Externally triggerable cannula assembly

• US 9,415,173 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, QUYNH-NHU HOANG
• Application Number:
  US13/895,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20130253431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 604/164.01, 604/264, 604/272, 604/195, 604/131, 604134-137, 604156-157, 604/164.07, 604/164.12
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 discharged 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 blocking element, comprising:

a cannula module having a bottom end and a top end, the bottom end nearest a skin-contacting surface and the top end farthest therefrom, a cannula hub coupled on one side to the skin-contacting surface, and on the opposing side coupled to an inserter body of an inserter module, the inserter body received into a cannula hub recess;

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

the inserter module comprising;

a bearing element formed as one piece with an inserter body, the inserter body having a bottom end and a top end, the bottom end nearest the skin-contacting surface and the top end farthest therefrom;

wherein the bearing element extends laterally from the top end of the inserter body and the bearing element includes an exterior surface and the bearing element has 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

a blocking element comprising a box-shaped cap that is a hooked end of a retaining hook, the box-shaped cap and the retaining hook formed of one piece, the retaining hook extending downward and away from the bearing element and axially affixed to the plunger, the box-shaped cap disposed directly against and extending in only one direction along the exterior surface of the bearing element above the top end of the inserter body when the cannula is in the pre-operational state, the retaining hook extending downward through an opening in the top end of the inserter body, wherein the blocking element prevents the energy store from being discharged, and enables the energy store to be discharged when a force pushes the blocking element from the exterior surface of the bearing element, which forces the cannula from the pre-operational state into the operational state as the plunger is forced within the recess as the energy store returns to a relaxed state and provides the force for movement of the plunger from within the inserter body.

2. The cannula system according to claim 1, wherein the energy store comprises opposing springs.

3. The cannula system according to claim 1, wherein the energy store comprises opposing springs coupled on the first side directly to the interior surface of the bearing element, and coupled on the opposing side directly to the plunger, the retaining hook residing therebetween.

4. The cannula system according to claim 1, wherein the energy store comprises opposing springs that are coil springs.

5. The cannula system according to claim 1 wherein when in the operational state the inserter module is designed to be separated from the cannula.

6. The cannula system according to claim 1 wherein when in the operational state, the plunger sets within the cannula hub such that the top of the cannula hub and plunger are substantially on an even plane.

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

a cannula module having a bottom end and a top end, the bottom end nearest a skin-contacting surface and the top end farthest therefrom;

an energy store, a blocking element, a cannula hub, a cannula and a bearing element formed on an inserter body;

wherein the bearing element is formed as one piece with the inserter body, the inserter body having a bottom end and a top end, the bottom end nearest the skin-contacting surface and the top end farthest therefrom;

wherein the bearing element extends laterally from the top end of the inserter body and the bearing element includes an exterior surface and the bearing element has 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;

the cannula hub coupled on one side to a skin-contacting surface, and coupled on the opposing side to the inserter body of an inserter module, the inserter body received into a recess of the cannula hub; and

when in the operational state the inserter module is designed to be separated from the cannula module; and

the blocking element comprising a box-shaped cap that is a hooked end of a retaining hook, the box-shaped cap and the retaining hook formed of one piece, the retaining hook extending downward and away from the bearing element and axially affixed to a plunger, the box-shaped cap disposed directly against and extending in only one direction along the exterior surface of the bearing element above the top of the inserter body when the cannula is in the pre-operational state, the retaining hook extending downward through an opening in the top end of the inserter body, wherein the blocking element prevents the energy store from being discharged, and enables the energy store to be discharged when a force pushes the blocking element from the exterior surface of the bearing element, which forces the cannula from the pre-operational state into the operational state as the plunger is forced within the recess as the energy store returns to a relaxed state and provides the force for movement of the plunger from within the inserter body.

8. The cannula system according to claim 7, wherein the energy store comprises opposing springs coupled on a first side directly to the interior surface of the bearing element and coupled on an opposing side directly to the plunger, the retaining hook residing therebetween.

9. The cannula system of claim 7, wherein the inserter module is configured to be releasably coupled to the cannula module.