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EP-4740855-A1 - APPLICATOR, STERILIZATION UNIT, AND ANALYTE SENSOR

EP4740855A1EP 4740855 A1EP4740855 A1EP 4740855A1EP-4740855-A1

Abstract

An applicator (100), comprising: a first housing (110); a second housing (120) partially accommodated in the first housing (110); and a pushing block (130) slidably connected to the second housing (120). A trigger member (111) is provided on the side of the top wall (1101) of the first housing (110) facing the second housing (120), a limiting member (121) is provided on the second housing (120), and a trigger matching member (131) is provided on the pushing block (130). The trigger matching member (131) can abut against both the trigger member (111) and the limiting member (121), and under the driving of the first housing (110), the trigger member (111) can drive the trigger matching member (131) to be separated from the limiting member (121). Also disclosed are a sterilization unit and an applicator (100) comprising the sterilization unit.

Inventors

  • LIU, WEI

Assignees

  • Shanghai United Imaging Microelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240819

Claims (20)

  1. An applicator (100), comprising: a first housing (110) comprising a top wall (1101); a second housing (120) partially accommodated in the first housing (110), wherein a trigger member (111) is provided on a side of the top wall (1101) of the first housing (110) facing the second housing (120), and a limiting member (121) is provided on the second housing (120); and a pushing block (130) slidably connected to the second housing (120), wherein a trigger mating member (131) is provided on the pushing block (130); wherein the trigger mating member (131) is capable of abutting against both the trigger member (111) and the limiting member (121), and the trigger member (111) is capable of driving the trigger mating member (131) to be disengaged from the limiting member (121) when driven by the first housing (110).
  2. The applicator (100) according to claim 1, wherein the trigger member (111) is in positional interference with the trigger mating member (131); and wherein the trigger mating member (131) has a first state where the trigger mating member (131) is limited by the limiting member (121), and a second state where the trigger mating member (131) is capable of being disengaged from the limiting member (121) when pushed by the trigger member (111).
  3. The applicator (100) according to claim 2, wherein one of the trigger member (111) and the trigger mating member (131) is configured with a hook (1111), and the other of the trigger member (111) and the trigger mating member (131) is configured with a groove (1311), and the hook (1111) is capable of being engaged with the groove (1311).
  4. The applicator (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a fastening member (112) is further provided on the top wall (1101), a fastening mating member (122) is provided on the second housing (120), the fastening member (112) abuts against the fastening mating member (122) in a movement direction of the trigger member (111), and the fastening member (112) is capable of driving the fastening member (112) and/or the fastening mating member (122) to elastically deform when driven by the top wall (1101).
  5. The applicator (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a first positioning member (113) is further provided in the first housing (110), a first positioning mating member (123) is provided on the second housing (120), and the first positioning member (113) is in sliding fit with the first positioning mating member (123) in a movement direction of the trigger member (111).
  6. The applicator (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a second positioning member (132) is further provided on the pushing block (130), a second positioning mating member (124) is provided on the second housing (120), and the second positioning member (132) is in sliding fit with the second positioning mating member (124) in a movement direction of the trigger member (111).
  7. The applicator (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a retraction block (160) movably mounted on the pushing block (130); and an analyte sensor (150) mounted on the pushing block (130) and comprising a probe (151), wherein the retraction block (160) is provided with an auxiliary needle (161), the auxiliary needle (161) is formed with an accommodating cavity (1611), and the probe (151) is at least partially accommodated in the accommodating cavity (1611).
  8. The applicator (100) according to claim 7, wherein an elastic claw (134) is further provided on the pushing block (130), and the elastic claw (134) is capable of abutting against an inner peripheral wall (1201) of the second housing (120); and wherein the elastic claw (134) is in positional interference with the retraction block (160), and the elastic claw (134) is configured to elastically deform in a direction away from the retraction block (160) in response to pushing by the retraction block (160).
  9. The applicator (100) according to claim 8, wherein the elastic claw (134) comprises a pushing inclined surface (1341), and the pushing inclined surface (1341) abuts against the retraction block (160) in a movement direction of the retraction block (160) relative to the pushing block (130); and a sliding groove (1621) is provided on an outer peripheral wall (162) of the retraction block (160), and the elastic claw (134) is in sliding fit with the sliding groove (1621) in the movement direction of the retraction block (160) relative to the pushing block (130).
  10. A sterilization unit, comprising: an auxiliary needle (240) comprising a handle portion (241) and a sharp portion (242), wherein the handle portion (241) comprises a handle section (2411) and a connecting section (2412), and a tip of the sharp portion (242) is away from the connecting section (2412); an analyte sensor (230) comprising an application portion (231) and a probe (232) secured to each other, wherein the application portion (231) is provided with a through hole (2311), the handle section (2411) forms a seal with the through hole (2311) on a side close to the handle section (2411), and the connecting section (2412) at least partially extends through the through hole (2311); and an accommodating member (260) located on a side of the analyte sensor (230) away from the handle section (2411), wherein the accommodating member (260) is provided with an accommodating space (261) capable of accommodating the sharp portion (242) and the probe (232); wherein the accommodating member (260) is removably secured to the connecting section (2412), and the accommodating member (260) forms a seal with the through hole (2311) on a side away from the handle section (2411).
  11. The sterilization unit according to claim 10, further comprising a base member (250) located on a side of the application portion (231) away from the handle portion (241), wherein the accommodating member (260) is at least partially inserted through the base member (250).
  12. The sterilization unit according to claim 11, wherein the accommodating member (260) is integrally formed with the base member (250) or secured to the base member (250).
  13. The sterilization unit according to claim 12, wherein one of the accommodating member (260) and the base member (250) is provided with a first guide member (262), and the other of the accommodating member (260) and the base member (250) is provided with a second guide member (251) cooperating with the first guide member (262); and wherein when the accommodating member (260) is secured to the connecting section (2412), the first guide member (262) abuts against the second guide member (251).
  14. The sterilization unit according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein an inner wall of the accommodating space (261) is provided with a first engagement portion (263) at an end close to the analyte sensor (230); and when the accommodating member (260) is secured to the connecting section (2412), the connecting section (2412) is engaged with the first engagement portion (263).
  15. The sterilization unit according to claim 14, wherein the accommodating space (261) extends through the accommodating member (260), and the accommodating member (260) further comprises a sealing portion (264) capable of being secured to the accommodating member (260) to seal an opening of the accommodating space (261) at an end away from the analyte sensor (230).
  16. The sterilization unit according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein a shielding cavity (252) capable of mounting a shielding block is provided on a side of the base member (250) away from the analyte sensor (230).
  17. The sterilization unit according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the base member (250) comprises a shielding layer, and a projection of the shielding layer in an axial direction of the accommodating member (260) at least partially covers the analyte sensor (230).
  18. An applicator, comprising: a housing (210); a bottom cover (220) removably secured to the housing (210); and the sterilization unit according to any one of claims 10 to 17, accommodated inside the housing (210) and the bottom cover (220); wherein the handle section (2411) and the analyte sensor (230) are respectively removably secured to the housing (210), and the accommodating member (260) is relatively fixed to the bottom cover (220).
  19. The applicator according to claim 18, wherein when the sterilization unit comprises a base member (250), the base member (250) is capable of limiting a movement of the accommodating member (260) toward a side close to the analyte sensor (230) in an axial direction of the accommodating member (260); and an inner wall of the bottom cover (220) is provided with a second engagement portion (221), and an outer periphery of the base member (250) is provided with a third engagement portion (253); and when the housing (210) is secured to the bottom cover (220), the second engagement portion (221) is engaged with the third engagement portion (253).
  20. An applicator, comprising: a first housing (110) comprising a top wall (1101); a second housing (120) partially accommodated in the first housing (110), wherein a trigger member (111) is provided on a side of the top wall (1101) of the first housing (110) facing the second housing (120), and a limiting member (121) is provided on the second housing (120); a pushing block (130) slidably connected to the second housing (120), wherein a trigger mating member (131) is provided on the pushing block (130); and the sterilization unit according to any one of claims 10 to 17, mounted on the pushing block (130); wherein the trigger mating member (131) is capable of abutting against both the trigger member (111) and the limiting member (121), and the trigger member (111) is capable of driving the trigger mating member (131) to be disengaged from the limiting member (121) when driven by the first housing (110).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the priority benefit of Chinese patent application No. 202311073067.3 filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on August 23, 2023, and Chinese patent application No. 202311331942.3 filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on October 13, 2023. The entire disclosures of the above identified Chinese patent applications are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to the field of medical device technologies, and in particular, to an applicator and a sterilization unit. BACKGROUND An applicator is a tool used to assist in attaching an analyte sensor to the skin of a user. An analyte sensor is a wearable device that can monitor changes in the concentration of bioanalytical substances in the interstitial fluid of subcutaneous tissue. When the analyte sensor is attached to the skin of the user, it can continuously obtain information related to the concentration of the analytical substance through a probe implanted in the subcutaneous tissue. In conventional applicators, a button used to trigger the ejection and insertion of the analyte sensor is usually exposed on the applicator. Since the setting of the button provides the user with an obvious guiding direction to touch and press the button, additional safety devices need to be provided for the button to prevent the improper ejection and insertion of the analyte sensor caused by the user's accidental contact. This will increase the additional operation of unlocking the safety device. In addition, the button exposed on the applicator will cause the overall appearance of the applicator to be discontinuous and abrupt, thereby affecting the overall external aesthetics of the applicator. The part of the probe of the analyte sensor that is to be implanted into the subcutaneous tissue needs to maintain sterility before being implanted into the subcutaneous tissue. Conventional analyte sensors are usually provided with a bacteria barrier to isolate this part from the external environment before use, and during use, the user needs to remove the bacteria barrier to expose the implantable part. Some conventional analyte sensors adopt irradiation sterilization. During the sterilization process, the probe placed in the sealed area is irradiated by electron beams passing through the sealed cover. The sealed area is usually sealed by the pressing force between the sealed cover of the applicator and the housing, i.e., the seal can only be guaranteed when the sealed cover is secured to the housing. Therefore, during irradiation sterilization, the entire applicator equipped with the analyte sensor needs to be placed into the sterilization equipment for sterilization. The applicator occupies a large space, resulting in low sterilization efficiency. SUMMARY In a first aspect of the present disclosure, an applicator is provided, which includes a first housing including a top wall, a second housing partially accommodated in the first housing, and a pushing block slidably connected to the second housing. A trigger member is provided on a side of the top wall of the first housing facing the second housing, and a limiting member is provided on the second housing. A trigger mating member is provided on the pushing block. The trigger mating member is capable of abutting against both the trigger member and the limiting member, and the trigger member is capable of driving the trigger mating member to be disengaged from the limiting member when driven by the first housing. In the above first aspect, the trigger member is in positional interference with the trigger mating member. The trigger mating member has a first state and a second state. In the first state, the trigger mating member is limited by the limiting member. In the second state, the trigger mating member is disengaged from the limiting member, and preferably, the trigger mating member is disengaged from the limiting member when pushed by the trigger member. In the above first aspect, one of the trigger member and the trigger mating member is configured with a hook, and the other of the trigger member and the trigger mating member is configured with a groove. The hook is capable of being engaged with the groove. The hook is protrudingly provided on one of the trigger member and the trigger mating member, and the groove is recessedly provided on the other of the trigger member and the trigger mating member. In the above first aspect, a fastening member is further provided on the top wall, and a fastening mating member is provided on the second housing. The fastening member abuts against the fastening mating member in the movement direction of the trigger member, and the fastening member is capable of driving the fastening member and/or the fastening mating member to elastically deform when driven by the top wall. In the above first aspect, a first positioning mem