Patent ID: 8380273

Claim:
A sensor control unit, comprising: a housing adapted for placement on skin and comprising a plurality of first conductive contacts adapted to couple to at least one of a plurality of second conductive contacts of an electrochemical sensor without intervening wires between the first conductive contacts and the second conductive contacts; a communication module disposed in the housing and coupled to at least one of the first conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the electrochemical sensor; and a processing circuit disposed in the housing and coupled to at least one of the first conductive contacts, the processing circuit configured to adjust the data for temperature using a signal from a temperature probe of the sensor; wherein the electrochemical sensor includes: a substrate having a narrow distal region for partial implantation through a skin surface and a wider proximal region, the substrate including at least a first surface and a second surface; at least one working electrode disposed on the narrow distal region of the substrate and in fluid contact with interstitial fluid under the skin surface, the at least one working electrode formed on the first surface of the substrate; at least one reference electrode disposed on the narrow distal region of the substrate, the at least one reference electrode formed on the first surface of the substrate; at least one counter electrode disposed on the narrow distal region of the substrate, the at least one counter electrode formed on the second surface of the substrate; and at least one via formed through the substrate that electrically connects the counter electrode to one of the plurality of second conductive contacts; wherein the plurality of second conductive contacts are disposed on the wider proximal region of the substrate and on the first surface of the substrate, wherein a first one of the plurality of second conductive contacts is in electrical communication with the working electrode, a second one of the plurality of second conductive contacts is in electrical communication with the reference electrode, and a third one of the plurality of second conductive contacts is in electrical communication with the counter electrode.