Disposable infusion device with automatically releasable cannula driver

Abstract

An infusion system comprises a disposable wearable infusion device having a body arranged to be adhered to a patient's skin and a reservoir for holding a liquid medicament to be infused into the patient through a cannula extending from the device body to beneath the patient's skin. The system further includes a cannula driver arranged to be detachably joined with the infusion device and including a cannula. The cannula driver is arranged to drive the cannula into a deployed position extending from the device body to beneath the patient's skin. The cannula driver includes a release mechanism that separates the cannula driver from the infusion device after the cannula is in the deployed position.

1 . An infusion device comprising:
 a body arranged to be adhered to a patient's skin, the body defining a cavity;   a reservoir for holding a liquid medicament to be infused into the patient; and   a cannula assembly including a cannula and a cannula carrier, the cannula carrier being received within the cavity of the body with the cannula extending from the cannula carrier and the device body to beneath the patient's skin to deliver the liquid medicament to the patient;   the cannula carrier being configured to movably mate with a portion of the infusion device within the cavity.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes an outlet structure within the cavity, and wherein the portion of the infusion device with which the cannula carrier is configured to movably mate includes the outlet structure. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula carrier includes a securing mechanism causing the cannula carrier to be loosely confined within the infusion device cavity. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the device includes an outlet structure within the cavity, and wherein the portion of the infusion device with which the cannula carrier is configured to movably mate includes the outlet structure as the cannula carrier is loosely confined within the infusion device cavity. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the cannula carrier includes a flexible seal that movably mates with the outlet structure. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the outlet structure has a shape and wherein the cannula carrier has a recess having a shape generally corresponding to the shape of the outlet structure for receiving the outlet structure. 
   
   
       7 . An infusion device comprising:
 a body arranged to be adhered to a patient's skin, the body defining a cavity;   a reservoir for holding a liquid medicament to be infused into the patient;   a cannula assembly including a cannula and a cannula carrier, the cannula carrier being received within the cavity of the device body with the cannula extending from the cannula carrier and the device body to beneath the patient's skin to deliver the liquid medicament to the patient;   wherein the device body and the cannula carrier together define a self-centering structure that centers the cannula carrier within the infusion device cavity.   
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the device includes an outlet structure within the cavity, and wherein the self-centering structure includes the outlet structure. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the outlet structure has a shape and wherein the cannula carrier has a recess having a shape generally corresponding to the shape of the outlet structure for receiving the outlet structure. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the cannula carrier includes a flexible seal that movably mates with the outlet structure. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the cannula carrier is arranged to be loosely confined within the infusion device cavity. 
   
   
       12 . An infusion system comprising:
 a disposable wearable infusion device having a body arranged to be adhered to a patient's skin and a reservoir for holding a liquid medicament to be infused into the patient through a cannula extending from the device body to beneath the patient's skin; and   
     a cannula driver that provides the disposable wearable infusion device with a cannula, the cannula driver being arranged to drive the cannula into a deployed position extending from the device body to beneath the patient's skin, and wherein, the cannula driver further includes an absorber tab to remove excess liquid medicament from the cannula during cannula deployment. 
   
   
       13 . An infusion system comprising:
 a disposable wearable infusion device having a body arranged to be adhered to a patient's skin and a reservoir for holding a liquid medicament to be infused into the patient through a cannula extending from the device body to beneath the patient's skin; and   a cannula driver that provides the disposable wearable infusion device with a cannula, the cannula driver being arranged to drive the cannula into a deployed position extending from the device body to beneath the patient's skin, the cannula driver comprising an actuator that, when actuated, enables the driving of the cannula to the deployed position and the separation of the cannula driver from the infusion device, and wherein, the actuator includes a snap action mechanism that accompanies actuation of the cannula driver with a snap action.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the cannula driver further comprises a safety control button configured to enable the actuation of the actuator with a snap action. 
   
   
       15 . A cannula deployment apparatus for use with an infusion device, comprising:
 a cannula to be deployed; and   a cannula driver including a housing, the cannula driver being arranged to be detachably joined with the infusion device and to drive the cannula into a deployed position extending from the infusion device body to beneath the patient's skin, the cannula driver comprising a plunger that drives the cannula into a deployed position and a releasable needle head assembly housed therein, the plunger having a movable wall portion that when moved, releases the needle head assembly.   
   
   
       16 . A cannula deployment apparatus for use with an infusion device, comprising:
 a cannula to be deployed; and   a cannula driver including a housing, the cannula driver being arranged to be detachably joined with the infusion device and to drive the cannula into a deployed position extending from the infusion device body to beneath the patient's skin, the cannula driver comprising a plunger that drives the cannula into a deployed position and a needle head assembly housed therein, the needle head assembly being releasable after cannula deployment, the cannula deployment apparatus further comprising a translucent portion through which a released needle head assembly is viewable to confirm cannula deployment.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the releasable needle head assembly includes a needle head and wherein the needle head is colored to assist in the viewability of the needle head assembly through the translucent portion.