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Reusable infusion site and method of using the sameRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, MiscellaneousReusable infusion site and method of using the same description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070079836, Reusable infusion site and method of using the same. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/365,279 filed Feb. 12, 2003 and entitled "Reusable Analyte Sensor Site and Method of Using the Same," which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/028,070 filed Dec. 21, 2001 and entitled "Reusable Analyte Sensor Site and Method of Using the Same," which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/566,027 filed May 8, 2000 and entitled "Reusable Analyte Sensor Site and Method of Using the Same," now U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,274 issued Apr. 9, 2002, which claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/141,935 filed Jul. 1, 1999 and entitled "Reusable Analyte Sensor Site and Method of Using the Same," all of which are herein specifically incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to reusable analyte sensor sites for use with replaceable, long term implantable analyte sensors, infusion catheters, stimulators, pacing leads, or other medical devices, and in particular embodiments, to reusable glucose sensor sites for use with replaceable, long term glucose sensors. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Over the years, bodily characteristics have been determined by obtaining a sample of bodily fluid. For example, diabetics often test for blood glucose levels with a blood glucose meter. Traditional blood glucose determinations have utilized a painful finger prick using a lancet to withdraw a small blood sample that is used by the blood glucose meter. This results in discomfort from the lancet as it contacts nerves in the subcutaneous tissue. The pain of lancing and the cumulative discomfort from multiple needle pricks is a strong reason why patients fail to comply with a medical testing regimen used to determine a change in characteristic over a period of time. In addition, these blood glucose meters are only designed to provide data at discrete points and do not provide continuous data to show the variations in the characteristic between testing times. [0004] A variety of subcutaneous electrochemical sensors for use with monitors have been developed for detecting and/or quantifying specific agents or compositions in a patient's blood. For instance, glucose sensors have been developed for use in obtaining an indication of blood glucose levels in a diabetic patient. Such readings are useful in monitoring and/or adjusting a treatment regimen which typically includes the regular administration of insulin to the patient. Thus, blood glucose readings from the monitor improve medical therapies with semi-automated medication infusion pumps of the external type, as generally described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,562,751; 4,678,408; and 4,685,903, which are herein incorporated by reference. Typical thin film sensors are described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,390,671; 5,391,250; 5,482,473; and 5,586,553, which are incorporated by reference herein. However, the thin film subcutaneous glucose sensor must be changed every few days to prevent infection. Also, due to the small size of this sensor to minimize pain on insertion under the skin, the enzymes on the sensor wear out relatively quickly and require regular replacement. In addition, the user must carry around external hardware connected or linked to the sensor. Thus, although subcutaneous sensors provide an improvement over conventional test strips, they still require frequent changes. [0005] Long term implanted glucose sensors have been proposed that can stay in the body for long periods of time, such as weeks and months. These long term implanted glucose sensors are particularly well adapted for use with automated implantable medication infusion pumps, as generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,994, which is herein incorporated by reference. The long term glucose sensor would obviate the need for frequent replacement of sensors and the need to carry around a large amount of external equipment. However, the long term glucose sensor is typically placed in the superior vena cava of the patient's body, and the insertion and placement of the long term sensor in this location is quite invasive to the body and requires much effort by an attending physician. As a result, removal and replacement of long term sensors in the superior vena cava is difficult. [0006] Long term glucose sensors may be adapted for insertion and placement in locations that are less invasive to the body and require less effort by the attending physician, such as the peritoneal, subcutaneous, and/or adipose tissue of the patient's body. For example, an outer covering may be formed around the long term sensor, and the long term sensor formed with the outer covering may then be placed into the peritoneal, subcutaneous, or adipose tissue of the patient's body. After insertion, the long term sensor would not be usable for a period of time until the body heals and vascularizes the implanted long term sensor. Thus, each time a long term sensor formed with an outer covering is replaced, the body must re-vascularize the replaced sensor. Another drawback to long term sensors is the development of scar tissue at the insertion site that encapsulates the implanted sensor formed with the outer covering. Therefore, materials must be carefully selected to promote vascularization and not encapsulation. This requires careful construction of the outer covering for the long term sensor, which increases costs and may further delay the period of time before a newly implanted sensor may be used. Further, extensive surgery may be required to cut through the scar tissue and remove the implanted sensor, thus rendering the insertion site unusable for implantation of a replacement sensor. Accordingly, to minimize and/or eliminate the delay due to re-vascularization and the need for extensive surgery due to encapsulation, it would be desirable to develop a reusable sensor insertion site for use with a replaceable sensor. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE [0007] It is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide an improved reusable analyte sensor site, which obviates for practical purposes, the above mentioned limitations. [0008] According to an embodiment of the invention, a reusable analyte sensor site for use with a replaceable analyte sensor for determining a level of an analyte includes a site housing. Preferably, the site housing material is formed to have an interior cavity with an opening and a conduit that is connected to the opening of the interior cavity to provide access to the interior cavity. The site housing material is selected to promote tissue ingrowth and vascularization, and yet be free of tissue ingress. Also, the site housing material permits the analyte to pass through the site housing material to the interior cavity to permit measurement by the replaceable analyte sensor. In addition, the conduit has a predetermined length to inhibit trauma and encapsulation of tissue occurring at the conduit, which is associated with placing the replaceable analyte sensor in the interior cavity of the site housing, from interfering with the tissue ingrowth and vascularization surrounding the interior cavity of the site housing material. [0009] In particular embodiments, the conduit may have a length of at least 5 millimeters, and the site housing material may have a porosity in a range from 2 to 25 microns. Preferably, the site housing is for implantation into sub-dermal tissue and/or inter-peritoneal tissue. Also, the site housing material is selected from a group of materials consisting essentially of Teflon and Dacron. In addition, the site housing is chosen so that it will last for a period of time such that it can be used with two or more consecutive replaceable analyte sensors. [0010] Preferred embodiments utilize a site housing material that passes glucose, and the replaceable analyte sensor is a glucose sensor. In alternative embodiments, the site housing material passes, and the replaceable analyte sensor is used to determine the levels of, other agents, characteristics, or compositions, such as lactate, oxygen, hormones, cholesterol, medication concentrations, or viral loads. In other embodiments, the invention is embodied in a system that uses a replaceable analyte sensor with the reusable analyte sensor site. In alternative embodiments, the reusable analyte sensor site may be used with a replaceable infusion catheter for infusing a fluid into the body of a user. In further alternative embodiments, the reusable analyte sensor site may be used with a replaceable stimulator or pacing lead for delivering electrical pulses to selected areas in the body of the user. [0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, a reusable analyte sensor site for use with a replaceable analyte sensor for determining a level of an analyte includes a site housing material. The site housing material is preferably formed to have an interior cavity with an opening. The site housing material is also selected to promote tissue ingrowth and vascularization, but be free of tissue ingress. Additionally, the site housing material permits fluid including the analyte to pass through the site housing material to the interior cavity to permit measurement by the replaceable analyte sensor. Further, the interior cavity has a predetermined size to inhibit stagnation of the fluid including the analyte within the interior cavity. [0012] In particular embodiments, the site housing material may have a porosity in a range from 2 to 25 microns. The site housing is preferably for implantation into sub-dermal and/or inter-peritoneal tissue. Also, the site housing material may be selected from a group of materials consisting essentially of Teflon and Dacron. Further, the site housing material will last for a period of time such that it can be used with two or more consecutive replaceable analyte sensors. [0013] Preferred embodiments utilize a site housing material that passes glucose, and the replaceable analyte sensor is a glucose sensor. In alternative embodiments, the site housing material passes, and the replaceable analyte sensor is used to determine the levels of, other agents, characteristics, or compositions, such as lactate, oxygen, hormones, cholesterol, medication concentrations, or viral loads. In other embodiments, the invention is embodied in a system that uses a replaceable analyte sensor with the reusable analyte sensor site. In alternative embodiments, the reusable analyte sensor site may be used with a replaceable infusion catheter for infusing a fluid into the body of a user. In further alternative embodiments, the reusable analyte sensor site may be used with a replaceable stimulator or pacing lead for delivering electrical pulses to selected areas in the body of the user. [0014] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a reusable analyte sensor site for use with a replaceable analyte sensor for determining a level of an analyte in a patient includes a site housing material and a resealable insertion site. The site housing material is formed to have an interior cavity with an opening. Additionally, the site housing material is selected to promote tissue ingrowth and vascularization, but be free of tissue ingress. The site housing material also permits fluid including the analyte to pass through the site housing material to the interior cavity to permit measurement by the replaceable analyte sensor. The resealable insertion site is coupled to one end of the site housing material, and the replaceable analyte sensor is inserted through the resealable insertion site into the interior cavity of the site housing material. [0015] In particular embodiments, the resealable insertion site includes a tube and a sealing member with a resealable opening. The tube is coupled to one end of the site housing material, and the tube is coupled between the site housing material and the sealing member. The replaceable analyte sensor is inserted through the resealable opening, and the resealable opening is sealed upon placement of the replaceable analyte sensor within the interior cavity of the site housing material. The sealing member may be a suture disc or a sewing cuff for attaching the tube to body tissue of the patient. In additional embodiments, the tube and the suture disc may be combined into an integral unit. In further embodiments, the sensor site may also include another suture disc coupled to the other end of the site housing material for attaching the other end of the site housing material to the body tissue of the patient. [0016] In some embodiments, the resealable opening may be sealed using a compression seal. The tube may have a smaller size than the sealing member such that the tube compresses the sealing member within the tube and seals the resealable opening around the replaceable analyte sensor. Alternatively, the resealable insertion site may also include a ring that is placed over the sealing member to compress and seal the resealable opening around the replaceable analyte sensor. Further, a cross-cut may be formed in the sealing member at the resealable opening. [0017] In other embodiments, the resealable opening may be sealed using a mechanical seal. The resealable insertion site may include a Touhy-Borst placed over the sensor to lock the replaceable analyte sensor into the resealable opening. Alternatively, the resealable insertion site may include a replaceable septum placed over the sensor and the resealable opening. [0018] In further particular embodiments, the sensor site is adapted for connection to an injection site for delivering fluids into the site housing material. In still other particular embodiments, the interior cavity has a predetermined size to inhibit stagnation of the fluid including the analyte within the interior cavity. [0019] Preferably, the site housing material is for implantation into inter-peritoneal tissue of the patient, and the resealable insertion site is for implantation into subcutaneous tissue of the patient. Additionally, the site housing material may be selected from a group of materials consisting essentially of polytetra fluoroethylene, porous polyurethane, porous silicone, and silicone foam. Also, the site housing material will last for a period of time such that it can be used with two or more consecutive replaceable analyte sensors. [0020] Preferred embodiments utilize a site housing material that passes glucose, and the replaceable analyte sensor is a glucose sensor. In alternative embodiments, the site housing material passes, and the replaceable analyte sensor is used to determine the levels of, other agents, characteristics, or compositions, such as lactate, oxygen, hormones, cholesterol, medication concentrations, or viral loads. In other embodiments, the invention is embodied in a system that uses a replaceable analyte sensor with the reusable analyte sensor site. In alternative embodiments, the reusable analyte sensor site may be used with a replaceable infusion catheter for infusing a fluid into the body of a user. In further alternative embodiments, the reusable analyte sensor site may be used with a replaceable stimulator or pacing lead for delivering electrical pulses to selected areas in the body of the user. Continue reading about Reusable infusion site and method of using the same... Full patent description for Reusable infusion site and method of using the same Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Reusable infusion site and method of using the same patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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