Insertion head for medical or pharmaceutical applications

• US 7,850,652 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Thalmann, Christian, Weibel, Michael, Wyss, Martin, Liniger, Jurg
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATNEY, BROOKE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/047,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 604/164.01, 604/263, 604/174, 604/177, 604/192, 604/198, 604/164.08
• US Class Current: 604/164.08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1581 Right-angle needle-type devices
• 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 25/0606 "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters
• 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

An insertion head for medical use, including a housing formed by two housing parts, a puncture needle and a flexible cannula supported by the puncture needle, wherein before use the puncture needle and cannula are arranged in a protected position inside the housing and can be deployed by gripping the housing parts and moving at least one of the parts relative to the other, wherein upon deployment the puncture needle and cannula can be inserted into the body of a patient, and wherein after insertion the puncture needle can be removed from the cannula by moving the housing and puncture needle away from the body counter to the direction of insertion, the puncture needle being automatically pivoted into a protected position in the housing.

Claims

1. An insertion head for medical use, comprising a housing formed by two housing parts movable relative to each other, a base separable from the housing, a puncture needle and a flexible cannula supported by the puncture needle, the puncture needle and cannula pivotal between a protected position inside the housing and an insertion position outside the housing in which the puncture needle and cannula can be inserted into the body of a patient, the puncture needle and cannula pivoting in response to the relative movement of the two housing parts, and a cannula housing securely connected to the cannula and pivoting with the cannula, and wherein after insertion the puncture needle is removed from the cannula, cannula housing, and base by moving the housing and puncture needle away from the body counter to the direction of insertion, the puncture needle being automatically pivoted into the protected position after removal from the cannula, and wherein the base, and cannula housing remain on the body of the patient and the cannula remains in the body of the patient.

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

a) a housing comprising a first housing part and a second housing part movable relative to each other;

b) a base separable from the housing;

c) a flexible insertion device stabilized by a puncture device, the insertion device and the puncture device each having a free end and mounted so as to be jointly movable relative to the housing, the end of the insertion device opposite the free end being securely connected to an insertion device housing,

d) the insertion device and the puncture device being pivotal relative to the housing from a protected position, in which the free ends are inside the housing, to an insertion position in which the free ends are outside the housing, the insertion device housing pivoting with the insertion device; and

e) a coupling converting the relative movement of the two housing parts into a pivotal movement of the insertion device and the puncture device from the protected position to the insertion position, wherein when the puncture device is in the insertion position, the puncture device is connected to the housing and releasable from the insertion device, and wherein after insertion of the insertion device and the puncture device, the puncture device is removed from the insertion device, the insertion device housing, and the base by moving the housing in a direction counter to the direction of insertion, the puncture device moving automatically to the protected position after removal from the insertion device, the base and insertion device housing remaining on a patient and the insertion device remaining in the patient.

3. The insertion head according to claim 2, further comprising restoring means for pivoting the puncture device automatically to the protected position.

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

a) a housing comprising a first housing part and a second housing part, the first and second housing parts being movable relative to each other;

b) a base separable from the housing, the base having an underside;

c) a flexible insertion device, which is stabilized by a puncture device, the insertion device and the puncture device each having a free end and being mounted so as to be jointly pivotal relative to the housing, the end of the insertion device opposite the free end being securely connected to an insertion device housing,

d) the insertion device and the puncture device being pivotal relative to the housing from a protected position, in which the free ends of the insertion device and of the puncture device are arranged inside the housing and/or the base, to an insertion position, in which the free ends protrude from the housing and/or the base in such a way that they can be inserted into organic tissue, the insertion device housing pivoting with the insertion device, and

e) a coupling converting the relative movement of the two housing parts into a pivotal movement of the insertion device and the puncture device from the protected position to the insertion position, wherein when the insertion device and the puncture device are in the insertion position and protruding from the base and the underside of the base is placed on the organic tissue, the insertion device and the puncture device are inserted into the organic tissue, wherein when the puncture device is in the insertion position, the puncture device is connected or connectable to the housing and released or releasable from the insertion device, and wherein after insertion of the insertion device and of the puncture device into the organic tissue, the puncture device is removed from the base, the insertion device housing, and the insertion device by moving the puncture device in a direction counter to the direction of insertion, the base and the insertion device housing remaining on the organic tissue and the insertion device remaining in the organic tissue, and further comprising restoring means for pivoting the puncture device automatically to the protected position.

5. The insertion head according to claim 4, wherein when the two housing parts are gripped between two fingers of one hand and, one finger is pressed against one of the housing parts, the second housing part is moved in the direction of the first housing part.

6. The insertion head according to claim 4, wherein the base is connected immovably to the insertion device, such that, upon movement from the protected position to the insertion position, the base is moved relative to the housing.

7. The insertion head according to claim 4, wherein, with the insertion device and puncture device in the protected position, the underside of the base forms at least a part of an outer face of the housing, such that, in the protected position, the free ends are set back behind the underside of the base and, upon movement from the protected position to the insertion position, the insertion device and the puncture device are moved relative to the base such that the free ends protrude beyond the underside of the base in the insertion position.

8. The insertion head according to claim 7, wherein the insertion device is mounted movably in the base.

9. The insertion head according to claim 8, wherein the base and one of a hinge element or a guide element of a sliding guide together form one of a hinge or a sliding guide, and the insertion device protrudes from the hinge element or the guide element.

10. The insertion head according to claim 9, wherein the housing extends upwards from a top face of the base.

11. The insertion head according to claim 4, wherein the two housing parts are pivotable relative to each other and slideable one inside the other to effect the movement of the insertion device and puncture device from the protected position to the insertion position.

12. The insertion head according to claim 11, wherein the two housing parts are linearly displaceable relative to each other to effect the movement of the insertion device and puncture device from the protected position to the insertion position.

13. The insertion head according to claim 12, wherein the two housing parts are displaceable substantially parallel to the underside of the base.

14. The insertion head according to claim 4, wherein the coupling couples the one of the two housing parts to the insertion device by a toothed engagement, and comprises a toothed wheel and a toothed rack.

15. The insertion head according to claim 14, wherein one of the two housing parts is connected to the toothed rack, and the insertion device is connected to the toothed wheel which is in toothed engagement with the toothed rack.

16. The insertion head according to claim 15 wherein the insertion device is pivotable about a rotation axis and is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a toothed wheel which rotates about the rotation axis and is in toothed engagement.

17. The insertion head according to claim 4, wherein the insertion device or the puncture device is held via a rotation shaft on the base or on a first of the two housing parts, a sliding block is arranged eccentrically with respect to the rotation shaft, a guide slot is operatively engaged with the sliding block such that a movement of the two housing parts relative to each other transfers the sliding block, guided by the guide slot, from a first position, which corresponds to the protected position of the insertion device and puncture device, to a second position, which corresponds to the insertion position of the insertion device and puncture device.

18. The insertion head according to claim 4, wherein the housing is connected releasably to the base and the connection is released during the movement of the two housing parts for moving the insertion device and the puncture device from the protected position to the insertion position, and during a subsequent movement of the two housing parts relative to each other.

19. The insertion head according to claim 18, wherein a first connection element is formed on the base and a second connection element is formed on the housing, the first and second connection elements engage with each other to create the connection, and at least one of the first and second connection elements can be moved out of said engagement counter to an elasticity force.

20. The insertion head according to claim 19, wherein the first connection element and second connection element engage with each other to create the connection, and one of the two housing parts, during its movement, contacts one of the first or second connection elements and moves the one of the first or second connection elements out of said engagement counter to an elasticity force.

21. The insertion head according to claim 20, wherein when one of the two housing parts is pushed into the other of the two housing parts upon completion of the movement of the insertion device and the puncture device from the protected position to the insertion position, a control ramp on the first housing part abuts against a deflector ramp on one of the first or second connection elements, which connects the base reversibly to the housing, and deflects the one of the first or second connection elements from an engagement position such that the housing and the base can be separated.

22. The insertion head according to claim 21, wherein a movement of the two housing parts relative to each other along a first distance of a first portion of a guide slot transfers a sliding block, guided by the guide slot, from a first position, which corresponds to the protected position to a second position, which corresponds to the insertion position of the insertion device, and a connection device is provided that connects the base reversibly to the housing, and to release the housing from the base, one of the two housing parts is moved relative to the base along a second distance perpendicular to the direction of extent of the insertion device located in the insertion position, the guide slot having a second portion corresponding to the second distance.

23. The insertion head according to claim 4, wherein during the movement of the insertion device and puncture device into the insertion position, the puncture device connects itself to the housing.

24. The insertion head according to claim 4, wherein the base forms a seat that receives the insertion device and puncture device in the protected position.

25. The insertion head according to claim 4, wherein the housing forms a seat that receives the insertion device and puncture device in the protected position.

26. The insertion head according to claim 4, further comprising a securing structure which reversibly secures the insertion device and puncture device in the protected position.

27. The insertion head according to claim 26, wherein the insertion device housing is moved along with the insertion device, the insertion device housing comprising the securing structure which lies opposite a wall of one of the housing parts extending parallel to the direction of movement of the two housing parts relative to each other, and an engagement element on an inside face of the wall in reversible engagement with the securing structure in the protected position of the insertion device.

28. The insertion head according to claim 4, wherein, in the one or the other of the two housing parts that receives the insertion device and puncture device in the protected position a securing slot is provided into which the insertion device and puncture device can be locked in the protected position.

29. The insertion head according to claim 4, further comprising a retainer element which, during the automatic reverse movement of the puncture device to a protected position, is moved along with the puncture device, the retainer element having a locking shoulder which, upon the automatic reverse movement in the housing, comes into locking engagement with an engagement element to prevent the puncture device from moving out of the housing again.