Method and Systems for Providing an Infusion Device Interface

• US 20080045923A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LifeScan IP Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Animas Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Tashjian, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,157,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/513
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1587 suitable for being connected to an infusion line after insertion into a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0014 Connecting a tube to a hub
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/04 having pierceable self-sealing members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body

Abstract

An infusion device comprising an infuser base, a cannula and a ferrule. The infuser base having a bore extending therethrough, the bore having distal and proximal ends and defining a shoulder therebetween. The cannula having distal and proximal ends, the proximal end having an inside first diameter. A flange extends radially outward from the cannula proximal end. The cannula is positioned in the bore such that the flange is positioned adjacent the shoulder. The ferrule has an insertion portion, having an outside second diameter which is substantially equal to the first diameter, and a tapered portion extending from the insertion portion. The ferrule is positioned in the bore such that the insertion portion and a portion of the tapered portion are received in the cannula proximal end and the flange is compressed between the shoulder and the tapered portion to define a seal between the cannula and ferrule.

Claims

1. An infusion device comprising:

an infuser base having a bore extending therethrough, the bore having distal and proximal ends and including a shoulder therebetween;

a cannula having distal and proximal ends, the cannula proximal end having an inside diameter, with a flange extending radially outward from the cannula proximal end, the cannula being positioned in the bore such that the flange is positioned adjacent the shoulder; and

a ferrule having a ferrule insertion portion, having an outside diameter which is substantially equal to the cannula proximal end inside diameter, and a ferrule tapered portion extending from the ferrule insertion portion with an increasing outside diameter, the ferrule being positioned in the bore such that the ferrule insertion portion and a portion of the ferrule tapered portion are received in the cannula proximal end and the flange is compressed between the shoulder and the ferrule tapered portion to define a seal between the cannula and ferrule.

2. An infusion device according to claim 1 wherein the infuser base has a base surface and the bore has a central axis that is at an acute angle relative to the base surface.

3. An infusion device according to claim 1 wherein the infuser base has a base surface and the bore has a central axis that is at a right angle relative to the base surface.

4. An infusion device according to claim 1 wherein the bore includes a bore distal portion having an inside diameter and wherein the cannula includes a cannula distal portion extending in the bore distal portion and having an outside diameter, the cannula distal portion outside diameter being less than the bore distal portion inside diameter such that a first circumferential gap is formed about the cannula distal portion.

5. An infusion device according to claim 1 wherein the bore includes a bore distal portion having an inside diameter and wherein the cannula includes:

a cannula distal portion extending in the bore distal portion and having an outside diameter;

a cannula proximal portion extending in the bore distal portion and having an outside diameter, the cannula proximal portion outside diameter being greater than the cannula distal portion outside diameter; and

a cannula tapered portion extending between the cannula distal portion and the cannula proximal portion;

wherein the cannula distal portion outside diameter and the cannula proximal portion outside diameter are less than the bore distal portion inside diameter such that at least a first circumferential gap is formed about the cannula distal portion, the cannula tapered portion and the cannula proximal portion.

6. An infusion device according to claim 1 wherein the cannula is spaced from an inside surface of the bore except for at the cannula flange.

7. An infusion device according to claim 1 wherein the ferrule includes a ferrule proximal portion extending from the ferrule tapered portion and having an inside surface having a inside diameter.

8. An infusion device according to claim 7 wherein a circumferential contact surface is defined at a junction between the ferrule tapered portion and the ferrule proximal portion, the circumferential contact surface having an inside diameter that is less than the ferrule proximal portion inside surface diameter.

9. An infusion device according to claim 8 further comprising an elastomeric septum having an outside radial dimension larger than the ferrule proximal portion inside surface diameter, wherein the elastomeric septum is compressed in the ferrule proximal portion and defines at least a first circumferential seal between the septum and the ferrule proximal portion inside surface or between the septum and the circumferential contact surface.

10. An infusion device according to claim 9 wherein the elastomeric septum further defines a second seal between the other of the ferrule proximal portion inside surface and the circumferential contact surface.

11. An infusion device according to claim 9 wherein the ferrule proximal portion has an axial length that is less than an axial length of the elastomeric septum.

12. An infusion device according to claim 9 wherein the septum is substantially spherical.

13. An infusion device according to claim 9 further comprising a retainer positioned in the bore in contact with the septum to retain the septum in sealing engagement with the circumferential contact surface.

14. An infusion device according to claim 9 wherein the circumferential contact surface is configured to prevent the septum from extending significantly into the ferrule tapered portion such that a free space area is defined within the ferrule tapered portion between an inside surface thereof and the septum.

15. An infusion device according to claim 1 wherein the ferrule tapered portion has a conical taper of between approximately 20 and 30 degrees.

16. An infusion device according to claim 15 wherein the conical taper is approximately 24 degrees.

17. An infusion device according to claim 1 wherein the tapered portion has an axially linear configuration.

18. An infusion device according to claim 1 wherein the tapered portion has an axially arcuate configuration.

19. An infusion device comprising:

an infuser base having a bore extending therethrough, the bore having distal and proximal ends;

a cannula positioned in the bore; and

a ferrule positioned in the bore and sealingly coupled with the cannula, the ferrule having a distal portion, a proximal portion and a tapered portion therebetween, a junction between the ferrule tapered portion and the ferrule proximal portion defining a circumferential contact surface having an inside diameter that is less than an inside diameter of an inside surface of the ferrule proximal portion; and

an elastomeric septum, having an outside radial dimension larger than the inside diameter of the ferrule proximal portion, compressed in the ferrule proximal portion and defining at least a first circumferential seal between the septum and the inside surface of the ferrule proximal portion or between the septum and the circumferential contact surface.

20. An infusion device according to claim 19 wherein the elastomeric septum further defines a second seal between the other of the ferrule proximal portion inside surface and the circumferential contact surface.

21. An infusion device according to claim 19 wherein the ferrule proximal portion has an axial length that is less than an axial length of the septum.

22. An infusion device according to claim 19 wherein the septum is substantially spherical.

23. An infusion device according to claim 19 wherein a retainer is positioned in the bore in contact with the septum to retain the septum in sealing engagement with the circumferential contact surface.

24. An infusion device according to claim 19 wherein the circumferential contact surface is configured to prevent the septum from extending significantly into the ferrule tapered portion such that a free space area is defined within the ferrule tapered portion between an inside surface thereof and the septum.

25. An infusion device according to claim 19 wherein the tapered portion has an axially linear configuration.

26. An infusion device according to claim 19 wherein the tapered portion has an axially arcuate configuration.

27. A method of assembling an infusion device comprising:

providing an infuser base having a bore extending therethrough, the bore having distal and proximal ends and including a shoulder therebetween;

positioning a cannula, having distal and proximal ends and a flange extending radially outward from the cannula proximal end, in the bore such that the flange is positioned adjacent the shoulder;

positioning a ferrule, having a ferrule insertion portion with an outside diameter which is substantially equal to an inside diameter of the cannula proximal end and a ferrule tapered portion extending from the ferrule insertion portion with an increasing outside diameter, in the bore such that the ferrule insertion portion is received in the cannula proximal end; and

advancing the ferrule distally such that a portion of the ferrule tapered portion is received in the cannula proximal end and the flange is compressed between the shoulder and the ferrule tapered portion to define a seal between the cannula and ferrule.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein the ferrule insertion portion is positioned in the cannula proximal end before the cannula and ferrule are positioned in the bore.

29. The method according to claim 27 wherein advancing the ferrule distally includes positioning a retainer in the bore such that the retainer contacts and advances the ferrule.

30. The method according to claim 27 wherein advancing the ferrule distally includes advancing the ferrule with a removable tool and thereafter positioning a retainer in the bore to retain the ferrule in an advanced position.

31. The method according to claim 27 further comprising:

compressing an elastomeric septum in a ferrule proximal portion extending from the ferrule tapered portion and defining an inner surface and a circumferential contact surface at a junction with the tapered surface such that the elastomeric septum defines at least a first circumferential seal between the septum and the inside surface of the ferrule proximal portion or between the septum and the circumferential contact surface.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein the elastomeric septum further defines a second seal between the other of the ferrule proximal portion inside surface and the circumferential contact surface.