Patent ID: 8333714

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a disposable assembly including: a housing; a data processing unit disposed in the housing; an introducer removably disposed within the housing and within the data processing unit, the introducer including a first portion having a sharp distal end configured for piercing through a skin layer of a subject, wherein the first portion of the introducer is removable from the housing after piercing through the skin layer of the subject; and an analyte sensor including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the analyte sensor coupled to the first portion of the introducer, and the second portion of the analyte sensor coupled to the data processing unit; wherein the first portion of the analyte sensor is configured for transcutaneous placement so as to be in fluid contact with an interstitial fluid of the subject; wherein the second portion of the analyte sensor is in electrical contact with the data processing unit prior to transcutaneous placement of the first portion of the analyte sensor; and wherein the housing, the data processing unit and the introducer are pre-assembled to form the disposable assembly, and the housing includes a self-sealing aperture through which the introducer is removable.