EP-4736758-A1 - APPLICATOR FOR BIOMETRIC INFORMATION ACQUISITION

EP4736758A1EP 4736758 A1EP4736758 A1EP 4736758A1EP-4736758-A1

Abstract

Provided is an applicator for biometric information acquisition, including a case forming an internal space and including an opening portion opened on one side, a plunger disposed in the internal space of the case and configured to move a sensor unit for biometric information acquisition toward the opening portion, a protection cap configured to shield the opening portion, and a sealing member disposed between the case and the protection cap to seal the internal space.

Inventors

CHOI, HYUN HO

Assignees

I-SENS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20250819

Claims (15)

An applicator for biometric information acquisition, comprising: a case forming an internal space and including an opening portion opened on one side, a plunger disposed in the internal space of the case and configured to move a sensor unit for biometric information acquisition toward the opening portion; a protection cap configured to shield the opening portion; a sealing member disposed between the case and the protection cap to seal the internal space; and at least one vent configured to communicate with the internal space, wherein at least a portion of the at least one vent is spaced apart from the sealing member.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of claim 1, wherein the protection cap is configured to surround at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the opening portion, and wherein the sealing member is disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the opening portion and the protection cap.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of claim 1 or 2, wherein at least a portion of the at least one vent is formed between the opening portion and the sealing member.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one vent is configured to provide a path through which air, pushed by the plunger moving toward the opening portion, is discharged outside the case.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the case comprises: a main case forming an outward appearance; and an inner case combined to an inner side of the main case and configured to guide the plunger to move toward the opening portion.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of claim 5, wherein an end portion of the inner case toward the opening portion is bent to surround an end portion of the main case toward the opening portion, wherein the at least one vent is formed at the inner case, wherein the at least one vent includes a first vent and a second vent forming a stepped structure with respect to each other, and wherein the second vent is positioned closer to the opening portion than the first vent and positioned further inside than the first vent.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one vent is provided as at least a pair of vents, and the pair of vents is disposed to face each other, wherein the opening portion is formed on an end portion of the case in a first direction, and wherein the plunger is configured to move the sensor unit in the first direction.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing member includes an elastic material that is compressed and deformed by the protection cap to fill between the case and the protection cap, and wherein the sealing member includes a continuously connected ring shape and is disposed on a plane intersecting a direction toward the opening portion.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the case includes a recessed portion formed along a perimeter of the case on an outer peripheral surface of the case and accommodating at least a portion of the sealing member, and wherein the sealing member includes a band portion accommodated in the recessed portion and at least one raised portion protruding outward from the band portion.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protection cap includes a column portion inserted inside the case and an outer wall portion surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the case, and wherein the outer wall portion is in contact with the sealing member on an inner side.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protection cap comprises: a third vent communicating with an inner side of the case; a first cover member configured to seal the third vent; a second cover member configured to seal the first cover member; and a dehumidifying member disposed between the first cover member and the second cover member.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of claim 11, wherein the first cover member is formed from a material having a bacterial barrier property that prevents bacteria from passing through, and breathability, and wherein the second cover member is formed from a moisture-resistant material.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of claim 11 or 12, wherein the protection cap includes a first accommodating portion inwardly recessed to accommodate the dehumidifying member and a second accommodating portion accommodating the second cover member and forming a stepped structure with the first accommodating portion.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an indicator member continuously attached to the protection cap and the case, and wherein the indicator member is configured to be at least partially broken or to leave a mark on the protection cap or the case when the protection cap is removed.
The applicator for biometric information acquisition of claim 14, wherein the case includes a protruding portion provided to reduce a step difference with one surface of the protection cap by protruding outward and to allow the indicator member to be attached.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0152499, filed on October 31, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office. BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention Example embodiments relate to an applicator for biometric information acquisition. 2. Description of the Related Art Various diseases occur to modern people, and a method for acquiring human biometric information is needed for proper treatment and management of these various diseases. Diabetes is a representative example. To properly manage diabetes, a method to acquire blood glucose information, which is biometric information of diabetic patients, is needed. Recently, a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM) that is inserted in a human body to measure a value of the blood sugar every few minutes is being developed. In order to minimize a pain or an aversion of the user, which is caused by blood gathering, the CGM system may insert a needle-shaped sensor into a region such as a stomach and an arm at which the pain is relatively less and then continuously measure the blood sugar. The CGM system includes a sensor unit that is attached to a body of a user to measure blood sugar information and transmits the measured blood sugar information, and a terminal that provides the blood sugar information received from the sensor unit to the user, allowing the user to monitor and manage the blood sugar information. Here, the sensor unit is composed of a sensor module inserted in and attached to skin of the body of the user and measuring blood sugar from blood fluid of the user and a transmitter transmitting a value of the blood sugar measured by the sensor module to the terminal, and the sensor module is provided with a probe formed in a needle shape to be inserted into subcutaneous fat and to extract the interstitial fluid (ISF). To insert and attach the sensor unit to the body, an applicator is used. The applicator, as a configuration to insert and attach the sensor unit to the body, inserts and attaches the sensor unit to the body by the operation of the user, and by decoupling and removing the applicator from the body in a state in which the sensor unit is inserted and attached to the body, the sensor unit is allowed to remain attached to the body. Since a portion of the sensor unit is inserted into the human body, the sensor unit installed inside the applicator and the internal space of the applicator may be kept sterile from the manufacturing stage until use by a consumer and maintained in a dehumidified state to protect electronic components. At the same time, the internal space of the applicator may be kept sealed from the outside to maintain a sterile and dehumidified state. To maintain such a sterile, dehumidified, and sealed state, various packaging technologies are applied to the applicator, and minimizing packaging and reducing size are becoming one of objectives for applicator manufacturers. In addition, to insert and attach the sensor unit to the body, the applicator propels the sensor unit in a direction toward the body of the user. During the process, constant air resistance occurs, so that the stable attachment and insertion of the sensor unit may be interfered. SUMMARY An aspect provides an applicator for biometric information acquisition that may maintain an internal space in a sterile, dehumidified, and sealed state. Another aspect also provides for minimizing and downsizing the packaging to maintain the internal space of the applicator for biometric information acquisition in a sterile, dehumidified, and sealed state. Another aspect also provides for reducing air resistance generated during the firing process of the applicator for biometric information acquisition. According to an aspect, there is provided an applicator for biometric information acquisition including a case forming an internal space and including an opening portion opened on one side, a plunger disposed in the internal space of the case and configured to move a sensor unit for biometric information acquisition toward the opening portion, a protection cap configured to shield the opening portion, and a sealing member disposed between the case and the protection cap to seal the internal space. According to another aspect, there is provided at least one vent configured to communicate with the internal space, wherein at least a portion of the at least one vent is spaced apart from the sealing member. According to another aspect, there is provided the protection cap configured to surround at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the opening portion. The sealing member may be disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the opening portion and the protection cap. According to another aspect, there is provided at least a portion of the at least one vent formed between the opening portion and the sealing member. According to another aspect, there is provided the at least one vent configu