Patent ID: 7426408

Claim:
A device for detecting at least one analyte in a patient, comprising: at least one active electrode passing through an opening in a substantially planar surface of an auxiliary electrode, said active electrode having a length such that said active electrode penetrates through the stratum corneum to a depth sufficient to access said analyte; wherein said planar surface of said auxiliary electrode is oriented such that a line normal to said planar surface is substantially parallel to a penetration direction of said active electrode, which substantially planar surface contacts an outside surface of patient's skin when the active electrode has penetrated said stratum corneum; and at least one reference electrode adapted to penetrate through the stratum corneum, said reference electrode disposed apart from said active electrode at a distance equal to or less than a distance between said active electrode and any portion of said auxiliary electrode; wherein at least said active electrode and reference electrode are connected to a controller to enable the electrochemical detection of said analyte.