Insertion head with a handle

• US 7,896,844 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Thalmann, Christian, Scheurer, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATNEY, BROOKE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/048,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 604/174, 604/177, 604/192, 604/198, 604/263, 604/164.01, 604/93.01
• US Class Current: 604/164.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1583 Needle extractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1585 Needle inserters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1587 suitable for being connected to an infusion line after insertion into a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001

Abstract

An insertion head for medical or pharmaceutical applications includes a base having a lower side which can be positioned on organic tissue; an insertion means movably mounted by the base and insertable into the tissue; where the insertion means is movable relative to the base from a protective position in which a free end of the insertion means is short of the lower side of the base, into an insertion position in which the free end protrudes beyond the lower side; a handle which projects from the base and includes a first handle component and a second handle component movable relative to the base and the first handle component; and a coupling that transmits a movement of the second handle component into a movement of the insertion means.

Claims

1. An insertion head for medical or pharmaceutical applications, said insertion head comprising:

a base comprising a lower side which can be positioned on organic tissue;

an insertion means which is movably mounted by the base and can be inserted into the tissue;

wherein the insertion means can be moved relative to the base from a protective position in which a free end of the insertion means is short of the lower side of the base, into an insertion position in which the free end protrudes beyond the lower side;

a handle which projects from the base and comprises a first handle component and a second handle component which is linearly displaced relative to the base and the first handle component, wherein each of the first and second handle components project from a top side of the base, wherein the second handle component is pressed against a stopper formed by the first handle component, and wherein either or both of the first and second handle component are non-destructively detachable from the base; and

a coupling which transmits a movement of the second handle component into a movement of the insertion means, wherein the coupling comprises a toothed engagement.

2. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the second handle component is configured to be shifted or pivoted relative to the base.

3. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the base and a joint element comprise a joint, and wherein the insertion means projects from the joint element.

4. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the second handle component is linearly guided.

5. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the second handle component is configured to be movable substantially parallel to the lower side of the base.

6. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the handle protrudes from an upper side of the base.

7. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the handle components can be gripped between two fingers of a hand, wherein with each finger pressing against one of the handle components, the second handle component can be moved towards the first handle component.

8. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the coupling couples the second handle component to the insertion means by means of a toothed engagement.

9. The insertion head according to claim 8, wherein the toothed engagement comprises a toothed wheel and a toothed rod.

10. The insertion head according to claim 9, wherein the second handle component is coupled to the toothed rod arranged on the second handle component, and wherein the insertion means is coupled to the toothed wheel and is in toothed engagement with the toothed rod.

11. The insertion head according to claim 9, wherein the insertion means is configured to pivot about a rotational axis and is non-rotationally connected to the toothed wheel which is in toothed engagement and can be rotated about the rotational axis.

12. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the handle is detachably connected to the base.

13. The insertion head according to claim 12, wherein the handle is detachably connected such that it is releasable when the second handle component is moved.

14. The insertion head according to claim 13, further comprising a first connecting element arranged on the base, and a second connecting element is arranged on the handle, wherein the connecting elements are in an engagement with each other which creates the detachable connection, and wherein at least one of the connecting elements can be moved out of the engagement against an elasticity force.

15. The insertion head according to claim 14, wherein the first connecting element and the second connecting element are in an engagement with each other which creates the connection, and the second handle component contacts one of the connecting elements when it is moved, and moves it out of the engagement against an elasticity force.

16. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the insertion means is configured such that it can be pivoted into the insertion position.

17. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the insertion means is flexible and is stabilized by an injection means which can be moved together with the insertion means from the protective position into the insertion position.

18. The insertion head according to claim 17, wherein the injection means is coupled to the handle when the insertion means is moved into the insertion position.

19. The insertion head according to claim 17, wherein the injection means and the handle are detachable from the base and the insertion means.

20. The insertion head according to claim 17, wherein the insertion head further comprises a holding structure which is moved with the insertion means, wherein the holding structure comprises a latching collar which, when the second handle component is moved relative to the first handle component, enters into a latching engagement with an engaging element, in order to prevent the injection means from pivoting out again.

21. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the base forms a receptacle for accommodating the insertion means in its protective position.

22. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the handle forms a receptacle which accommodates the insertion means in its protective position.

23. The insertion head according to claim 22, wherein a securing link is provided in the first handle component and/or the receptacle and/or the second handle component which accommodates the insertion means in the protective position, wherein the insertion means can be latched into said securing link in the protective position.

24. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the insertion head further comprises a link guide and a link block, wherein the insertion means is held on the base via a rotational axis;

wherein the link block is arranged non-centrically in relation to the rotational axis; and

wherein a movement of the second handle component relative to the base over a first path of a first portion of the link guide transfers the link block, guided by the link guide, from a first position which corresponds to the protective position of the insertion means, into a second position which corresponds to the insertion position of the insertion means.

25. The insertion head according to claim 24, wherein the insertion head further comprises a connecting means which reversibly connects the base to the handle, wherein in order to detach the handle from the base, the second handle component is movable over a second path perpendicular to the extending direction of the insertion means situated in the insertion position, wherein the link guide comprises a second portion corresponding to the second path.

26. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the insertion head further comprises a securing structure which reversibly secures the insertion means in the protective position.

27. The insertion head according to claim 26, wherein the insertion head further comprises a cannula casing which is moved with the insertion means, wherein the cannula casing comprises a securing structure which opposes a wall of the second handle component which extends parallel to the movement direction of the second handle component, wherein an engaging element on the inner side of this wall is in reversible engagement with the securing structure when the insertion means is in its protective position.

28. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the second handle component can be shifted far enough into the first handle component such that, once the process for transferring the insertion means from the protective position into the insertion position has been completed, a control ramp on the second handle component abuts against a deflecting ramp on a connecting element which reversibly connects the base to the handle, and deflects out of an engagement position, such that the handle and the base can be separated.

29. The insertion head according to claim 1, wherein the second handle component is linearly displaced from a first position in which a gap is defined between the first and second handle components, and a second position in which the gap is diminished such that the first and second handle components are abutting.

30. The insertion head according to claim 1, further comprising an injection needle having a sufficient bending resistance to puncture tissue, wherein the injection needle extends though a passage defined by the insertion means.

31. An insertion head for medical or pharmaceutical applications, said insertion head comprising:

a base comprising a lower side which can be positioned on organic tissue;

a flexible insertion needle comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the flexible insertion needle is movably coupled to the base;

wherein the flexible insertion needle is movable relative to the base from a protective position in which a free end of the flexible insertion needle is short of the lower side of the base, into an insertion position in which the free end protrudes beyond the lower side;

a handle which projects from the base and comprises a first handle component and a second movable handle component which can be moved translationally relative to the base and the first handle component, wherein the handle is non-destructively detachable from the base; and

a coupling which transmits a translational movement of the second handle component into a pivoting movement of the flexible insertion needle about a rotational axis that is proximate the proximal end of the flexible insertion needle.

32. The insertion head according to claim 31, wherein the handle further comprises a connecting element which is releasably received by a complementary connecting element of the base such that the a movement of the handle in a longitudinal direction of the insertion needle is prevented.