PACKING FOR AN INFUSION SET AND METHOD OF APPLYING AN INFUSION SET
The present invention relates to a packing for an infusion set. An infusion set for intermittent or continuous administration of a therapeutical substance, such as insulin, comprises an infusion part having a cannula penetrating the skin of a patient and a connector which connects the infusion part with a medical device such as an adaptor for a syringe or an insulin pump. The insertion of the infusion part will be performed with an insertion needle which is delivered together with the infusion part under sterile conditions. The packaging comprises an impenetrable part (7) protecting the surroundings from the insertion needle and a removal part (8) which is to be removed by the user before applying the infusion part. The inner surface of the impenetrable part (7) is provided with means (7a) for releasable retaining at least a part of the infusion set.
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The present invention relates to a packaging for an infusion set. An infusion set for intermittent or continuous administration of a therapeutical substance, such as insulin, comprises an infusion part having a cannula penetrating the skin of a patient and a connector which connects the infusion part with a medical device such as an adaptor for a syringe or an insulin pump. The insertion of the infusion part will be performed with an insertion needle which is delivered together with the infusion part under sterile conditions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONU.S. Pat. No. 5,968,011-A relates to a subcutaneous low-profile infusion set for administrating a medication or a therapeutic fluid to a patient. It would be possible to apply this infusion set according to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,021-B1 relates to a medical puncturing device. This device comprises a rigid needle mounted in a needle hub (2), and the needle hub comprises a handle part (3) and a shield part (4). This device could be used to insert an infusion set as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,011-A.
US 2003/00130619 A1 relates to an insertion device and an insertion set.
An object of the invention is to make insertion of an infusion device easier, more flexible and convenient for the patient. According to the present invention it is possible to combine a standard infusion device with for example an inserter for automatic insertion or a handle for manual insertion as the inventive packaging assures the stability which is necessary in order to keep the infusion set and needle hub in position while a secondary device in the form of a handle or an inserter, chosen by the patient, is pushed against it and connected to it. When the packaging is used as a sort of handling device during the insertion procedure, the contamination of the infusion device is also kept at a minimum.
It is not essential whether the secondary device is connected releasable or unreleasable to the infusion device while connected to it as both possibilities have their advantages but the secondary device should form a stronger connection with the infusion set than the infusion set forms with the packaging according to the invention in order for the user to remove the infusion set from the packaging by simply pulling the secondary device away from the packaging.
The invention concerns a packaging for an infusion set comprising an infusion part and a needle hub, where the needle hub is combined with an insertion needle. The packaging comprises an impenetrable part protecting the surroundings from the insertion needle and a removable part which is to be removed by the user before applying the infusion set wherein the inner surface of the impenetrable part is provided with means for releasable retaining at least a part of the infusion set.
Preferably the proximal side of the infusion set is provided with an adhesive, and the adhesive can be covered with a release layer.
In one embodiment of the invention the release layer covering the adhesive is partly fastened to the impenetrable part or fastened to a part being connected to the impenetrable part, an appropriate release layer for an adhesive sheet material is known from WO 2004/087240. This will cause the release layer to be removed when the infusion set and the needle hub is removed from the packaging. According to this embodiment the release layer can have the form of a band where one end of the band is fastened to the impenetrable part or fastened to a part being integrated with the impenetrable part.
In one embodiment of the invention the impenetrable part is made of a hard material. Preferably the impenetrable part is made of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE HD) or PVC.
In one embodiment of the invention the needle hub is on its distal side provided with means for retaining a device. Preferably the needle hub is provided with means for retaining an inserter. More preferred the needle hub can take up and retain an inserter when the inserter is pushed towards the needle hub from the distal side. An inserter is not shown in the figures but a suitable inserter is described in US patent application no. 2003/0130619
In a preferred embodiment the infusion set is releasable retained by the retaining means formed as an integrated part of the impenetrable part of the packaging. In this embodiment the infusion part can be provided with corresponding means which are releasable connected to the retaining means. According to this embodiment the retaining means can be formed as walls standing from the impenetrable part in an angle between −45° and 45° where 0° is orthogonal to the proximal surface of the impenetrable part, and the corresponding means can be formed as a cylinder or a truncated cone integrated with the infusion part.
In a most preferred embodiment the corresponding means comprise a cylinder or a truncated cone formed by a groove or recess in the infusion part making it possible for the proximal end of the corresponding means to be aligned to the proximal surface of the infusion part.
In another embodiment the retaining means are formed of a relatively soft material which material can be penetrated by the insertion needle and which soft material is connected unreleasable to the impenetrable part of the packaging.
In a preferred embodiment a support part parallel to the proximal surface of the infusion set is fastened to the impenetrable part or formed as an integrated part of the impenetrable part.
In another preferred embodiment the retaining means comprises an opening for the needle and a support part parallel to the proximal surface of the infusion set. In this embodiment the corresponding means can comprise a cylinder or a truncated cone protruding from the proximal surface of the infusion part.
The invention also concerns a method of applying an infusion set comprising an infusion part and a needle hub where the needle hub is combined with an insertion needle, which method comprises the following steps:
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- removing the removable part of the packaging,
- fastening a device to the needle hub,
- removing the infusion set from the impenetrable part of the packaging by pulling the device, and removing the release layer covering the adhesive if a release layer is present,
- placing the proximal end of the infusion set pointing against the skin of the user,
- penetrating the skin of the user by the insertion needle thereby positioning the infusion part, and securing the infusion set to the skin of the patient,
- removing the device and the needle hub leaving the infusion set in position.
In a preferred embodiment the method comprises the following steps:
-
- removing the removable part of the packaging,
- fastening an inserter to the needle hub,
- removing the infusion set from the impenetrable part of the packaging by pulling the inserter, and removing the release layer covering the adhesive if a release layer is present,
- placing the proximal end of the infusion set pointing against the skin of the user,
- activating the inserter causing the insertion needle to penetrate the skin and position the infusion part,
- securing the infusion set to the skin of the patient,
- removing the inserter and the needle hub leaving the infusion set in position.
The invention also concerns a method of applying an infusion set comprising an infusion part and a needle hub where the needle hub is combined with an insertion needle, which method comprises the following steps:
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- removing the removable part of the packaging,
- fastening a device to the needle hub,
- removing the infusion set from the impenetrable part of the packaging and removing the release layer covering the adhesive by pulling the device,
- placing the proximal end of the infusion set pointing against the skin of the user,
- penetrating the skin of the user by the insertion needle thereby positioning the infusion part, and securing the infusion set to the skin of the patient,
- removing the device and the needle hub leaving the infusion set in position.
It is possible to tighten or load the inserter/secondary device both before and after the infusion set has been removed from the impenetrable part of the packaging by pulling the device.
The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of the inventions.
“Distal side” refers to the side of the device which is turned away from the patient.
“Proximal side” refers to the side of the device which is turned towards the patient, and it will generally be used to describe the part of the device having a surface actually touching the patient.
“Integrated” refers e.g. in the phrase “fastened to a part being integrated with the impenetrable part” to that the part being integrated is connected unreleasable to the impenetrable part or e.g. formed of the same piece of material as the impenetrable part e.g. by molding
“A hard material” as e.g. mentioned in claim 6, can resist a certain pressure without being deformed, at least the impenetrable part which is made of a hard material should be able to resist forces experienced within normal handling of the device.
“A relatively soft material” means that it is possible for the insertion needle (3) to penetrate the material in contrast to the hard material.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTSAn adhesive layer 6 preferably covered with a release layer 6a is unreleasably fastened to the proximal side of the infusion part 2. In the embodiment of
When placed in the packaging the combination 1, 2 is in contact with a support part 9 which part is fastened to or being a part of the inner surface of the packaging. The support part 9 could be circular or in the form of one or more beams, and/or it could be fastened to either a central part reaching towards the periphery without actually touching the periphery or it could be fastened to the periphery reaching for the center. The support part 9 can also function as a release layer for the adhesive 6 meaning that the support part 9 totally or partly protects the adhesive surface during storage.
If the support part 9 functions as a release layer it is important to consider the force needed to overcome the release of the infusion part 2 from the support part 9 as the infusion part 2 in some degree is fastened to the support part 9 by adhesion. In order to regulate the attraction between the infusion part 2 and the support surface 9 and thereby also regulate the force needed to overcome the release of the infusion part 2, a suitable fraction of the adhesive 6 surface can be covered by a release layer which has no attraction to the support surface 9.
The support part 9 assures that the combination 1, 2 is positioned in a stable manner.
In a preferred embodiment the support part 9 has the form of a number of ribs fastened to or integrated with the walls of the impenetrable part 7, preferable the ribs are equally distributed along the inner surface of the impenetrable part 7 in order to offer maximum support for the infusion set. Also in a preferred embodiment the periphery of a spiral release layer 6a protecting the adhesive surface 6 is fastened to the impenetrable part 7 or to a part integrated with the impenetrable part 7. The spiral release layer 6a could be fastened to the impenetrable part 7 by gluing, welding or mechanically.
In this embodiment of the packaging the needle/cannula of the combination 1, 2 is placed in a circular center part 7a with walls standing upright from the inner surface of the impenetrable part 7. The center piece 5 is squeezed down into the corresponding circular center part 7a and the friction between the piece 5 and the walls in the center part 7a keeps the combination 1, 2 in place.
In another not shown embodiment means 7a comprises flat springs fastened to the periphery of the impenetrable part 7 and pushing down on parts of the infusion part 2 and/or parts of the needle hub 1. The flat springs can during production be pushed down over parts of the infusion device 2 and fastened to the periphery which will keep the combination 1, 2 in place.
In
The connection in form of a tube 4 can be twined around the combination 1, 2 (not shown in the figures) which makes it possible to pull out the tube 4 without the tube getting tangled.
The
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In preparing the infusion set for insertion the removable part 8 is removed from the impenetrable part 7 and the combined needle hub 1 and infusion part 2 is released from the packaging either manually or by an inserter 11. In order to loosen the strong hold of the center piece 5, the form of the separate center part 7b is constructed in such a way that the pressing of the inserter 11 down toward the needle hub 1 forces the center part 7b to expand outwards towards the protrusion 7c in the packaging, which is possible due to the slit which makes to center part 7b elastic.
Claims
1. Packaging for an infusion set comprising an infusion part and a needle hub, the needle hub including an insertion needle, the packaging comprising:
- a support part for holding the infusion part and the needle hub,
- an impenetrable part at least partially surrounding the infusion part and protecting the surroundings from the insertion needle, the impenetrable part comprising a retainer on an inner surface of the impenetrable part for releasably retaining at least a part of the infusion set; and
- a removable cover covering at least a portion of an opening defined in the packaging, the cover configured to be removed by the user before applying the infusion part.
2. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the retainer is an integrated part of the impenetrable part.
3. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the retainer is a separate part.
4. Packaging according to claim 3, wherein the separate part is maintained in the impenetrable part when the infusion set is released from the packaging.
5. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein a proximal side of the infusion set is provided with an adhesive.
6. Packaging according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive is covered with a release layer.
7. Packaging according to claim 6, wherein the release layer covering the adhesive is at least partly fastened to the impenetrable part or fastened to a part connected to the impenetrable part.
8. Packaging according to claim 7, wherein the release layer comprises a band and that one end of the band is fastened to the impenetrable part or fastened to a part being connected to the impenetrable part.
9. Packaging according to claim 7, characterized in that the release layer comprises at least two bands where one end of each band is fastened to the impenetrable part or fastened to a part being connected to the impenetrable part.
10. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the impenetrable part is made of a hard material.
11. Packaging according to claim 10, wherein the impenetrable part comprises polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE HD) or PVC.
12. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the needle hub is provided with means for retaining a device.
13. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the needle hub comprises means for retaining an inserter.
14. Packaging according to 1, wherein the needle hub comprises means for retaining an inserter when the inserter is advanced towards the needle hub from a distal side of the needle hub.
15. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the infusion set is releasably retained by the retainer formed as an integrated part of the impenetrable part of the packaging.
16. Packaging according to claim 15, wherein the infusion part comprises corresponding means which are releasably connected to the retainer.
17. Packaging according to claim 15, wherein the retainer comprises walls standing from the impenetrable part at an angle between −45° and 45° where 0° is orthogonal to a proximal surface of the impenetrable part.
18. Packaging according to claim 17, wherein the corresponding means are formed as a cylinder or a truncated cone integrated with the infusion part.
19. Packaging according to claim 18, wherein the corresponding means comprise a cylinder or a truncated cone formed by a groove in the infusion part so that a proximal end of the corresponding means aligns with a proximal surface of the infusion part.
20. Packaging according to claim 15, wherein the retainer comprises a relatively soft material the material being penetratable by the insertion needle and unreleasably connected to the impenetrable part of the packaging.
21. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein a support part parallel to a proximal surface of the infusion set is fastened to the impenetrable part or formed as an integrated part of the impenetrable part.
22. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein the retainer comprises an opening for the needle and a support part parallel to a proximal surface of the infusion set.
23. Packaging according to claim 22, wherein the corresponding means comprise a cylinder or a truncated cone protruding from the proximal surface of the infusion part.
24. A method for preparing application of an infusion set comprising an infusion part and a needle hub the needle hub comprising an insertion needle, the method comprising:
- removing a removable cover of a packaging, the packaging having a support part for holding the infusion part and the needle hub and an impenetrable part, the impenetrable part at least partially surrounding the infusion part and protecting the surroundings from the insertion needle,
- fastening a device to the needle hub,
- removing the infusion set from the impenetrable part of the packaging by pulling the device, and
- placing a proximal end of the infusion set against the skin of the user.
25. The method according to claim 24,
- wherein the device is an inserter and further comprising activating the inserter.
26. A method for preparing application of an infusion set comprising an infusion part and a needle hub where the needle hub comprising an insertion needle, the method comprising:
- removing a removable cover of a packaging, the packaging having a support part for holding the infusion part and the needle hub and an impenetrable part, the impenetrable part at least partially surrounding the infusion part and protecting the surroundings from the insertion needle
- fastening a device to the needle hub,
- removing the infusion set from the impenetrable part of the packaging and removing a release layer covering an adhesive provided on a proximal side of the infusion set by pulling the device,
- placing a proximal end of the infusion set against the skin of the user.
27. The method according to claim 24 wherein the device is tightened before removing the infusion set from the impenetrable part of the packaging by pulling the device.
28. The method according to claim 24 wherein the device is tightened after removing the infusion set from the impenetrable part of the packaging by pulling the device.
29. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the impenetrable part can not be penetrated by the insertion needle.
30. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the inpenetratable part is substantially hemispherically-shaped.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 8, 2006
Publication Date: Jul 15, 2010
Applicant: UNOMEDICAL A/S (Birkered)
Inventors: Lasse W. Mogensen (Soborg), Jesper T. Olsen (Copenhagen), Carl J.D. Ahman (Malmo), May B. Svendstrup (Viby Sjaelland), Steffen Gyrn (Ringsted)
Application Number: 11/993,383
International Classification: A61M 5/32 (20060101); A61B 19/02 (20060101); B23P 17/04 (20060101); B67B 7/00 (20060101);