INSERTER

• US 20090306596A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unomedical A/S
• Original Assignee: Unomedical A/S
• Inventors: Mogensen, Lasse W., Göransson, Magnus W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,867,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/164.120
• 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 25/0612 Devices for protecting the needle; Devices to help insertion of the needle, e.g. wings or holders
• 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

The invention relates to an inserter for an infusion set for intermittent or continuous administration of a therapeutical substance such as e.g. insulin. The inserter comprises a needle unit comprising a needle hub (2) and a carrier body (4), and a cannula housing (3). The cannula housing and the needle hub are releasably connected and when they are connected, the insertion needle (6) is placed inside the cannula (5). The carrier body guides the movement relative to the set housing between a retracted and an advanced position. When released the needle unit and the cannula housing are forced by a spring unit (13) to an advanced position where the needle and cannula are placed subcutaneously. The object of the invention is to provide a disposable inserter for an infusion set which inserter is easy and safe for the user to handle during use and to dispose of after use.

Claims

1. An inserter for an infusion set comprising a set housing (1), a cannula housing (3), a needle hub (2), a spring unit (13) and a carrier body (4), where

the set housing (1) is provided with guiding means (9a, 9b, 9c) on the internal surface for guiding the movement of the carrier body (4),

the cannula housing (3) comprises a soft cannula (5) to be placed subcutaneously,

the needle hub (2) comprises an insertion needle (6) for piercing of the skin,

the cannula housing (3) and the needle hub (2) are releasably connected to each other, and when they are connected, the insertion needle (6) is adjoined to the cannula (5),

the carrier body (4) is provided with guiding means (9e, 9d, 9f) on the external surface which guides the movement relative to the set housing (1) between a retracted and an advanced position,

and the spring unit (13) is connected to release means (7) and when the release means (7) are activated, the cannula housing (3), the needle hub (2) and the carrier body (4) are forced by the spring unit to an advanced position where the needle (6) and cannula (5) can be placed subcutaneously;

wherein the needle hub (2) and the carrier body (4) are provided with unreleasable interacting locking means.

2. An inserter according to claim 1, characterized in that the insertion needle (6) is placed inside the cannula (5).

3. An inserter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the needle hub (2) and the carrier body (4) are created as a single unit.

4. An inserter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the needle hub (2) comprises openings (15) in a part of the needle hub (2) which openings are covered by material of the set housing (1), and the carrier body (4) is provided with projections (16) corresponding to the openings (15) in the needle hub (2).

5. An inserter according to claims 1-4, characterized in that the needle unit (2, 4) comprising the needle hub (2) and the carrier body (4) after insertion can be placed in a retracted position.

6. Inserter according to claims 1-5, characterized in that the lower base of the set housing (1) is formed with a projecting part (10).

7. An inserter according to claim 6, characterized in that the projecting part (10) forms an angle with the longitudinal direction of the insertion needle (6).

8. An inserter according to claims 1-7, characterized in that it comprises a stopper (12, 12a).

9. An inserter according to claim 8, characterized in that the stopper (12a) consists of at least one end of a track (19) for a flange (9f).

15. Inserter as claimed in claim 1 or 10, characterized in that the set housing (1) forms at least a part of the delivering packing for the inserter.

16. Inserter as claimed in claim 1 or 10, characterized in that the set housing (1) is provided with a hard top (20).

17. Inserter as claimed in claim 1 or 10, characterized in that the spring unit (13) is fastened to the set housing (1) in a first position (p1) and to the carrier body (4) or the needle hub (2) in a second position (p2), and the first position is situated closer to the front end of the set housing (1) than the second position when the spring unit (13) is unbiased.

18. Inserter as claimed in claim 1 or 10, characterized in that the spring unit (13) is an elastic O-ring.

19. Inserter as claimed in claim 1 or 10, characterized in that the spring unit (13) is fastened to the set housing (1) in a first position and fixed to the carrier body (4) or the needle hub (2) in a second position, and the first position is situated closer to the back end of the set housing (1) than the second position when the spring unit (13) is unbiased.

20. Inserter as claimed in claim 1 or 10, characterized in that the spring unit (13) is a flat spring placed between the back end of the set housing (1) and the needle unit 2, 4.

21. Inserter as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that the spring unit (13) has the form of two convex curves placed on each side of the needle unit (2, 4), and that each curve is fixed to the needle unit (2, 4) at one end (13b) and to the set housing (1) behind the fixation to the needle unit (2, 4) at the other end (13a) in the unbiased state.

10. An inserter for an infusion set comprising a set housing (1), a cannula housing (3), a needle hub (2), a spring unit (13) and a carrier body (4), where

the set housing (1) is provided with guiding means (9a, 9b, 9c) on the internal surface for guiding the movement of the carrier body (4),

the cannula housing (3) comprises a soft cannula (5) to be placed subcutaneously,

the needle hub (2) comprises an insertion needle (6) for piercing of the skin,

the cannula housing (3) and the needle hub (2) are releasably connected to each other, and when they are connected, the insertion needle (6) is adjoined to the cannula (5),

the carrier body (4) is provided with guiding means (9e, 9d, 9f) on the external surface which guide the movement relative to the set housing (1) between a retracted and an advanced position,

and the spring unit (13) is connected to release means (7, 7a) and when the release means (7, 7a) are activated, the cannula housing (3), the needle hub (2) and the carrier body (4) are forced by the spring unit to an advanced position where the needle (6) and cannula (5) can be placed subcutaneously;

characterized in that the set housing (1) is made of a single unit of material.

11. An inserter according to claim 10, characterized in that the insertion needle (6) is placed inside the cannula (5).

12. Inserter as claimed in claim 10-11, characterized in that the set housing (1) is U-shaped.

13. Inserter as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the lower leg of the U-shape comprises a projecting part (10) forming an angle with a base line below and parallel to the needle (6).

14. Inserter as claimed in claim 10-11, characterized in that the set housing is formed as a piece of pipe with a rounded or poly-sided profile.