Patent ID: 7381184

Claim:
A sensor inserter assembly comprising: a housing; a shuttle movably connected to the housing, the shuttle movable in an insertion direction and an opposite retraction direction; a first spring means for urging the shuttle in the insertion direction; a second spring means for urging the shuttle in the retraction direction; a sensor; an introducer sharp attached to the shuttle, the sensor introducer sharp arranged for releasably receiving the sensor; and an actuator for releasing the shuttle and allowing the first spring means to urge the shuttle and introducer sharp in the insertion direction to an extended position in which at least a portion of the introducer sharp and the sensor protrude from the housing, whereby the second spring means is automatically actuated by the shuttle reaching the extended position and urges the shuttle and introducer sharp in the retraction direction from the extended position to a retracted position in which the introducer sharp is retracted within the housing, wherein the sensor is slidably received within the introducer sharp and wherein the sensor is releasably retained on the introducer sharp by a dimple located on the sensor.