is used to insert the sensor one example of an insertion gun 200 for inserting a sensor 42 is shown in fig9 the insertion gun 200 includes a housing 202 and a carrier 204 the introducer 120 is typically mounted on the carrier 204 and the sensor 42 is pre loaded into the introducer 120 the carrier 204 drives the sensor 42 and optionally the introducer 120 into the skin of the patient using for example a cocked or wound spring a burst of compressed gas an electromagnet repelled by a second magnet or the like within the insertion gun 200 in some instances for example when using a spring the carrier 204 and introducer 120 may be moved cocked or otherwise prepared to be directed towards the skin of the patient after the sensor 42 is inserted the insertion gun 200 may contain a mechanism which pulls the introducer 120 out of the skin of the patient such a mechanism may use a spring electromagnet or the like to remove the introducer 120 the insertion gun may be reusable the introducer 120 is often disposable to avoid the possibility of contamination alternatively the introducer 120 may be sterilized and reused in addition the introducer 120 and or the sensor 42 may be coated with an anticlotting agent to prevent fouling of the sensor 42 in one embodiment the sensor 42 is injected between 2 to 12 mm into the interstitial tissue of the patient for subcutaneous implantation preferably the sensor is injected 3 to 9 mm and more preferably 5 to 7 mm into the interstitial tissue other embodiments of the invention may include sensors implanted in other portions of.