Patent ID: 8346336

Claim:
A sensor control unit comprising: an analyte sensor substrate having a narrow distal region for partial implantation through a skin surface and a wider proximal region, the substrate including at least a first surface and a second surface; at least one working electrode disposed on the narrow distal region of the substrate and in fluid contact with interstitial fluid under the skin surface, the at least one working electrode formed on the first surface of the substrate; at least one reference electrode disposed on the narrow distal region of the substrate, the at least one reference electrode formed on the first surface of the substrate; at least one counter electrode disposed on the narrow distal region of the substrate, the at least one counter electrode formed on the second surface of the substrate; a plurality of conductive contacts disposed on the wider proximal region of the substrate and on the first surface of the substrate, wherein a first one of the plurality of conductive contacts is in electrical communication with the working electrode, a second one of the plurality of conductive contacts is in electrical communication with the reference electrode, and a third one of the plurality of conductive contacts is in electrical communication with the counter electrode; and at least one via formed through the substrate that electrically connects the counter electrode to the third one of the plurality of conductive contacts; and a water resistant housing for placement on skin and configured to receive the analyte sensor substrate, wherein at least a portion of the wider proximal region the analyte sensor substrate is contained within the water resistant housing and wherein at least a portion of the narrow distal region of the analyte sensor substrate protrudes from a sensor port disposed on a base of the water resistant housing; and a plurality of electronic components disposed in the water resistant housing, wherein at least one of the plurality of electronic components is in electrical contact with the plurality of conductive contacts disposed on the wider proximal region of the analyte sensor substrate, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of electronic components is configured to: receive data from a display device; receive a sensor signal from the sensor; and transmit the sensor signal to the display device.