Patent ID: 8366614

Claim:
An applicator system for inserting a transcutaneous sensor into a host, the applicator comprising: a sensor configured for transcutaneous placement through a skin of a host; a needle configured for inserting the sensor into the host, wherein the sensor is disposed in the needle prior to insertion into the host; a subassembly comprising a housing adapted for placement adjacent to the skin of the host and an electronics unit releasably attachable to the housing; and an applicator configured for inserting the needle into the skin of the host, wherein the needle and the sensor are disposed within the applicator prior to insertion of the sensor; wherein the applicator is configured to insert the needle and the sensor into the skin of the host to leave the sensor transcutaneously placed within the host, and wherein the applicator is configured such that it must be released from the housing in order to allow the electronics unit to be attached to the housing.