EXTERNALLY TRIGGERABLE CANNULA ASSEMBLY

• US 20130253431A1
• Filed: 05/16/2013
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Kaufmann, Heiner, Scheurer, Simon, Teutsch, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,415,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1585 Needle inserters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• 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 5/3287 Accessories for bringing the needle into the body; Automatic needle insertion A61M5/20, A61M5/31525 take precedence

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a cannula assembly may include a cannula module and an inserter module. In the pre-operational state the cannula is retracted with respect to the skin-contacting surface. In operational state the cannula projects beyond the skin-contacting surface. The inserter module may include an energy store and an activation mechanism. When the energy store is at least partially discharged, the stored potential energy is transformed to kinetic energy that moves the cannula from the pre-operational state to the operational state. The activation mechanism is triggerable from outside the cannula assembly with a trigger device. The activation mechanism prevents the energy store from being discharged before it is triggered by the trigger device, and enables the energy store to be discharge after it is triggered by the trigger device to force the cannula from the pre-operational state into the operational state.

Claims

1. A cannula system for use with a medical therapy device having a trigger device, the cannula system comprising:

a cannula assembly, in which the cannula assembly comprises;

a cannula module having a skin-contacting surface;

a cannula having a pre-operational state in which the cannula is retracted with respect to the skin-contacting surface, and an operational state in which the cannula projects beyond the skin-contacting surface, and a plunger fixed to the cannula; and

an inserter module comprising;

an inserter body having a bearing element formed thereon with an exterior surface and an interior surface;

an energy store on a first side axially fixed on the interior surface of the bearing element and on an opposite side removably fixed to the plunger; and

an activation mechanism triggerable from outside the cannula assembly with the trigger device, the activation mechanism disposed along the exterior surface of the bearing element, wherein the activation mechanism prevents the energy store from being discharged before it is triggered by the trigger device, and enables the energy store to be discharge after it is triggered by the trigger device to force the cannula from the pre-operational state into the operational state.

2. The cannula system according to claim 1, wherein the energy store having stored potential energy wherein when the energy store is at least partially discharged, the stored potential energy is transformed to kinetic energy that moves the cannula from the pre-operational state to the operational state.

3. The cannula system according to claim 1, wherein the activation mechanism comprises a blocking element releasably attached to a retaining element such that the blocking element prevents the energy store from being discharged when in a blocking position and is released from the blocking position to cause the energy store to be at least partially discharged.

4. The cannula system according to claim 3, wherein the activation mechanism is releasably coupled to the exterior surface of the bearing element extending through an opening of the inserter body and releasably coupled to the plunger.

5. The cannula system according to claim 3, wherein the blocking element comprises a box-shaped cap, a wedge-shaped cap or a ferromagnetic cap.

6. The cannula system according to claim 3, wherein the retaining element comprises a pivoting hook releasably coupled to the plunger.

7. The cannula system according to claim 3, wherein the activation mechanism further comprises a security mechanism to prevent the energy store from being discharged before it is triggered by the trigger device, wherein:

the security mechanism has a blocking state in which the security mechanism prevents the blocking element from being triggered and prevents the energy store from being discharged and a releasing state in which the blocking element is triggerable and the energy store is dischargeable; and

the security mechanism interacts with a key element of the trigger device such that it is only possible to switch from the blocking state to the releasing state when the key element and the security mechanism satisfy a matching criterion.

8. The cannula system according to claim 7, wherein the key element comprises a release buckle and the security mechanism comprises a retaining pin.

9. The cannula system according to claim 1, wherein the trigger device comprises a shiftable pin and an electromagnet, a wedge-shaped element, a permanent magnet or a motor-driven gear rack that releases the activation mechanism from the bearing element to move the cannula from the pre-operational state to the operational state with a lateral force.

10. The cannula system according to claim 9, the shiftable pin and the electromagnet further comprises a ferrite rod or a push button.

11. The cannula system according to claim 9, further comprises a barrier that covers the trigger device wherein the barrier is pierced by the wedge-shaped element prior to releasing the activation mechanism from the bearing element to move the cannula from the pre-operational state to the operational state.

12. The cannula system according to claim 1, the activation mechanism when triggered by the trigger device exerts an activating effect to enable or cause the energy store to be at least partially discharged.

13. The cannula system according to claim 12, wherein the activating effect is mechanical, magnetic or electrical.

14. The cannula system according to claim 1, wherein the energy store is a biased spring.

15. A cannula system for administering a fluid with the use of a medical therapy device having a trigger device, the cannula system comprising:

a cannula assembly comprising an energy store, a cannula and an inserter body having a bearing element formed thereon with an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the cannula moves from a pre-operational state to an operational state using energy supplied by the energy store, and a movement of the cannula is triggered from outside the cannula assembly with the trigger device.

16. The cannula system according to claim 15, wherein the trigger device is distinct from the cannula assembly.

17. The cannula system according to claim 15, wherein the cannula assembly further comprises an activation mechanism that is triggered from outside the cannula assembly by the trigger device, wherein when triggered, the energy store is dischargeable;

the activation mechanism comprises a blocking element to prevent the energy store from being discharged before it is triggered by the trigger device, wherein;

the blocking element disposed along the exterior surface of the bearing element has a blocking state which the prevents the blocking element from being triggered and prevents the energy store from being discharged and a releasing state in which the blocking element is triggerable and the energy store is dischargeable; and

the blocking element interacts with the trigger device such that it is only possible to switch from the blocking state to the releasing state when the trigger device exerts a releasing force on the blocking element to move the cannula from the pre-operational state to the operational state.

18. The cannula system according to claim 15, wherein the trigger device is integral with the medical therapy device, the medical therapy device comprising a slot such that the activation mechanism is triggered when the cannula assembly is inserted into the slot of the medical therapy device.

19. The cannula system according to claim 17, wherein the blocking element comprises a box-shaped cap, a wedge-shaped cap or a ferromagnetic cap.

20. The cannula system according to claim 17, wherein the activation mechanism further comprises a retaining element such that the blocking element is releasably attached to the retaining element and prevents the energy store from being discharged;

the blocking element is removable from the retaining element by an activating effect, which causes the energy store to be at least partially discharged; and

the activation mechanism is triggered by moving the blocking element.