Patent ID: 8139207

Claim:
An apparatus for determining the level of an analyte in a biological fluid sample from a patient, the apparatus comprising: an analyte detection system configured to determine the level of at least one analyte in the biological fluid sample; a sample extractor configured to withdraw the biological fluid sample through the skin of the patient; and a disposable sample element configured to be used more than once before being discarded, the disposable sample element comprising: a sample cell; a sample supply passage in fluid communication with the sample cell; and a container configured to store discarded biohazardous material; wherein the sample cell is configured to: receive at least a portion of the first component of the biological fluid sample through the sample supply passage; and hold the portion of the first component of the biological fluid sample between a first sample cell wall and a second sample cell wall of the sample cell while the analyte detection system analyzes the portion of the first component of the biological fluid sample to determine the level of the at least one analyte in the biological fluid sample.