas. The elastic conductive member can make a better electrical connect between the first electrical connection areas and the second electrical connection areas.

Furthermore, the conductive areas and the insulation areas of the first elastic conductive member are separated from each other. The first electrical connection areas is electrically connected to the corresponding second electrical connection areas through the conductive areas, and the insulation area is set between the adjacent first electrical connection areas or the adjacent second electrical connection areas. Such a design ensures that the first elastic conductive member <NUM> can only conduct electricity in the vertical direction without conducting electricity in the horizontal direction, achieving electrical conductivity of the first elastic conductive member <NUM> and also making the internal structure of the detection system more compact.

As mentioned above, the prior art body fluid parameter detection device has a larger volume and is easy to get caught while being worn on the skin surface, which leads to poor user experiences and brings inconvenience to the patient's life.

After research, it is found that the reason for the above problem is that the height of the sensor structure protruding from the inner bottom surface of the bottom case in the prior detection device is large. Extra space is required along the thickness direction of the transmitter to accommodate the foresaid protruding portion, increasing the thickness of the transmitter.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a highly integrated analyte detection device. The signal output end has a shape of a polyline or an arc toward the top surface of the sensor base, which can reduce the height of the sensor structure, so that no extra space is required in the transmitter to accommodate the structure protruding from the bottom board of the bottom case, making the overall structure of the detection system more compact, thinner and smaller and greatly enhancing the user experience.

Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The relative arrangement of the components and the steps, numerical expressions and numerical values set forth in the embodiments are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

In addition, it should be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various components shown in the figures are not necessarily drawn in the actual scale relationship, for example, the thickness, the width, the length or the distance of certain units may be exaggerated relative to other structures.

The following description of the exemplary embodiments is merely illustrative, and is not intended to be in any way limiting the invention and its application or use. The techniques, methods and devices that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art may not be discussed in detail, but such techniques, methods and devices should be considered as part of the specification.

It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters indicate similar items in the following figures. Therefore, once an item is defined or illustrated in a drawing, it will not be discussed further in following description of the drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of a bottom case <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The bottom case <NUM> is used for mounting the sensor structure and the transmitter. In the present invention, the bottom board of the bottom case <NUM> is provided with a mounting hole <NUM> for mounting the sensor structure, while the fastener structure for fixing the transmitter is designed on the side wall of the bottom case <NUM>.

In the present invention, a first fastener part <NUM> is provided at the edge of the mounting hole <NUM>. Here, being provided at the "edge" means that the top of the first fastener part <NUM> is not higher than or slightly higher than the inner bottom surface of the bottom case <NUM>.

The the present invention does not specifically limit the shape and type of the first fastener part <NUM> and the shape of the mounting hole <NUM>, as long as the conditions for mounting the sensor structure can be satisfied.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of the sensor structure <NUM> and the sealing member <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic perspective view of the sensor <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The sensor structure <NUM> includes a sensor base <NUM> and a sensor <NUM>. A second fastener part <NUM> is provided at the edge of the sensor base <NUM> for fastening with the first fastener part <NUM>. In the the present invention, the contour shape of the edge of the mounting hole <NUM> matches that of the sensor base <NUM>. Therefore, when the sensor structure <NUM> and the bottom case <NUM> are fastened with each other, the edge of the mounting hole <NUM> and the edge of the sensor base <NUM> are interlocked with each other, and the sensor base <NUM> is installed in the mounting hole <NUM>. In addition, since the first fastener part <NUM> and the second fastener part <NUM> are both disposed at the edge, the position where these two fastener parts are fastened is not higher than the top of the sensor structure <NUM>. Such a design reduces the height of the sensor structure <NUM>, so that no extra space is required in the transmitter, which reduces the thickness of the transmitter and ultimately reduces the overall volume of the analyte detection system.

Referring to <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> includes a signal output end 113a and a detection end 113b. The signal output end 113a needs to be electrically connected to the second electrical connection areas of the transmitter to output the detection signal to the transmitter. The detection end 113b is used to pierce subcutaneous tissue of a human body to detect body fluid analyte parameters. In the embodiment of the present invention, the signal output end 113a is embedded in the sensor base <NUM>.

The surface of the signal output end 113a is provided with the first electrical connection areas <NUM> which are insulated from each other. The surface of the sensor <NUM> is further provided with electrodes and electrode leads (not shown) for detecting parameters of the fluid analyte. The signals of the electrodes need to be derived through the first electrical connection areas <NUM>. Generally, at least two detection electrodes are provided on the sensor <NUM>, so in the present invention, at least two first electrical connection areas <NUM> are provided on the surface of the signal output end 113a to be electrically connected to different electrodes. As in the embodiment of the present invention, there are three electrodes on the sensor <NUM>, thus the number of the first electrical connection areas <NUM> is three.

The sealing member <NUM>, which has dust-proof feature, moisture-proof feature, water-proof feature and the like, is configured to seal the connection position between the signal output end 113a and the electrical connection areas.

The sensor base <NUM> of the embodiment of the present invention is provided with a groove <NUM> in which the sealing member <NUM> is placed. The installed sealing member <NUM> surrounds the connection position between the signal output end 113a and the electrical connection areas to achieve sealing effect.

It should be noted that, in other embodiments of the present invention, when the transmitter is installed, the transmitter and the bottom case <NUM> form a sealed structure, therefore the sealing member <NUM> may not be provided.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the first elastic conductive member <NUM> and the second elastic conductive member <NUM>, which are finally located between the transmitter and sensor structure <NUM>, are further disposed on the top of the sensor base <NUM>. In another embodiment of the present invention, only the first elastic conductive member <NUM> is disposed, which will be described in detail below.

It should be noted that, in other embodiments of the present invention, the first elastic conductive member <NUM> and the second elastic conductive member <NUM> may not be provided, while the corresponding positions of the transmitter and the sensor structure are directly connected with each other.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of the transmitter <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The transmitter <NUM> is provided with second electrical connection areas <NUM> which are insulated from each other. In the embodiment of the present invention, the second electrical connection areas <NUM> are exposed and protrude from the transmitter housing <NUM> to facilitate electrical connect with the corresponding first electrical connection areas <NUM>. Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, the second electrical connection areas <NUM> are metal contacts which are much smaller, making the internal structure of the analyte detection system much more compact and reducing the overall volume of the analyte detection system.

In another embodiment of the present invention, since the first elastic conductive member <NUM> is set between the second electrical connection areas <NUM> and the first electrical connection areas <NUM>, the second electrical connection areas <NUM> may not protrude from the surface of the transmitter case <NUM>.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the transmitter <NUM> is further provided with at least two third electrical connection areas <NUM> which can be configured to activate the analyte detection system or used as an interface to charge the transmitter <NUM>. And the third electrical connection areas <NUM> will electrically connect with the second elastic conductive member <NUM>. In the embodiment of the present invention, the position and shape of the third electrical connection areas <NUM> and their position relationship with the second electrical connection areas <NUM> are not specifically limited.

Since the analyte detection system needs to be activated remotely and does not need to be charged, in another embodiment of the present invention, the third electrical connection areas <NUM> are not provided. Obviously, there is also no need to provide the second elastic conductive member <NUM> in the analyte detection system.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of the sensor structure <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> are schematic diagrams of sensors <NUM> and their adjacent structures of different embodiments obtained along the section line A-A' in <FIG>, respectively. <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional structural view of the first elastic conductive member <NUM> obtained along a section line B-B' in <FIG>. <FIG> is a schematic top view of the longitudinal section of <FIG>. <FIG> are top views of the first elastic conductive member <NUM> according to different embodiments. <FIG> is a schematic structural view of a longitudinal section of the structure of <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the sensor <NUM> is a polyline. The signal output end 113a of the sensor <NUM> is bent toward the top of the sensor base <NUM>. The bent sensor <NUM> will reduce the entire height of the top of the sensor structure <NUM>, thus, reducing the overall thickness of the analyte detection system and making the structure of the analyte detection system much more compact.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the signal output end 113a has a planar structure. The signal output end 113a is laid on the top of the sensor base <NUM>. At this time, the cross sections of the signal output end 113a and the detection end 113b are perpendicular to each other, as shown in <FIG>. For the thickness of the sensor <NUM> is extremely small (usually at micron level), the top of the sensor <NUM> is flush with the top surface of the sensor base <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in another embodiment of the present invention, the signal output end 113a of the sensor <NUM> is bent toward the top of the sensor base <NUM>, but the cross section of the signal output end 113a and the detection end 113b are not perpendicular, which also reduces the top height of the sensor structure <NUM>.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the signal output end 113a is curved as a whole in the direction toward the top surface of the sensor base <NUM>, that is, the shape of the sensor <NUM> is an arc, preventing the sensor <NUM> from being easily broken.

It should be noted that, in other embodiments of the present invention, the sensor <NUM> may also have other possible shapes, such as a shape of a polyline with multiple straight or curved lines, which is not specifically limited herein.

As mentioned above, the embodiment of the present invention is further provided with the first elastic conductive member <NUM>. Specifically, the first elastic conductive member <NUM> is disposed between the first electrical connection areas <NUM> and the second electrical connection areas <NUM>, so that these two portions have better electrical connection.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the first elastic conductive member <NUM> includes conductive areas 114a and insulation area 114b. The insulation area 114b is spaced between two adjacent conductive areas 114a, and the conductive areas 114a and the insulation area 114b expand across the first elastic conductive member <NUM> in the vertical direction shown in <FIG>, which ensures that after the first electrical connection areas <NUM> and the second electrical connection areas <NUM> are electrically connected. The first elastic conductive member <NUM> can only conduct electricity in the vertical direction without conducting electricity in the horizontal direction. Such a design achieves electrical conductivity of the first elastic conductive member <NUM> and also makes the different first electrical connection areas <NUM> or the different second electrical connection areas <NUM> insulated.

Please continue to refer to <FIG>, after the first elastic conductive member <NUM> and the first electrical connection areas 116a, 116b, 116c are electrically connected, the insulation area 114b is separated between two adjacent first electrical connection areas <NUM>. The number of separated insulation area 114b between two adjacent first electrical connection areas <NUM> may be one, multiple, or less than one (as shown between 116a and 116b in <FIG>), which is not specifically limit herein.

Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, the first elastic conductive member <NUM> is a conductive rubber strip. The conductive areas 114a and the insulation areas 114b, all penetrating the first elastic conductive members <NUM>, respectively, are disposed alternatively. The top view of the conductive rubber strip is shown in <FIG>. In another embodiment of the present invention, according to the position and shape of the first electrical connection areas <NUM>, the shape of the first elastic conductive member <NUM> is a circular ring in the top view. Conductive areas 114a and insulation areas 114b are disposed in the first elastic conductive member <NUM> in a circular shape alternatively, whose top structure view is shown in <FIG>. In another embodiment of the present invention, the different conductive areas 114a are surrounded by the insulation areas 114b, as the top view of the conductive areas 114a shown in <FIG>.

It should be noted that, in other embodiments of the present invention, the whole first elastic conductive member <NUM> may be electrically conductive, and the plurality of first elastic conductive members <NUM> are only correspondingly disposed between the first electrical connection areas <NUM> and the second electrical connection areas <NUM> with the different first elastic conductive members <NUM> being separated by a certain distance to achieve insulation, as shown in <FIG>. Or the first elastic conductive members <NUM> may be other possible structures, which are not specifically limited herein, as long as the condition for electrically connection between the first electrical connection areas <NUM> and the second electrical connection areas <NUM> is satisfied.

Similar to the first elastic conductive member <NUM>, conductive areas (not shown) is also provided in the second elastic conductive member <NUM>. But the difference with the first elastic conductive member <NUM> is that when the analyte detection system is assembled, the third electrical connection areas <NUM> and the conductive areas of the second elastic conductive member <NUM> are electrically connected, achieving the electrical connection between the different third electrical connection areas <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side view of a highly integrated analyte detection system after installation according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional structural view of the first electrical connection areas <NUM> and the second electrical connection areas <NUM> in <FIG> after being electrically connected. <FIG> is a longitudinal sectional structural view of the highly integrated analyte detection system of <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the number and position of the second electrical connection areas <NUM> and the first electrical connection areas <NUM> correspond to each other. Obviously, conductive area(s) 114a must be provided between each of the first electrical connection areas <NUM> and the corresponding second electrical connection areas <NUM>, making these two portions achieve electrical connection. Therefore, the number of the insulation areas 114b between the adjacent second electrical connection areas <NUM> is the same as that of the first electrical connection areas <NUM>, as described above.

In the existing body fluid detection device, the whole sensor is perpendicular to the skin surface at the puncture position, or the fastener position between the sensor structure and the bottom case is higher than the inner bottom surface of the bottom case. The distance between the top of the sensor structure and the inner bottom surface of the bottom case includes not only the height of the fastener position but also the length of the signal output end. Extra space must be required to accommodate these portions protruding from the bottom board of the bottom case, resulting in thicker analyte detection system and poorer user experience.

Compared with the existing body fluid detection device, in the embodiment of the present invention shown in <FIG>, the signal output end 113a of the sensor <NUM> has a shape of a polyline or an arc toward the top surface of the sensor base <NUM>, and the top of the sensor structure <NUM> is not higher or slightly higher than the inner bottom surface of the bottom case <NUM>. As in the embodiment of the present invention, the height of the top of the sensor structure <NUM> protruding from the inner bottom surface of the bottom case <NUM> is less than or equal to <NUM>. At the same time, the fastener position of the sensor base <NUM> and the bottom case <NUM> is not higher than the top of the sensor structure <NUM>. If the overall thickness of the analyte detection device is t, compared with the existing detection device, the thickness t of the analyte detection device in the embodiment of the present invention will be reduced by more than <NUM>%, as shown in <FIG>. Therefore, no extra space is required on the transmitter <NUM>, reducing the thickness of the transmitter <NUM> and making the structure of the analyte detection system more compact, furthermore, as a result, reducing the volume of the analyte detection system and greatly enhancing the user experience.

Claim 1:
A highly integrated analyte detection system, comprising:
a bottom case (<NUM>);
a sensor structure (<NUM>) the sensor structure and the bottom case are fastened with each other, the sensor structure includes a sensor (<NUM>) and a sensor base, (<NUM>), the sensor includes a signal output end and a detection end, the output end has a shape of a polyline or an arc toward a top surface of the sensor base, and at least two first electrical connection areas insulated from each other are provided on a surface of the signal output end; and
a transmitter (<NUM>) the transmitter and the bottom case are fastened with each other, and the transmitter is provided with second electrical connection areas, which are insulated from each other, corresponding to the at least two first electrical connection areas, each second electrical connection area is electrically connected to a corresponding first electrical connection area, characterized in that,
a mounting hole (<NUM>) is provided on a bottom board of the bottom case, a first fastener part is provided at an edge of the mounting hole, and a second fastener part is provided at an edge of the sensor base, contour shapes of the edge of the sensor base and that of the mounting hole match each other, the first fastener part and the second fastener part are fastened with each other, the edge of the mounting hole and the edge of the sensor base are interlocked, and the sensor base is installed in the mounting hole.